Features

All Categories

Beverly Bond Honored at ASCAP 4th Annual Women Behind the Music Series

Posted Oct 17th 2012 10:55AM by Natelege Whaley
Comments

Johnny Nunez, WireImage

Beyond the flashing lights and glitz of the famous artists and parties that are all a part of the music industry, rarely do people see the trailblazers, especially women, who make the power moves behind the scenes. Knowing these ladies are equally as important, ASCAP held their 4th Annual Women Behind the Music series in New York Tuesday evening (Oct. 16). The event, held at Tenjune in Manhattan's Meatpacking District, honored a few special movers and shakers.

The honorees included Black Girls Rock! Inc., founder and DJ Beverly Bond; Jessica Rivera, senior vice president of Universal Music Publishing; and Nicole Wyskoarko, Island Def Jam's vice president of business and legal affairs.

Bond recently celebrated the seventh year of her annual Black Girls Rock! awards show, which was taped last weekend and will air next month on BET. Alicia Keys, Ciara, Missy Elliott and Keyshia Cole all performed. Bond reminisced on the event's humble beginnings, when it wasn't so star-studded.

"When I started the award show, it was started at the Powerhouse bookstore in Brooklyn, [N.Y.], honoring DJ Jazzy Joyce and MC Lyte," Bond told The BoomBox. "Everyone left that room saying this is historic. I knew it was something that needed to grow, needed to be expanded. I started it because it was necessary."

Bond's goal is to recognize leaders and game-changers, who go above and beyond. "I think it's important that people honor those within their circles, within their industries, within their culture, within their communities to help inspire others to follow in their footsteps," she shared.

The New York City native, who is a former fashion model, also described her biggest lesson learned as a woman in the music industry. Over the years, she's had her fair share of ups and downs, especially in the DJ world, which she calls a "boys club."

"I seen very early how much harder I had to work, which I don't really look at as a negative," Bond explained. "I look at it as a positive. I made sure I would always take it to the next level. I think that's something I would try to instill in the mentees that I mentor."

"Black Girls Rock!," hosted by actresses Tracee Ellis Ross and Regina King, air Nov. 4 on BET.

See 15 of the Best Hip-Hop & R&B Albums of 2012 (So Far)