As part of their #ChangeMusic movement, Color of Change has partnered with Diverse Representation to launch the Black Music Executives Pipeline Program. The civil rights advocacy nonprofit and database provider for Black professionals in entertainment have joined forces in efforts to increase the number of Black executives in music.
The new program aims to create an effective tool that will allow record labels, publishers, video production companies, streaming services and touring companies to quickly identify and hire Black professionals. It’s slated to bridge the gap between the increasingly high number of Black artists in the music industry and the disproportionately low number of Black executives representing them at the vice presidential level or higher.
“The Black Music Executives Pipeline Program is a crucial step in the ongoing fight to end the music industry’s decades-long history of discrimination and exclusion of Black professionals,” Amity Paye, interim chief marketing officer and senior director of communications at Color of Change said in a statement.
Ryan Butler, diversity equity and inclusion director at the Recording Academy added, “As leaders in the music industry, it is up to us to usher in a new age… The Pipeline Program stands not only as an illustration of our ongoing commitment to prioritize and promote diversity and inclusion efforts through the #ChangeMusic initiative, but also as a concrete way to honor the countless Black professionals and artists whose contributions have helped build our industry.”
“We are excited to be partnering with #ChangeMusic for this much-needed initiative,” Jaia Thomas, founder and president of Diverse Representation said in a statement. “Although Black creatives have long-served as the tastemakers of the music industry, they’ve continually been shut out and passed over for leadership positions. It is time for us to wield greater influence over the decisions that affect Black artists, their work and their livelihoods.”
Twelve professionals will be selected to participate in the three-month, immersive Black Music Executives Pipeline Program from September through November. Participants will receive a stipend, one-on-one mentorship, a speaker series, executive training and executive shadowing.
Applications for the program will open for Black professionals with at least two years of professional experience on the official websites for Change Music and Diverse Representation beginning July 5.
