Paid in Full: The Battle for Black Music

Paid in Full: The Battle for Black Music is a Canadian television documentary series, which premiered on CBC Television and CBC Gem in 2024. ^[1] The three-part series profiles the history of racial injustice in the music industry, that has left many Black musicians exploited and underpaid for their work. ^[2]

Figures whose stories are explored in the series include Nina Simone, Billie Holliday, Bessie Smith, Chaka Khan, George Clinton, Monie Love, Nile Rodgers, Gloria Gaynor, Ice-T, Smokey Robinson, TLC and Cadence Weapon. ^[1]

In Canada the series premiered on CBC Gem in September 2024 before being broadcast on the main CBC Television network in October, ^[1] while in the United Kingdom it aired on BBC Two in September before being added to the BBC iPlayer streaming service. ^[2] The Canadian broadcast was narrated by singer and broadcaster Jully Black, while the British broadcast was narrated by actress Zawe Ashton. ^[3]

The series won the Canadian Screen Award for Best History Documentary Program or Series at the 13th Canadian Screen Awards in 2025. ^[4]

References

1. "Black artists have been exploited for decades. A new series explores the fight for fair pay in music". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, September 21, 2024.
2. Ellen E. Jones, "Paid in Full: The Battle for Black Music review – the racism that’s seen artists brutally ripped off for 100 years". The Guardian , September 21, 2024.
3. "New docuseries Paid in Full: The Battle for Black Music explores the history of racial injustice in the music industry". BBC, September 4, 2024.
4. Jamie Casemore, "CSAs ’25: Tragically Hip docuseries leads unscripted winners". Playback , May 30, 2025.

External links

• Paid in Full: The Battle for Black Music at IMDb