Enter the world of music transformation, where four incredible Black women are rewriting the rules.
From defying norms to uplifting cultural voices, meet Jessica Ogunjemilusi, Jaide Lewis, Jamila Mustafa, and Tola Lawal.
Their inspiring stories show how passion, resilience, and determination are reshaping the music industry.
Passion Fuels Authority: Jessica Ogunjemilusi
Jess Ogunjemilusi, known as Jess OG, exemplifies the unique blend of passion and perseverance needed for Black women to navigate and succeed in the music business.
Despite graduating with a nursing degree, her lifelong love for hip-hop and rap propelled her into a formidable career in the industry.
“I can walk into that room with the other men who know who I am, and I will still be in that room,” Jess shared. “They will introduce themselves to everyone but me…I have no choice because I know that if I do not assert myself in this room, I will not be respected.”
Now the Director of Marketing at Sony’s Santa Anna Records, Jess had to overcome dismissals and being overlooked initially.
However, once she proved her worth through roles like artist manager and budget overseer, dynamics shifted, and she commanded respect in male-dominated spaces.
Black Perspectives Elevate Marketing: Jaide Lewis
Jaide Lewis, a seasoned digital marketing executive, is reshaping how Black artists are promoted. After working on campaigns at BET, she transitioned to Sony, where she recognized a lack of diverse perspectives in marketing for Black musicians.
Jaide prioritized assembling teams well-versed in Black culture to handle marketing efforts authentically. “It’s our duty to keep the culture alive in these spaces and companies, which is easy to lose track of if you’re playing politics,” she expressed.
Her innovative strategies during the pandemic led her to director roles at major labels like Capitol Records, where she could uplift Black artistic voices through culturally resonant campaigns.
Omnipresent Voice: Jamila Mustafa
As the longest-standing Black woman host of MTV’s flagship show Fresh Out Live and the first with her own hip-hop radio show on SiriusXM, Jamila Mustafa is breaking barriers in media visibility.
“I understand the magnitude of my visibility…I’m always paying attention to…represent myself with the highest of class, in a friendly and positive upbeat manner because I’m representing women of color,” Jamila told Forbes.
Her upbeat personality defies stereotypes as she uses her platform to amplify culturally significant artists like Pop Smoke and Migos through savvy social listening.
Strategic Navigation: Tola Lawal
(@heytola)Tola Lawal, founder of Gyrl Wonder, recognized the music industry’s perception as a “white man’s sport.” Without nepotism, she paved her own way through resilience and networking to become a sought-after independent manager.
“Music is still seen as a white man’s sport…We’re still breaking glass ceilings and making strides to be recognized as the creatives and impactful contributors to the entertainment industry that we are,” Tola tells Forbes.
Managing acts like The Olympicks showcased her ability to produce certified viable products, a valuable commodity for Black artists facing heightened competition without shortcuts.
The trailblazing efforts of these four amazing Black women are reshaping the music industry through passion, strategic vision, media representation, and authentic cultural perspectives.
It is clear that their impact will continue inspiring and empowering future generations.
