Just in time for Juneteenth and Black Music Month, NPR’s Tiny Desk has partnered up with BET to curate a special series celebrating Black music, and it’s far from your typical R&B and Hip-Hop concert lineup. The celebratory series shines a spotlight on Black artists making a wave in the alternative, pop, gospel, jazz, and rock spaces. The lineup features GENA, Kareem Riggins and Liv.e, Ayra Starr, Joe, The Paradox, Floetry, Fred Hammond, Eve, 8 Ball & MJG, Shaboozey, and Bow Wow, offering listeners a unique musical ride. Louis Carr, President of BET, shared how the inspiration for the Black Music Month partnership highlights the legacy of the network and its shows, like 106 & Park, that shaped a generation of artists and fans.
“For more than 40 years, BET has been the home where Black music and Black artistry are celebrated without compromise,” stated Carr. “From Video Soul to Rap City to 106 & Park, we built the stages that introduced the world to generations of talent. To see Tiny Desk honor that legacy during Black Music Month is a profound recognition of the culture we’ve championed since day one — and a reminder that the work of elevating Black music continues.”
“Back in the music video age of the 1980s, when other networks refused to feature Black artists, Black Entertainment Television was born, quickly becoming a standard bearer for American culture,” shared Bobby Carter, host and series producer for NPR’s Tiny Desk. “Tiny Desk, like many other platforms, stands on the shoulders of BET programs such as Video Soul, Rap City, and 106 & Park. To celebrate Black Music Month 2026 and the undeniable legacy of BET, Tiny Desk brings you 10 shows that reflect the essence of Black music.”
