TSU STUDENTS WRAP SUCCESSFUL MUSIC BUSINESS ACCELERATOR PROGRAM
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The 2023 Music Business Accelerator Program culminated with a closing retreat and star-studded educational panel of music luminaries from Atlanta, Los Angeles and New York. Black Music Action Coalition (BMAC) in partnership with Amazon Music, Nashville Music Equality, Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and Wasserman Music presented the Maymester initiative at HBCU Tennessee State University furthering a shared commitment to empower the next generation of Black music artists and professionals.
The finale panel at the National Museum of African American Music in Nashville featured SiriusXM Host Swaggy Sie, actress/artist Bre-Z, actress/artist Serayah artist/activist YelloPain, producer Rodney Jerkins and Tennessee native artist/songwriter Daisha “The Rap Girl” McBride. Each shared heartfelt stories of the struggles and triumphs from their own perspectives working in the entertainment industry. BMAC Co-Founder/Chair Willie “Prophet” Stiggers and Senior Vice-President Repertoire and Marketing Tim Reid dropped gems of industry wisdom to students from both the 2023 and 2022 programs.
The Music Business Accelerator Program offers Black college students in Tennessee career resources to help them break into the music industry. With an emphasis on mentorship, the program provides access to executives and artists as guest lectures. Announced at BMAC’s second Music In Action Awards Gala, this year’s program was sponsored by Primary Wave’s BMAC-James Brown Education Fund to cover the costs for 30 students to take this elective class for free.
Program highlights included: Tri Star reception hosted by Lou Taylor, Heather Kinder and Country artist Tyler Hubbard on May 8; Def Jam Record Label 101 on May 11 with EVP A&R Naim McNair, VP Marketing Charlene Thomas alongside moderator Prophet, plus actress and Def Jam recording artist Coco Jones; Rolling Loud takeover with Co-Founder / Co-CEO Tariq Cherif, Goldenvoice’s Marcus Johnson, Live Nation’s Gade Raferty and William Morris Endeavor’s Kevin Shivers on May 15. The TSU Artist Session featured Waka Flocka Flame, who gave TSU student Mille Manny an unforgettable experience opening his show at the Brooklyn Bowl on May 18. Amazon Music hosted Music 101 with representatives Gary Bushrod and Frankie Yaptinchay on May 22 ahead of the Closing Retreat on May 25 with a discussion focused on “How to use your platform to impact change.”
The success follows an inaugural program in 2022, which placed students in opportune internships across multiple music industry companies such as Wasserman Music, Warner Music Nashville and LVRN. Recording artists BRELAND, Blanco Brown and Joy Oladokun as well as members for Post Malone and Mary J. Blige joined initiatives that also featured representatives from YouTube Music, Goldenvoice, BMG and EMPIRE. The launch wrapped guest lectures from super producer Dallas Austin and recording artist Sir The Baptist, both of whom received an honorary doctorate in music from TSU that month, while each student was surprised with their very own Gold plaque from the RIAA.
BMAC Co-Founder/Chairman, Willie “Prophet” Stiggers says, “We have completed the 2nd year of our Music Business Accelerator Program at Tennessee State University. We had over 30 incredible executives and artists come to Nashville to participate in this year’s program that ran from May 8th -May 25th. From Def Jam and Coco Jones, to Lou Taylor and Tyler Hubbard to Tariq and Rolling Loud gifting some students tickets to the Miami show as a prize for building out the best mock Rolling Loud Nashville show, to Waka Flocka and his team giving to up-and-coming artist, Millie Manny, who is a student in this year’s class, represents the purpose and potential of this program. Our inaugural program led to several paid internships and full-time employment for 4 students by companies in our industry. Black Music Action Coalition will continue to be intentional about bringing this level of programming, resources and access to the next generation artists, executives and business leaders in our communities.”
“A major highlight this year for me was seeing our music business accelerator program participants from last year transition into workforce development roles this year in an effort to support the new cohort, which is a full circle moment. Nashville’s entertainment industry is evolving at an incredible pace. This program is equipping our young professionals with high-level networking experiences, best practices, and employment opportunities which is essential to the success of our young professionals,” shares Brian Sexton of Nashville Music Equality/Nashville Promise Zone.
“The Music Business Accelerator program is a great example of the creative community coming together in support of future generations and providing students new access to mentors and opportunities to grow their talents. The participation of the speakers, sponsors and venue hosts proves that the music industry in Nashville is excited about welcoming more voices to the table and fully representing diverse creators. As this program continues to evolve, I look forward to all the possibilities for these students and what awaits the next class!” says Jackie Jones, SVP Artist and Industry Relations, RIAA.
“We were thrilled to bring Maymester back to TSU for a second year,” says Lenore Kinder, Senior Vice President, Wasserman Music. “The Music Business Accelerator Program is an incredible opportunity to provide valuable insight and lasting relationships to these promising students as they forge their careers in Nashville and beyond. Our partners at BMAC, Nashville Music Equality and RIAA with support from Amazon Music share our commitment to creating actionable change in the industry and shaping the next generation of industry leaders.”
Head of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion for Amazon Music, Gary Bushrod adds, “What the Black Music Action Coalition is doing to bridge the racial gap in the music business is invaluable work. 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.”
ABOUT BMAC: The Black Music Action Coalition (BMAC) endeavors to uphold and actualize the mission of Black Lives Matter in the music industry and reach racial justice not just across labels, publishers, agencies, distributors, and DSP’s but throughout society at large. BMAC works together with leaders from various business leaders to hold their companies accountable and implement a system of checks and balances to ensure change takes root. The group fosters and shepherds various educational, mental health, financial literacy, entrepreneurship, policing, social justice, and political causes that directly impact Black communities. Learn more about the Black Music Action Coalition at https://www.bmacoalition.
ABOUT NASHVILLE MUSIC EQUALITY MISSION: Nashville Music Equality mission is to create an anti-racist environment in the Nashville Music industry.
ABOUT RIAA: The Recording Industry Association of America® advocates for recorded music and the people and companies that create it in the United States. RIAA’s several hundred members – ranging from major American music groups with global reach to artist-owned labels and small businesses – make up the world’s most vibrant and innovative music community, working to help artists reach their potential and connect with fans while supporting hundreds of thousands of American jobs.
ABOUT WASSERMAN MUSIC: Wasserman Music represents a world-class roster of artists for live performance, touring, brand partnerships and beyond, empowering them to create culture and impact audiences globally. The passionate, entrepreneurial agents at Wasserman Music are long-term artist development strategists who build significant, global platforms for the world’s most impactful artists. Wasserman Music is a division of Wasserman, a partner to the world’s most iconic sports figures, musical artists, brands, and properties.
ABOUT AMAZON MUSIC: Amazon has been in the music business for more than 20 years (CDs were the second item sold on Amazon, after books) and has long-established trust with both customers and the industry. Amazon Music launched music streaming in 2014, initially as a benefit just for Prime members (formerly known as Prime Music). Since then, it has expanded into a full streaming service, offering a variety of tiers, content, and plans to customers in more than 50 countries around the world. Amazon Music currently has more than 55 million customers globally, and today is considered the third largest streaming service after Spotify (1st) and Apple Music (2nd). Key marketplaces for Amazon Music include US, UK, DE, JP, FR, IT, ES, IN, MX, BR, CA, and AU.
ABOUT MUSIC BUSINESS ACCELERATOR PROGRAM AT TSU: This program was founded in 2022 by Willie “Prophet” Stiggers from the Black Music Action Coalition, Brian Sexton from Nashville Music Equality, Jackie Jones from RIAA, Margaret Hart from YouTube Music, Lee Anderson, Lenore Kinder, Lindsay LeBennett and Denise Melanson from Wasserman Music, and Dr. Mark Crawford from Tennessee State University.
ABOUT TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY: Founded in 1912, Tennessee State University is Nashville’s only public university, and is a premier, historically black university and land-grant institution offering 39 bachelor’s degree programs, 24 master’s degree programs, and eight doctoral degrees. TSU is a comprehensive research-intensive institution with a R-2 Carnegie designation and has a graduate school on its downtown Avon Williams Campus, along with the Otis Floyd Nursery Research Center in McMinnville, Tennessee. With a commitment to excellence, Tennessee State University provides students with a quality education in a nurturing and innovative environment that prepares them as alumni to be global leaders in every facet of society. Visit the University online at tnstate.edu.
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