The Paley Center for Media announces today its celebration of Black History Month, Paley Center’s Salute to Black Achievements in Music on Television presented by Citi. This multimedia exhibit Wednesday, February 1 to Sunday, February 26 at The Paley Museum in New York City will celebrate the intersection of legendary musical icons and unforgettable television moments that have made an impact on culture and society.

This year’s interactive experience features a curated selection of significant musical moments on television that convey how the medium showcased Black musical artists, introduced audiences to genres and styles of music that they might not have discovered otherwise, and served as a catalyst for cultural change throughout television’s nine decades. The immersive experience highlights pioneering musicians and towering talents such as Little Richard, Tina Turner, Queen Latifah, Ella Fitzgerald, The Supremes, Chuck Berry, Harry Belafonte, Aretha Franklin, Prince, Louis Armstrong, and more.

“We are excited to celebrate Black History Month by honoring the legacy of some of music’s most iconic and influential individuals, and their significant contributions to culture and society over the years, ” said Maureen J. Reidy, President and CEO of the Paley Center. “We thank Citi for their generous support as we continue our commitment to raising awareness and educating the public on the importance of diversity and representation within the entertainment industry.”

In conjunction with the exhibition, the Paley Center will present The Storytellers: Preserving the Legacy of Iconic Black Musicians, a conversation with some of the storytellers who have helped preserve the legacy of Black musical icons, including Michael Jackson, Ella Fitzgerald, and Louis Armstrong. On February 16 at 7:00 pm, the cultural institution will welcome Julie Anderson, Film Executive and Producer, Louis Armstrong: Black & Blues, The Jazz Ambassadors, God Is the Bigger Elvis; Ralph McDaniels, VJ, Music Video Director, Host of Video Music Box; Lisa Cortés, Director, Little Richard: I Am Everything, and moderator Touré, Journalist, Author, and Podcast Host of Touré Show and Who Was Prince? to discuss their motivations, creative journeys, and video excerpts of their work. 

Paley Center’s Salute to Black Achievements in Music on Television presented by Citi is part of the Paley Center’s long tradition of honoring diversity in media and entertainment. Over the years, the Paley Center has hosted tributes and exhibitions honoring Black and Hispanic achievements in television, the enormous contributions of women, the impact and importance of LGBTQ+ representation in television, among others.

Each genre or style of music will illustrate how several bold artists strayed from the norms, created new sounds, and reflected a changing society on television by crossing cultural borders and by uniting people during some of the most tumultuous periods in American history. 

The Paley Museum in Midtown Manhattan will offer an immersive gallery experience, bringing together diverse artifacts and content to create a one-of-a-kind exhibition featuring:

·       Original costumesincluding suits worn by Louis Armstrong and James Brown, the “Orange Freeze” outfits worn by The Supremes, and gowns worn by Roberta Flack and Vanessa Williams.

·       Artifacts on display including original scripts, authentic photographs, a trumpet used by Louis Armstrong, a Chuck Berry Signature Gibson Guitar, Roberta Flack’s Grammy and Platinum album, and others.

·       Curated screenings from the Paley Archive including Seven Lively Arts: The Sound of Jazz; Chuck Berry: Brown Eyed Handsome Man; VH1 Rock Docs: Soul Train The Hippest Trip in America; TCB Motown Special; Video Music Box; Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever; Beyoncé – I Am…Yours; The Hollywood Palace (ABC); Fresh Prince of Bel Air (NBC/Warner Bros. Television); In Living Color (Twentieth Television/Disney); Soul Train (Don Cornelius Productions / Tribune); and Soul! (WNET).

·       Family fun and educational programming including arts & crafts, interactive trivia, a scavenger hunt, and more.

The Paley Center is grateful to Citi for their ongoing support. The Paley Center also thanks The Louis Armstrong House and the Louis Armstrong Educational Foundation, The Mary Wilson Estate, the GRAMMY Museum, Roberta Flack, Vanessa Williams, Gibson Brands Inc., and Black Entertainment Television (BET) for their contribution to this event.

The Black History Month celebration is curated with the assistance and counsel of special advisors Martha Diaz, Archivist and Curator, Universal Hip Hop Museum; Trey Ellis, Professor, Columbia University; and Melanie McFarland, Critic and Senior Culture Writer, Salon.

Schedule

The Paley Center for Media is open 12 pm – 6 pm on Wednesdays – Sundays. For the detailed schedule, visit https://www.paleycenter.org/events/black-history-month-2023/

Admission

Tickets are free for Members; $20 for nonmembers; $16 for students, teachers, seniors, veterans, and first responders; free for children 12 and under; Corporate Members will receive free admission for themselves and a guest when they present their current employee ID upon entrance at the Paley Center. Advance ticketing is encouraged but not required. All proceeds support The Paley Center for Media’s mission.

Location

The Paley Center for Media

25 W 52nd St, New York, NY 10019, USA

Since 1958, the Recording Industry Association of America® (RIAA) has celebrated remarkable achievements from artists and their label teams through the prestigious Gold & Platinum program. The Diamond level was subsequently introduced to recognize over 10 million certified units with the inaugural milestone awarded for Elton John‘s “Something About The Way You Look Tonight / Candle In The Wind 1997″ via Rocket. And now, award-winning, genre blending artist Halsey‘s “Without Me” officially marks the 100th Diamond single in RIAA history, and Halsey’s second overall Diamond single including features. See the full timeline here representing a variety of genres throughout the years.

RIAA COO Michele Ballantyne said, “for decades RIAA’s Gold & Platinum program has proven a pinnacle of success and true reflection of artists’ and labels’ ability to connect with fans. We are encouraged as each generation creates songs that impact culture, shape careers and are thrilled to celebrate with milestone certifications.

RIAA Chairman & CEO Mitch Glazier and Ballantyne presented Halsey with their first solo Diamond award during the Capitol Music Group Town Hall. One of the top artists of the streaming era, Halsey has 75x combined Platinum and 15x Gold certifications across 42 titles.

“It is not only special, but awe-inspiring, when we can celebrate the craft of artists like Halsey whose music has reached millions. We are thrilled to acknowledge “Without Me” as their first solo Diamond single and the 100th certified in RIAA history!” said Glazier. “Your success in the streaming era is remarkable, and on behalf of the RIAA, congratulations Halsey, Capitol Records and your voracious fans on this new Diamond single!”

Evolving with the incorporation of streaming equivalents and physical sales, RIAA’s Gold & Platinum program has honored some of the last six decade’s biggest hits, artists’ creative expression, label collaboration and fan engagement. Explore all RIAA certifications here.

London-based girl group FLO announces their first-ever North American tour. Tickets will go on sale this Friday, February 3 at 10 AM local time HERE. Presale for tickets are available HERE. 

Starting the year making history by becoming the first group to ever win Radio 1’s BBC Sound of 2023and the BRIT Rising Star Award, the London-based award-winning girl group show no signs of slowing down, with 9 shows across 8 cities in North America, headlining iconic venues from Toronto’s Opera House, New York’s Webster Hall, to the infamous Fonda Theatre in Los Angeles. This announcement comes as no surprise, following the excitement on social media during the unraveling of FLO’s Spotify EQUAL Billboard in Times Square, with fans across the continent awaiting FLO’s highly anticipated entrance into the US. 

Straight after their North American tour, FLO will embark on their first festival run, beginning with Sol Blume in Sacramento alongside Kehlani, Dublin’s Longitude festival, to Glasgow’s TRNSMT festivaland London’s Wireless Festival in Finsbury Park, with two dates at Summersonic in Japan. Full tour routing is below.

Stay tuned for more announcements!