John Legend, Irving Azoff, Kai Cenat Honored at Black Music Action Coalition Gala 2025 Following $500,000 Fire Aid Commitment
The Black Music Action Coalition held its fifth annual BMAC Gala in Los Angeles on Sept. 18 honoring John Legend, Irving Azoff and Kai Cenat, following its recent announcement of $500,000 committed to those affected by the Altadena fires earlier this year.
The event, staged at the Beverly Hilton, was hosted by Mickey Guyton, who set off the evening with a rendition of “Black Like Me.” Earth, Wind & Fire were on hand to perform “Just Groove” and “September in honor of Azoff, who received the BMAC Icon Award.
Surprise presenters included Babyface, who gave Legend the BMAC Quincy Jones Humanitarian Award; CeeLo Green, who honored Primary Wave Music with the BMAC 360 Award; Aminia Diop to Cenat and Apple & Apple Music for the BMAC Social Impact Award; Kamilah Forbes, who gave Sherrese Clarke and HarbourView Equity Partners the inaugural BMAC Harry Belafonte Change Agent Award; and Nicole Avant, who presented to Azoff.
While accepting his award, Legend told the audience, “Use your voice, use your platform, use your influence to fiercely protect those who are being brave, to shield the truth tellers facing retribution, to make space for more of us because the fight is as urgent as it’s ever been. Excellence is beautiful, it’s important, but freedom is more important.”
Willie “Prophet” Stiggers, BMAC CEO/co-founder/president, reflected on the non-profit’s growth over the past five years. “Tonight as we honor those who have used their platforms to drive real social change, let us recognize this truth – that BMAC is no longer just an organization. We are in fact the movement rooted in accountability and action, an unwavering belief that the future of music must be as just and as free and as powerful as the music itself.”
