The Black Music Action Coalition announced that their grant, created alongside Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis is returning for its second year as applications recently opened up.
Through the grant, the coalition provides upcoming Black music producers and songwriters with studio time for recording along with mentorship, specifically mentorship by the BMAC and Executive Leadership. The grant will also give the winner of the initiative time with Jam and Lewis themselves.
Awarded to artist Mondaii for the grant’s inaugural year, the latest recipient will be announced at an event hosted by ASCAP. BMAC, alongside Jam and Lewis, will reveal the name.
Throughout the decades, the duo have written various notable tracks such as Janet Jackson’s “Rhythm Nature” and “That’s The Way Love Goes,” as well as Human League’s “Human” and Cherrelle’s “I Didn’t Mean to Turn You On.”
Jam and Lewis have also gained recognition for their work producing songs such as Mariah Carey’s “Can’t Take The Away (Mariah’s Theme),” Beyonce’s “Everything I Do” and Michael Jackson’s “HIStory.”
“We see the impact made when we truly invest in our future. Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis are two of the greatest producers, songwriters and human beings in this industry, so having them as mentors to a young person is invaluable,” said the president of BMAC per a statement. “When you add the network that the BMAC Board & our Executive Leadership Council and ASCAP will provide, this is really an incredible opportunity.”
The announcement of the grant’s return comes two weeks after the BMAC announced the Music Maker Guaranteed Income & Mentorship Program, an initiative that’s dedicated to opening up opportunities for Black artists and women artists.
Created alongside #TheShowMustBePaused, the BMAC’s goal is to make the music industry more equitable in terms of opportunities for Black artists.
Receive funding, studio time and mentorship from Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis with the Black Music Action Coalition x Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis Music Maker Grant presented by ASCAP! Emerging Black music producers and songwriters should apply by Nov. 30: https://t.co/nxkw4ODoHL pic.twitter.com/lXxUycAML9
— Black Music Action Coalition (@bma_coalition) November 15, 2023
Globally, Black musicians are underrepresented in the music industry with a variety of Black artists currently in the field reporting that there were many barriers they were challenged with in their career.
In a new study released by the UK-based Black Lives in Music nonprofit, 33% of BIPOC artists reported that they earned less than a quarter that of white musicians; of these 33%, Black musicians composed 38% of respondents who agreed- the most of any other demographic represented in the study.
Discrimination was also found to be a substantial issue. Approximately 38% of Black musicians reported that they’ve been discriminated against because of their socio-economic background.
The study’s latest findings indicate little improvement from the results first reported in 2021.
Per the latest study, 44% of Black women reported that they felt they needed to change their look to be in the industry.
Only 38% of Black artists also said that they were able to live off the income for just making music; the percentage was comparatively low when compared to the 69% of white artists who said they were able to live off the one income making music alone.
