MusicFreaks

Tag: Black artists

  • Kelly Rowland Salutes Sylvia Rhone With Ultimate Icon Award at 2026 BET Awards: ‘Music Needs Us to Stand Up for It Like Never Before’

    Trailblazing record industry executive Sylvia Rhone has been recognized for her monumental impact on music, receiving the Ultimate Icon Award at the 2026 BET Awards. The special honor celebrates a career defined by groundbreaking achievement, including her recent six-year tenure as chairman and CEO of Epic Records. The presentation came from fellow artist Kelly Rowland, who shared her admiration for Rhone’s vision.

    Rowland recalled their first meeting, noting the powerful presence of an icon. “Sylvia has a particular aura that engulfs any room she walks in,” Rowland shared. She described Rhone’s drive and commitment to creating quality artists as something unique to a true icon.

    When accepting the award on stage, accompanied by a standing ovation and the tune of “Free Your Mind” by En Vogue—another act Rhone mentored to fame—Rhone shifted the focus from herself to the collective. She asserted that while the award honored her, “it really belongs to all of us who create culture.”

    Rhone emphasized the power of Black creativity in shaping the world and called for greater protection for artists. She reflected on her journey across various companies like Atlantic, Elektra, Motown, and Epic, noting how musical ideas often translate into powerful movements.

    In a timely reflection on the current climate, Rhone addressed the necessity of standing up for music amidst massive technological change. She argued that while exciting possibilities abound, the focus must remain balanced between innovation and soul. “We make the algorithm, but the algorithm doesn’t make us,” she stated. This perspective calls for honoring the musician, compensating creators, and ensuring the next generation has the opportunity to craft world-changing songs.

    Rhone’s tribute included a nod to the extraordinary artists who have inspired her career, shouting out a who’s who that encompassed figures like Busta Rhymes, Badu, Gerald Levert, Brandy, Future, Travis Scott, and Tyla. These names underscore a rich legacy built on diverse talent and shared artistic vision.

    The celebration extended beyond the awards ceremony. Earlier during BET Week on June 25, Grammy winner Missy Elliott hosted “The Sylvia Rhone Legacy Celebration,” showcasing music stars and creatives packed into The Sun Rose West Hollywood. The event featured a wide array of celebrated figures, including Stevie Wonder, Lil Wayne, songwriter-producers Jimmy Jam and Bryan-Michael Cox, and HYBE America president of music Ethiopia Habtemariam.

    The evening was curated by Grammy- and Emmy Award-winning producer/multi-instrumentalist Adam Blackstone. The musical salute encompassed the extensive scope of Rhone’s career and celebrated the diverse artists whose careers she helped develop and guide, featuring performances from talents like Jozzy and Flo.

    Credit: Billboard

  • SZA Warns AI Is Exploiting Black Artists, Calls Out Diplo

    The music world is currently wrestling with an enormous ethical question: what happens when artificial intelligence learns from the collective genius of human creativity? A recent investigation has brought this tension into sharp focus, revealing how massive datasets of recorded music are being utilized to train sophisticated AI generators.

    The scope of the data used in these training processes is staggering. Investigations have uncovered over 21 million recordings spread across four distinct datasets, a trove that includes the work of some of the most iconic figures in music history. From grunge legends like Nirvana to global superstars such as Bad Bunny, the raw material feeding the algorithms represents a vast cultural inheritance.

    The conversation around these digital archives is not just technical; it touches upon issues of ownership, compensation, and artistic exploitation. As AI models become increasingly capable of mimicking human sound and style, questions arise about who benefits from this technology and whose creative work forms the foundation of the machine’s intelligence.

    This pressing concern has sparked a vocal response from artists themselves. One prominent voice calling out these practices is SZA, who has publicly addressed the issues surrounding how AI interacts with cultural representations.

    SZA’s commentary sharpened the focus on systemic inequalities within the industry. She spoke out directly about concerns that these AI systems risk exploiting and misrepresenting Black artists in the digital space, prompting a wider conversation about equity in the AI music landscape. Her warnings also brought attention to the broader context of power dynamics operating behind the scenes of digital creation, echoing calls for accountability from industry figures like Diplo.

    The convergence of massive data collection and artistic expression is forcing a reckoning. As technology accelerates, the focus must shift toward ensuring that innovation is paired with ethical practices that protect the rights and compensation of the artists whose work fuels the future of AI music. The challenge now lies in developing systems where technological advancement respects the humanity behind the melodies.

    Credit: Stereogum