To kick off Black Music Appreciation Month, Audiomack and the Black Music Action Coalition today announced the latest iteration of the “Black Music Executives Are The Future” program, the internship and mentorship program focused on discovering and molding the next generation of Black executives in the music industry.
This year, Audiomack and Black Music Action Coalition will choose six Black undergraduate students – or recent graduates from the past 12 months – to participate in a three-month paid, summer internships across an array of departments such as finance, human resources, marketing, technology development, and music & data partnerships.
The recipients will also be paired with a renowned music industry executive to serve as their personal mentor over the course of the program. The list of this year’s distinguished executive mentors includes:
- Max Gousee – CEO at Artistry Group; Produced for Beyonce, Kelly Rowland, Ty Dolla $ign, etc.
- Al Branch – CMO & Partner at The Blueprint Group; executed campaigns for JAY-Z, Kanye West, etc.
- Kathryn Frazier – CEO of Biz 3 Publicity; executed campaigns for The Weeknd, Lil Baby, Lil Yachty, etc.
- Yves Pierre – Agent at Creative Artists Agency (CAA)
- Lydia Asrat – CEO at 10Q Management
- Marcus “Don Dada” Johnson – Talent Buyer at AEG
“Representation is a priority for our team and we remain committed to providing Black students and graduates with the real-world experience and opportunities to jumpstart their careers and pursue their passions in the music industry,” Audiomack SVP of Marketing & Brand Strategy Jason Johnson said. “We have a responsibility as leaders to pay it forward, open doors for the next generation of young, Black talented leaders and level the corporate playing field.”
“Black Music Action Coalition is doubling down on our commitment to sustainable pipeline programs providing access for the next generation of Black artists and executives. For example, BMAC’s ‘Black Music Executives are The Future’ Mentorship/Internship program provides six current HBCU students with industry insights and leaders. This program exposes and teaches students through real time experiences and mentorship from some of our industry’s most successful executives. Our inaugural cohort, enriched by this experience, will surely be future industry leaders. Until there is a level playing field, BMAC and Audiomack team will activate, agitate, and innovate to ensure accountability and establish equitable pathways to opportunities, access, and success. Although some have gone quiet after loudly committing to the cause of racial justice, BMAC remains steadfast and true to our commitment to repair and build a more equitable and representative music industry.”
Prospective candidates can apply HERE, but will need to create an Audiomack account, upload a resume, select their preferred internship department and submit a cover letter describing goals they’d like to achieve as part of the internship program. Additionally, they will need to follow Audiomack and Black Music Coalition on Instagram and Twitter. The deadline for candidates to apply is Thursday, June 8, 2023.
Audiomack and Black Music Action Coalition originally launched the “Black Music Executives Are The Future” program in February 2022, where five recipients were awarded internships and mentorship opportunities from the likes of Rolling Loud co-founder Tariq Cherif, The Blueprint Group CEO Cortez Bryant, Republic Records SVP Amina Diop and several others.
© 2023, Seth "Digital Crates" Barmash. All rights reserved.
