advertisement
Music News

Victoria Monét, Black Music Action Coalition Join Forces on Music Grant

The BMAC x Victoria Monét Music Maker Grant will provide $5,000, mentoring and more to its recipient.

Victoria Monét

Victoria Monét

Dalvin Adams

Victoria Monét and the Black Music Action Coalition are teaming up to make dreams come true for a talented Black artist.

BMAC and Monét are behind a new grant, which awards a Black emerging artist $5,000 to “aid in economic empowerment,” plus opportunities and direct career advice from the 10-times Grammy nominated performer.


The BMAC x Victoria Monét Music Maker Grant is part of BMAC’s commitment to facilitate access, equity and opportunity for the next generation of Black artists and industry professionals, and will be officially announced Wednesday (Jan. 31) at BMAC’s Grammy Week Music Maker Dinner in Los Angeles.

advertisement

Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis are hosts of BMAC’s pre-Grammys event.

“We are honored to partner with Victoria Monét to uplift a young and deserving Black artist and help further their dreams within the music industry,” comments BMAC co-founder, president and CEO, Willie “Prophet” Stiggers, in a statement. Her story, Stiggers continues, “is one of resilience and perseverance and it is in that spirit we will continue to pay it forward.”

Monét enjoyed a hot streak in 2023, as the singer-songwriter nabbed her first No. 1 single on a Billboard chart, with “On My Mama” (via Lovett/RCA Records) leading the Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay tally, then swiftly led another as the single reigned over topped the R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay list.

There’s potentially more glory on the way for the Texas-based rapper. She’s nominated for seven Grammy Awards for the 2024 ceremony, set for Feb. 4, including record of the year, best R&B song, and best new artist.

With six nominations, she leads the way at the 2024 NAACP Image Awards, set for to air March 16.

BMAC’s growing portfolio of grants and empowerment programs for Black emerging artists and industry professionals including The Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis Music Maker Grant, BMAC Ernie Paniccioli Music Photojournalism Grant & Celebration Event, BMAC x Audiomack Paid Music Internship for HBCU Students, BMAC x Kobalt Music Maker Grant Making Program and more.

advertisement

According to the organization, the recipient of the BMAC x Victoria Monét Music Maker Grant will be selected through a nationwide search hosted by BMAC, details on which will be announced in the weeks ahead.

Visit the official Black Music Action Coalition site for more information.

This article was originally published by Billboard U.S.

advertisement
Ed Sheeran performs onstage at iHeartRadio Z100's Jingle Ball 2025 Presented by Capital One held at Madison Square Garden on December 12, 2025 in New York, New York.
John Nacion/Billboard

Ed Sheeran performs onstage at iHeartRadio Z100's Jingle Ball 2025 Presented by Capital One held at Madison Square Garden on December 12, 2025 in New York, New York.

Music News

Ed Sheeran Addresses Controversy at First Show Since Openers, Backing Band Dropped Off Tour, Calls It ‘The Best Show of My Life’

Before his show in Philadelphia, Sheeran read a statement acknowledging the issue of Israel and Palestine, but still tried to keep things neutral.

Ed Sheeran needed to address the situation before he could start playing guitar. It wasn’t how he wanted to start his show, and he’s made it abundantly clear that the last thing he wants around him is controversy or, in his words, to be an “activist musician.”

But here he was, at the first show after his opener and friend Macklemore was kicked off the tour, following pressure by a group of venue owners led by Robert Kraft who took issue with Macklemore’s statement of support toward Palestine. That led to the rest of the tour’s openers and even Sheeran’s backing band for the tour dropping off the tour in solidarity with Macklemore — all of which became a huge news story and PR nightmare for the usually very un-controversial Sheeran. And though he had already made one highly scrutinized statement online while the news story was at its most potent, Sheeran felt the need to address the crowd at Philadelphia’s Lincoln Financial Field on Saturday night (Sept. 19) in person, before the show really started.

This article was first published by Billboard U.S.

keep readingShow less
advertisement