Amir Duke, Jayden Ahmad Potts, Zsana Hoskins, and Jasmine Gordon were announced as this year’s “Your Future Is Now” scholarship recipients on Wednesday (June 29) by the Recording Academy’s Black Music Collective and Amazon Music. Students at historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) will get the opportunity to learn about the music business from professionals in the field.
A statement from the Academy stated, “This diverse group of students represent four institutions, four stages of their higher education journey, and four different areas of interest in the music industry. A Jackson State University freshman, Ahmad Potts is interested in sound engineering and producing; Duke is a senior at Morehouse College interested in management and A&R; Gordon is a sophomore at Spelman College interested in music marketing; and Hoskins is a junior at Howard University interested in music journalism and programming,”
Whether you’re studying music, music business, business administration, marketing, or communications, are you a college student at an HBCU? If not, what is your minimum GPA? Are you in need of a grant of $10,000? It’s possible that you’ve struck gold today.
Your Future Is Now scholarship program is being re-launched for the second year by the Recording Academy’s Black Music Collective (BMC) and Amazon Music. For students at historically black colleges and universities, the program aims to give them the chance to learn and explore all aspects of music.
Select HBCU students will be able to participate in an intense rotation program with Amazon Music and the Recording Academy’s department heads beginning in February 2021. As opposed to last year’s three participants, the BMC will now pick four students already enrolled in an HBCU to take part in the program. Scholarships in the amount of $10,000 will be awarded to each student.
The BMC and Amazon Music will also present $10,000 grants to two HBCUs for their music departments, each receiving $10,000 in funding for new equipment.
Rico Love, vice chair of the Recording Academy’s Board of Trustees and BMC chair, stated in a statement that “our commitment to show up for the next generation of Black talent and build routes for them to flourish continues with the reintroduction of the Your Future Is Now scholarship.” This initiative, which provides students just starting out in the music industry with vital mentorship chances, is being brought back thanks to Amazon Music, and we couldn’t be happier about it.
Amazon Music’s vice president of music industry, Ryan Redington, said: “We are thrilled to continue our collaboration with the Recording Academy’s Black Music Collective.”
Thursday is the deadline for submitting a scholarship application (May 12). Friday, June 10 at 5pm PST/ 8pm EDT is the application deadline. On or before the 13th of June, recipients will be contacted.
To be eligible, students must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents, be enrolled in an HBCU full-time, be in good academic standing, and have a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale in music, music business, business administration, marketing, or a related discipline (or its equivalent).
Personal statement (300-500 words), creative video (three minutes maximum), a signed letter of recommendation from a professor or music industry mentor on official letterhead with contact information must also be included in the application process.
In your personal statement, you should explain why you are applying for a scholarship and what you hope to accomplish with your studies. Incorporate any and all of your accomplishments, both academic and non-academic, that distinguish you from other candidates for a scholarship.
Accolades went to Morehouse College senior Akeal Evans, North Carolina Central University senior Jawan Davidson, and Nyah Hardmon, a rising junior (Howard University junior).
BMC and GRAMMY U, the official platforms of the Recording Academy, will conduct discussions to educate and inform those who are interested in this opportunity.
Insta-Live on May 21st with @recordingacademy
@blackmusiccollective, @GRAMMYU – Instagram Live
June 8th
@blackmusiccollective and @GRAMMYU were live-streaming on Instagram.
Twitter – @RecordingAcademy –
Contact [email protected] if you have any further inquiries. To learn more and to submit an application, please go to this page.
