Nicole Wyskoarko, Common, Patti LaBelle, Public Enemy and Tina Davis were among the honorees celebrated at the Black Music Action Coalition’s sixth annual BMAC Gala on Sept. 24, 2026.
Held inside the Beverly Hilton ballroom in Beverly Hills, the fundraiser centered on pride, perseverance and purpose. Live Nation presented the event, with radio personality and entrepreneur Kenny Burns serving as host.
BMAC co-founder and president/CEO Willie “Prophet” Stiggers welcomed attendees alongside board members Ashaunna K. Ayars, Caron Veazey, Damien Smith, Naima Cochrane, Shawn Holiday and Shay M. Lawson.
“Tonight is bigger than a gala, we’re gathering at a moment when too much is at stake for us to simply celebrate and go home,” Stiggers said in his opening remarks. “Black music has always been more than music. It has been how we told our story when others tried to write it for us, how we held onto our humanity when this country tried to deny it. We have turned pain into purpose, struggle into sounds and survival into something the entire world would eventually call culture.”
A Night of Major Honors
Wyskoarko, president and head of urban A&R at Interscope Geffen A&M, received the BMAC Sylvia Rhone Visionary Award. Pioneering music executive Sylvia Rhone presented the honor.
Common accepted the BMAC Harry Belafonte Change Agent Award from his mother, Dr. Mahlia Hines. Reflecting on the guidance he received from Belafonte over the years, Common said, “He showed me that having a rebellious heart to speak up, to stand up … and putting yourself in harm’s way to stand up for millions before you is God at work.”
Director Lee Daniels presented LaBelle with the BMAC Icon Award, while rapper Big Daddy Kane handed the BMAC Social Impact Award to Public Enemy.
Chuck D and Flavor Flav received a standing ovation as they accepted Public Enemy’s honor. Before leading the room in a “Fight the Power” chant, Chuck D emphasized the collective spirit behind the organization’s work.
“Action means do something, coalition means we’re all together,” he said. “There’s no ‘I’ or ‘little you,’ We turn ‘me’ into ‘we,’ and that’s what it’s all about.”
EMPIRE president Tina Davis was presented with the BMAC Clarence Avant Trailblazer Award by singer Montell Jordan.
The BMAC Founders Award went to Kevin Shivers, Lee Anderson, Mallory Smith and Marty Diamond of THE·TEAM. Jamea Kollie, a participant in the BMAC Music Accelerator Program at Tennessee State University, presented that award.
Universal Music Group’s Global Impact Team was also recognized with the BMAC 365 Award. Honorees Arielle Vavasseur, Dylan Siegler, Kristin Jones, Markie Ruzzo, Sharlotte Ritchie and Susan Mazo received the award from Stiggers and FLO.
Surprises and Musical Tributes
LaBelle’s Icon Award was only part of her celebration. The RIAA and BMAC surprised her with a plaque honoring her career, followed by a musical tribute built around several of her songs.
Chanté Moore and Le’Andria Johnson performed “The Best Is Yet to Come,” “You Are My Friend” and “Love, Need and Want You.” Big Daddy Kane and MAJOR also took the stage during the evening.
The combination of speeches, presentations and performances reinforced the gala’s focus on both artistic legacy and social impact, with honorees spanning performers, executives and teams working across the music business.
Supporting BMAC’s Programs
Proceeds from the gala will support BMAC’s initiatives, programs and grants. Those efforts include the BMAC x America250 initiative, Music Maker grants, Music Accelerator programs, BMAC Live and the BMAC Live R&B Tour Edition in collaboration with Live Nation, as well as the BMAC Restore & Rebuild LA Program.
The gala followed another BMAC event held one night earlier. On Wednesday, Sept. 23, BMAC and WME hosted the BMAC x America250 Voice of Tomorrow celebration, which honored the next generation of Black artists.
That program included a panel discussion and performances from BMAC Voices of Tomorrow artists DJ Stussy, The Reasn and RAHBI. Anzie Blue recording artist Pynk Beard also performed.