The Black Music Action Coalition (BMAC) is slated to release “Three Chords and the Actual Truth: The Manufactured Myth of Country Music and White America,” a report on the state of country music, specifically in Nashville.

Following the release of the report, BMAC will host a panel discussion which will be held on 6/18 at Soho House Nashville. The report outlines how country music, country music culture, and the business of Music Row were shaped and why it’s been resistant to change—despite the social change and movements that spurred action in other areas of entertainment with broad racial disparity. Find event info here.

In addition to the report, BMAC is urging country artists and companies operating in the live space to publicly ban the confederate flags at shows and festivals. BMAC is also asking the record, publishing and management companies in Nashville to join them as they launch “Transformative Support for Emerging Black Artists and Young Professionals through a Guarantee Basic Income Program,” which consists of $1000 per month for direct support to Black emerging artists and young professionals for one year.

“Our industry pledged to fight for equity and inclusion, so it is in that spirit we release "Three Chords and the ACTUAL Truth: The Manufactured Myth of Country Music & White America.” As a call to action, we invite all country artists to stand with us and publicly ban the confederate flag at all shows or festivals. Many were able to hide in the shadows of the exposing of Morgan Wallen, and a great deal remain silent. Today we ask you to use your voice, platform, and influence to raise the consciousness of your fan base and border society. The Black artists and concertgoers should be able to have a safe environment to celebrate the art form. In addition, we are calling on great artists like Blake Shelton, Luke Bryan, Florida Georgia Line and others who own bars on Broadway and throughout Nashville to implement a diversity policy that creates the opportunity for Black musicians and singers to have venues to perform in. If Black music is good enough to be a part of the setlist, then Black Musicians should be able to rock the sets!. The Black creative community has historically been shut out of Music Row, let’s change that. We have to be deliberate about closing the wealth gap in the country and the redistribution of the wealth. If we get this right in Nashville, it’ll speak volumes for our country."

- Willie “Prophet” Stiggers, co-founder/co-chair of BMAC