• Black Music Month 2024: How Sony Music Group Celebrated the Historical Influence of Black Culture in Music
• Jun 28, 2024

Every June, Sony Music Group (SMG) celebrates Black Music Month. Officially recognized by President Jimmy Carter in 1979, Black Music Month serves as an opportunity to recognize the innovation, persistence, and contribution of Black talent within the music industry.

On June 6, HUE (Helping Unite Everyone)-SMG's Talent Advisory Group (TAG) aimed at uplifting Black, Indigenous, and People of Color-partnered with two other TAGs from within the music industry, SpotifyBLK and Warner Music Kinfolk, in hosting "Setting the Record Straight: Reclaiming Our Music," an engaging discussion about the history and future of Black music. The conversation included a myriad of perspectives, ranging from artist development to archival knowledge.

"Setting the Record Straight" Panelists
(L-R): Naima Cochrane, Fredara Hadley, Kimmy Summers, Steve Carless & Russ Jones"Setting the Record Straight" Panelists
(L-R): Fredara Hadley, Kimmy Summers, Steve Carless, Russ Jones & Naima Cochrane

"As one of the Board Officers of HUE, I was personally proud of this event," said Karimah Day, Executive Assistant to the President of Commercial Music Group and Head of Administration of HUE. "Black people have been the heartbeat of countless musical genres, infusing soul, rhythm and revolutionary creativity that resonates across generations and continents; and 'Setting the Record Straight' highlighted this. It was a powerful and educational panel that I hope the audience felt."

Later in the month, HUE, alongside Tiffany & Co.'s African Brillance Collective and Moet Hennessy, hosted "Soundbites & Solidarity: A Celebration of Black Creativity & Community." The event, which featured a performance and Q&A session with The Orchard-distributed artist Thutmose, was another great way to celebrate the undeniable influence of Black culture within music.

"Soundbites & Solidarity"
Interview with Thutmose"Soundbites & Solidarity"
Thutmose's Performance

"The event was really inspiring, and I loved having the opportunity to meet people in various roles and spaces within the music industry," said Edward Williams, 2024 Sony Music Group Impact Fellow and Digital & College Marketing Intern at The Orchard. "My time at The Orchard has allowed me to work on multiple projects, and it was incredibly rewarding to meet one of the artists from my roster in person! Meeting Thutmose gave me newfound motivation to continue brainstorming innovative activations as he elevates in his career."

In addition to our in-person programming, The Orchard also launched "In Collaboration," a three-part episodic video series that explored the influence of Black artists in defining culture. The project highlighted three unique partnerships between music and visual artists, offering a deep dive into their creative processes to produce art in their respective mediums. Click here to learn more about the project and watch all three episodes.

From folk to rock, country to jazz, and everything in between, Sony Music Group is proud to shine a light on Black artistry and the revolutions that come from it.

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