5.22.2023
Waka Flocka Flame Headlines Nashville’s Brooklyn Bowl, Enlisting Emerging Artist and TSU Music Business Accelerator Student MILLE MANNY as Opening Act
The Atlanta Rapper was a Keynote Speaker at the Music Business Accelerator, Powered by Amazon Music, Presented by BMAC, Nashville Music Equality, the Recording Industry Association of America, and Wasserman Music
Waka Flocka Flame, emerging artist Mille Manny, and Prophet, Co-Founder & Co-Chair of BMAC, with Waka Flocka Flame (credit: 353 Media Group)
The Announcement:
Waka Flocka Flame took over Nashville last Thursday with a concert at Brooklyn Bowl and a keynote speech at Tennessee State University, an HBCU in Nashville. Waka started the day as the keynote speaker at the second annual Music Business Accelerator Program at TSU, presented in partnership with the Black Music Action Coalition (BMAC), Nashville Music Equality, the Recording Industry Association of America, and Wasserman Music. Waka and Prophet, Co-Founder / Co-Chair of BMAC, dropped gems of industry wisdom in their words to TSU Students in attendance at the East Iris Studios in Nashville.
Waka chose one lucky TSU student, Mille Manny, to open his show that night at the Brooklyn Bowl. An emerging artist from During his opening performance, Mille Manny performed 4 songs, “All In”, “Foreign Lover,” “Trumpets and Trophies,” and “Peace in You.” After opening with 3 songs, Manny serenaded two audience members who were celebrating their birthdays, closing out his set by giving roses to the birthday ladies. Manny brought in the talents of Memphis Track Boy and LilCeo Josh as producers and writers on various songs.
Waka Flocka Flame closed the night for a sold out audience at the Brooklyn Bowl with hits like “No Hands,” “Hard in Da Paint,” “Grove St. Party,” and “Wild Boy.” Waka immersed the audience in performance, performing from inside and all around the audience.
View photos from the events (credit all photos to 353 Media Group):
Waka Flocka Flame Keynote at TSU Music Accelerator
Waka Flocka Flame Show – Opening Act Mille Manny
In attendance were students from the 2023 and 2022 editions of the Music Business Accelerator Program from TSU. The Music Business Accelerator Program, powered by Amazon Music, offers Black college students in Tennessee career resources to help them break into the music industry. With an emphasis on mentorship, the Coalition brings in executives and artists to guest lecture throughout the program. This year’s program is sponsored by Primary Wave’s BMAC-James Brown Education Fund, a fund announced at BMAC’s second Music In Action Awards Gala, that will grow annually and will cover the costs for 30 students to take this elective class for free
Sample highlights coming up for the final week of the Music Accelerator Program:
- Monday May, 22: Music 101, hosted by Amazon Music, with representatives Gary Bushrod and Frankie Yaptinchay.
- Thursday May 25: Music Accelerator Program Closing retreat, with Tim Reid,, SiriusXM Host Swaggy Sie, actress/artist Bre-Z, actress/artist Serayah, artist/activist YelloPain, and Tennessee native artist and songwriter Daisha “The Rap Girl” McBribe at the National Museum of African American Music. Topic: How to use your platform to impact change. Moderated by: Prophet and Senior Vice-Presdient Repertoire and Marketing of BMG, Tim Reid
The 2023 Maymester Music Accelerator follows in the footsteps of last year’s successful inaugural program, which placed students in opportune internships across multiple music industry companies, including Wasserman Music, Warner Music Nashville, and LVRN. The program included speakers from various sectors of the music business, including recording artists BRELAND, Blanco Brown and Joy Oladokun, team members for artists like Post Malone and Mary J. Blige, plus representatives from companies like Wasserman Music, YouTube Music, Goldenvoice, BMG, and EMPIRE. The program concluded with guest lectures from super producer Dallas Austin and recording artist Sir The Baptist, both of whom received an honorary doctorate in music from TSU that month. The last class was held at the National Museum of African American Music, where each student was surprised with their very own gold plaque from the RIAA.
This year’s program aims to continue last year’s wide-ranging curriculum and impressive list of guest speakers, while instilling a strong sense of social responsibilities
BMAC Co-Founder/Chairman, Willie “Prophet” Stiggers, “The Music Business Accelerator Program continues to expand and the opportunity Waka Flocka and his team offered to up-and-coming artist, Millie Manny, who is a student in this year’s class, represents the purpose and potential of this program. Our inaugural program led to several paid internships and full time employment for 4 students by companies in our industry. BMAC will continue to be intentional about bringing this level of programming, resources and access to the next generation artists, executives and business leaders in our communities.”
The Head of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, Gary Bushrod for Amazon Music adds, “What the Black Music Action Coalition is doing to bridge the racial gap in the music business is invaluable work. As an HBCU graduate myself, I am extremely proud and energized by what the Music Accelerator Program is creating for students at Tennessee State and Fisk University.”
Stay tuned for many more announcements from BMAC about the program.
Mille Manny performs at Nashville’s Brooklyn Bowl (credit: 353 Media Group)
Prophet and Waka Flocka Flame address the students of TSU’s Maymester Music Business Accelerator Program
Waka Flocka Flame
The Background:
About BMAC
The Black Music Action Coalition (BMAC) endeavors to uphold and actualize the mission of Black Lives Matter in the music industry and reach racial justice not just across labels, publishers, agencies, distributors, and DSP’s but throughout society at large. BMAC works together with leaders from various business leaders to hold their companies accountable and implement a system of checks and balances to ensure change takes root. The group fosters and shepherds various educational, mental health, financial literacy, entrepreneurship, policing, social justice, and political causes that directly impact Black communities.
Learn more about the Black Music Action Coalition at https://www.bmacoalition.org/.
About Mille Manny
Future Multi-Platinum Artist Bringing R&B to GEN Z Mille Manny is a fresh, emerging R&B star from Memphis. Manny has been serious about creating music since the age 14, when he premiered his first single “Bad Start”, followed by Impatient, Mind Games ,ALL IN, SOLDIER and No 925. Since then Manny has worked to further develop his musical talents. He’s entertained crowds with his unique style of Hip-hop and R&B, signature hairstyles, new age wardrobe and boastful voice. Currently, he is excited about his new; first-ever EP entitled First Semester – a 6 song track list showcasing a more mature sound with help from a team of young producers and collaborators. He has performed in arenas, at Memphis Madness, Music Festivals, on College Campus and local high schools. Manny made his television debut appearing as a contestant on Ms. T’s Music Factory, a Lifetime reality TV Show. Outside of music you can find Mille Manny living college campus life balancing classwork and music career work. He’s currently a freshman at Tennessee State University in Nashville. College is a great way to expand his influence and music fanbase, while pursuing a degree in Business Data Analytics. Check out Mille Manny’s EPK HERE
ABOUT NASHVILLE MUSIC EQUALITY MISSION
Nashville Music Equality mission is to create an anti-racist environment in the Nashville Music industry.
ABOUT RIAA
The Recording Industry Association of America® advocates for recorded music and the people and companies that create it in the United States. RIAA’s several hundred members – ranging from major American music groups with global reach to artist-owned labels and small businesses – make up the world’s most vibrant and innovative music community, working to help artists reach their potential and connect with fans while supporting hundreds of thousands of American jobs.
ABOUT WASSERMAN MUSIC
Wasserman Music represents a world-class roster of artists for live performance, touring, brand partnerships and beyond, empowering them to create culture and impact audiences globally. The passionate, entrepreneurial agents at Wasserman Music are long-term artist development strategists who build significant, global platforms for the world’s most impactful artists. Wasserman Music is a division of Wasserman, a partner to the world’s most iconic sports figures, musical artists, brands, and properties.
Website | Roster | Instagram
ABOUT DEF JAM RECORDINGS
For 40 years and counting, Def Jam Recordings has defined the sound of hip-hop as we know it. From its inception, the label has been a home for the boundary-breaking artists and visionary executives who have defined the sound of hip-hop in real time. Today, Def Jam is a global multimedia brand built on daring creativity, authenticity, and an unwavering commitment to quality, from its marquee superstars to its emerging artists to its global expansion into the UK, Africa, India, and Southeast Asia. Worldwide, Def Jam is the most recognizable brand in hip-hop.
ABOUT AMAZON MUSIC
Amazon has been in the music business for more than 20 years (CDs were the second item sold on Amazon, after books) and has long-established trust with both customers and the industry. Amazon Music launched music streaming in 2014, initially as a benefit just for Prime members (formerly known as Prime Music). Since then, it has expanded into a full streaming service, offering a variety of tiers, content, and plans to customers in more than 50 countries around the world. Amazon Music currently has more than 55 million customers globally, and today is considered the third largest streaming service after Spotify (1st) and Apple Music (2nd). Key marketplaces for Amazon Music include US, UK, DE, JP, FR, IT, ES, IN, MX, BR, CA, and AU.
ABOUT MUSIC BUSINESS ACCELERATOR PROGRAM AT TSU
This program was founded in 2022 by Willie Stiggers aka “Prophet” from the Black Music Action Coalition, Brian Sexton from Nashville Music Equality, Jackie Jones from RIAA, Margaret Hart from YouTube Music, Lee Anderson, Lenore Kinder, Lindsay LeBennett and Denise Melanson from Wasserman Music, and Dr. Mark Crawford from Tennessee State University.
ABOUT TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY
Founded in 1912, Tennessee State University is Nashville’s only public university, and is a premier, historically black university and land-grant institution offering 39 bachelor’s degree programs, 24 master’s degree programs, and eight doctoral degrees. TSU is a comprehensive research-intensive institution with a R-2 Carnegie designation and has a graduate school on its downtown Avon Williams Campus, along with the Otis Floyd Nursery Research Center in McMinnville, Tennessee. With a commitment to excellence, Tennessee State University provides students with a quality education in a nurturing and innovative environment that prepares them as alumni to be global leaders in every facet of society. Visit the University online at tnstate.edu.
Contact:
For more information on Black Music Action Coalition (BMAC), please contact:
Michelle McDevitt | Audible Treats
Kerry Harrison | Audible Treats
Khalila Douze | Biz 3
Kathryn Frazier | Biz3
For more information on Nashville Music Equality (NME), please contact:
Brian Sexton
For more information on RIAA, please contact:
Marcel Pariseau
For more information on Wasserman Music, please contact:
Shore Fire Media
For more information about the course, please contact:
Dr. Mark Crawford