Beyond the Spotlight: The Black Women Behind the Music Industry’s Biggest Moments
- Tyerra Drake
- 3 hours ago
- 4 min read
The Black Women in Music Summit isn’t just another industry event - it's an evolution of well- deserved recognition. The purpose of this event is to celebrate, inspire and teach the Black women who play huge roles in some of your favorite artists’ careers. From artists to entrepreneurs, to A&Rs and other music executives, this event amplifies the women who make this industry flourish.
This two-day event consisted of networking, panel sessions, workshops and powerful insight from some of the industry’s most respected people. A prominent moment from the summit was the Self-Made Panel where panelists dropped gems about knowing your worth, obtaining necessary knowledge, and other tips on how to navigate this music industry as a woman. These testimonials from these women demonstrated lessons of resilience, faith, and learned experiences that any Black woman can carry with them through their journey in this music industry.
Key Takeaways From The Self-Made Panel
The Self-Made Panel was more than just your typical panel. It was a music business clinic in confidence building, perseverance, and navigation for Black women in the music industry. It featured powerful music executives, managers, and entrepreneurs of the game sharing their journeys from the good and bad, to their defining career moments, and the obstacles they’ve had to overcome as Black women in a male-dominated industry. These women shared personal experiences and actionable insights on understanding your worth, taking initiative all while remaining authentic and being resilient in order to thrive in this entertainment space. I want to share some key takeaways from this panel discussion that will be beneficial for anyone just starting or has some skin in the game when it comes to the music industry as a Black women:
1. Know Your Value
As Ash-lee Brathwaite, President of A&R & Special Projects at MusixXchange stated, “It doesn't matter who you are. The rooms that you step in, you're supposed to be in. You did not land in this career or room by accident. You have to be confident in your goals to direct the conversations and experiences needed to prosper in the music industry. When you know your value, you ensure no one can undermine you and you show you command respect which peers, colleagues, and higher-ups must acknowledge.
2. Be A Student Of The Game
It is so important to learn the business side of the music industry. A job may come and go, but no one or thing can take away from the knowledge you’ve acquired. That means you need to immerse yourself in a wealth of knowledge. Brittney aking Brock, Founder of King Creative Group & Moms In Music shared her starting experience being twenty-one and being Usher’s day-to-day manager. That came with mistakes, but many lessons learned to be able to thrive in this industry and elevate.
3. Own Your Space
There is power in authenticity when it comes to your career growth in the music industry. Don’t lead yourself to burnout where you have nothing left to give because you’re trying to fit in. As artist manager, Ny’Quasia Brown declared, “If you’re in that room, own that room.” No one can take away the knowledge you gained, the respect you’ve earned, or your value so do not be intimidated by any person, thing or situation that would cause you to not be who you are. Being true to yourself will bring you longevity in the music industry.
4. Take Initiative Just because the music business is a male-dominated industry does not mean Black women need to seek validation from men to know they are capable of the role. Realizing that she did not need permission, was the turning point for Ash-lee. Don’t be afraid to take that first step. Your elevation is on the other side of that decision to move with action. You have the skills, the strategy and network to make things happen, so just do it.
5. Have Faith And Resilience All you need is faith the size of a mustard seed, and many of the ladies on the panel shared their testimonies on how faith played a major part in their career journeys. We all have an idea of how we’d like our lives to pan out, but the path might not turn out that way. For some of these ladies it was being homeless, having their car repossessed, or being laid off, and surrendering their life to God helped them to build resilience. Joy Young, a music executive and author, shared “giving her life to God” was the defining moment in her career.
The Black Women In Music Summit was more than just a gathering. It was a celebration of the impact Black women make in the music industry. Black women are the influence. Black women have the ideas. Black women have the reach. It’s important that Black women are in these decision-making seats because these women are the ones creating opportunities and changing lives. If you missed this year’s summit, don’t worry! Founder, Jocelyn Rivera shared her ideas to expand the summit, stating “she wants the summit to grow [with] another city for starters..[then] nationally, globally”. Make sure you stay tuned in to all the amazing things the Black Women In Music Summit has to offer.
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