Atlanta-based nonprofit Project Go Dark Inc. (PGD) has partnered with the Black Music Action Coalition (BMAC), Spotify x PLUS1 for Black Creatives, Polywork and Sincethe80s, among other organizations, for its inaugural Music Industry Pipeline (MIP) program.

An eight-week paid residential training program, MIP will develop and place ten students from predominantly black U.S. institutions in music executive roles.

Launching this fall, the MIP program includes a master class series, a 6-week internship and panel as well as lecture series featuring black music executives and managers from across the industry. Participants will graduate with a certificate, executive mentorship, peer connections and more.

The program arrives on the heels of BMAC’s Industry Report Card, a 37-page report examining how much labels, streaming services, live-entertainment, the Recording Academy and more have kept their pledges to elevate black employees and donate to racial justice initiatives.

Additionally, Spotify’s Racial Equity Donations & Giving Program has committed to $10m, which includes matching $3m from Spotify employees’ donations, to benefit over 300 organizations that aim to inspire, connect and elevate the next generation of Black voices and creators—including PGD.

“In my years I’ve seen many black college kids who can't afford to travel to N.Y. or L.A. to intern for free in order to gain experience in the business. This program solves that problem because it gives these kids the necessary tools for on-the-job preparation and most importantly financial support,” said Cortez Bryant, BMAC’s Executive Leadership Council, Education Committee Chair, BPG/Maverick Partner.

“We know that talent is not limited to one race, one gender, one group of people…, however very often, opportunity is. We’re excited to partner with PGD to address this disparity and ensure that others have the opportunities so many of us have had,” added Binta Niambi Brown, BMAC Co-Chairperson, Artist Manager and music executive.

Atlanta area students can apply for the fall program as well as PGD’s 2022 Summer MIP—a more expansive program with room and board that’s currently being developed for non-Atlanta-based students—here.