Black Promoters Collective On Track To Gross Over $100M In Revenue For Live Entertainment Production
BPC is known as the largest Black-owned live entertainment company in the U.S.
The Black Promoters Collective (BPC) is on track to reach a historic feat in year-end revenue.
Known as the largest Black-owned live entertainment company in the United States, BPC has made its mark in the concerts and festivals industry. Its latest entry, the highly anticipated “The Boy is Mine” tour with headliners Brandy and Monica, will take the company to over $100 million in expected revenue.
The tour will bring the R&B superstars and collaborators to over 24 cities. They will be accompanied by fellow R&B starlets such as Muni Long, Kelly Rowland, and recent American Idol winner Jamal Roberts. It has already added more dates, expanding to Florida due to growing interest.
The tour comes amid the 25th anniversary of the Grammy-winning song of the same name. Now, BPC hopes to capitalize on this growing momentum to become a major player in live entertainment.
“We’re building a movement rooted in authenticity and excellence,” said Shelby Joyner, president of BPC,in a press release. “The Boy Is Mine is the latest proof of how powerful our culture is when it’s centered, protected, and celebrated.”
BPC has also celebrated other successful events such as its sold-out “Hot 97 Summer Jam, which it coproduced. The music festival featured hitmakers such as GloRilla, Gunna, A Boogie With The Hoodie, and a surprise performance from Meek Mill.
BPC then collaborated with LL Cool J for the hip hop legend’s “Rock The Bells Festival.” Other events included the “Millennium Tour” featuring Bow Wow, Trey Songz, and Omarion, as well as the “October Nights: Calling All Lovers” tour with October London, Tamar Braxton, and Ro James.
“Our marketing approach is rooted in precision and purpose. We’ve demonstrated that when campaigns center on cultural authenticity, they not only drive ticket sales but also foster brand affinity and measurable community impact,” added Troy Brown, CMO of BPC. “The first half of 2025 is proof that brands who align with culture-forward experiences gain more than impressions; they gain trust.
With recognition from Billboard and Pollstar as a globally-renowned promotional company, BPC has shaped itself as a dynamic, culturally-significant force in live entertainment.
Harlem Youth Baseball Coach Deemed A ‘Hero’ For Protecting Players Against ICE Agents
This is why Black men in leadership matter....
Youman Wilder, the founder of Harlem Baseball Hitting Academy, is being called a hero for stepping up and protecting his players against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents when they approached the kids during a practice session, NBC News reports.
The incident took place July 3 at Riverside Park in Manhattan’s Upper West Side when Wilder said he saw ICE officers storming the grounds. He said he didn’t make much of it until they approached his players and started to ask them questions about where they were born and where their parents were from. “I heard them saying, ‘Where are you from? Where are your parents from?” Wilder remembered.
“And I just stepped in and said this is very inappropriate to ask these kids anything … I’m just going to have them implement their Fifth Amendment right, and not say anything to you.”
The coach, who has a Master’s degree in law, said one of the agents raised his voice and called him “another YouTube lawyer.” But Wilder calmly responded, saying, “No, I just know how the Constitution works.”
While admitting that a number of his players’ parents come from countries such as Mexico, the Dominican Republic, Africa, and South America, his young middle and high school players are American citizens. “Their kids were born here. They have the 14th Amendment entitlement to live here,” he said.
Wilder labeled his players as “tough” and reached out to lawmakers to address ICE harassment. Unfortunately, since the incident, several of his players have not returned to practice due to fear. “I got some tough New York City kids, so for them to be scared, it means something is really happening,” Wilder said. He remembers reassuring his team that he wouldn’t let the agents get through him. “I just said to myself, ‘I’m willing to die to make sure you get home. ‘” Doubling down, saying, “I’m willing to die today.”
Running the youth baseball program for the past 22 years, people in the neighborhood know Wilder well, as he views the sport as a tool that teaches important life lessons. “Baseball is life. You start at home, and we’re going to send you out. And it’s going to be hard for you out there. But you could make it easier for yourself swinging at strikes to get to first base,” he said, according to The New Yorker.
“And how can we get you to second and third? You can do things quicker, sharper, crisper. All those things get you around. Same thing in life.”
As the team consists of a majority of Black and Latino players from tough NYC neighborhoods like Washington Heights, Dyckman, the South Bronx, and parts of Queens, the kids deal with gangs, often at risk of being beaten up. Now, with the risk of being stopped by immigration officials, the coach reminds them that baseball is a great way to deal with another life hurdle. “I tell the kids, you have to use your baseball. How do you get from first base to third base without getting thrown out?”
ICE agents have been seen in numerous diverse neighborhoods of America’s metro cities, questioning and arresting those they deem “illegal and dangerous” immigrants. While an ICE spokesperson claims the agency “has not conducted any recent enforcement activity in the vicinity of Riverside Park,” Wilder says officers identified themselves as ICE agents by being armed and wearing camouflage uniforms.
Oh Nah, British Royal Reportedly Named Pet Black Sheep After Venus And Serena Williams
Princess Michael of Kent reportedly named her pets that to "shock" guests.
In a weird move worthy of a serious side-eye, a member of the British royal family reportedly named her pet Black sheep after Venus and Serena Williams.
Princess Michael of Kent, wife of Prince Michael of Kent, is apparently the culprit of this odd naming. Prince Michael is the son of Prince George, the brother of King George, and late uncle of Queen Elizabeth II. US Weeklyreported that the rumor came from an author named Aatish Taseer.
While unconfirmed, Taseer does have ties to the British royal family, which lends credibility to his claims. Taseer used to date Lady Gabriella Windsor, the daughter of Princess Michael of Kent. Windsor is also the cousin of the current monarch, King Charles III. The A Return To Self: Excursions in Exile writer revealed the alleged naming during an interview on the Tell Me About Your Father podcast.
“I think the [story about] Venus and Serena was part of that weird air of abstraction that exists around these people and how they’re not even aware of how shocking or offensive that might be,” Taseer said on the podcast.
However, Taseer spoke up about the names before in 2018. He wrote about Princess Michael’s assumed “desire to shock” when she shared the pets’ names with others.
“Princess Michael, though generally free of British colonial prejudices, and beyond reproach when it came to me, nevertheless invited trouble out of what felt like a desire to shock: her pair of black sheep in Gloucestershire were named Venus and Serena,” previously wrote Taseer.
Taseer does not have a current relationship with the British Royal family, which he thinks stems from his sexuality. Taseer identifies as a gay man. However, he still remembers the micro-aggressive, if not just outright racist, naming.
The admission sparked immediate backlash for the clear racial origins of the names. Although Taseer views Princess Michael as “a gay icon,” the podcast hosts think her prejudices may hinder that title.
“If she weren’t so racist, she’d be really marketable, joked podcast cohost Matt Philip.
Brittney Griner ‘Didn’t Feel Like A Human’ While In Russian Prison
Brittney Griner shares graphic details about her 10-month detainment in Russian prison.
Brittney Griner opened up about her harrowing year in a Russian penal colony, where she says she was stripped, starved, and made to feel less than human.
The nine-time WNBA all-star sat down with Cam Newton and shared graphic details of her 10-month detainment and imprisonment in Russia after being found with THC vape cartridges in her luggage. Griner described enduring invasive body searches, drug and COVID tests, and a respiratory exam before being thrown into solitary confinement with barely any clothing.
“No shower, no toilet paper, no toothbrush…the toilet was just a hole, covered in feces and urine,” she recalled.
It was an experience that made her feel “worse than a d*** stray dog,” she added. “At least a stray dog get some food every now and again. Like get something. I didn’t feel like a human.”
Griner said she was forced to use a T-shirt as a makeshift washcloth and credited her family for keeping her alive during her darkest moments, believing that if she ended her life in prison, her loved ones might never get her body back.
“Trying to be strong, I got a little Sudoku book that I had with me when they took me,” she said. “So I’m writing in it, like I knew what day it was. So I would write the date and I would write a little something like how I’m feeling.”
The six-time All-WNBA member got candid when recalling Russian authorities’ “last play to terrorize me” during the prisoner swap that led to her release in December 2022. She was transferred from a penal colony to a men’s prison, where she was stripped of her humanity throughout the transfer.
“Because they were checking me in, they had me stripped down, butt naked, in front of a room like probably seven to eight men, and they had the Polaroid and had me spinning in a circle, while they were taking the photos right, of my tattoos because my tattoos are whatever they are,” Griner recalled.
Though her imprisonment dominated national headlines, Griner believes the media coverage would’ve been handled very differently if the detainee had been a high-profile male athlete like LeBron James.
“I think the media and the public reaction would have been different; they wouldn’t have automatically roped me off as a drug addict, a druggie, delinquent,” she added. “I think it would have been a different standpoint.”
Bill Cosby Compares Malcolm-Jamal Warner’s ‘Devastating’ Death To His Son’s Murder
Bill Cosby is mourning the sudden loss of his former "Cosby Show" co-star Malcolm-Jamal Warner.
Bill Cosby is mourning the “devastating” death of actor Malcolm-Jamal Warner, who rose to fame playing his son Theo Huxtable on The Cosby Show.
After news broke of Warner’s accidental drowning while vacationing in Costa Rica, Cosby’s spokesperson, Andrew Wyatt, revealed that the comedian’s reaction “reminded him of the same call he received when his son died,” People reports. Cosby’s only son, Ennis William Cosby, was murdered during a botched robbery in 1997.
Ennis, according to Wyatt, used to “play with Malcolm” when they were younger, and called Warner’s death “devastating.”
“He found a way to talk about Malcolm even though he was sad,” Wyatt said of Cosby. “…They spoke all the time. He said, ‘Malcolm was changing humanity.'”
Wyatt shared that Warner’s death has deeply affected the cast of The Cosby Show, with Cosby and Phylicia Rashad, who played Jamal-Warner’s TV mom, connecting by phone to reminisce about the late actor. The former co-stars spent time “embracing each other over the phone about a dearly beloved friend,” Cosby told CBS News’ Jericka Duncan in a phone interview.
“He was never afraid to go to his room and study. He knew his lines and that he was quite comfortable even with the growing pains of a being a teenager,” Cosby added, noting that he last spoke to Warner “three months ago.”
Their last conversation centered around Warner’s Art in Motion concert alongside the Minnesota Orchestra, which Cosby noted was “something [Warner] was very proud of.”
Warner never publicly defended Cosby amid the sexual assault and misconduct allegations that have tarnished his reputation. Still, he consistently stood by The Cosby Show’s legacy, praising its lasting impact on both the Black community and American culture.
“Regardless of how some people may feel about the show now, I’m still proud of the legacy and having been a part of such an iconic show that had such a profound impact on—first and foremost, Black culture—but also American culture,” Warner said in 2023.
Malcolm-Jamal Warner, 54, drowned while swimming in Limon, Costa Rica, on July 20, authorities confirmed. He left behind his wife and daughter, whose identities he chose to keep private.
Lloyd Howell Resigns From The Carlyle Group After Quitting As NFLPA Executive Director
Questions had surrounded his roles with both companies
Lloyd Howell Jr. has resigned as a consultant with The Carlyle Group, several days after he relinquished his position as executive director of the NFL Players Association (NFLPA).
According to ESPN, no reason was given for Howell’s resignation, as he was an operations executive with Carlyle’s aerospace and defense investment team. An issue had re-emerged regarding his dual role at The Carlyle Group, as the company is one of a select group of firms approved by the league to seek minority ownership in NFL franchises. It was viewed as a conflict of interest for Howell to hold the roles at both organizations, given the possibility that Carlyle might invest in franchises for the league.
Howell did not state that he was resigning from The Carlyle Group, but he did release a statement when leaving the NFLPA.
“It’s clear that my leadership has become a distraction to the important work the NFLPA advances every day,” Howell said in a written statement. “For this reason, I have informed the NFLPA Executive Committee that I am stepping down as Executive Director of the NFLPA and Chairman of the Board of NFL Players, effective immediately. I hope this will allow the NFLPA to maintain its focus on its player members ahead of the upcoming season.”
According to an earlier report from the media outlet, it was reported that Howell started working with Carlyle in March 2023, three months before being hired by the NFLPA as the players’ chief representative in relations with the league. In August, the league announced that it had named three private equity firms and a consortium of firms, including Carlyle, to a list of approved funds that can invest in minority franchise stakes, not to exceed 10%. Sources stated that a senior union lawyer spoke to Howell and questioned whether it was appropriate for him to continue his dual role with both organizations.
He was advised to resign from The Carlyle Group to mitigate the appearance of a conflict of interest if the company were to acquire an ownership stake in an NFL team. He declined to do so at the time.
Earlier this year, it was reported that the FBI was investigating the NFL Players Association and the MLB Players Association for their deals with the multibillion-dollar group-licensing firm OneTeam Partners. The report led the players’ union to hire Ronald C. Machen of law firm Wilmer Hale to review Howell’s activities as executive director. The FBI investigation, in conjunction with the Brooklyn U.S. Attorney’s office, is ongoing, according to sources.
Trump Administration Proposes Over 60 Rule Changes To Deregulate Workplaces
The proposed changes still have a few steps to go through before taking effect, including public comment for each one.
Under the Trump Administration, the U.S. Department of Labor plans to rewrite or repeal more than 60 “obsolete workplace” regulations, ranging from minimum wage requirements for specific industries to the standard for governing exposure to harmful substances.
The Labor Department stated that its goal is to reverse “the costly and burdensome rules imposed under previous administrations.” The department noted that the proposed changes would also fulfill President Donald Trump’s commitment to restore American prosperity through deregulation, and mark the most ambitious proposal to slash red tape of any department across the federal government.
“One of President Trump’s very first actions was directing his cabinet to dismantle the mountain of outdated rules that have held back American workers and businesses for far too long,” Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer said in a statement. “The Department of Labor is proud to lead the way by eliminating unnecessary regulations that stifle growth and limit opportunity. These historic actions will free Main Street, fuel economic growth and job creation, and give American workers the flexibility they need to build a better future.”
Critics, however, argue that the 63 proposals would put workers at a greater risk for harm, and women and minority workers will feel the impact the most.
“People are at very great risk of dying on the job already,” Rebecca Reindel, the AFL-CIO union’s occupational safety and health director, told The AP. “This is something that is only going to make the problem worse.”
The proposed changes still have a few steps to go through before taking effect, including public comment for each one. Here’s a look at some of the proposed changes.
Proposed Changes to Labor Department Regulations
Paying Home Health Workers Under Minimum Wage
Some of the rollbacks would include paying home health care workers below the federal minimum wage, which is currently $7.25 per hour. Some of these workers, who care for the elderly, people with disabilities, and those with medical conditions that limit their mobility, would also be ineligible for overtime if there were no state laws that would prevent employers from doing so.
According to The AP, this would reverse changes made in 2013 under President Barack Obama and revert to the regulatory framework from 1975. According to the Labor Department, by lowering labor and compliance costs, the revision may expand the home care market and enable those in need to remain in their homes longer.
However, opponents argue that before the 2013 regulations, home care workers would often work 50 hours or more without receiving overtime pay.
Rolling Back Protections For Migrant Farm Workers
Under the Biden administration, the Labor Department finalized rules that provided protections to migrant farmworkers who held H-2A visas. The current administration says most of those rules are unnecessary and costly to employers.
The new proposal would rescind the requirement for most employer-provided transportation to have seatbelts for agricultural workers.
Protecting migrant farmworkers from retaliation would also end, as the department is proposing to reverse a 2024 rule that protects migrant farmworkers from retaliation for filing a complaint or testifying or participating in an investigation.
Lighting For Construction Spaces
Another proposed change concerns the provision of adequate lighting at construction sites. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) intends to rescind the requirement for employers to provide sufficient lighting at construction sites. OSHA argues the regulation doesn’t substantially reduce the risk.
OSHA says if employers fail to provide adequate lighting at construction worksites, the agency can issue citations under its “general duty clause.”
These Black Money-Making Streamers Are Worth Millions
The rise of live streaming has become a pathway to success for individuals in today's digital age
The rise of live streaming has become a pathway to success for individuals in today’s digital age. Streaming has propelled careers forward and is a lucrative source of income worth millions of dollars for numerous creators from the Black community. These streamers engage their audiences through platforms such as Twitch, YouTube, or Kick for entertainment purposes. These content creators showcase a range of content spanning from humor and social commentary, to gaming and reaction videos. As they establish their own digital domains, they accumulate wealth along the way. Let’s delve into the profiles of some streamers who are making significant earnings through their online presence.
iShowSpeed
Darren Watkins Jr., also recognized as iShowSpeed, kicked off his streaming career back in 2017. Hailing from Cincinnati, Ohio, the streamer concentrates on playing Fifa and Fortnite games. Currently iShowSpeed engages viewers on YouTube with Watkins’ responses to gameplay and real life antics along with music content. He has amassed a net worth of $10 million through ads revenue stream, merchandise transactions, music launches, and brand collaborations.
Darius Dwayne Granberry Jr., also recognized by his moniker DDG, originates from Pontiac, Michigan. He started his journey on YouTube back in 2014, by crafting video diaries, daring pranks, and lively reaction snippets. Fast forward to 2018, DDG officially inked a deal with Epic Records, which was followed up with establishing his very own Zooted Music production house in 2020. Currently, DDG focuses his creative energy on live streaming activities, predominantly on his Twitch platform. The streamer engages with supporters, does impromptu musical pieces, and offers intimate glimpses into various aspects of his life, like the joys of parenthood. DDG himself mentions his net worth as being near $8 million.
Kai Cenat, hailing from the Bronx, moved from making videos to engaging Twitch broadcasts with a lot of energy around 2021. As a member of AMP, his reputation stems from teaming up with different celebrities, conquering video game challenging feats, and presenting challenges to his fans. His remarkable subscriber numbers reflect his appeal. His estimated fortune of about $53 million underscores his achievements. He mainly earns through subscriptions, gatherings ads, selling merchandise, and forming partnerships with brands.
From Virginia, but currently living in Los Angeles, Kiera first gained fame on social media sites such as Vine and Tumblr before fully embracing live streaming in 2020. Her online presence covers a wide array of subjects such as cosplay, gaming, manga analysis, and promoting mental health awareness. This distinct blend of topics has helped her amass a worth of $2 million, mainly from Twitch activities, sponsored partnerships, and voiceover projects.
Since 2013, Flight23White has impressed fans with basketball reactions and gameplay on YouTube, along with his commentary that often turns into memes. His success in the world of streaming and YouTube has led to a reported estimate worth of around $7 million.
Josh, also known as YourRAGE, started his streaming path in South Florida. The streamer garnered fame in 2020, for his entertaining reaction videos and gaming content with witty commentary on top. Currently active on platforms such as Twitch and Kickstreams, YourRAGE actively interacts with his viewers in the virtual realm, and has an estimated net worth hovering around $3 million adds to his story.
BruceDropEmOff, from Atlanta, Georgia, became known for funny commentary and casual chatting sessions on Twitch streams. The streamer briefly tried out Kick in 2023, but returned to Twitch, where he continues to charm his audience with his style. It is estimated that he’s sitting on a net worth of $2 million.
In 2016, in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Zias and B.Lou started out by making reaction videos and freestyle content. Through the years, they evolved into entertainers and known personalities on Twitch. Zias is said to be worth around $ 2.5 million. B.Lou $ 2 million.Their great bond, humor and fruitful partnerships within the hip-hop community have firmly established them as players in the world of livestream entertainment.
Black-Owned Bookstore Turned Community Hub In NYC Faces Risk Of Being Shelved
Sister's Bookstore and Cultural Center has served the communities within uptown Manhattan for 25 years.
In uptown New York City, a Black-owned bookstore that has lasted for decades now worries for its future.
Owned by Janifer Wilson, Sister’s Uptown Bookstore and Cultural Center opened in 2000. Through the years, its offerings have expanded as it transformed into a community hub, with Sister’s dedicated to amplifying reading from and by diverse communities. Now, new challenges could lead to its closing unless a new audience turns the page.
The bookstore typically hosts events surrounding literacy and community involvement, such as workshops, book clubs, and sourcing from local authors. However, its sales have slowed down tremendously, leading Sister’s to fall several months behind on its rent.
According to Patch, the woes started during the pandemic, as gentrification, the rise of online book retailers, and other factors led to the decreased customer traffic. Wilson also believes political pressures amid an anti-DEI movement have also disrupted her bookstore’s stability.
“Our history is trying to be eradicated, between banned books and closing institutions. They are just trying to write us off, as if we don’t exist or we don’t belong here. So, I’m holding on — I’m holding on for dear life,” explained Wilson.
Currently, Wilson has opted to crowdsource funding to keep the bookstore open, while finding new ways to reach a wider audience of book-lovers. With the store’s motto of ‘Knowledge of the self is key to our growth,” she hopes that marketing to children will promote the necessity of reading to families.
“If you don’t know from whence you came, you’re going to have a difficult time moving forward into becoming who you are and finding what your purpose is,” the business owner added.
A #SaveSisters party will also take place July 25, simultaneously celebrating the bookstore’s 25th anniversary. Filled with games, live music, and food, the fundraiser hopes to save what they consider the only Black-owned bookstore in Manhattan.
Calling Sister’s a “labor of love,” Wilson hopes to keep the bookstore alive as a testament to its legacy and place within the Black community of uptown New York City.
Essence Fest Sees Booking Decline As Tourism Faces Hit From Broader Economic Struggles
Essence Fest's visitor drop in 2025 points to a broader hit to the tourism industry.
Essence Fest 2025 saw a decline in hotel and short-term rental bookings, which industry experts attribute to broader macroeconomic challenges beyond New Orleans.
Held in New Orleans over the Fourth of July weekend, visitor turnout for this year’s four-day Essence Festival of Culture dropped noticeably from last year, NOLA reported. Hotel bookings were down about 15% from Friday through Sunday, and short-term rental stays fell 12% to 17% each night from Thursday through Sunday, compared to 2024.
Local tourism experts say it’s still unclear whether the decline in visitors stems from issues specific to Essence Fest or from broader challenges in the travel industry. Some point to a natural cooldown after last year’s 30th anniversary celebration, when hotel and short-term rental bookings increased by more than 50% on key days.
“Certainly Essence was off this year,” said David Piscola, general manager of the Hilton New Orleans Riverside. “At the Hilton, we did not see the demand nor ultimately the volume we have seen in years past. It was still a very busy weekend and a great celebration but softer than normal.”
Piscola noted that while the Hilton experienced a noticeable dip over the Fourth of July weekend, it still ranked as one of the hotel’s busiest weekends of the summer. The decline has industry experts wondering if New Orleans is beginning to feel the ripple effects of a looming economic slowdown, compounded by a dip in international tourism due to the federal government’s stricter immigration policies.
“I don’t have a single reason for the softness,” said Jim Cook, general manager of the Sheraton New Orleans, one of the biggest downtown hotels. “It’s gotten harder to determine. But based on the visitors we had, the spending behavior is similar to past years, so I wouldn’t attribute it to macroeconomics without data.”
Data revealed a slowdown in tourism spending following the post-pandemic surge, with Americans slashing summer vacation budgets by roughly 25% compared to last year. The dip had been looming, as federal data from early 2025 signaled fewer international arrivals, particularly from Canada and Europe, and a decline in visitor spending, driven by a mix of economic strains and political tensions.
“These shifts in consumer spending, such as increased competition from alternative accommodation like short-term rentals, may have contributed to the weaker hotel performance for this year’s Essence event,” said Colin Sherman, an analyst at CoStar.
Sherman pointed to data from Tourism Economics, which showed consumer confidence dipping across several areas, including job outlook and business sentiment, prompting travelers to tighten their budgets and opt for more cautious spending on trips. The outlook is expected to worsen, with the travel industry bracing for an even softer turnout heading into late 2025 and early 2026.
“I believe the second half of the year, including July, will prove more difficult for hospitality, not just in New Orleans but nationwide,” Piscola said. “Most major research organizations, such as Smith Travel Research and LARK, predict a much weaker second half, primarily due to macro economic issues beyond New Orleans.”
