BMAC CELEBRATES INAUGURAL MUSIC IN ACTION AWARDS

The Weeknd and Motown Chairman/CEO Ethiopia Habtemariam were among the honorees at the Black Music Action Coalition's (BMAC) first Music In Action Awards gala. The ceremony highlighted musicians, executives, businesses, entrepreneurs and activists who have made significant contributions to social justice, change and/or equity over the preceding year.

The XO/Republic superstar received the Quincy Jones Humanitarian Award, introduced via video by the legendary producer; Habtemariam was honored with the Clarence Avant Trailblazer Award, as was YouTube's Tuma Basa.

Other awards given out on Thursday at the 1 Hotel in West Hollywood were The BMAC Social Impact Award, bestowed by YouTube Music and Shawn Gee of Live Nation Urban, and The BMAC Agent of Change Award, presented to Aurora James, Dina LaPolt and Ben Crump.

BMAC's Board of Directors is comprised of Willie “Prophet” Stiggers, Ashaunna Ayars, Jamil Davis, Shawn Holiday, Damien Smith, Courtney Stewart and Caron Veazey; Clarence Avant, Irving Azoff and Quincy Jones make up the Advisory Board.

Other industry figures in attendance included Warner Co-Chairmen Aaron Bay-Schuck and Tom Corson, QC's Coach K, XO/SALXCO boss Wassim "SAL" Slaiby, The Azoff Company's Susan Genco, funk legend George Clinton and Variety's Shirley Halperin (who is also a funk legend).

Pictured below is the BMAC board of directors, minus Courtney Stewart: (L-R) Damien Smith, Caron Veazey, Willie "Prophet" Stiggers, Ashaunna Ayars, Shawn Holiday and Jamil Davis.