SANTA MONICA, CALIF. (MARCH 25, 2026) – The Recording Academy®’s Black Music Collective™ (BMC) and Amazon Music have announced the return of the “Your Future Is Now” Scholarship Program, marking its fifth anniversary and their shared commitment to cultivating the next generation of music industry leaders at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).
The program provides five selected students with $10,000 scholarships, exclusive networking opportunities with leading music industry executives, an immersive rotational experience with department leaders from both the Recording Academy and Amazon Music, and opportunities to attend Grammy® Week events. In addition to student scholarships, the BMC and Amazon Music will award two HBCUs with $10,000 grants for equipment for their music programs.
Since its launch in 2021, the “Your Future Is Now” program has awarded a total of $170,000 in scholarships to 17 HBCU students, along with $80,000 in grants to eight HBCU music programs.
“Reflecting on the last five years and what we envisioned this program to be in 2021, the number of students we’ve directly impacted in partnership with Amazon Music is remarkable,” said Harvey Mason jr., CEO of the Recording Academy. “It underscores our shared commitment to investing in the lives and careers of HBCU students and ensuring the next generation of music leaders has the networks and resources needed to thrive. I look forward to welcoming our next cohort of scholars for another incredible year.”
Applications for the 2026 cohort are now open. Eligible applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents currently enrolled at an HBCU pursuing a degree in music, music business, business administration, marketing, communications, or a related field of study. All applicants must submit a current transcript, a personal statement, a creative video showcasing their creativity, and one letter of recommendation. The deadline to apply is May 8. The selected cohort will be announced by Fall.
