Sylvia Rhone was acknowledged because the Final Icon on the 2026 BET Awards and delivered a robust message about defending creativity as tech disrupts the business.
“We’ve seen musical concepts change into actions, and what we all know is that this: Black creativity is among the strongest forces on the earth; it has formed tradition and continues to indicate the world new methods to see and really feel,” Rhone mentioned whereas on stage on the Peacock Theater. “That creativity deserves one continued safety.”
She continued, “Music wants us to face up for it like by no means earlier than, as a result of we live by means of a time of huge technological change. The probabilities are tremendous thrilling, however we should keep as energetic on the tech facet of music as we’re on the soulful facet. We make the algorithm, the algorithm doesn’t make us.”
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Rhone famous that “we should honor the musician” and “we should compensate the creator,” including, ” Allow us to have a good time music because the artwork kind it’s, and allow us to make certain the following era of artists has the chance to create the songs that may change the world.”
Rhone was introduced the Final Icon award by Kelly Rowland. The music govt is thought to have developed among the largest artists in music, together with Missy Elliott, Busta Rhymes, Stevie Marvel, Lil Wayne, En Vogue, Tracy Chapman, Erykah Badu, Brandy, Child Cudi, Gerald Levert, Anita Baker, Tamia, MC Lyte, Yo-Yo, Yolanda Adams, Akon, Fabolous, Ol Soiled Bastard, and extra.
