2Funky Arts has launched a new project to celebrate and document the history of independent record stores that specialised in Black music across England. 

Following the preview of its upcoming documentary film, the initiative – which was first announced last November – has expanded with a limited-edition hardback book and a four-part podcast series, both designed to explore the significance of these stores in shaping the UK’s music culture.

The book, The Record Store & Black Music, England’s Tastemakers, takes a deep dive into the history of Black music-focused record shops, starting from the 1920s through to the rise of Soho’s iconic record stores, their subsequent decline and their revival. 

The book also examines how these stores have had a lasting impact on the music industry. Contributions come from figures such as Mr Scruff, DJ Swerve, Ronnie Herel, David Rodigan MBE, Ammo Talwar MBE and more, with a foreword written by Trevor Nelson MBE.

Alongside the book, a podcast series hosted by Ronnie Herel is also available, with each of its four episodes dedicated to exploring the evolution of these stores in various regions, including the South, North and Midlands. The series features interviews with key figures from the music scene, including Morgan Khan, Ben Bell, Claudia Wilson and Gary Dennis, offering personal insights into the vital role these record stores played in local communities and the global impact they had on Black music.

The project shines a light on Black, African and Caribbean experiences, using oral history interviews and photographic archives to highlight the cultural significance of these spaces. The documentary, directed by Simon ‘Schooly’ Phillips, premiered during Black History Month and will soon be available online, with resources like an education pack for secondary schools available for free to teachers.

The initiative was made possible by The National Lottery Heritage Fund, and the project has been rolled out in collaboration with the Sound/Image Research Centre at the University of Greenwich, Brighter Sound in Manchester and music:defined.

Vijay Mistry, director of 2Funky Arts, which grew from the 2Funky Records store in Leicester, expressed his excitement about the project. “We are thrilled to be able to celebrate this fascinating history and have worked with talented specialists to develop the book and podcast, including writer/researcher Sean Dudley, and producer Sandro Martins.”

The limited-edition book is available to buy and the podcast can be listened to via Spotify, Apple Music and elsewhere.