UNITED BY MUSIC
IGNITING THE CULTURE
BLACK MUSIC WEEK 2026 | ATLANTA | RECAP
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH:
A CITYWIDE GLOBAL CELEBRATION OF MUSIC, ARTS, CULTURE, ENTREPRENEURSHIP, WELLNESS, LEGACY, AND WHAT COMES NEXT.
TOGETHER, bamX AND UNITE ATLANTA BROUGHT ARTISTS, EXECUTIVES, CULTURAL LEADERS, ENTREPRENEURS, INNOVATORS, AND COMMUNITY VOICES TOGETHER FOR A POWERFUL CELEBRATION OF BLACK AMERICAN MUSIC.
FROM GLOBAL CREATIVE EXCHANGE TO INDUSTRY PANELS, AWARDS, WELLNESS CONVERSATIONS, RECEPTIONS, SHOWCASES, AND UNFORGETTABLE MOMENTS OF RECOGNITION, BLACK MUSIC WEEK TURNED ATLANTA INTO A MEETING PLACE FOR THE PEOPLE SHAPING THE FUTURE OF CULTURE.
THIS WAS MORE THAN A WEEK OF EVENTS. IT WAS A MOVEMENT IN MOTION.
Monday, May 25th - Wednesday, May 27th
MZANSI-ATLANTA CREATIVE INDUSTRY EXPO
FROM SOUTH AFRICA TO ATLANTA, ACROSS THE DIASPORA
BLACK MUSIC WEEK OPENED WITH THE MZANSI-ATLANTA CREATIVE INDUSTRY EXPO, A MULTI-DAY EXPERIENCE CREATED TO CONNECT ATLANTA WITH AFRICA’S GROWING CREATIVE ECONOMY.
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH VEROMO ENTERPRISES, THE EXPO BROUGHT TOGETHER CREATIVE LEADERS, INVESTORS, POLICY VOICES, ENTREPRENEURS, AND CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS FOR CONVERSATIONS AROUND ART, ENTERPRISE, TECHNOLOGY, INVESTMENT, AND GLOBAL OPPORTUNITY.
THE EXPERIENCE SET THE TONE FOR THE WEEK BY REMINDING EVERYONE THAT BLACK MUSIC AND BLACK CREATIVITY ARE NOT LIMITED TO ONE CITY, ONE COUNTRY, OR ONE INDUSTRY. THEY ARE GLOBAL FORCES WITH DEEP ROOTS AND AN EVEN BIGGER FUTURE.
THE MZANSI-ATLANTA CREATIVE INDUSTRY EXPO LAUNCHED BLACK MUSIC WEEK WITH A SPIRIT OF EXCHANGE, POSSIBILITY, AND CONNECTION. ACROSS THE EXPERIENCE, ATLANTA BECAME A BRIDGE BETWEEN AFRICAN CREATIVES, DIASPORA CULTURE, AND THE GLOBAL BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES SHAPING THE NEXT ERA OF MUSIC, ART, MEDIA, AND ENTERPRISE.
IT WAS A POWERFUL OPENING MOMENT FOR bamX, GROUNDING THE WEEK IN INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATION AND SHOWING WHAT HAPPENS WHEN CULTURE, CAPITAL, AND CREATIVITY MEET WITH PURPOSE.
THURSDAY, MAY 28TH
UNITE ATLANTA OFFICIAL PRESS CONFERENCE & MEDIA DAY
THE UNITE ATLANTA OFFICIAL PRESS CONFERENCE & MEDIA DAY BROUGHT MEDIA, PARTNERS, CULTURAL LEADERS, AND COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS TOGETHER TO FORMALLY INTRODUCE THE MISSION OF BLACK MUSIC WEEK.
HELD AT THE RAY CHARLES PERFORMING ARTS CENTER ON THE MOREHOUSE CAMPUS, THE MOMENT GAVE THE CITY A FIRST LOOK AT THE SCALE, PURPOSE, AND CULTURAL IMPORTANCE OF bamX.
IT WAS THE OFFICIAL LAUNCH POINT FOR A WEEK DESIGNED TO HONOR BLACK AMERICAN MUSIC WHILE CREATING NEW PATHWAYS FOR ACCESS, OWNERSHIP, COLLABORATION, AND ECONOMIC GROWTH.
THE PRESS CONFERENCE MARKED A DEFINING MOMENT FOR bamX. ITS LEADERS, PARTNERS, AND MEDIA CAME TOGETHER TO CELEBRATE THE BEGINNING OF BLACK MUSIC WEEK AND SPEAK TO THE VISION BEHIND IT.
THE MESSAGE WAS CLEAR: ATLANTA IS NOT JUST A BACKDROP FOR BLACK MUSIC. ATLANTA IS ONE OF ITS ENGINES. THROUGH bamX, THAT LEGACY WAS BROUGHT INTO FOCUS AND EXPANDED INTO A PLATFORM FOR THE FUTURE.
THURSDAY, MAY 28TH
“ATL MAYORS” FIRESIDE CHAT
THE INTERSECTION OF CIVIC LEADERSHIP & CULTURAL POWER
THE “ATL MAYORS” FIRESIDE CHAT WITH MAYOR DICKENS AND JERMAINE DUPRI (CULTURAL MAYOR OF ATL) BROUGHT LEADERSHIP, CULTURE, AND COMMUNITY INTO ONE ROOM FOR A CONVERSATION ABOUT ATLANTA’S ROLE AS A GLOBAL CREATIVE CAPITAL.
HOSTED BY RYAN WILSON, CO-FOUNDER AND CEO OF THE GATHERING SPOT, THE CONVERSATION CREATED SPACE TO REFLECT ON THE CITY’S INFLUENCE, THE RESPONSIBILITY OF LEADERSHIP, AND THE POWER OF CULTURE TO MOVE COMMUNITIES FORWARD.
THE MAYORS FIRESIDE CHAT ADDED A CIVIC LENS TO BLACK MUSIC WEEK, CONNECTING ATLANTA’S CREATIVE LEGACY WITH THE LEADERS HELPING SHAPE ITS NEXT CHAPTER.
THE EVENING REMINDED GUESTS THAT CULTURE DOES NOT GROW IN ISOLATION. IT GROWS THROUGH INVESTMENT, INFRASTRUCTURE, PARTNERSHIP, AND A SHARED BELIEF IN WHAT A CITY CAN BECOME.
FRIDAY, MAY 29TH
bamX UNDERGROUND MIXER
THE SOUND BENEATH THE SURFACE
PRESENTED IN ASSOCIATION WITH CORE ENT., bamX UNDERGROUND BROUGHT THE ENERGY OF BLACK MUSIC WEEK INTO THE NIGHT WITH A MIXER ROOTED IN MUSIC, DISCOVERY, AND CREATIVE COMMUNITY.
THE EXPERIENCE CREATED SPACE FOR YOUNG EMERGING TALENT, TASTEMAKERS, INDUSTRY VOICES, AND CULTURAL CONNECTORS TO GATHER IN A SETTING THAT FELT RAW, SOCIAL, AND ALIVE.
bamX UNDERGROUND CAPTURED THE PULSE OF THE CITY.
WHILE THE PANELS FOCUSED ON INSIGHT AND INDUSTRY, UNDERGROUND BROUGHT THE ENERGY, SOUND, AND SOCIAL HEARTBEAT OF ATLANTA INTO FOCUS. IT WAS A SPACE FOR DISCOVERY, CONNECTION, AND THE KIND OF CULTURAL EXCHANGE THAT MAKES THE CITY ONE OF THE MOST INFLUENTIAL MUSIC CAPITALS IN THE WORLD.
IT SHOWED THAT THE FUTURE OF BLACK MUSIC IS NOT ONLY BEING DISCUSSED ON STAGE. IT IS BEING BUILT IN THE ROOMS WHERE ARTISTS, CREATORS, AND COMMUNITY SHOW UP TOGETHER.
FRIDAY, MAY 29TH
JACK THE RAPPER “REMIX” CONFERENCE
THE SPIRIT OF JACK THE RAPPER WAS DEFINITELY IN THE ROOM AS A POWERFUL REMIX OF ONE OF BLACK MUSIC’S MOST IMPORTANT INDUSTRY GATHERINGS.
INSPIRED BY THE LEGACY OF JACK GIBSON, A PIONEER IN BLACK MEDIA AND MUSIC, THE CONFERENCE HONORED THE FOUNDATION HE HELPED BUILD WHILE CREATING SPACE FOR ARTISTS, EXECUTIVES, PRODUCERS, MEDIA VOICES, AND ENTREPRENEURS TO CONTINUE THE WORK.
ACROSS PANELS, SHOWCASES, AND CONVERSATIONS, JACK THE RAPPER REMIX EXPLORED THE CREATIVE, CULTURAL, AND BUSINESS SIDES OF BLACK MUSIC, FROM MAKING HIT RECORDS TO OWNING CATALOGS, BUILDING BRANDS, UNDERSTANDING SYNC, AND RESHAPING THE LANGUAGE USED TO DESCRIBE BLACK CREATIVITY.
THE JACK THE RAPPER “REMIX” CONFERENCE BROUGHT HISTORY AND FUTURE INTO THE SAME ROOM.
THE DAY WAS FILLED WITH CONVERSATIONS THAT WENT BEYOND INSPIRATION. ARTISTS, EXECUTIVES, PRODUCERS, STRATEGISTS, AND CULTURAL LEADERS SHARED REAL INSIGHT ON OWNERSHIP, VISIBILITY, PUBLISHING, STORYTELLING, BRAND BUILDING, AND THE BUSINESS DECISIONS THAT SHAPE LONG-TERM SUCCESS.
IT HONORED THE SPIRIT OF THE ORIGINAL JACK THE RAPPER GATHERINGS WHILE GIVING A NEW GENERATION THE TOOLS, ACCESS, AND PERSPECTIVE TO MOVE THE INDUSTRY FORWARD.
FEATURED PANELS
A CONVERSATION ABOUT SONGWRITING, PRODUCTION, COLLABORATION, ARTIST DEVELOPMENT, AND THE CREATIVE PROCESS BEHIND RECORDS THAT CONNECT WITH AUDIENCES.
PANELISTS: HENRY THA BIZNESS, NEEDLZ
PANEL #1: CREATING THE HITS
A DISCUSSION ON PUBLISHING, CATALOG OWNERSHIP, EQUITY, WEALTH-BUILDING, AND THE LONG-TERM VALUE OF MUSIC RIGHTS.
PANELISTS: TAMI LATRELLE, KIM SMITH, NICOLE GIACCO
PANEL #2: OWNING THE HITS
PANEL #3: URBAN VS. AFRICAN AMERICAN VS. BLACK
A CLOSER LOOK AT THE LANGUAGE USED TO DEFINE BLACK MUSIC, ARTISTS, AUDIENCES, AND CULTURE ACROSS MEDIA AND THE MUSIC INDUSTRY.
PANELISTS: DAVID LINTON, RAY DANIELS
A CONVERSATION ABOUT PROMOTION, AUDIENCE ENGAGEMENT, CULTURAL INFLUENCE, AND THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN GAINING ATTENTION AND BUILDING LASTING RELEVANCE.
PANELISTS: CANNON KENT-GRANT, DAMION “DAMIZZA” YOUNG
PANEL #4: VISIBILITY VS. IMPACT
A PRACTICAL LOOK AT MUSIC LICENSING AND PLACEMENT OPPORTUNITIES ACROSS FILM, TELEVISION, ADVERTISING, GAMING, AND DIGITAL MEDIA.
PANELISTS: LOU GRIMES, TOLU YERO, COCO MICHELLE, ATEARA GARRISON
PANEL #5: WOMEN IN MUSIC
PANEL #6: BRANDS SHAPING ATLANTA
A DISCUSSION WITH THE BRANDS, COLLECTIVES, AND PLATFORMS INFLUENCING THE CITY’S CREATIVE, CULTURAL, AND ECONOMIC LANDSCAPE.
PANELISTS: MELISSA MITCHELL, DEASIA PAGE, BEM JOINER, JHORDAN GIBBS, BRANDON BUTLER
THANK YOU TO THE ARTISTS, PANELISTS, MODERATORS, PARTNERS, AND INDUSTRY LEADERS WHO HELPED BRING THE JACK THE RAPPER “REMIX” CONFERENCE TO LIFE AS PART OF bamX AND UNITE ATLANTA.
FRIDAY, MAY 29TH
bamX RECEPTION
WHERE CONVERSATIONS BECAME CONNECTIONS
THE UNITE ATLANTA RECEPTION CREATED A SPACE FOR GUESTS, PARTNERS, ARTISTS, EXECUTIVES, AND CULTURAL LEADERS TO COME TOGETHER OUTSIDE OF THE FORMAL PROGRAMMING.
HELD AS A WELCOME PARTY, THE RECEPTION CARRIED THE SYNERGY OF A “FAMILY AFFAIR,” SIMILAR TO JACK THE RAPPER BACK IN THE DAY, INTO A MORE INTIMATE SETTING BUILT AROUND CONNECTION, CELEBRATION, AND COMMUNITY.
THE bamX RECEPTION WAS A REMINDER THAT SOME OF THE MOST IMPORTANT MOMENTS HAPPEN BETWEEN THE SCHEDULED ONES.
THE ROOM WAS FILLED WITH INTRODUCTIONS, REUNIONS, SHARED IDEAS, AND NEW POSSIBILITIES. IT GAVE GUESTS A CHANCE TO CELEBRATE THE MOMENTUM OF THE WEEK, CONNECT WITH THE PEOPLE BEHIND THE MOVEMENT, AND BUILD RELATIONSHIPS THAT COULD CONTINUE LONG AFTER THE EVENT ENDED.
SUNDAY, MAY 31ST
HEALTH MATTERS SUMMIT
MIND, BODY, SOUL, AND SUSTAINABILITY
FEATURED PANELISTS INCLUDE: STEVIE BAGGS JR., DR. MARTIN BENJAMIN, PASTOR SAM COLLIER, COACH ZEDRICK CARTER, DOCTAH B SIRIUS, SHAMAN RAH, SHANTE PAIGE, JUDGE TERRINEE GUNDY, TONY SMALLS, JR MCKEE, SHANTI DAS, GREG STREET, ANGEL HULL-TAYLOR, CHRIS COOPER
THE HEALTH MATTERS SUMMIT EXPANDED THE CONVERSATION AROUND BLACK MUSIC BY FOCUSING ON SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC HINDRANCES WITHIN THE CULTURE.
HELD AT THE RAY CHARLES PERFORMING ARTS CENTER, THE SUMMIT CENTERED WELLNESS, RESTORATION, MENTAL HEALTH, PHYSICAL HEALTH, & FINANCIAL HEALTH. THE IMPORTANCE OF SUSTAINING THE ARTISTS, EXECUTIVES, ENTREPRENEURS, AND COMMUNITIES WHO POWER THE INDUSTRY.
THE HEALTH MATTERS SUMMIT BROUGHT A NECESSARY AND MEANINGFUL LAYER TO BLACK MUSIC WEEK.
THE EXPERIENCE REMINDED EVERYONE THAT PROTECTING THE FUTURE OF BLACK MUSIC ALSO MEANS PROTECTING THE PEOPLE WHO CREATE IT, LEAD IT, SUPPORT IT, AND LIVE IT EVERY DAY.
BY PLACING WELLNESS AT THE CENTER OF THE WEEK, bamX CREATED SPACE FOR HONEST CONVERSATIONS AROUND BALANCE, HEALING, LONGEVITY, AND CARE. IT WAS NOT JUST ABOUT SUCCESS. IT WAS ABOUT SUSTAINABILITY.
TUESDAY, JUNE 2ND
CELEBRATING BLACK AMERICAN MUSIC THROUGH THE ERAS OF TIME
HONOREES ACROSS GENERATIONS
THE BLACK AMERICAN MUSIC AWARDS RECOGNIZED THE VOICES, VISIONARIES, AND CULTURE SHIFTERS WHOSE WORK CONTINUES TO MOVE BLACK AMERICAN MUSIC FORWARD.
THE BLACK AMERICAN MUSIC AWARDS BROUGHT THE WEEK INTO A POWERFUL MOMENT OF RECOGNITION AND CELEBRATION.
ROOTED IN A LEGACY OF HONORING LEADERSHIP, CULTURAL IMPACT, AND MUSICAL EXCELLENCE, THE AWARDS CELEBRATED THE ARTISTS, EXECUTIVES, ENTREPRENEURS, AND CULTURAL LEADERS WHOSE WORK CONTINUES TO MOVE THE INDUSTRY FORWARD.
THE BLACK AMERICAN MUSIC AWARDS CELEBRATED ATLANTA AS THE EPICENTER OF AMERICA’S ORIGINAL MUSIC.
THE NIGHT HONORED THE CREATORS AND LEADERS WHO HAVE SHAPED BLACK AMERICAN MUSIC ACROSS GENERATIONS. FROM UNFORGETTABLE VOICES TO INDUSTRY ARCHITECTS, CULTURAL INNOVATORS, AND ARTISTS WHOSE WORK CONTINUES TO INFLUENCE THE WORLD, THE AWARDS CREATED SPACE TO RECOGNIZE IMPACT AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL.
IT WAS A FITTING SIGNATURE MOMENT FOR bamX, BRINGING THE WEEK’S THEMES OF LEGACY, OWNERSHIP, EXCELLENCE, AND GLOBAL INFLUENCE TOGETHER IN ONE ROOM.
VOICES OF SOUL AWARD: ANTHONY HAMILTON
POWER OF SOUL AWARD: JE
SONG OF THE YEAR: TI: LET ‘EM KNOW
JAM & LEWIS GLOBAL CREATIVE IMPACT AWARD: JD
Suzanne de Passe TRAILBLAZER AWARD: KANDI BURRUSS
CHAIRMAN AWARD: KENNY LATTIMORE
THURSDAY, JUNE 5TH
DOT CONNECTORS
TECH MEETS MUSIC
AS WE CLOSED OUT OUR WEEK WE WERE STILL CONNECTING THE DOTS. STRONG PANELS CONTINUED, IN ASSOCIATION WITH MILK + COOKIES, CRAIG KING, DOT CONNECTORS.
SATURDAY, JUNE 6TH
THE RHYTHM CUP
THE KICKOFF TO ATL RHYTHM CUP YOUTH SUMMER SOCCER SERIES
THE INAUGURAL bamX ATL RHYTHM CUP CLOSED OUT BLACK MUSIC WEEK 2026 BY BRINGING TOGETHER ATLANTA’S NEXT GENERATION THROUGH SPORTS, CULTURE, AND COMMUNITY. RESCHEDULED FROM JUNE 6 TO JUNE 13 AT ATLANTA SILVERBACKS PARK, THE TOURNAMENT FEATURED FOUR TEAMS FOR 13- AND 14-YEAR-OLD ATHLETES COMPETING FOR THE CITY’S FIRST-EVER RHYTHM CUP.
THEMED AS A CULTURAL RUNWAY INTO THE 2026 FIFA WORLD CUP, THE EVENT WELCOMED FORMER PROFESSIONAL SOCCER PLAYERS, YOUTH STANDOUTS, ARTISTS, AND FAMILIES, CELEBRATING ATLANTA’S GLOBAL SPIRIT AND THE POWER OF BRINGING MUSIC, SPORTS, THE CULTURE, AND COMMUNITY TOGETHER UNDER ONE MOVEMENT.
THE MOVEMENT CONTINUES
BLACK MUSIC WEEK PROVED WHAT ATLANTA ALREADY KNOWS: WHEN CULTURE MOVES, THE WORLD MOVES.
AS PART OF ATLANTA’S CULTURAL RENAISSANCE, bamX BROUGHT TOGETHER THE ARTISTS, EXECUTIVES, ENTREPRENEURS, INNOVATORS, CIVIC LEADERS, WELLNESS VOICES, AND COMMUNITY BUILDERS SHAPING THE FUTURE OF BLACK MUSIC. ACROSS EVERY EVENT, ONE MESSAGE CARRIED THROUGH THE WEEK: BLACK MUSIC IS NOT ONLY SOMETHING TO CELEBRATE. IT IS SOMETHING TO PROTECT, INVEST IN, LEARN FROM, AND BUILD AROUND.
THIS YEAR SET THE FOUNDATION.
NEXT YEAR GOES EVEN BIGGER.
EARLY BIRD TICKETS ON SALE SOON, BE THE FIRST TO KNOW.
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