BMAC GALA: BIZ PEEPS HONOR
CHANGE AGENTS
Industry folk turned out in large numbers for the Black Music Action Coalition's 9/22 Music in Action Awards Gala in Beverly Hills. The well-dressed throng was there to see awards bestowed upon Lil Baby, Sony Publishing boss Jon Platt, 300 supremo Kevin Liles, teams from Amazon Music and the Recording Academy, Congresswoman Maxine Waters and more. The honorees were all hailed for playing a role in effecting social change.
Platt, who received the Clarence Avant Trailblazer Award, joked that he had asked his team for "no more awards" but couldn't resist BMAC and especially an honor named for his mentor, Avant (for whom one of Platt's sons is named). The pubco chieftain read a 30-year-old letter from Avant envisioning the kind of change that would empower Black executives in entertainment and urged all in attendance to ensure that in another 30 years more progress will have been made. He also singled out the trailblazing companies and execs in hip-hop, especially Sean "Puffy" Combs, for paving the way.
Quincy Jones III read a letter from his dad congratulating Lil Baby on his Quincy Jones Humanitarian Award and noting the superstar Quality Control/Motown rapper's creative and activist contributions. Coach K and P looked proud enough to bust a button.
Tyler, The Creator, a friend and fan of Amazon Music Head of Hip-Hop and R&B Tim Hinshaw, brought the Amazon team up in an emotional moment.
The sizzle reel preceding the acceptance by Harvey Mason Jr. and his Grammy team of their award noted Mason's abolition of the "Secret Committees" as well as the huge gains in diversity made during his tenure. Liles, who received the Social Impact Award, spoke of leading by example. Journalists Gail Mitchell of Billboard and Shirley Halperin of Variety received 365 Awards. Joi Brown of Culture Creators, manager David Ali, powerhouse attorney/author Brittany K. Barnett (who earned a standing O for her criminal-justice crusading) and journalist Nikole Hannah-Jones also collected laurels. Congresswoman Waters, aka "Auntie Maxine," who accepted her Icon Award via video, spoke up for the importance of protecting creators.
Attorney, activist and past honoree Dina LaPolt welcomed to the stage U.S. Reps. Hank Johnson (D-Ga.) and Jamaal Bowman (D-N.Y.), who introduced the Restoring Artistic Protection (RAP) Act, of which Bowman declared, "The RAP Act is about ensuring that we are not criminalizing hip-hop, we are not criminalizing rap and we are not criminalizing Black men."
Entertainers Coco Jones and Kenny Burns co-hosted. Support for the Music in Action Awards Gala came from Primary Wave, Live Nation, AEG Presents, Spotify, Amazon Music, Saban Music and Rémy Martin.
Avant, Irving Azoff and Jones serve on the BMAC Advisory Board.
Platt (with writer/producer Warryn Campbell, who introduced him) reads Avant's letter
Team Amazon Music (l-r): Josh Beas, Rochelle Balogun, Tim Hinshaw and Sierra Lever
Capitol Music Group topper Michelle Jubelirer and newly appointed EVP of A&R and Artist Development Gordan Dillard
Lil Baby accepts his Quincy Jones Humanitarian Award
Quality Control's Coach K and P in their formal finery
Team Recording Academy: Panos Panay, Harvey Mason Jr. and Valeisha Butterfield-Jones
Colture co-founder and Brent Faiyaz manager Ty Baisden with entrepreneur/designer Neikita Stewart
Team BMAC: Courtney Stewart, Naima Cochrane, Caron Veazey, Shawn Holiday, Jamil Davis, Damien Smith and Willie "Prophet" Stiggers
