Pharrell Williams, Brandy and Kirk Franklin will be celebrated next month during Grammy Week when the Recording Academy’s Black Music Collective hosts its fourth annual honors ceremony, it was announced Wednesday.
Williams will be presented with the Dr. Dre Global Impact Award, recognizing his musical achievements but also entrepreneurial and philanthropic efforts. Brandy and Franklin will both receive the Black Music Icon Award, recognizing Black music creators whose artistry, innovation and service have shaped the industry and inspired generations, according to the academy.
The event will take place at the Fairmont Century Plaza on Jan. 29, days before the 68th Grammy Awards are presented Feb. 1 at Crypto.com Arena.
Past BMC honorees include Alicia Keys, Dr. Dre, Jay-Z, John Legend, Lenny Kravitz, Lil Wayne, Mariah Carey, Missy Elliott, and Sylvia Rhone. In support of its mission to cultivate the next generation of Black leaders in music, the BMC awarded $85,000 in scholarship grants last year to Black college students and historically Black colleges and university music programs, according to the Recording Academy.
“Pharrell, Brandy and Kirk are true visionaries and masters of their craft,” Harvey Mason Jr., chief executive of the Recording Academy, said in a statement. “Each has built a legacy that transcends genre, defies convention and shapes culture. Their artistry continues to inspire generations of artists around the world. I’m thrilled to join the Black Music Collective in honoring three of music’s brightest stars in January and celebrating their immeasurable contributions to the industry.”