Pandora Celebrates Black Music Month

This is an archived page from 2021. Find out more

Pandora is celebrating Black Music Month with a host of initiatives to last throughout the month with a new podcast about the history of African-American music, a microsite to help listeners discover new music by Black creators, and quizzes and videos to inspire and educate.

The podcast is called All Music is Black Music and is produced by SiriusXM and the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture. Host Selema Masekela will trace the history of black music throughout the globe and include interviews with artists like Ne-Yo, St. Vincent, and Regina Spektor and narration by Dr. Dwandalyn Reece of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture. A trailer and first episode on girl groups are available here.

 Here’s what’s available outside of the podcast:

• • Quiz: Listeners can identify the gift that Black music is to them by answering a series of questions that will direct them to a series of newly launched Modes (a feature unique to Pandora that allows fans to exert more control over their listening experience) on the Black Music Forever station sponsored by Target for the month of June.

  • Modes include:

    • The Philly Sound: Hosted by two prolific producers and songwriters, Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff, to commemorate the 50th anniversary year of the label - Philadelphia International Records, the duo share their personal stories about some of the best soul classics ever recorded and early beginnings of Black Music Month, with music from The O’Jays, Teddy Pendergrass, Phyllis Hyman, and more.

    • Future Fire: A cross-over of SiriusXM’s The Heat, Future Fire will feature some of the best emerging hip hop and R&B acts including Mooski, Coi Leray, Giveon, and more.

    • Africa Now: An Afro-Pop special highlighting the best artists throughout Nigeria, Ghana, and South Africa that epitomize the Black experience of hailing from the birthplace of civilization, featuring music from Burna Boy, Wizkid, Davido, and more.

    • Spoken word video: Led by Shanelle Gabriel, listeners will be taken on a spoken word journey discovering the influence and impact of Black music.