advertisement
FYI

How UMG is Promoting Pride Month

June is Pride Month, and Universal Music Group (UMG) is marking the occasion by selling items to benefit

How UMG is Promoting Pride Month

By External Source

June is Pride Month, and Universal Music Group (UMG) is marking the occasion by selling items to benefit GLAAD and  The Dru Project, as well as promoting a mental health content series, artist listening parties and curated playlists.


GLADD is a media monitoring group for LGBTQ+ persons and The Dru Project an LGBTQ advocacy organization promoting gay-straight alliances.

Pride Month is celebrated in June in honour of the 1969 “Stonewall Uprising” in New York City. Homosexuality was still considered a criminal offence at that time and the Stonewall Inn was a popular gay bar. A police raid of the venue resulted in clashes and six days of protests that became known as the “Stonewall Uprising.”

advertisement

The first Pride march was held in New York City on June 28, 1970, the one-year anniversary of the event.

UMG is seeking to create a societal sense of belonging for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ+) community through its initiatives.

“Music is a unifying force in the world and has the power to uplift every voice, intersectionality and identity,” UMG executive vice-president and chief people and inclusion officer Eric Hutcherson said in a media release.

“We believe that all people should feel that they belong, and our hope is that our Pride celebration gives that sense of belonging to all members of the LGBTQ+ community and its allies, as well as supports the organizations and people doing the critical work of advocating for the community – not just during Pride Month but throughout the year.” – Continue reading Steve McLean’s feature on the Samaritanmag website.

advertisement
Shhenseea, MOLIY, Skillibeng and Silent Addy
ACEPXL

Shhenseea, MOLIY, Skillibeng and Silent Addy

Awards

Here’s Why ‘Shake It to the Max’ Was Deemed Ineligible at the 2026 Grammys — And Why Its Label Calls the Decision ‘Devoid of Any Common Sense’

Representatives from the Recording Academy and gamma. CEO Larry Jackson comment on one of this year's most shocking Grammy snubs.

Few phrases define the year in music and culture like Moliy’s scintillating directive to “shake it to the max.” The Ghanaian singer’s sultry voice reverberated across the globe, blending her own Afropop inclinations with Jamaican dancehall-informed production, courtesy of Miami-based duo Silent Addy and Disco Neil. Originally released in December 2024, Moliy’s breakthrough global crossover hit ascended to world domination, peaking at No. 6 on the Global 200, thanks to a remix featuring dancehall superstars Shenseea and Skillibeng. Simply put, “Max” soundtracked a seismic moment in African and Caribbean music in 2025.

Given its blockbuster success, “Shake It to the Max” was widely expected to be a frontrunner in several categories at the 2026 Grammys. In fact, had the song earned a nomination for either best African music performance or best global music performance, many forecasters anticipated a victory. So, when “Shake It to the Max” failed to appear on the final list of 2026 Grammy nominees in any category earlier this month (Nov. 7), listeners across the world were left scratching their heads — none more than gamma. CEO Larry Jackson.

keep readingShow less
advertisement