John Legend, Irving Azoff, Kai Cenat, Apple & More Honored at 2025 BMAC Gala with Earth, Wind & Fire Performance
- wgclients01
- Sep 30
- 6 min read
As Miami prepares for Art Basel, the music world turned its attention to Los Angeles earlier this month, where the Black Music Action Coalition (BMAC) celebrated its 5th annual Gala at The Beverly Hilton. The star-studded evening honored John Legend, Irving Azoff, Kai Cenat, Sherrese Clarke, Apple & Apple Music, and Primary Wave Music for their impact on music and culture.
(L-R) Barbara Azoff, John Legend and Irving Azoff attend the Black Music Action Coalition's 5th Annual BMAC Gala at The Beverly Hilton on September 18, 2025 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Johnny Nunez/Getty Images for Black Music Action Coalition (BMAC))
Hosted by Mickey Guyton and Kenny Burns, the sold-out event featured surprise appearances by Babyface, CeeLo Green, Michelle West, Amina Diop, Nicole Avant, and Kamilah Forbes, with a show-stopping performance by Earth, Wind & Fire that brought the audience to its feet.
Honorees included:
John Legend – BMAC Quincy Jones Humanitarian Award
Irving Azoff – BMAC Icon Award
Sherrese Clarke / HarbourView Equity Partners – Inaugural BMAC Harry Belafonte Change Agent Award
Kai Cenat and Apple & Apple Music – BMAC Social Impact Award
Primary Wave Music – BMAC 365 Award
(L-R) Verdine White, Philip Bailey and Ralph Johnson of Earth, Wind & Fire attend the Black Music Action Coalition's 5th Annual BMAC Gala at The Beverly Hilton on September 18, 2025 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Johnny Nunez/Getty Images for Black Music Action Coalition (BMAC))
(L-R) Estelle and CeeLo Green attend the Black Music Action Coalition's 5th Annual BMAC Gala at The Beverly Hilton on September 18, 2025 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Johnny Nunez/Getty Images for Black Music Action Coalition (BMAC))
(L-R) Damien Smith, Caron Veazey, Co-Founder, BMAC, Ashaunna Ayars, Naima Cochrane, Shay Lawson and Willie “Prophet” Stiggers, CEO & President, BMAC attend the Black Music Action Coalition's 5th Annual BMAC Gala at The Beverly Hilton on September 18, 2025 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Johnny Nunez/Getty Images for Black Music Action Coalition (BMAC))
Phylicia Fant (L) and Caroline Yim (R) attend the Black Music Action Coalition's 5th Annual BMAC Gala at The Beverly Hilton on September 18, 2025 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Johnny Nunez/Getty Images for Black Music Action Coalition (BMAC))
(L-R) James Fauntleroy II, Sherrese Clarke, and Estelle attend the Black Music Action Coalition's 5th Annual BMAC Gala at The Beverly Hilton on September 18, 2025 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Johnny Nunez/Getty Images for Black Music Action Coalition (BMAC))
(L-R) Michelle Jubelirer, Chair & CEO, Capitol Records and Gordon Dillard attend the Black Music Action Coalition's 5th Annual BMAC Gala at The Beverly Hilton on September 18, 2025 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Johnny Nunez/Getty Images for Black Music Action Coalition (BMAC))
(L-R) Kenny Burns and Mickey Guyton speak onstage during the Black Music Action Coalition's 5th Annual BMAC Gala at The Beverly Hilton on September 18, 2025 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Johnny Nunez/Getty Images for Black Music Action Coalition (BMAC))
(L-R) Connie Orlando, EVP, Specials, Music Programming, Music Strategy, and News, BET Networks, Kamilah Forbes, Willie “Prophet” Stiggers, CEO & President, BMAC, Sherrese Clarke and Babyface attend the Black Music Action Coalition's 5th Annual BMAC Gala at The Beverly Hilton on September 18, 2025 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Johnny Nunez/Getty Images for Black Music Action Coalition (BMAC))
(L-R) Valeisha Butterfield, Harvey Mason jr., CEO, the Recording Academy and Britt Burton attend the Black Music Action Coalition's 5th Annual BMAC Gala at The Beverly Hilton on September 18, 2025 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Johnny Nunez/Getty Images for Black Music Action Coalition (BMAC))
(L-R) Irving Azoff and Nicole Avant onstage during the Black Music Action Coalition's 5th Annual BMAC Gala at The Beverly Hilton on September 18, 2025 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Johnny Nunez/Getty Images for Black Music Action Coalition (BMAC))
Phrophet Guillory speaks onstage during the Black Music Action Coalition's 5th Annual BMAC Gala at The Beverly Hilton on September 18, 2025 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Johnny Nunez/Getty Images for Black Music Action Coalition (BMAC))
Babyface speaks onstage during the Black Music Action Coalition's 5th Annual BMAC Gala at The Beverly Hilton on September 18, 2025 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Johnny Nunez/Getty Images for Black Music Action Coalition (BMAC))
(L-R) Zelie Timothy and Tyrese Gibson attend the Black Music Action Coalition's 5th Annual BMAC Gala at The Beverly Hilton on September 18, 2025 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Johnny Nunez/Getty Images for Black Music Action Coalition (BMAC))
(L-R) Flavor Flav, Estelle, John Legend, Willie “Prophet” Stiggers, CEO & President, BMAC and Sylvia Rhone, CEO, Epic Records attend the Black Music Action Coalition's 5th Annual BMAC Gala at The Beverly Hilton on September 18, 2025 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Johnny Nunez/Getty Images for Black Music Action Coalition (BMAC))
(L-R) Eric Benét and CeeLo Green attend the Black Music Action Coalition's 5th Annual BMAC Gala at The Beverly Hilton on September 18, 2025 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Johnny Nunez/Getty Images for Black Music Action Coalition (BMAC))
(L-R) Jeff Straughn, Donna Grecco, Lawrence Mestel and CeeLo Green onstage during the Black Music Action Coalition's 5th Annual BMAC Gala at The Beverly Hilton on September 18, 2025 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Johnny Nunez/Getty Images for Black Music Action Coalition (BMAC))
(L-R) Willie “Prophet” Stiggers, CEO & President, BMAC, Michelle West, Miquelle West and Sierra Lever, Head of Hip-Hop/R&B, Amazon Music speak onstage during the Black Music Action Coalition's 5th Annual BMAC Gala at The Beverly Hilton on September 18, 2025 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Johnny Nunez/Getty Images for Black Music Action Coalition (BMAC))
Mickey Guyton performs onstage during the Black Music Action Coalition's 5th Annual BMAC Gala at The Beverly Hilton on September 18, 2025 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Johnny Nunez/Getty Images for Black Music Action Coalition (BMAC))
(L-R) Connie Orlando, EVP, Specials, Music Programming, Music Strategy, and News, BET Networks, Sherrese Clarke and Kamilah Forbes attend the Black Music Action Coalition's 5th Annual BMAC Gala at The Beverly Hilton on September 18, 2025 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Johnny Nunez/Getty Images for Black Music Action Coalition (BMAC))
Verdine White of Earth, Wind & Fire performs onstage during the Black Music Action Coalition's 5th Annual BMAC Gala at The Beverly Hilton on September 18, 2025 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Johnny Nunez/Getty Images for Black Music Action Coalition (BMAC))
(L-R) Babyface and Rika Tischendorf attend the Black Music Action Coalition's 5th Annual BMAC Gala at The Beverly Hilton on September 18, 2025 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Johnny Nunez/Getty Images for Black Music Action Coalition (BMAC))
(L-R) Miquelle West and Michelle West attend the Black Music Action Coalition's 5th Annual BMAC Gala at The Beverly Hilton on September 18, 2025 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Johnny Nunez/Getty Images for Black Music Action Coalition (BMAC))
(L-R) Ralph Johnson, Philip Bailey and Verdine White of Earth, Wind & Fire perform onstage during the Black Music Action Coalition's 5th Annual BMAC Gala at The Beverly Hilton on September 18, 2025 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Johnny Nunez/Getty Images for Black Music Action Coalition (BMAC))
(L-R) Irving Azoff and Nicole Avant attend the Black Music Action Coalition's 5th Annual BMAC Gala at The Beverly Hilton on September 18, 2025 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Johnny Nunez/Getty Images for Black Music Action Coalition (BMAC))
Cash Cobain attends the Black Music Action Coalition's 5th Annual BMAC Gala at The Beverly Hilton on September 18, 2025 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Johnny Nunez/Getty Images for Black Music Action Coalition (BMAC))
Legend delivered a powerful speech, urging artists to use their voices “to fiercely protect those who are being brave, to shield the truth tellers facing retribution, [and] to make space for more of us because the fight is as urgent as it’s ever been.”
(L-R) John Legend and Babyface speak onstage during the Black Music Action Coalition's 5th Annual BMAC Gala at The Beverly Hilton on September 18, 2025 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Johnny Nunez/Getty Images for Black Music Action Coalition (BMAC))
BMAC CEO and Co-Founder Willie “Prophet” Stiggers reflected on the coalition’s journey, declaring: “BMAC is no longer just an organization. We are the movement rooted in accountability and action, with an unwavering belief that the future of music must be as just, free, and powerful as the music itself.”
(L-R) Trey Stiggers and Willie “Prophet” Stiggers, CEO & President, BMAC attend the Black Music Action Coalition's 5th Annual BMAC Gala at The Beverly Hilton on September 18, 2025 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Johnny Nunez/Getty Images for Black Music Action Coalition (BMAC))
Since its founding in 2020, BMAC has distributed more than $4 million in relief, mentored 500+ emerging professionals, created 200+ paid internships, and launched guaranteed income programs to support artists and executives.
The gala follows BMAC’s announcement of a $500,000 relief fund for Altadena fire victims and plans to expand its advocacy globally to the UK and Africa in 2026.