Artists
BESLA Closes Out 2025 Mid-Year Conference in Atlanta with Honors for Matt Barnes and Lil Jon
Under the theme “Bridging the Gap: Advocacy, Artistry & Access,” the conference drew hundreds of attendees from across the country, all eager to explore the critical intersections of law, creativity, and equity in entertainment and sports. This year’s gathering featured interactive panel discussions, fireside chats, networking opportunities, and new actor and television writing workshops, providing an enriching, cross-disciplinary experience for both legal and creative professionals.
May 29, the first day of the conference, was officially declared BESLA Day in Fulton County by Fulton County Commissioners Moraima “Mo” Ivory and Marvin Arrington Jr., who were in attendance to present the proclamation and recognize BESLA’s contributions to the legal and creative communities.
BESLA proudly honored two cultural trailblazers whose work embodies leadership and influence:
• Grammy Award-winning artist, producer, and philanthropist Lil Jon received the Beacon of Industry Award and joined a fireside chat discussing his expansive career, business ventures, and his advocacy for mental health and community development.
• NBA Champion, entrepreneur, and media personality Matt Barnes was presented with the Power Player Award during a special program at Georgia State University College of Law. He participated in an engaging conversation highlighting his transition from athlete to business leader and advocate.
“This year’s conference was a true celebration of what happens when advocacy meets artistry and access,” said Allison Hobbs, BESLA Board Member and Chair of the 2025 Mid-Year Conference. “We are proud to provide a space where legal professionals, creatives, and changemakers can come together to learn, grow, and empower one another.”
A key highlight of the conference was a timely panel examining the evolving landscape of collegiate athletics in light of the pending House v. NCAA settlement. Experts Donald Woodard, Traci Bransford, Darrell Thompson, and Mason Ashe led an in-depth discussion on what the $2.8 billion proposed settlement could mean for student-athletes, institutions, and legal practitioners.
Prominent entertainment attorneys Janine Morris-Meggets, Aziza Bowser, and Roy Turner led a panel about protecting child performers and shared legal perspectives and best practices for safeguarding young talent, while decorated actor and musician Tristan “Mack” Wilds lent his insights and experience as a successful former child performer who is still in the business today.
To view photos from the 2025 Mid-Year Conference, visit: Photo Gallery.
For more information about BESLA and upcoming events, visit www.besla.org.
About BESLA
The Black Entertainment and Sports Lawyers Association (BESLA) is a nationally recognized leader in legal education and professional development for lawyers and professionals in the entertainment, sports, and related industries. Through premier programming, scholarships, and mentorship, BESLA remains committed to advancing diversity, access, and excellence in entertainment law. BESLA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
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Musician and Author MD Abdul Ahad Shanto (AlwaysBeSmile) Releases “The Independent Musician’s Blueprint” to Guide Indie Artists Toward Success
This inspiring new release serves as a complete guide for independent musicians navigating today’s digital music industry. Drawing from his personal experience as an independent artist, AlwaysBeSmile breaks down every stage of the modern music journey — from distribution to artist verification — in clear and simple steps.
The book provides essential insights into how artists can publish their music worldwide, manage metadata, claim profiles on streaming services like Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube Music, and understand the importance of music databases and lyric publishing platforms. It also sheds light on how digital verification helps establish credibility and build a professional artist presence online.
“When I started my music journey, I had to learn everything by trial and error,” says AlwaysBeSmile. “Now I want to make that path easier for others — to give artists the knowledge and confidence to grow independently and succeed in the digital world.”
Written in a friendly and motivational tone, “The Independent Musician’s Blueprint” encourages emerging artists to take full control of their creative careers. It’s not just a guide — it’s a message of empowerment for every musician dreaming of turning passion into professionalism.
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Billy Ray Charles scary new Digital Music Single is entitled “I Don’t Wanna Be Like A Brother”. It is a powerful R&B song with intricate rhythms, a steady beat, and hook filled vocal riffs. Lyrically its about a guy who is not stuck in the “friend” zone, which is talked about a lot, but in the “brother from another mother” zone which is not often talked about but can be even more devastating. It is a situation many men dread, and those who have survived it, never forget. The song attempts to make the listener feel the torment but be too catchy to feel sad.
“This is the third of our Strange Halloween Trilogy of songs released in October,” said Loveforce International CEO Mark Thomas. “The first was Scary, by Anna Hamilton and second was Trump’s Biggest Fear by The Loveforce Collective.
Thomas clarified, “We call the releases “Strange” because they address fears that aren’t always obvious in public media. Anna Hamilton’s “Scary” is about the scary feelings some have about falling in love, The Loveforce Collective’s “Trump’s Biggest Fear” illustrates how even The President can have fears and Billy Ray Charles’ release, about a subtle fear that comes with any romantic relationship.”
Billy Ray Charle’s new single “I Don’t Wanna Be Like A Brother” will be released to Spotify, Pandora, Apple Music, YouTube Music, Amazon Music, Instagram, Facebook, Claro Musica, iHeart Radio, iTunes, Deezer, KK Box, Boomplay, Media Net, Touchtones, Soundtrack by Twitch, Snapchat, NetEase, Anghami, TikTok, Resso, Flo, Audio Mack, Kuack, Pretzel, Gio Saavan, Yandex and Pretzel.
For further information, contact Evan Lovefire at (661) 523-4954.
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