Black Music Action Coalition Amplifies Black Artistry
Black Music Action Coalition (BMAC) kicked off Stagecoach weekend Wednesday, April 24th by anchoring an event entitled “Act II: A Conversation Around “Three Chords and the Actual Truth” at Live Nation in Los Angeles, California. The event was an ode to Black artistry in country music but also shed light on the historical context surrounding Black origins, prompting a broader discussion regarding the ostracism of Black artists in the genre.
Carmen Dianne, BMAC x ACM OnRamp Program Awardee, kicked off the night with a live musical performance of Mickey Guyton’s “Black Like Me” and her original song, “Sober.” The pivotal event, in partnership with Billboard, featured a one-on-one conversation with country music star Mickey Guyton and BMAC CEO & president Willie “Prophet” Stiggers. An all-female discussion panel followed, featuring Grammy award-winning artist and songwriter INK and Dr. Jada Watson, Director of Musicology at the University of Ottawa. Gail Mitchell, Executive Director of R&B/Hip-Hop at Billboard and Melinda Newman, Executive Editor for West Coast & Nashville at Billboard served as the co-moderators.
BMAC is a nonprofit, advocacy organization founded in 2020 with #TheShowMustBePaused to combat systemic racism in the music industry. The coalition advocates for the interests of Black artists, songwriters, producers, managers, agents, executives, lawyers, and industry professionals. By acquiring and disseminating key information in its network, BMAC calls for racial equity and seeks to improve communal conditions. At the helm of BMAC stands the executive board, consisting of music industry giants and business leaders who come together regularly to keep companies accountable. “We need pipelines for young Black and brown professionals who want to get into the business, and we need to make sure the [Black and brown] executives in this business are properly rising through the ranks in the same way their white counterparts are,” said Caron Veazey, co-founder of BMAC.
The presence of BMAC at Stagecoach underscores the underrepresentation and exclusion of Black artists in country music. “I was asking why Country music wasn’t working for me, and it was because I was running away from everything that made me different. I was trying to bend into what everyone was telling me Country Music was,” said Mickey Guyton of her experience as a Black female country artist. BMAC’s transformative endeavor is a testament to their commitment to challenging the status quo and advocating for meaningful change on a much broader social issue.
“Embracing diverse voices, perspectives, and experiences isn’t just a choice; it’s a necessity for the evolution and enrichment of music,” said INK, Grammy winning artist and songwriter who contributed to Beyonce’s “Cowboy Carter.” Cowboy Carter, thought to be the second act in a trilogy, shed light on the role of Black artists in country music and was referenced throughout the event. The release of Beyonce’s latest album resurfaced the topic of Black talent in Country music. “In every beat, every lyric, and every melody, diversity is the driving force behind innovation, creativity, and connection.
Amongst the powerful and imperative discussions held, BMAC’s efforts serve as the precursor for something which must go beyond their events. Willie Stiggers emphasized why these conversations must go beyond Nashville and carry on the momentum created by BMAC by taking “this moment and [turning] it into a movement.” The conversation prompted by BMAC must not end here, as it is up to music industry leaders to make sure the interest in Black country music will be long standing and not temporary.
The event was based on a 45-page report entitled, “Three Chords and The Actual Truth: The Manufactured Myth of Country Music and White America,” written by BMAC Board Member Naima Cochrane in 2022. Cochrane’s report outlined Country music origins and the ways in which marginalized Black artists have played a role in such. BMAC’s Act II is the second act in a series of events, with Act I taking place in New York City last month and was the first iteration of such a truthful discussion. The third installment, “Three Chords and the Actual Truth,” will be hosted by BMAC in Nashville in May 2024. To learn more about BMAC, go to https://www.bmacoalition.org/
Featured Image Courtesy of Justine Castillo and Sunshine, Sachs, Morgan & Lylis