Country Music Association Launches Inaugural Diversity & Inclusion Fellowship

Launching Diversity & Inclusion Fellowship

The COUNTRY MUSIC ASSOCIATION (CMA) will launch its inaugural Diversity & Inclusion Fellowship, a program designed to provide a select group of BIPOC students with an immersive experience in the Country music industry. In partnership with the PLANK CENTER FOR LEADERSHIP IN PUBLIC RELATIONS and THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA, with additional collegiate partners including THE UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE, KNOXVILLE and NASHVILLE's BELMONT UNIVERSITY, the program is set to launch in the spring.

The CMA Diversity & Inclusion Fellowship will provide students with an insider look into CMA’s communications team in the weeks leading into the 50th anniversary of CMA FEST, set for JUNE 8th-11th. Participants will begin working remotely with CMA’s communications team in APRIL, taking part in various planning meetings with cross-departmental teams and industry partners before joining CMA team members in NASHVILLE in the weeks leading into the event. Following CMA FEST, each participant will take part in a six-week assignment with a Country music publicity partner, allowing students to further gain real world experience in the industry. 

CMA has tapped PR executive and co-founder of MY PUBLICIST IS BLACK, TRELL THOMAS, to match each participant with an industry expert who will serve as a mentor throughout the fellowship. In addition, students will participate in sessions and various programming with leaders in the field, as well as NASHVILLE-based media and talent partners.

CMA VP/Industry Relations & Philanthropy TIFFANY KERNS said, “We recognize that in order for our industry to further build an inclusive future, we have to create a multitude of pipelines for diverse talent to reach us. Through our work with our collegiate development program, CMA EDU, we have had the opportunity to work with some incredible partners at universities across the country, and I am thrilled to have been able to develop this truly special program alongside Dr. KENON BROWN [UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA Associate Professor, Advertising and Public Relations and the fellowship’s managing faculty member]. While this inaugural fellowship will focus on the public relations field, our goal is to develop future programs that highlight even more professions within the Country music industry.”

CMA Sr. Dir./Industry Relations & Inclusion MIA McNEAL added, “PR professionals in the Country music industry carry a significant amount of influence, which makes it increasingly important that the professionals recruited to fill these positions reflect not only the diverse talent and audiences they represent, but also the growing diversity of the U.S. population. We know that having diverse candidates will bring different perspectives to strategies that will ultimately strengthen the Country music industry. By partnering with several companies and individuals within our business, we aim to build widespread engagement and future opportunity within Country music.”

BROWN said, “I know first-hand the impact a program like this can have on students from underrepresented backgrounds, and I’m excited to watch the participants begin their journeys to becoming future leaders in Country music. My deepest gratitude to CMA for locking arms with myself and our additional collegiate partners to create such a rewarding experience for students.” 

Applications to apply for the fellowship are open TODAY (1/9) through FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 24th. Students eligible for the fellowship must attend THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA, THE UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE, KNOXVILLE or BELMONT UNIVERSITY, and must be an incoming junior or senior majoring in public relations, advertising, journalism, business or a related field. All participants will receive compensation for their work in addition to a stipend to cover living expenses while in NASHVILLE.

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