The Weeknd is accustomed to walking away from award shows with hardware, but he will receive a different type of award at the first annual Music in Action Awards in September. The best-selling pop star is set to receive the Quincy Jones Humanitarian Award from the Black Music Action Coalition. He is being recognized for his financial contributions to National Bail Out, the Black Lives Matter Global Network and the Colin Kaepernick Know Your Rights Camp. Adding on, The Weeknd offered financial support for COVID-19 relief efforts in Canada, Ethiopia and Lebanon.
At the first Music Action Awards ceremony, the Black Music Action Coalition will also present the Berry Gordy Social Impact Award, the Clarence Avant Trailblazer Award and the Agent of Change Award. In addition, the event will highlight the Music Industry Action Report Card, an annual assessment of the entertainment industry’s handling of social justice efforts.
“BMAC promised to work with the music industry to advance racial equity, and are proud to have done everything we said we would do. Now, while we celebrate the achievements of our industry, we also look forward to continued work with every company in our industry to eliminate all forms of systemic and structural racism,” Binta Niambi Brown of the Black Music Action Coalition said.
“We welcome conversations with all who share our commitment to justice and equality and are enthusiastic about the change we will create together.”
The first annual Music In Action Awards will take place on September 23 at the 1 Hotel in West Hollywood, California.
