The entertainment industry, with its captivating appeal and unwavering speed, offers distinct and demanding situations and clients for Black women working in this field. In the case of Black women, they are portrayed in the entertainment industry as innovators who face demands that are often crippling. situations of excellence. However, there are tactics in which Black women in those fields persevere with spirit and strategy. Those who include this dynamic demonstrate a justified demonstration of strength, innovation, and control skills that involve a balance between rewards and obstacles. The effect on Black women is broad and encompasses diverse roles ranging from CMOs to A-Managers.
For many in the entertainment industry, in the fields of
Jess, a nursing graduate from SUNY Albany, has focused her interest on an excellent career in the music industry, highlighting the unique combination of hobby and perseverance that Black women need to navigate and succeed in the industry. Her unwavering love of music and rap, cultivated since her best school years, when she would sneak up on concerts, led her to a radical career change. In a cutthroat industry, there is a demand that is not limited to competition. It requires an insatiable thirst for knowledge, the ability to network and sell oneself, and the tenacity to inform oneself and grow in each and every one of the opportunities, no matter how small.
For Black women working in the music industry, especially in leadership positions, self-advocacy and exceeding expectations are crucial. In an environment marked by considerations of gender bias and racial stereotyping, Jess mastered the challenge of having to assert her authority and call for respect in male-dominated spaces.
Prior to taking up her current position as director of marketing at Sony Santa Anna Records, she faced times when her concepts were rejected or overlooked. However, once it became clear who she was and the decision-making roles she had played, such as art director, supervising budget, or absolute director, the dynamic changed. Throughout his time at Cinematic Records, he acquired positions ranging from intern
“I can walk into this room with other men who know who I am and I’ll be in that room,” Jess shared in an exclusive interview with Forbes. “They’ll introduce themselves to everyone but me. Come in and shake hands saying ‘oh, what’s up, what’s new, what’s new’. Oh, whatever, change calls and I’ll be there. And I said, “Hi, my call is Jessica. ” I’m the only black woman here. Now I have to. I don’t have a choice because I know that if I don’t, if I don’t assert myself in this room, I may not be respected. If they don’t respect me, my opinion won’t be valid. If my opinion isn’t valued, I’m used to the situation. ‘”
Jaide Lewis, a Brooklyn native and Penn State graduate, discovered her passion for marketing while interning with DJ Clue Power 105. 1 and SiriusXM in college. As soon as he landed a position at BET after graduating, his experience there sparked his genuine interest in marketing the entertainment industry. He got his first steps in the marketing campaign for BET’s comedy The Game at just 21 years old. Jaide worked alongside six Black women at BET and contributed to various television campaigns. adding the BET Hip-Hop and Black Girls Rock awards, for 4 years. Her upcoming transition to music marketing at Sony revealed a lack of varied perspectives on marketing crusades for Black artists, presenting a new challenge as she has become the only Black woman in the label’s marketing arm after leaving BET.
Jaide Lewis, Director of Digital Marketing
Jaide prioritized building a team of people familiar with Black culture and experience to meet marketing needs. Her agency, The Culture Collab, focuses not only on integrating obscure concepts into authoritative spaces of creativity, but also on building camaraderie in such a small space. He then joined Atlantic Records, where he worked with emerging artists such as Kevin Gates, Don Toliver, 1017, and Lil Skies, where he developed cutting-edge methods to succeed in the challenging coronavirus pandemic.
After successfully running marketing campaigns during the unexpected pandemic, Jaide was recruited through Capitol Records and moved to Los Angeles for a virtual marketing director position. Although the environment within the company was still skewed toward white dominance, his arrival was seen as an opportunity to satisfy the marketing desires of the label’s black artists.
Jaide Lewis, Director of Digital Marketing
There is a need for Black leaders to participate in the ongoing advocacy for our presence in the artistic process of Black artists, especially those involved in the hip-hop and R music spaces.
“It’s something that we, as Black leaders, have to lean on because they don’t care; I’m not saying they don’t care about our culture, but it’s our duty to keep the culture alive in those spaces and in those businesses, that “It’s easy to lose track if you’re in politics,” Jaide told Forbes.
Since her debut at age 10, conducting Q&A sessions with the likes of L. J. Smith for the Philadelphia Eagles, Jamila Mustafa has had an exclusive adventure in journalism. A graduate of Delaware State University, an HBCU, she has built a career abroad with publications. As far away as Beijing, China. As a television journalist, Jamila’s tenure is a testament to the growing presence and progress of Black representation in the media.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 12: Jamila Mustafa attends the 2021 MTV Video Music Awards in Array. [ ] Barclays Center on September 12, 2021 in the Brooklyn community of New York City (Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images)
The universal appeal of black women is very important to be understood and represented in entertainment, especially in a world where they are stereotyped as “angry” and “difficult. “The black attitude is not monolithic. To succeed with varied audiences in entertainment, it is very important for Black women in the media area to hold positions that allow them to share their stories on a meaningful scale. Jamila effortlessly breaks this stereotype with her optimistic and captivating personality.
As of 2024, she holds the record for being the longest-serving Black woman to host MTV’s flagship music show, MTV’s Fresh Out Live. At Fresh Out Live, formerly known as TRL (where Carson Daly and Lala Anthony were once hosted), Jamila plays a huge role as a member of the production team, working largely with skills and writers. She excels at social listening to identify culturally significant artists and has been instrumental in bringing Pop Smoke and Migos to the forefront as a cultural curator.
Jamila Mustafa, host of MTV’s Fresh Out Live
Jamila is also the first Black woman to have her own radio show about hip-hop/pop culture on SiriusXM. A pioneer and historian in her field, Jamila recognizes the significant impact she is making. As moral journalists, they constantly struggle to find a balance between journalistic skill and the advancement of black culture. A key component of Jamila’s impact, however, is her broad appeal: enlisting the help of diverse personalities, adding mentorship from Sway Calloway and others. Roger Coletti of SiriusXM, who gave him the freedom to share his attitude and skills as a journalist.
“I sense the magnitude of my visibility when I’m on a global level and I’m careful how I make jokes,” Jamila told Forbes in an exclusive interview. “The world would probably not perceive limited cadences. I am committed to painting myself with the upper class, in a friendly and positive way, as I constitute women of color. “
A valuable detail of black music is to create a qualified and viable product. Tola Lawal, founder of Gyrl Wonder, identified this when she observed that the music industry was inaccessible to black women, perceiving it as a “white man’s sport. “In the music industry, whether a person’s skill consists of rapping, singing, producing, or performing, regardless of race, you have to prove your skills. However, for black artists, more demanding situations can arise when nepotism is not involved.
Tola’s access to entertainment control is unorthodox. Prior to founding his nonprofit Gyrl Wonder, Tola maintained a full-time assignment while pursuing a career in control, supporting record producers, A-assemblers, and others.
Tola Lawal, founder of Gyrl Wonder
Working as a freelance skills manager, Tola’s ability to ensure the good fortune of his clients was a valuable asset in the competitive music industry. In an environment that is perceived as intimidating, emotional resilience is key to achieving results. Operate without shortcuts or special shortcuts. Favors are a defining trait of Black women independently navigating the music industry. They face tough festivals from tough leaders, usually white men, and they don’t tolerate mediocrity.
“Music is still a white man’s sport. I can’t even say the black man, can I? Like they feel like it’s a white man’s sport,” Tola told Forbes. to be identified as the creators and influential participants that we are in the entertainment industry. “
Networking and camaraderie are imperative for Black women in the music industry as it provides them with a sense of direction and direction. Community spaces where Black women can come together, share their experiences, and get from other women in the industry who perceive their unique situations and demanding aspirations, play a key role in fostering representation.
A Black Women in Music event presented by The Female Manager Co The Press Play Agency. . . [ ]
Press Play, founded through Jocelyn Rivera, who is also ForbesBLK’s local advisor for New York City, is committed to supporting music generation and entertainment projects, while prioritizing network engagement. The firm hosts events such as The Female Manager Co. ‘s Black Women in Music series. – also created through Rivera – to advertise networks and facilitate connections between like-minded people. These exclusive gatherings provide Black women attendees with valuable information, mentorship, and opportunities to advance their career. By fostering a sense of camaraderie, this supportive environment is helping Black women navigate the music industry with the guidance of those who have triumphed over obstacles and succeeded in their careers.
Rose Valcin, Press Play’s event production coordinator, emphasizes the importance of Black women’s participation on occasions like this to tame meaningful relationships. This goes beyond simply building professional connections and sharing tactile data or important points on social media. The primary purpose of building such relationships is to have a deeper, more personal effect on an established or aspiring career.
“When I’m networking with people, we once thought, ‘What are you doing?'” How long have you been doing this?It’s like, “What brings you here? Based on that answer, also the reaction you’re about to get or the potential opportunities that might arise from it,” Rose explained to Forbes.
A Black Women in Music event presented by The Female Manager Co The Press Play Agency. . . [ ]
In an industry as dynamic and challenging as entertainment, Black women will have to demonstrate resilience to forge paths of difference and influence. These journeys underscore a collective narrative aimed at overcoming adversity, breaking barriers, and setting new standards of excellence. Despite systemic barriers, those women have not only forged vital roles for themselves, but are also beacons of inspiration for others looking to navigate the complexities of the music and entertainment industries. By championing diversity, advocating for representation, and leveraging their unique perspectives and skills, they are making significant contributions to reshaping the industry landscape.