NPR’s Tiny Desk series has gained popularity and has cemented its place within the music landscape.
The small, 7-11 cubicle space has hosted intimate, live performances by a wide array of artistes, including T-Pain, Juvenile, Sting and Shaggy, Tyler The Creator, Trina, Usher, Justin Timberlake, and many more.
While the concert series runs all year long, there’s a special anticipation for June, which is celebrated as Black Music Month – a special celebration and tribute to the Black musicians who have helped shape the landscape of Black music today.
Last year’s Black Music Month included musical offerings from acts such as Juvenile, Tank, Babyface, and Charlie Willson.
The effort was spearheaded by Tiny Desk’s series producer and host, Bobby Carter, who has plans for an even bigger lineup for Black Music Month 2024.
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This year’s theme is “Giving female musicians their flowers.”
According to ESSENCE, Carter said she knew that they wanted to bring an all-female-led line-up this year. She went on to say:
“So this sort of occurred to me this time last year, like wow, it’s too many dudes, and I want to really go for it this year and really honor the women that helped shape Black music for me, which is all music.”
She added, “Last year, the first week started out with Charlie Wilson and Babyface, it occurred to me that we were leading with all men and to be honest, most of the bands that I aimed for and most of the bands and the artistes that I am most excited about from the legacy side are women”.
Therefore, according to Carter, an all-female lineup was something she knew they were going to do this year.
June has always brought about the anticipation for Black Music Month and the exciting lineup Tiny Desk has prepared.
This year’s performances promise a blend of nostalgia and innovation, featuring artistes from various genres and generations, highlighting the rich diversity of Black music.
The lineup was made public exclusively through ESSENCE, and it includes an eclectic collection of genre-bending female artistes such as Tems, Chaka Khan, Tierra Whack, Kierra Sheard, Lakecia Benjamin, Me’Shell Ndegeoccello, Brittney Spencer, SWV, and Flo Mili.
Each artiste brings a unique sound and story, adding to the richness and depth of Black music.
Cater also told ESSENCE: “When we do packages like this, the goal is to cover as much ground as possible. It is also to represent as many walks of life and as many generations and genres as possible within that month’s frame. So what you see in this lineup is just the best attempt possible at really casting a wide net, so if you are into a country, hip-hop, new R&B, old R&B. We’re trying to do as much as we can and represent as much as we can within the month”.
Carter attributes the successful curation of the line-up to the team of Black women he works with that helped to cover all the bases to make this year’s celebration the best one yet.
This all-female line-up for Black Music Month at Tiny Desk is not just a series of concerts; it is a powerful statement.
It honors the legacy of Black female musicians who have often been overshadowed, celebrating their contributions and ensuring their place in music history.
“I hope people realize just how much Black women have contributed and have continued to contribute to music at large; they don’t get enough credit.This month is a reminder for those who may have forgotten just how great these women are. Each concert will culminate with the featured musician receiving a bouquet of their favorite flowers, a symbolic gesture honoring their impact and legacy in music,” Carter revealed.