Singer and philanthropist John Legend will receive the Quincy Jones Humanitarian Award. (photo by Guy Aroch)

The Black Music Action Coalition announced it will honor music industry icons John Legend, Irving Azoff, Kai Cenat, Apple and Apple Music, Sherrese Clarke and Primary Wave Music at the fifth annual BMAC Gala taking place on Thursday, Sept. 18, at The Beverly Hilton. The milestone evening – co-hosted by Grammy-nominated country trailblazer Mickey Guyton and cultural curator Kenny Burns – will celebrate the artists, executives, activists and brands who are unapologetically leveraging their platforms to advance equity, inspire action and ignite lasting change.

Marking five years of advocacy, accountability and impact, the 2025 Gala will also spotlight a movement that has reshaped the music industry’s role in social justice and proved that culture can drive systemic change.

Since its founding shortly after Juneteenth in 2020, BMAC has distributed more than $4 million in direct economic relief, reached more than 5,500 students and mentored over 500 emerging music artists and industry professionals through initiatives and pipeline programs, and created more than 200 paid internships and job placements. BMAC has transformed advocacy into measurable impact by launching guaranteed income programs to empower emerging music artists and industry executives and to create economic opportunity in communities; building mentorship pipelines and Music Maker Grants for emerging talent with cultural leaders such as Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, Victoria Monét, the Luther Vandross Foundation, the James Brown Estate, the late Chubbie Baby and the Gunna x BMAC 30349 Guaranteed Income Program with  hip-hop superstar Gunna; and creating paid internships, jobs and industry access through accelerator partnerships with the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame, Academy of Country Music, Live Nation and Rolling Loud.

BMAC also drives policy change to protect artists’ rights, defend creative expression and amplify marginalized voices in every corner of the industry. The organization’s landmark legislative support includes the CREATE Art Act, NO FAKES Act, RAP Act and HITS Act.

“It’s an honor to be recognized by the Black Music Action Coalition, an organization that not only uplifts artists but fights for justice, equity and lasting change in our industry and beyond,” Legend said. “Championing these causes has been central to my own journey, and to receive an award bearing my friend and mentor Quincy Jones’ name is deeply humbling. His legacy reminds us that music can be a force for joy, beauty, love and empowerment.”