Black Music Action Coalition Announces Sponsorships With Amazon Music, Def Jam Recordings & Rolling Loud

The Black Music Action Coalition (BMAC) continues to expand, announcing new sponsorships with Amazon Music, Def Jam Recordings, Rolling Loud and more. The program, presented in partnership with Nashville Music Equality, the Recording Industry Association of America and Wasserman Music, returns to Tennessee State University for a second year.

The program provides the opportunity for Black college students in Tennessee to break into the music industry, with guest lecturers dropping in to share their own stories and experiences. Primary Wave’s BMAC-James Brown Education Found will cover the costs for 30 students to take the elective class for free.

“While many have put down the protest signs and lowered the urgency around racial and social justice, Black Music Action Coalition is doubling down on our commitment to creating sustainable pipeline programs and providing real access for the next generation of music executives and artists, that have historically been denied access to the level of exposure and training that our music accelerator program provides,” BMAC Co-Founder/Chairman, Willie “Prophet” Stiggers, said in a statement. “We were intentional about Tennessee State University being the hub for this program and with Nashville being such an important part of the music industry, it’s imperative that we are building programs like this right here from down the street from Music Row. This year we expanded the music accelerator program to include FISK University and the goal is to eventually have students from all 107 HBCUs to participate in this program annually.”

Throughout the month of May, students have the opportunity to learn Record Label 101 with Def Jam Recordings, where Coco Jones, Naim McNair, Charlene Thomas, Lydia Asrat and Prophet will speak together on a panel, a Rolling Loud takeover with Tariq Cherif that includes Goldenvoice’s Marcus Johnson, Live Nation’s Gade Raferty and WME’s Kevin Shivers, a TCU Artist Session with Waka Flocka Flame, Music 101 hosted by Amazon Music and a closing retreat moderated by Sirius XM’s Swaggy Sie with Bre-Z, YelloPain and Daisha “The Rap Girl” McBribe.

“Tennessee State University is fortunate to have these music-related companies participating in our Maymester course,” Dr. Mark Crawford, coordinator of TSU’s Commercial Music program, said in a statement. “They bring deep content and wide contacts. From the beginning of this partnership, we identified a mutual goal, which is to provide real-world opportunities for students who otherwise might be under-represented in the music industry.”

Last year’s program successfully landed students in internships across the music industry including Wasserman Music, Warner Music Nashville and LVRN. This year, one TCU student will earn the chance to open for Waka Flocka Flame at Brooklyn Bowl in Nashville.

“What the Black Music Coalition is doing to bridge the racial gap in the music business is invaluable work,” Gary Bushrod, head of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion at Amazon Music, said in a statement. “As an HBCU graduate myself, I am extremely proud and energized by what the Music Accelerator Program is creating for students at Tennessee State and Fisk University.”