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Grammy winner Victoria Monét partners with BMAC to create opportunities for young musicians

BY Ben Ebuka Oji February 5, 2024 9:16 AM EDT
Victoria Monét
Victoria Monét. Credit: Getty Images

Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter Victoria Monét has partnered with the Black Music Action Coalition (BMAC) to launch the BMAC x Victoria Monét Music Maker Grant.

This grant aims to assist emerging artists with a monetary award of $5,000, thereby contributing to their economic empowerment. Moreover, the grant will also offer mentorship opportunities and career guidance personally provided by Monét.

The official announcement of this collaborative endeavor took place during BMAC’s Grammy Week Music Maker Dinner on January 31st. This initiative aligns with Victoria’s commitment to creating opportunities for the younger generation and BMAC’s broader objective to tackle systemic racism in the music industry through diverse grant programs.

Willie Stiggers, the co-founder, president, and CEO of BMAC, conveyed his appreciation for the collaboration with the renowned vocalist and emphasized the significance of supporting gifted young African American artists in the music industry.

“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,” Stiggers said in a news release statement. “Her story is one of resilience and perseverance and it is in that spirit we will continue to pay it forward. BMAC’s mission is to create a more equal playing field by breaking down barriers to entry for our community. Our BMAC Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis Music Maker Dinner is a perfect room to celebrate this initiative.”

This partnership came days leading up to a glorious night on February 4 for Monét, as she clinched three awards for the seven Grammy nominations. The 34-year-old won Best New Artist, Best R&B Album and Best Engineered Album (Non-Classical).

After dedicating years to writing and producing for renowned acts like Ariana Grande and Fifth Harmony, Monét received widespread acclaim for her debut album Jaguar II in August 2023. Additionally, her song On My Mama became a chart-topping success.

Caron Veazey, a co-founder of BMAC, expressed comparable feelings regarding creating more prospects for women in the music industry.

“Supporting the next generation of women is crucial as we work towards furthering equality across the board in the music industry,” Veazey stated in a news release. “Partnering with an iconic artist and role model like Victoria Monét through the Music Maker Grant will help us to impact a future star by setting them up on a path to success. We are looking forward to receiving the submissions and uncovering a deserving artist!”

The grant recipient will emerge through a countrywide selection by BMAC, with additional information in the upcoming weeks.

BMAC is a dedicated advocacy group established to tackle the issue of systemic racism prevalent in the music industry. The Coalition tirelessly represents the interests of Black artists, songwriters, producers, managers, agents, executives, lawyers, and other dedicated professionals within the industry.

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