Amazon Music Announces a Month-Long Celebration of Pride

02 June 2021 - Press release

Throughout Pride Month, Amazon Music will debut new Amazon Original songs, playlists, charitable contributions, live streams, Alexa features, music videos, and more from LGBTQIA+ artists like serpentwithfeet, Tegan and Sara, Rostam, St. Panther, Mykki Blanco, Melissa Etheridge, Kim Petras, Christian Chavez, Ira Madison III, Yungblud, and more...

 

Amazon Music has worked with Universal Music Group to bring the long-unavailable catalog of trailblazing queer popstar Jermaine Stewart to streaming for the first time  

June is Pride Month, the annual global celebration of LGBTQIA+ liberation. To honor the month, Amazon Music has put together a jubilant slate of content aimed at supporting queer folks around the world through music. Running all month, Amazon Music's Pride activities include new Amazon Original songs, donations, live streams, Alexa features, playlists, music videos, and more, providing a soundtrack for Pride celebrations around the world. 

 

Jermaine Stewart, Streaming for the First Time
To celebrate Pride, Amazon Music has worked with Universal Music Group to bring the Virgin catalog of trailblazing R&B artist Jermaine Stewart to streaming. A talented artist taken too soon, Stewart paved the way for innumerable LGBTQ+ artists who followed, with hits like "We Don't Have to Take Our Clothes Off" and "Say It Again." Starting today, customers will be able to discover his previously unavailable catalog including Stewart's albums Say It Again, The Word Is Out, and What Becomes a Legend Most for the first time. For fans looking for an introduction to his music—or just an easy way to revisit his catalog—Amazon Music has curated a brand-new [RE]DISCOVER playlist of Jermaine Stewart's music, spanning the iconic artist's career.

 

New Music and Playlists for Pride Celebrations
To soundtrack Pride celebrations around the world, Amazon Music today relaunches PROUD, the global playlist spotlighting new music from LGBTQIA+ artists, and introduces Orgullo, a brand-new playlist dedicated to Latin LGBTQIA+ artists. Both playlists will live beyond Pride Month, celebrating queer artists throughout all 365 days of the year. Featuring original artwork from graphic artist Leandro Assis, both playlists will be available to Prime customers, as well as subscribers to Amazon Music Unlimited and Amazon Music HD. 

PROUD will also be the home to a series of brand-new Amazon Original tracks from LGBTQIA+ artists for Pride Month. Fans can hear the first Pride-themed Amazon Original now, an emotive cover of Labi Siffre's "Bless the Telephone"from critically acclaimed R&B artist, serpentwithfeet. Other upcoming Amazon Originals include new tracks from Chloe Moriondo featuring dodie, Claud, and Rostam debuting on PROUD. 

"I am a huge fan of Labi Siffre and the lyrics in 'Bless the Telephone' are so thoughtful," said serpentwithfeet. "I want the entire LGBTQIA+ community to celebrate big for Pride Month, but I also want us to have those gentle moments with each other. This song gives us some tools to do that."

Today, Amazon Music also debuts a brand-new music video for St. Panther's Amazon Original song, "Real Love Takes Time." Originally released on The Snapdragon Sound playlist—created to showcase the high-quality audio capabilities of Qualcomm's Snapdragon Sound technology—the song gets a brand-new Pride-themed music video. Directed by Lili Pepper, the playful video is a celebration of all kinds of love, just in time for Pride.

"Alexa, play Pride History"
Amazon Music is also expanding Pride History, a collection of narrated playlists that share stories and music from the history of LGBTQIA+ liberation around the world. Narrated by artists like Kim Petras, Yungblud, Tegan and Sara, Melissa Etheridge, and Christian Chavez,Pride History is the first audio narrative to feature the stories and music that powered the global movement for LGBTQ+ liberation.

Comprised of more than 50 important and inspirational accounts across nine different countries, customers who ask "Alexa, play Pride History" will hear artists from around the globe like Liniker (Brazil), Eddy de Pretto (France), David Blank (Italy), Wilhelmine (Germany), Lido Pimienta (Canada), Ricky Merino (Spain) and more share essential and often under-told stories of queer history from their countries. The series was developed by a global team of writers including Matthew Riemer, co-creator of the @lgbt_history Instagram account and co-author of We are Everywhere.

"I'm incredibly grateful to have the support of Amazon Music and the artists and organizations we're working with to bring these Pride Month initiatives to life," said John Farrey, Amazon Music's Pride Lead. "Jermaine Stewart lives on through the music he gave to the world, and I'm excited that there is more music available for us to realize his talent. Building Pride History with the artist narrators was an education on the fierceness of our forebearers. I can't tell you the number of times we stopped to comment on these stories during the recording sessions. From PROUD to Pride History to Jermaine's The Word is Out, there is so much music to discover, and we're excited to kick it off." 

Support for LBGTQIA+ Organizations
Amazon Music has also worked with the artists featured in our Pride campaign to identify and support key LGBTQIA+ organizations working to support and defend the rights of queer people around the world. Nominated by the artists participating in the campaign, Amazon Music will be contributing financially throughout the month to organizations like Rainbow RailRoad, a global not-for-profit organization that helps queer people escape state-sponsored violence; SAGE, a national advocacy and services group supporting LGBTQIA+ elders; and Born Perfect, a campaign to end conversion therapy around the globe; and more. 

Group Thread, Hosted by Ira Madison III
Every Monday at 2pm PST, Amazon Music's Twitch channel will also debut new episodes of Group Thread, Amazon Music's ongoing live stream series of conversations between artists and creators from around the world. Hosted by Ira Madison III of Crooked Media's "Keep It!" podcast, the Pride episodes of the series will premiere on June 7th and feature candid conversations with LGBTQIA+ artists and industry professionals. Upcoming episodes will feature a screening and discussion of Love Me Like You Should, Amazon Music's mini-documentary on legendary disco artist Sylvester, and later in the month, pioneering artist Mykki Blanco will join Ira on the show.