Black Music City is Looking to Distribute $125,000 to 30 Black Artists in the Philadelphia Region in Honor of Philly’s Black Music History

Three big players in the local music scene have partnered up for the Black Music City, a project aimed to help fund the dreams of Black artists in the Philly region through grants. Now in its 5th year, WXPN, WRTI, and REC will be offering $125,000 that will be distributed among 30 local Black artists. WXPN which is the driving force behind the grant worked with the, William Penn Foundation to fund it, while REC was brought on to carry out the project. Since its inception, Black Music City has now distributed over $500,000 into the community helping Black creators get their projects funded.

“Being a part of this initiative is really why we created REC in the first place. Providing resources to creators in our community so they can get paid for their creativity. And the fact that we’ve been able to do it for five years now with Black Music City, distributing half a million in grant funding — it’s really special. And to see the final projects that come from the program each year — it’s inspiring to see what Philly Artists can produce,” stated REC Co-Founder Dave Silver.

For artists interested in applying, Black Music City suggest that interested candidates should apply if:

• Your project celebrates Philadelphia’s unique Black music heritage and captures the spirit of its communities.

• You are a Black artist or cultural creator currently living in Philly Metro, South Jersey, and Delaware with a strong, original vision.

• You’re looking to engage and connect with Philly’s creative community and showcase your talent through meaningful storytelling.

On the flip side, candidates may want to skip the application process if:

• You want to create a personal project that primarily centers your work, rather than honoring Philadelphia’s Black music heritage.

• Your project does not specifically relate to or celebrate Philly’s local culture and communities.

• You cannot commit to a year-long obligation where you participate in events & meetups, including a showcase on June 19 2025

The selection committee itself consists of several movers and shakers within the Black artist community including, recording artist Chill Moody, singer & host Seriah Nicole, recording artist Samantha Rise, artist Richard Watson, and writer John Morrison.

Any submission that does not point to how it is honoring Philly’s Black Music History will not be considered.

“It means a lot for a few reasons. For one, it’s substantial funding. For Year 5, we are distributing $125,000 in grant funding that will be disbursed to 30 grantees. Each artist will receive $1500-$5000 to fund their project. The projects themselves are important for the city – these projects shine light on the tremendous musical talent of this city. Once the program is completed, we host a final event where all the work can get put on display for the public – and we’ve also formed some meaningful partnerships, like one with the African American Museum in Philadelphia, where the final art pieces can be featured for months following the conclusion of the program,” Dave added.

Interested candidates can apply blackmusiccity.com/apply.