Category: Events

Presented by BMAC, ASCAP, and Wasserman Foundation

The Black Music Action Coalition (BMAC) and Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, proudly announce the third annual BMAC x Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis Music Maker Grants, powered by ASCAP, to be awarded at a “ReStore & ReBuild LA” fundraiser on Wednesday January 29, 2025 in Los Angeles. Funds raised at the event will benefit the BMAC LA Fire Relief Fund, building on BMAC’s five years of direct economic empowerment programs and set to disperse immediate funds to residents and small businesses of the Los Angeles area affected by the ongoing and devastating fires. Support and learn more about the fund via this link. BMAC and the legendary duo will also present their annual grants to emerging Black music talents selected from a nationwide search at the event, presented by BMAC, Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, ASCAP, and Wasserman Foundation, with support from Amazon Music Rotation, Def Jam, Harbourview Equity Partners, and IAG. In addition to the opportunity to raise funds to support the LA Fires relief efforts, the event will provide an opportunity to support local Black-owned businesses in Los Angeles at a critical time.

The yearly Music Maker awards launched in 2023 in honour of Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis’s induction to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, and celebrated emerging songwriter/artist Mondaii as the first Music Maker Grant recipient. As part of a shared commitment to create equity in music, the Music Maker program provides financial support, mentorship, studio time and networking opportunities to Black music producers and songwriters from across the United States. The 2025 Music Maker Grant recipients will be announced at the event, and BMAC leadership and Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis will present the honours to the awardees.

Willie “Prophet” Stiggers, BMAC Co-Founder + President & CEO says, “Black Music Action Coalition is proud to continue our partnership with the incomparable Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis to celebrate the future of the music industry and to create a night of healing to raise funds for Los Angeles fire relief efforts. Our annual gathering, kicking off GRAMMY Week, is where we will announce this year’s BMAC x Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis Music Maker Grant recipients as well as raise funds to benefit the BMAC LA Fire Relief Fund, an urgent and immediate relief fund with a focus on Black residents and small businesses of the Los Angeles area affected by the ongoing and devastating fires. We hope to address immediate needs of Los Angeles residents, support local businesses and musicians in need of revenue, and to continue our ongoing work to create access and opportunities for the the next generation of songwriters, producers and Artists, emphasising the importance of not only restoring businesses and rebuilding homes, but restoring hope and rebuilding the spirit.”

Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis add, “Music is a divine art that has always played a vital role in healing during times of adversity. From ‘That’s What Friends Are For’ to ‘We Are the World’, ‘Wake Up Everybody’, and our own ‘Optimistic’, songs have the power to uplift and raise our spirits while also providing critical financial support for rebuilding. We encourage these young music makers to create the soundtrack for recovery and healing.”

In 2024, the BMAC x Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis Music Maker Dinner was a convergence of music industry titans and renowned artists such as Jermaine Dupri, Babyface, Flavor Flav and Victoria Monét. The night included an impromptu jam session of artists Teedra Moses, Tank, Babyface, Kenny Burns and Flavor Flav jumping up to join for Jam & Lewis hits, in addition to the presentation of the 2024 grant to recipients ZXIRE and Mikaili Ector and the announcement of the BMAC x Victoria Monet Music Maker Grant, expanding the Music Maker Grant platform. Prior events have been attended by the likes of Earving “Magic” Johnson, Giveon, Kenya Barris, Jesse Collins, Sugar Ray Leonard, Stokley, Holly Robinson Peete, Chante Moore, Harvey Mason Jr, Yvette Nicole Brown, Shawn “Tubby” Holiday, John “Big Jon” Platt, Stephen Hill, Alex Avant, and more. Since its announcement in 2022, the BMAC Music Maker Grant program has been featured in Variety, VIBE, HITS, and more.

BMAC is an advocacy organisation formed to address systemic racism within the music business on behalf of Black artists, songwriters, producers, managers, agents, executives, lawyers and other passionate industry professionals. Since its inception, BMAC has provided direct economic relief and empowerment through partnerships with The Academy of Country Music via the ‘On Ramp’ programme, giving $1,000 a month and mentorship support to emerging Black artists and industry executives in Nashville, The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame via the ‘Guaranteed Income Program’, giving $1,000 a month and mentorship support to emerging Black artists and industry executives nationwide, artist Gunna via the Gunna x BMAC 30349 Guaranteed Income Program, providing a $500K investment to support thirty families in need in Fulton County, Georgia, and more. With the annual Music Maker Grant, BMAC continues their efforts to reinforce and champion the contributions Black artists have made in shaping the history of our society.