The Living Legends Foundation has announced Black Promoters Collective (BPC) as a recipient of the prestigious A.D. Washington Chairman’s Award at its 35th Anniversary Awards Dinner & Gala, taking place Friday, October 2, 2026, in Atlanta, Georgia.

The honor recognizes BPC’s continued impact on the live entertainment industry and its role in shaping culture through groundbreaking tours, festivals, and live experiences. The award will be accepted by BPC’s leadership team, including Shelby Joyner, Gary Guidry, Troy Brown, William “Bill” Ingram, Sulaiman Mausi, Shahida Mausi, Lionel Bea, Janice Cotton, and Walt Reeder Jr.

Hosted by the Living Legends Foundation, the annual gala celebrates influential leaders and change makers across music, media, radio, and entertainment. This year’s honorees include Louis Carr (BET), Greg Street, Kenny Smoov, Phylicia Fant, Ted Lucas, Ralph McDaniels, and others.

 

ABOUT BLACK PROMOTERS COLLECTIVE

Since launching its first tour in 2022, the Black Promoters Collective (BPC) has rapidly ascended to become one of the most influential forces in the global live entertainment business. In just four years, BPC climbed to No. 14 on Pollstar’s 2026 Top 50 Worldwide Promoters Grosses chart, signaling a swift rise into the industry’s top tier. BPC is the only wholly Black-owned company consistently ranked on Pollstar’s Global Top 100 Promoters list and has been recognized as the No. 3 Global Top Urban Promoter/Producer. Its touring portfolio continues to drive both revenue and cultural impact, with The Millennium Tour 2025, Brandy & Monica’s The Boy Is Mine Tour, and The Queens Tour all earning major Pollstar Award nominations—underscoring the company’s strength in delivering commercially successful, culturally resonant live experiences. The company’s momentum is further validated by repeated inclusion on Billboard’s R&B/Hip-Hop Power Players and Touring Power Players lists, with CEO Gary Guidry recognized among the executives shaping the future of live entertainment. Included on Essence’s Power Players list, BPC is a coalition of nine leading independent promoters, founded in 2020 that produces large-scale tours and festivals bridging legacy and contemporary artists across genres. With a business model rooted in cultural authority and audience alignment, BPC continues to redefine how live entertainment is created, marketed, and experienced.

ABOUT THE LIVING LEGENDS FOUNDATION®, Inc.

Founded in 1991 and incorporated in 1992, the Living Legends Foundation® Inc, is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit, tax-exempt organization and has been funded primarily with corporate contributions and individual donations. The 35-year-old organization has expanded its mission to assist those who have served the music industry and who have a confirmable need. This assistance is provided in a manner that maintains the dignity of those who may receive financial help. Many former music industry employees worked during a time when 401Ks and retirement packages were not available – and even today, in this era of downsizing and mergers, the uncertainty of career stability within the industry has grown.