The Sample Music Festival—which took place from July 10-14 in Berlin—is an annual meeting point for international creatives who want to experience and shape contemporary digital performance art and urban music culture. Over the weekend, non-profit organization Turning Tables held a youth edition of the event, offering various workshops to over 80 children, teenagers, and young adults, including one hosted by Sony Music Germany.

Titled “From Artist Bio to Social Post – Tips for a Successful Release,” Alexander Foell, Product Manager Four Music, Sony Music Germany; Nina Froeschl, Manager of Paid Media & Marketing Strategy, Sony Music Germany; and Kim-Thaya Krabel, Manager of Content Strategy & Operations, Sony Music Germany, provided advice for children and teenagers aged 10 to 27. The aim of the workshop was to equip the youth with essential aspects of a successful release, helping them maximize the impact of their publications. About 40 teenagers participated in the workshop.

Normen Dommann, Managing Director of Turning Tables Germany, said: “This year, some great songs with pretty cool features will be created with our cooperation partners, and our young creators clearly have the aspiration to release their songs. Therefore, it is interesting for them to get tips and insights from Sony Music that can help them get the most out of their releases.”

Since 2021, Sony Music Germany has been an official partner of Turning Tables, which aims to give young people a voice through music and film. Together, they support children and teenagers from all over Berlin through workshops or recording sessions in the Sony Music Circle Studios. The NGO uses contemporary music as a foundation in youth social work, thereby promoting the creative development of young people. The German branch is located in Berlin.

On May 2, Sony Music Group announced the launch of Your Voice, Your Power, Your Vote in the European Union, our non-partisan voter campaign encouraging participation in the EU elections between June 6-9. The campaign included a collection of videos, across multiple platforms in multiple languages, featuring a call to action to vote from Sony Music Group’s roster of artists and songwriters. 

Artists—including Clueso, Lotte, $oho Bani and Alvaro Soler—were even spotted on billboards in different neighborhoods around Berlin, calling those passing by to “Take Action and Vote.” 

The campaign was run in partnership with the European Youth Forum—which represents over 100 youth organizations across the continent. This was a new, exciting way for both Sony Music Group and European Youth Forum to reach young voters who are not already politically engaged.  

When asked about her thoughts on the strategic partnership, María Rodríguez Alcázar, President of the European Youth Forum, explained: “Music is a way of expression, and we know that there are many artists [who] are very much committed to values that resonate with ours. Having artists who are committed to spreading the word…was really the goal and how we understood this partnership.” 

“Young people are key to a vibrant society,” added Towalame Austin, Executive Vice President for Global Philanthropy and Social Impact of Sony Music Group. “They care about the world we live in and are active and engaged every day through widespread movements, activism and more. However, while social action ensures their voices are heard, voting is also key to ensuring they are listened to. We are delighted that our artists and songwriters have come together to support the Campaign.” 

In addition to mobilizing young voters across Europe, the European Youth Forum informed and engaged with Sony Music Belgium employees in an in-office Q&A session ahead of the elections. The panel—moderated by Ricardo Castanheira, Sony Music’s Senior Vice President of Public Policy & Government Relations Europe & Latin America—featured Alcázar; Benjamin De Moor, European Youth Forum’s Communications and Creative Manager; and Marialena Yannoulatou, European Youth Forum’s Communications Officer. 

Thank you to the European Youth Forum, as well as our artists and songwriters, for all the support throughout our voter campaign. Visit European Youth Forum’s website and follow them on social media (Facebook, Instagram, X, LinkedIn, YouTube) to receive updates on the 2024 EU Elections. 

Every June, Sony Music Group (SMG) celebrates Black Music Month. Officially recognized by President Jimmy Carter in 1979, Black Music Month serves as an opportunity to recognize the innovation, persistence, and contribution of Black talent within the music industry.  

On June 6, HUE (Helping Unite Everyone)—SMG’s Talent Advisory Group (TAG) aimed at uplifting Black, Indigenous, and People of Color—partnered with two other TAGs from within the music industry, SpotifyBLK and Warner Music Kinfolk, in hosting “Setting the Record Straight: Reclaiming Our Music,” an engaging discussion about the history and future of Black music. The conversation included a myriad of perspectives, ranging from artist development to archival knowledge.  

“As one of the Board Officers of HUE, I was personally proud of this event,” said Karimah Day, Executive Assistant to the President of Commercial Music Group and Head of Administration of HUE. “Black people have been the heartbeat of countless musical genres, infusing soul, rhythm and revolutionary creativity that resonates across generations and continents; and ‘Setting the Record Straight’ highlighted this. It was a powerful and educational panel that I hope the audience felt.” 

Later in the month, HUE, alongside Tiffany & Co.’s African Brillance Collective and Moet Hennessy, hosted “Soundbites & Solidarity: A Celebration of Black Creativity & Community.” The event, which featured a performance and Q&A session with The Orchard-distributed artist Thutmose, was another great way to celebrate the undeniable influence of Black culture within music. 

“The event was really inspiring, and I loved having the opportunity to meet people in various roles and spaces within the music industry,” said Edward Williams, 2024 Sony Music Group Impact Fellow and Digital & College Marketing Intern at The Orchard. “My time at The Orchard has allowed me to work on multiple projects, and it was incredibly rewarding to meet one of the artists from my roster in person! Meeting Thutmose gave me newfound motivation to continue brainstorming innovative activations as he elevates in his career.” 

In addition to our in-person programming, The Orchard also launched “In Collaboration,” a three-part episodic video series that explored the influence of Black artists in defining culture. The project highlighted three unique partnerships between music and visual artists, offering a deep dive into their creative processes to produce art in their respective mediums. Click here to learn more about the project and watch all three episodes. 

From folk to rock, country to jazz, and everything in between, Sony Music Group is proud to shine a light on Black artistry and the revolutions that come from it. 

All three “In Collaboration” episodes are available now.

The Orchard launched “In Collaboration,” a three-part episodic video series that explores the influence of Black artists in defining culture. The project highlights three unique partnerships between music and visual artists, offering a deep dive into their creative processes to produce art in their respective mediums. 

A live premiere event recently took place on June 27, hosted at the GRAMMY Museum in Los Angeles, to close out Black Music Month. The Orchard-distributed artists—and featured “In Collaboration” subjects—Shaé Universe, Lekan and Yakiyn, were present and offered special performances at the event. 

Below, watch all three “In Collaboration” episodes and stream new music from Shaé Universe, Lekan and Yakiyn. Also, be sure to check out The Orchard’s YouTube channel for more exclusive content and curated playlists. 

Episode 1: Shaé Universe & Karis Beaumont 

Listen to Shaé Universe’s new single “OOTW” here. 

Episode 2: Lekan & AP 

Listen to Lekan’s new EP “So You Know” here. 

Episode 3: Yakiyn & Ro.Lexx 

Listen to Yakiyn’s new single “GIMME LIT” here. 

Sony Music Group is embracing a singular, unifying theme for every heritage acknowledgement and celebration in 2024: Reimagining CommUNITY. Inspired by the art we create, music can help us strengthen our connections to the people and cultures around us, so everyone can belong and thrive.  

Throughout Pride Month, Sony Music Group proudly celebrated the indelible impact of LGBTQ+ identifying people, while also challenging ourselves to reimagine what it means to be allies to those part of this multifaceted and vibrant community.  

This month also marked the four-year anniversary of Sony’s Global Social Justice Fund, where we recognized the impact of our partnerships driving worldwide systemic change through our newly published Impact Report. Together, the two occasions reminded us of our commitment to create an environment—within and outside of our company—where every person can be authentic and live out loud. 

Below, discover four of our partner organizations that are providing support for the LGBTQ+ community: 

Gay and Lesbians Living in a Transgender Society Inc (GLITS) 

GLITS is a Black trans-led advocacy and direct services organization that is dedicated to fighting systemic discrimination against marginalized communities, in New York City and beyond.

Through our Global Social Justice Fund, we partner with GLITS to support their re-entry program, designed to provide participants with the resources and confidence to reintegrate into society post-incarceration. To assist those going through the re-entry process, the program includes various initiatives focused on education, arts and cultural services, including a job skills training program and a reintegration support network. With this program, participants have the opportunity to explore new life paths. 

Read more about their holistic work here. 

Saffron Records 

With many music tech spaces being male dominated, Saffron Records aims to create one that is safe, welcoming and inclusive of all identities. 

This UK-based non-profit organization focuses on empowering women, nonbinary and transgender people through courses and workshops in music production, mixing and engineering. Additionally, through strategic partnerships with music organizations, they can connect their emerging talent pipeline to meaningful careers within the industry. Their work in uplifting underrepresented communities helps make the music sector more equitable for all. 

Visit Saffron Records’s website to learn more about their work and how you can support their mission. 

GLAAD 

GLAAD is an advocacy organization that ensures fair, accurate and inclusive LGBTQ+ representation in media. 

Through our Global Social Justice Fund, we support the GLAAD Media Institute, a program that helps people to build different skills and techniques that lead to positive cultural change. This is achieved through media engagement training opportunities; consulting with organizations, corporations and industries to become active LGBTQ+ advocates; and conducting various forms of research such as fielding studies and evaluating data to bolster their mission and drive action. 

Learn more about how they advance acceptance for the community through media representation here. 

The Ally Coalition (TAC) 

With LGBTQ+ youth being more likely to become victims of violence and depression, The Ally Coalition (TAC)’s aims to improve their livelihood by raising awareness on the systemic issues they face. 

Through collaboration with high profile artists on tours, social media campaigns and strategic partnerships, TAC mobilizes music fans to join the fight for LGBTQ+ rights worldwide. TAC also produces an annual Talent Show in New York City, which features groundbreaking talent and benefits various LGBTQ+ advocacy organizations.  

Find out more about their efforts to serve LGBTQ+ youth here. 

While Pride Month has come to an end in the U.S., our Global Social Justice Fund partners make it possible for us to redefine connection and rediscover belonging all year round. We thank them for their continuous support in advocating for the rights and safety of the LGBTQ+ community. 

With responsibility for managing Sony Music UK’s overall wellbeing provision, Elton Jackson has been at the forefront of a shift in the company’s approach to caring for its artists and staff since he took on the newly created role of Director of Artist and Employee Wellbeing in 2021.

In a recent interview with Music Week, Elton – a trained psychodynamic psychotherapist and former Samaritan – explored the positive impact of both the culture and mental health initiatives implemented at Sony Music UK. In his role, he provides holistic and comprehensive in-house support for artists in all aspects of their career, and for employees who require additional assistance or access to further resources. “To the best of our knowledge, this is the first in-house role of its kind within the industry,” he said, adding: “We can have difficult conversations here, but I think we can have those conversations because we’ve got the culture that we’ve got.”

Read the full article on www.SonyMusic.co.uk.

For the first time, employees and interns across Sony Music Benelux participated in the 20KM of Brussels, one of the biggest yearly sporting events in the country. This year’s edition was the most successful in its 44-year history with more than 45,000 participants joining the race—21 of which were from the Sony Music team. Even Queen Mathilde of Belgium was seen running across the finish line. 

Team members came together with the purpose of helping UNICEF, a non-profit partner of Sony Music Benelux. UNICEF’s work in children’s rights advocation ties in with our philanthropic mission of supporting civic and community initiatives around the world. 

Christophe Cumps, Senior Project Manager MOV / MOCD at Sony Music Belgium, not only ran the distance but also coordinated Sony Music Benelux’s participation. He said:  

“I was delighted to see that so many colleagues of the Sony Music Benelux team took the time to participate in this year’s edition. Walking for four hours or running for two hours is no small feat and it took quite some training for many of us to finish the 20 kilometers. We all value UNICEF’s mission to protect children’s rights worldwide, so it feels absolutely right for all of us that Sony Music supports UNICEF on a local level. Counting down to next year’s edition!” 

A round of applause to all who participated in the race, and a huge thank you to Christophe for organizing the cause. 

This Summer, Sony Music Group (SMG) is welcoming the fourth cohort of the SMG Impact Fellows Program. In 2021, the program launched as a partnership with the 4A’s Multicultural Advertising Intern Program (MAIP); fellows from subsequent cohorts have also come to SMG from American Indigenous Business Leaders (AIBL), Lime Connect, Out for Undergrad (O4U), and Scholarships Plus. These partners allow us to bolster our efforts to recruit, develop, and retain diverse entry-level talent.   

This year’s cohort is comprised of five fellows working primarily at The Orchard on various teams such as Brand Marketing, Digital College Marketing, Marketing, Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion, and Global Artist & Label Services.  

Welcome to the team, 2024 Impact Fellows: 

The Office of DE&I launched the Impact Fellows program to provide college students from underrepresented communities the unique opportunity to learn about and experience the music industry during a three-month summer fellowship, supplemented by professional development opportunities and programming from their host organizations.   

This year, Fellows are gleaning insights from their internship experiences in our Nashville and New York City Offices. Fellows also benefit from participating in internal DE&I discussions, meet & greets with senior leaders, participating in the intern showcase, and attending exclusive cohort-tailored programming. 

To learn more about what it’s like working at Sony Music, follow @lifeatsonymusic on YouTube, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn. 

Sony Music Group is embracing a singular, unifying theme for every heritage acknowledgement and celebration in 2024: Reimagining CommUNITY. Inspired by the art we create, music can help us strengthen our connections to the people and cultures around us, so everyone can belong and thrive.  

During Asian, Pacific Islander, Desi, American (APIDA) Heritage Month, we fostered understanding and increased knowledge about the APIDA community and their ongoing impact on global culture, while also acknowledging the challenges they continue to face.  Through our Global Social Justice Fund, we are able to continue supporting and empowering the worldwide APIDA community beyond the month of May. 

Learn more about our partner organizations who passionately strive to uplift the global Asian diaspora: 

Asian and Pacific Islander American Vote  

Location: US 

Asian and Pacific Islander American Vote (APIA Vote) is an action-driven organization dedicated to engaging, educating, and empowering the APIDA community so their voices are represented and heard.  

Through our Global Social Justice Fund, we support the organization in their efforts to sustain and build a culture of civic participation. With the APIDA community often overlooked by political parties, the organization works to allocate resources towards targeted messages directed to this community and establish them as a key demographic for electoral victory. They also aim to combat anti-Asian rhetoric and the spread of disinformation on APIDA-language social platforms. 

Discover more about how they enact positive change nationwide here. 

ChildFund Korea  

Location: South Korea 

ChildFund Korea is a child welfare organization that strives to help children live happy lives through a range of programs including childcare support, crisis intervention, psychotherapy, rehabilitation, and more. 

We proudly support their efforts through the Education Support Project. By offering aid to children in various fields that match their abilities and aptitudes, these projects give them the opportunity to foster the knowledge and skills needed to develop their talents. With this project, children are granted the ability to dream freely while supporting their peers in achieving their dreams as well. 

Read more about how they craft an environment where children can grow happily here. 

Enabling Leadership Inc  

Location: Cambodia 

Enabling Leadership Inc’s mission is to help underprivileged children learn essential leadership and life skills through innovative and creative mediums such as music and soccer. 

We aid in this mission through our support of their Enabling Leadership Play Program, which utilizes soccer as a means of teaching self-confidence, communication, collaboration, and more. This program aims to reach and help children who attend underserved government schools located in the villages surrounding the town of Battambang. 

Find out more about how they inspire children to become leaders here. 

A special thank you to our Global Social Justice Fund partners for their ongoing help as we continue to redefine connection and rediscover belonging. With their continued partnership, we will continue to uplift the global Asian diaspora now and into the future. 

May marks Jewish American Heritage Month (JAHM), an annual occasion that presents the opportunity for everyone to recognize and learn more about Jewish people’s contributions to the history and culture of the United States—and to celebrate a diverse community that embodies a wide range of traditions, practices, heritages, and identities. 

Sony Music Group proudly celebrated JAHM with internal programming that underscored the impact of Jewish artistry within our company and societal culture. Get a glimpse of our JAHM celebrations, below: 

Reflecting on Jewish History 

We kicked off the month with a very special history lesson with Tom Tierney, a Director of the Sony Music Archives, where he highlighted some of the great Jewish American artists, songwriters, composers and musicians who have contributed to music history. 

We learned fun facts like… 

1. The first-ever Jewish American solo artist of the Columbia Phonograph Company (now Columbia Records) was Jules Levy (1838-1903). He was regarded as “The World’s Greatest Cornetist.” 

2. Emile Berliner (1851-1929) was a German American inventor who invented the lateral-cut flat disc record, leading directly to the creation of the Victor Talking Machine Company in 1900, which later became the Sony Music label, RCA Records. 

3. Throughout the 1950s and early 1960s, Columbia Records and RCA Victor (now RCA Records) had some of the biggest selling records with their Broadway cast albums, like Fiddler on the Roof, Oklahoma! and My Fair Lady. These recordings were driven by brilliant works created by many renowned Jewish composers, lyricists, book writers and performing artists.  

Yiddish Music and Its Influence on North American Culture 

Later in the month, we tuned in to a virtual discussion with Sebastian Schulman, Director of Special Projects and Partnerships at the Yiddish Book Center, where he educated us on the history of Yiddish music and its influence on North American culture. 

Schulman explained that Yiddish music evolved from its traditional form to more commercial or performative styles when it first came to North America. Today, while it can still be played traditionally, it can also incorporate elements of hip hop, heavy metal or other contemporary genres. Some songs have even been given mainstream recognition, like at the Grammy Awards and Juno Awards, respectively. 

A huge thank you to everyone who helped us recognize JAHM at Sony Music Group. Although the month has come to a close, we will continue to celebrate Jewish culture beyond the month of May, while also confronting and dismantling stereotypes the community faces.