After coming together to speak out on behalf of independent Black concert promoters in the midst of a industry-wide shutdown last year, the Black Promoters Collective has officially launched as a business entity.

A coalition of industry vets with a combined 40 years of experience with producing live shows, the BPC said in a press release that its mission is to put urban music back in the hands of Black promoters by raising the profile of African American event producers.

The BPC will do so by taking on its own large scale shows and tours as it works towards becoming the world’s leading provider of culturally relevant live entertainment experiences.

“Many of today’s most successful urban artists were first supported by Black promoters,” explains CEO Gary Guidry. “As they [grow] in popularity, the very promoters who gave them what might have been their first break, are often left behind. As a collective, we are reprogramming the perception of Black promoters and making space for others to do the same.”

The new company’s first project that end is Maxwell‘s newly announced US concert series, “The Night Tour,” which will be supported by singers Joe and Anthony Hamilton.

Read more in BlackEnterprise.com.