Sylvia Rhone was recognized as the Ultimate Icon at the 2026 BET Awards and delivered a powerful message about protecting creativity as tech disrupts the industry.
“We’ve seen musical ideas become movements, and what we know is this: Black creativity is one of the most powerful forces in the world; it has shaped culture and continues to show the world new ways to see and feel,” Rhone said while on stage at the Peacock Theater. “That creativity deserves one continued protection.”
She continued, “Music needs us to stand up for it like never before, because we are living through a time of massive technological change. The possibilities are super exciting, but we must stay as active on the tech side of music as we are on the soulful side. We make the algorithm, the algorithm doesn’t make us.”
Rhone noted that “we must honor the musician” and “we must compensate the creator,” adding, ” Let us celebrate music as the art form it is, and let us make sure the next generation of artists has the opportunity to create the songs that will change the world.”
Rhone was presented the Ultimate Icon award by Kelly Rowland. The music executive is known to have developed some of the biggest artists in music, including Missy Elliott, Busta Rhymes, Stevie Wonder, Lil Wayne, En Vogue, Tracy Chapman, Erykah Badu, Brandy, Kid Cudi, Gerald Levert, Anita Baker, Tamia, MC Lyte, Yo-Yo, Yolanda Adams, Akon, Fabolous, Ol Dirty Bastard, and more.
