BMAC TO HONOR PLATT, WATERS AT MUSIC IN ACTION GALA

The Black Music Action Coalition's second annual Music in Action Awards Gala, 9/22 at L.A.'s Beverly Hilton, will celebrate prolific recording artists, executives, activists and companies that have effected social change in 2022.

This year's honorees include Rep. Maxine Waters (who'll be presented with the inaugural BMAC Icon Award); Sony Music Publishing Chairman and CEO Jon Platt (who will receive the Clarence Avant Trailblazer Award), Amazon Music, The Recording Academy, 300 Elektra Entertainment Chairman and CEO Kevin Liles, journalist Nikole Hannah-Jones, attorney/author Brittany K. Barnett and Joi Brown, founder of Culture Creators, a bridge between executives established in Black entertainment and those seeking to make their mark, who will be recognized with the BMAC Change Agent Award.

"Clarence Avant is an extremely significant person in my life, so to be bestowed with the BMAC Trailblazer Award in his name is a special honor,” said Platt. “Clarence blazed a trail that continues to inspire so many of us, and I appreciate BMAC for following his path towards equality in the music business.”

Declared Amazon Music Head of Hip-Hop and R&B Tim Hinshaw, “Amazon Music is honored to be part of BMAC’s annual Music In Action Awards Gala and to receive their Social Impact Award. Black musicians, songwriters and executives are the heart of this industry, and we are honored to be working with BMAC to ensure that the next generation of Black talent has the support necessary to flourish.”

BMAC Co-Founder/Co-Chair Willie “Prophet” Stiggers noted, "BMAC is an organization formed to hold our industry accountable to its pledge to fight systemic racism and will applaud and celebrate those using their voice, platform and resources to move past performative gestures of solidarity to real action that will lead to sustainable change."

The ceremony will also herald this year’s forthcoming Music Industry Action Report Card and preview the 2023 launch of BMAC's Transformational Support Program, which will guarantee basic income to 40 Black Nashville-based creators and managers.

Participants in and talent scheduled to appear at the BMAC Music in Action Awards Gala will be announced in the coming weeks.