#YouTubeMusic moments celebrating black culture
We created #YouTubeMusic Moments, a collection of content series, live streams, and events that held the primary goal of celebrating Black culture, identity, and experiences from the perspective of artists and thought leaders in Music. Here’s what we’ve launched so far:
2 Chainz (“Money Maker Fund” Series)
2 Chainz launched a new series, “Money Maker Fund,” which incentivized HBCU students to put together business pitches that 2 Chainz would evaluate and potentially fund. The 5-episode series saw 2 Chainz rewarding $55,000 to Black entrepreneurs.
The Legacy Series: Fashion Show
With an eye towards raising awareness of the struggles that both Black fashion brands and artists encounter today, we partnered with the UK’s Westfield Shopping Centre to create The Legacy Series: Fashion Show. The live stream event featured thoughtful interviews and emerging UK artists wearing Black-owned UK fashion brands.
MOBO Awards
After a 2 year break, The MOBO Awards award show returned through a partnership with YouTube Music hosted by British TV personality Maya Jama and YouTuber comedian Chunky with live performances from H.E.R., Tiwa Savage, DaVido, and others.
Kitty Cash (“Kitty’s World Virtual Series”)
“Kitty’s World” is a virtual animated series developed by creator, artist, DJ, and producer Kitty Ca$h, the show serves as a safe space for socially conscious discourse that combines culture and politics with visual storytelling and music.
Masego (“Studying Abroad” Livestream)
Masego’s “Studying Abroad” livestream launched in conjunction with the artists’ latest EP, wherein Masego replicated the experiences of various locations within the African diaspora with every song featuring a new scene or country.
We’re incredibly proud of the progress made thus far, but like a marathon, we know we’ve got a long way to go. Our music team at YouTube is grateful for the opportunity to provide a space for a community that is integral to the vitality of our platform and the world beyond. We will continue to amplify Black voices because Black voices, like Black lives, matter. Now let’s get back to work.