Black artists have been exploited for decades. A new series explores the fight for fair pay in music

The music industry wouldn't be what it is today without the contributions of Black artists, but systemic racial barriers have blocked their progress since the earliest days of recorded music. Exploitative contracts and copyright agreements have ensnared artists, limiting their creative freedom and denying them fair financial compensation.

Paid in Full: The Battle for Black Music explores the history of racial injustice in the music industry and Black artists' ongoing fight for fair pay. 

Co-commissioned with the BBC, and from executive producers Idris and Sabrina Elba, the three-part series is narrated by Canadian music icon Jully Black.

Episode 1

The first episode features the stories of trailblazing artists Nina Simone and Billie Holiday, who used their music to challenge societal norms. Despite their success, they're part of a large group of musicians who didn't receive fair compensation for their immense contributions to music.  

Bessie Smith, hailed as the Empress of the Blues, captivated audiences with her powerful voice and emotive performances, but her pay didn't reflect her widespread acclaim. And Chuck Berry is often credited as a founding father of rock music, but his earnings were disproportionately low compared to his white counterparts.

These early struggles laid the foundation for the ongoing fight against racial inequality in the music industry. Episode 1 of Paid in Full includes the story of TLC, one of the top-selling female groups of all time, who in 1996 — at the height of their career and right after winning two Grammy Awards — announced they were broke. 

Episode 2

The second episode looks at the emergence of Black-owned labels Motown, Stax and Def Jam, which all played a pivotal role in shaping the modern musical landscape. 

Berry Gordy founded Motown Records in Detroit in 1959, and it quickly became the "sound of young America," producing hits by the Supremes, Marvin Gaye and Stevie Wonder. Meanwhile, Stax Records, in Memphis, Tenn., fostered a soulful sound with artists like Otis Redding and Isaac Hayes.

These labels celebrated Black culture and talent, but they weren't perfect. Motown artists were subjected to rigorous grooming standards and lacked control over their creative freedom. Still, Motown and Stax paved the way for future generations of Black artists to thrive in the industry.

Motown's artists were trained to perform in a way that was appealing to white audiences

2 months ago

Duration 1:38

The success of Motown Records was based on more than hit songs: founder Berry Gordy made sure that performers — like The Supremes — were appealing not just to Black people, but to a broader white audience. "We just had people there for every facet of showbusiness...to teach us how to be entertainers," said Smokey Robinson in Paid in Full: The Battle for Black Music. Watch it on CBC Gem on Sept. 21.

Def Jam Recordings, founded by Russell Simmons and Rick Rubin in 1984, played a central role in the birth of hip-hop. Artists like LL Cool J and Public Enemy transformed the genre, but as hip-hop went mainstream, it faced criticism and censorship — highlighting the tension between artistic expression and societal norms.

Episode 3

The final episode explores the impact of streaming in the digital age. While Black artists like Jay-Z, Master P and Stormzy have achieved remarkable success by launching their own labels, others grapple with unfavourable contracts and minimal compensation from streaming platforms. 

This episode also covers Prince's public fight for his masters and how Canadian rapper Cadence Weapon made very little money after signing a 360 deal with a label.

Paid in Full: The Battle for Black Music provides insight into the triumphs and challenges of Black artists striving for recognition, autonomy and fair compensation in a music industry with odds stacked against them.

It's streaming now on CBC Gem.