Industry heavyweights band together to form new Black Music Action Coalition

by: Jessica Mao Jun 24, 2020

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As the music industry continues to mobilize in efforts to stand with the Black community, a robust group of industry heavyweights has come together to form new nonprofit Black Music Action Coalition (BMAC). The initiative lands in a climate of social action spurred by the Black Lives Matter movement, denoted by a collective push to forward racial equality and inclusion with Stormzy pledging £10m, ASCAP establishing an internship program for Black students, Bandcamp donating in support of Juneteenth, and more. Announced on Monday June 22, the coalition will work in alliance with #TheShowMustBePaused to ensure the music business implements a long-term strategy to combat systemic racism.

Consisting of artists, producers, managers, record label executives, songwriters, attorneys, and more industry members, BMAC intends to deliver an official plan in the next 30 days. Lady Gaga, Pharrell, Lil Nas X, Snoop Dogg, Billie Eilish, and Travis Scott comprise a few of the 160 artists that have signed onto the organization’s goals. Clarence Avant famously known as “The Black Godfather,” veteran manager Irving Azoff, acclaimed producer Quincy Jones, and attorney Ron Sweeney will sit on the advisory board.

“The music industry unfortunately has not been immune to the systemic racism that plagues our country. Fixing our society requires addressing the issues in music, media and entertainment, and it requires all of us working together. Our aim is to harness the power of music and activate our community to effectuate real, positive systemic change not only within the music business, but for our artists, black communities, and society as a whole,” stated BMAC founding member Binta Brown.

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Make no mistake—dance music is born from black culture. Without black creators, innovators, selectors, and communities, the electronic dance music we hold so dear would simply not exist. In short, dance music is deeply indebted to the global black community and we need to be doing more. Black artists and artists of color have played a profound role in shaping the sound and culture of dance music and now more than ever, it is necessary for everyone in the music community to stand up for the people that have given us so much. Dancing Astronaut pledges to make every effort to be a better ally, a stronger resource, and a more accountable member of the global dance music community. Black Lives Matter—get involved here:  

Black Lives Matter

My Block My Hood My City

National Lawyers Guild Mass Defense Program

Black Visions Collective

Colin Kaepernick’s Know Your Rights Legal Defense Initiative

The Bail Project

The Next Level Boys Academy

Color of Change

Committee to Protect Journalists

Source: Rolling Stone