The Black Music Action Coalition and Live Nation are opening the doors again. Applications are now open for the third year of the BMAC LIVE Accelerator Program, a fully funded, week-long immersive experience designed to put emerging music business professionals directly inside the live entertainment industry. Twenty participants will be selected for the 2026 cohort, which runs July 13 to 17 in Los Angeles. Applications close May 15, with selected participants notified by June 18.
Powered by Live Nation’s School of Live, the program covers the full live entertainment ecosystem, from show production and artist relations to talent booking, marketing, ticketing and budgeting. It’s hands-on, direct and built to translate into real careers. Upon completion, participants can apply for paid, part-time internship positions at Live Nation, available exclusively to BMAC LIVE alumni.
In two years, the program has already supported 40 emerging professionals. “In just one week, BMAC and Live Nation demonstrated how intentional they are about impacting the lives and careers of emerging industry professionals,” said 2025 alum Kayla Clarke. That track record is the strongest argument for what year three can deliver.
“In just two years, BMAC LIVE has created meaningful access for 40 aspiring professionals, opening doors, building confidence, and helping participants see a future for themselves in this industry,” said BMAC Co-founder, President and CEO Willie “Prophet” Stiggers. Omar Al-joulani, President of Touring at Live Nation, echoed that: “BMAC LIVE is about more than exposure, it’s about opportunity.”
The accelerator sits within BMAC’s broader push for equity and access across the music industry, which includes Music Maker Grants in partnership with Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, Victoria Monét and the Luther Vandross Foundation, Music Business Accelerator Programs at HBCUs Tennessee State University and Clark Atlanta, and community support initiatives including the Gunna x BMAC 30349 Program in South Fulton, Georgia. Applications are open now at bmacoalition.org/bmaclivenation.