UMG has established a Youth Task Force for Meaningful Change (YTFMC), a new branch within the company's Task Force for Meaningful Change (TFMC). The YTFMC consists of dedicated, entry-level employees across UMG that will focus on empowering youth to further amplify and engage on issues across the company, the music community and society at large.

The YTFMC includes members ranging from UMG’s °1824, a division of student employees in creative and marketing roles from various college campuses, as well as employees representing the company’s labels and brands across territories including the U.K and Africa. The reach of the YTFMC will give a meaningful, youth-driven perspective in addressing issues of inequalities and will rally their peers to find ways to participate in global action.

“We are incredibly proud and excited to announce the YTFMC and to work with a group of thoughtful and dedicated young employees in our fight for social justice and equality,” reads a statement from TFMC co-chairs Ethiopia Habtemariam and Jeff Harleston. “Their voices are being heard and their points of view are necessary to effect meaningful, long-term change.”

UMG issued the following statement with the announcement:

From gun safety to climate change, and women’s rights to racial justice, increasingly the loudest voices demanding change are those of the world’s youth. It is the young who are shaping popular culture, sparking movements, and taking action for meaningful change.

This isn’t entirely new, because young people were also at the heart of the civil rights movement. Whether at the Birmingham “children’s crusade” attacked by police dogs and fire hoses or college-aged Freedom Riders or so much more, young people fueled that change, as well.

Recently, we lost an American hero who, in his own youth, was a student leader of the civil rights movement. As Executive Director of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), John Lewis engaged students in the movement… desegregating buses as a Freedom Rider, organizing the March on Washington, marching across Selma’s Edmund Pettus Bridge—and literally having his skull cracked by an Alabama state trooper.

Today, to commemorate a life well-lived we announce two important initiatives to honor John Lewis’s legacy—those young voices rising all around the world.

YTFMC Membership includes:

Chelsea Hannah (°1824) – Chair
Niya Fleming (Def Jam)
Jessamine Clavero (Motown)
Allison McAdoo (°1824)
Brandon Weston (°1824)
David Grannum (°1824)
Dejanay Caldwell (°1824)
Jalen Boxley (UMG)
James June (CMG)
Jordan Martin (Motown)
Jorden Durkee (°1824)
Kadijat Salawudeen (°1824)
Kaylen Simmons (Interscope)
Kgomotso Mokobi (UMG South Africa)
Mikobi N’Dala (°1824)

Monique Teclemariam (Interscope)
Mohammed Kamara (UMe)
Sammi Ryan (°1824)
Simran Ghooi (UMG)
Stephanie Adamu (UMG Nigeria)
Tia Lewis (CMG UK)
Tristan Magloire (Republic)
Walter Bloxton (°1824)
Yemi Faleti (°1824)

YTFMC Executive Advisors:
Brian Nolan, EVP Capitol Music Group
Chonita Floyd, VP Marketing, Verve
Jermi Thomas, Sr. Director A&R Island Records