APPLICATIONS NOW OPEN FOR 2026 COHORT
The Recording Academy®’s Black Music Collective™ (BMC) and Amazon Music have announced the return of the “Your Future Is Now” Scholarship Program, marking its fifth anniversary and their shared commitment to cultivating the next generation of music industry leaders at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).
The program provides five selected students with $10,000 scholarships, exclusive networking opportunities with leading music industry executives, an immersive rotational experience with department leaders from both the Recording Academy and Amazon Music, and opportunities to attend Grammy® Week events. In addition to student scholarships, the BMC and Amazon Music will award two HBCUs with $10,000 grants for equipment for their music programs.
Since its launch in 2021, the “Your Future Is Now” program has awarded a total of $170,000 in scholarships to 17 HBCU students, along with $80,000 in grants to eight HBCU music programs.
“Reflecting on the last five years and what we envisioned this program to be in 2021, the number of students we’ve directly impacted in partnership with Amazon Music is remarkable,” said Harvey Mason jr., CEO of the Recording Academy. “It underscores our shared commitment to investing in the lives and careers of HBCU students and ensuring the next generation of music leaders has the networks and resources needed to thrive. I look forward to welcoming our next cohort of scholars for another incredible year.”
Applications for the 2026 cohort are now open. Eligible applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents currently enrolled at an HBCU pursuing a degree in music, music business, business administration, marketing, communications, or a related field of study. All applicants must submit a current transcript, a personal statement, a creative video showcasing their creativity, and one letter of recommendation. The deadline to apply is May 8. The selected cohort will be announced by Fall.
The application can be found here.
ABOUT THE BLACK MUSIC COLLECTIVE
The Black Music Collective is an advisory board of music industry leaders dedicated to advancing opportunities for Black music creators and championing increased representation across the field. Powered by the Recording Academy’s DREAM Network, the Collective serves as a central hub for creators and business leaders across all genres, uniting visionary voices to set unified goals, foster community and drive meaningful change within the industry. To learn more about the Black Music Collective, visit here. For exclusive content, follow the Black Music Collective on Instagram and Facebook.
ABOUT AMAZON MUSIC
Amazon Music is an immersive audio entertainment service that connects fans, artists, and creators through music, podcasts, and culture. Amazon Music brings fans closer to what they love, with curated and personalized playlists, artist livestreams, artist merch, and Amazon Exclusive podcasts. Prime members get access to over 100 million songs in shuffle mode, All-Access playlists, plus the largest catalog of top ad-free podcasts, included with their membership. Customers can upgrade to Amazon Music Unlimited for full, on-demand access to 100 million songs in HD and a growing catalog of Ultra HD and Spatial audio. Anyone can listen to Amazon Music by downloading the free Amazon Music app, or wherever they listen to music including Alexa-enabled devices. Learn more at www.amazonmusic.com.
