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Speakers
- Dyana Williams
- Influence Entertainment
Dyana Williams is an entertainment powerhouse who is a beloved advocate and authority in Black music. The legendary on-air personality is a trailblazer in broadcasting, music activism and celebrity media strategy.
With a voice and presence that has graced radio airwaves and televisions for over four decades, Dyana is a revered on-air personality. She’s been a staple in radio since the 70s, and has been a frequent commentator on the highly acclaimed TV One music series, UNSUNG. She also co-executive produced the Teddy Pendergrass episode of UNSUNG, which garnered a NAACP Image Award that season.
Fondly referred to as “The Mother of Black Music Month,” Dyana helped establish June, Black Music Month (with Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Kenny Gamble and broadcaster Ed Wright) and was recognized for her music activism in the White House by Presidents Clinton and George W. Bush.
Over the past few decades, Dyana has expanded her portfolio to include artist development and media coaching. Dubbed by the New York Times as “hip-hop’s artist whisperer,” Williams has engineered media strategies for her celebrity clientele who have included multiple GRAMMY Award winners, many platinum-selling performers, executives, actors and athletes, among many others. Some notable clients have included Rihanna, Jazmine Sullivan, Kirk Franklin, Jack Harlow, Charlie Wilson, and Saweetie, to name a few.
Dyana is a proud member of SAG-AFTRA, and is the past president and current board member of The Philadelphia Chapter of the Recording Academy (or the GRAMMYs organization). She is also serving on the board of the National Museum of African-American Music in Nashville, where she chairs the Music Industry Relations Collective.
She is the co-producer of the Marian Anderson Award, and has proudly orchestrated tributes to Berry Gordy, Jon Bon Jovi, Wynton Marsalis, Patti LaBelle, Gamble & Huff. A graduate of the Temple University Klein College of Media and Communication, where she graduated cum laude and she currently sits on their board of visitors.