The Black Music Research Unit was founded by its director Mykaell Riley in order to to promote workshops, seminars, guest lectures and collaborative research projects, as well as to encourage networking of media scholars, practitioners, policy-makers and students of Caribbean music.

Its first major project entitled ‘Bass Culture’ that aims to highlight British popular music heritage was funded by the AHRC. Mykaell Riley acts as Principle Investigator leading an interdisciplinary team on this groundbreaking project.

Meanwhile the Black Music Research Unit is expanding its projects and teams through collaboration on further projects, with a wide range of musicians, academics, cultural and creative practitioners.