Karen Gabay

Karen Gabay is an award-winning community filmmaker, radio broadcaster, and TV producer.

Karen has interviewed musicians, songwriters, engineers, journalists and producers within the field of music & entertainment including Dionne Warwick, Laura Mvula, Jam & Lewis, Mark Ronson, Swing Out Sister, KeKe Palmer, Samm Henshaw, Daley, George Clinton,Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry, Roachford  & Kerry Washington.

She has produced landmark network TV programs for UK television including First Ladies of Hip-Hop (BBC) that reflected on the untold stories of women in US & UK Hip_Hop, Prince: A Purple Reign, Reggae Brittannia (UNESCO award) & When Motown Came to Britain, and recently wrote and produced a 2-hour radio special on Quincy Jones for BBC Radio 2.

She has produced groundbreaking music content programming encouraging children to embrace music, working with leading musicians including Nile Rodgers, Gregory Porter, and Daniel Pemberton.

Karen is a radio presenter and producer for over two decades, presenting and reporting on music and the arts for Kiss FM, Radio 1, 5Live and the World Service. 

Karen presents one of the BBC’s longest-running shows, The People, and has interviewed many artists and film/video directors at the start of their careers including Amy Winehouse, Lil Nas X and Ryan Coogler & has recorded sessions with artists that include Hollie Cook, Laura White & Lemar, as well as recording in-depth interviews with many of the creatives and writers linked to Prince, 

Karen regularly lectures on black music history & race and portrayal on-screen focusing on the untold social histories of musicians, and the black x migrant experience.

Karen is a champion of music storytelling through inter-generational community & research engagement, women in music, and the value of music education for young people.