For Immediate Release: August 24, 2021
Contact: media@colorofchange.org
FINALISTS SELECTED FOR BLACK MUSIC EXECUTIVE PIPELINE TO INCREASE THE PRESENCE OF BLACK PROFESSIONALS IN THE INDUSTRY
Finalists will be honored at a series of events this weekend. More information is available upon request.
NEW YORK — Today, Color Of Change, the largest online racial justice organization, and Diverse Representation, an organization dedicated to increasing the visibility of Black agents, managers, attorneys and publicists in the entertainment industry, unveiled the names of finalists taking part in the Black Music Executives Pipeline, which aims to increase the number of Black executives in the music industry. It is the third pipeline program set to be launched this year and the first resource to be released to support the aims of the #ChangeMusic Roadmap.
The 12 finalists hail from New York, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Chicago, and Washington, D.C. and work for a variety of companies, including TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, Amazon, and Universal Music. Participants include:
Kike Aluko, Associate Attorney, Greenberg Traurig
Chantel Diaz, DEI Coordinator, AEG
Alura Grace Gaskins, Digital Marketing Manager, Interscope Records
Beshou Gedamu, Independent Consultant, Smithsonian Folkways
Asha Grayson, Manager and Head of Artist Development, The Rascals
Brandon Holman, Label Partnerships Manager, TikTok
Gaelen LeMelle-Brown, Partner Manager, Amazon Music
Kirkland Lynch, Global Music Licensing Program Manager, Google/YouTube
Rene Mark, Coordinator, Commerce + Digital Marketing, GEFFEN RECORDS
Faith D. McIver, Global DEI Manager, Edelman
Marcus Childs Moore, Partner Solutions Manager, Instagram
Steven Pacheco, CEO, FLOWLIKEITS89 Management Group
With the opportunity to be mentored by some of the industry’s top professionals, the finalists will undergo a three-month immersive program that will provide them with the tools and resources to build successful and thriving careers as executives in the music industry. Some mentors include:
Benoni Tagoe, President, Raedio
Matt Lawler, Director, Digital, AEG Global Partnerships
Joshua Raiford, Sr Director of Hip Hop Programming, SXM Pandora
Celena Fields, VP of Streaming & Artist Strategy, Human Re Sources
Stew Heathcote, SVP & Managing Director, Global Partnerships, AEG
Christina DePippo DePippo, Sr. Director, Premium Events Business, AEG
James Rubin, Partner, WME
Ikenna Ezeh, Agent, Celebrity Endorsements, WME
It will also create, through the applications sent in, a database which labels, publishers, video production companies, streaming services and touring companies may use to identify and hire a greater number of Black professionals.
Despite relying heavily on Black artistry and culture to stay popular and make groundbreaking sales, less than 10 percent of music industry executives are Black. The Black Music Executives Pipeline Program aims to help increase the presence of Black professionals in the industry in four program target areas:
Record labels, which oversee the production, manufacturing, distribution and promotion of sound recordings, music videos, and artists;
Music streaming platforms, such as Apple Music, Spotify, Tidal, Amazon Music Unlimited and YouTube Music;
Talent agencies, which provide music representation to musical talent; and
Live music and touring, focusing on the music companies dedicated to all aspects of live music, including producing and promoting concert tours, music events and festivals.
The Black Music Executives Pipeline Program is the first resource released from #ChangeMusic, the second iteration of a multi-industry accountability franchise from Color Of Change, in partnership with Diverse Representation. #ChangeMusic is executed in close partnership with the Recording Academy®.
Changing the trajectory of industries is no easy feat. The #ChangeMusic initiative is partnering with experts across the music industry to design and provide new resources that will allow both individuals and organizations who are committed to social change the necessary tools needed to implement the steps in the #ChangeMusic Roadmap. Regardless of a person’s position or level in an organization, these resources will enable them to carry out the Roadmap’s recommendations in every and any project or task undertaken.
Learn more about the #ChangeMusic campaign at https://changeindustries.org/changemusic/
###
Color Of Change is the nation’s largest online racial justice organization. We help people respond effectively to injustice in the world around us. As a national online force driven by over 7 million members, we move decision-makers in corporations and governments to create a more human and less hostile world for Black people in America. Visit www.colorofchange.org.
#ChangeMusic is a vertical within the Color Of Change #ChangeIndustries initiative dedicated to eradicating racism in the music industry. In partnership with the Recording Academy, #ChangeMusic addresses racist, exploitative practices in the music industry that are long overdue for an overhaul. Its goal is to harness the power we have as artists, producers, executives, and cultural leaders by inviting companies to take responsibility for their impact on the world.
Diverse Representation is aimed at increasing the hiring and exposure of Black agents, attorneys, managers, publicists, and executives in the sports and entertainment industries. In addition to creating the first ever comprehensive database of Black agents, attorneys, managers, and publicists in the sports and entertainment industries, Diverse Representation also curates various programs, events, and diversity initiatives. Visit www.diverserepresentation.com