Black Music Month History ...

Business of Music

I think those who spearheaded the Black Music Month observance did not intend it to become overtly commercialized, but the music industry powers saw a way to capitalize. Black Music Month became a way to use the cultural aspect of Black musical contributions to distribute and package old and new Black music product. It became an economic engine highlighting the accomplishments of African-American musicians. Much of the early new-found revenue was due greatly in part to the success of CBS Records with the first in-house Black division. Their success led to other major record labels to do the same thing; thus, the new in-house Black promotions departments were created.

Black Music Association (BMA)

While CBS was having a field day with its in-house Black division, another independent label distributed by CBS was operated by a two African-Americans by the names of Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff. Years later, Gamble would go on to form the Black Music Association. There were four divisions created within the organization; Marketing/Merchandising, Record Company Execs, Communications (radio air personalities/TV execs/journalists), and Entertainers/Artists.

It is suggested that Gamble, and others who helped Black Music Month become a reality, used the Country Music Association as the model for promoting June as Black Music Month -- CMA had established October as Country Music Month.

President Jimmy Carter/BMA/Clarence Avant

In 1979, Black Music Month became a reality with the help of Clarence Avant, an African-American record exec/communications entrepreneur. Best described as an unassuming gentleman with influence in areas far beyond the music industry, Avant was asked to help get a night at the White House with President Carter and his wife Roslyn ... like the one the CMA had enjoyed. Apparently after a lot of well-placed phone calls, it worked. Just to impress upon you the significance of Avant, he was later part of the Clinton White House economic transition team.

A Party Kicked Things Off

The Black Music Night at the White House gave birth to a Black Music Month. The guest listed that night included Little Richard, Chuck Berry, Andre Couch, Evelyn Champaign King and Billy Eckstine. The BMA selected June as the month to celebrate the economic and cultural power of Black music. President Carter gave it his stamp of approval on June 7th with that first night of celebration at the White House. The names credited for the creation of Black Music Month include Kenny Gamble, Ed Wright, and Dyana Williams. Although today it's still referred to as Black Music Month, in 2009 President Barack Obama officially changed the name to African-American Music Appreciation Month.

Support

Earlier I mentioned the major companies' discovery of increased dollars from their new in-house Black divisions. The Black Music Month angle was an excellent way to package and sell Blues, Jazz, Gospel and R&B at record stores. There were a lot of advertising dollars poured into media for marketing and all sorts of displays highlighting the merchandise.

Black Music Month 2018

Most independent record stores have gone out of business and along with them the model for celebrating and selling product for Black Music Month. There is not exactly a large demand for creative artwork for artist displays these days. With the changes to music delivery systems the record companies' financial support has become almost non-existent. To a large extent it's because the music industry restructured its marketing plans to keep up with society's new ways of getting music. Traditional record sales have become a part of a new metric which includes streaming and downloads; it's now music consumption. After all these years, the Black Music Month has become radio syndicated programming, SiriusXM features, cable TV music specials, PBS documentaries, and some well-produced NPR programs. The month itself is recognized, but many don't remember why or how it came about.

Legacy

There is a legacy for Black music which goes as far back as slavery and the contributions have been many; the Gospel of Mahalia Jackson, Gamble & Huff's Philadelphia International Records, Stax Records, Thelonious Monk, Motown, Notorious B.I.G., Prince, Nat King Cole, Jay Z, Keith Sweat, Beyoncé, BB King, Sarah Vaughn, Drake, Miles Davis, Tupac Shakur, The Winans, The Spinners, Cardi B, The Weeknd, Charlie Parker, Rihanna, Barry Gordy, DEF Jam, Sade, Jessye Norman, Muddy Watters, Kendrick Lamar, David Porter, Michael Jackson, Louie Armstrong, John Legend, Muddy Waters, Diana Ross, The Supremes, Charlie Wilson, Otis Reading, Atlantic Records, West, Teddy Pendergrass, Shirley Caesar, Babyface, Lloyd Price, The Drifters, Salt-N-Pepa. Sammy Davis Jr., Billie Holiday, Toni Braxton, Snoop Dogg, Eartha Kitt, Rock Nation, Migos, Issac Hayes, Regina Carter, Smokey Robinson, Interscope Records, Whitney Houston, James Brown, Ella Fitzgerald, Jay Z, Cab Calloway, Chris Brown, Chuck Berry, RCA, Sean "Puffy" Combs, Lionel Hampton, Stevie Wonder, Peabo Bryson, Queen Latifah, Lionel Hampton, Vanessa Williams, Shaggy, 50 Cent, Dinah Washington, Ray Charles, Alicia Keys, Duke Ellington, Marion Anderson, Curtis Mayfield, MC Hammer, Natalie Cole, Tyrese, Darlene Love, and so many more.

Everything Changes

People have said to me "Black Music isn't the same anymore." It is not supposed to be; it's called growth. Inevitably there will be more artistry hybrids and more new music delivery systems. All of it will continue to help highlight the accomplishments of African-Americans in the music and radio industries. Thanks to technology, it will be achieved more effectively for years to come. Black Music Month is art for the ages.