“GLAAD recently honored Ricky Martin and Chely Wright for their courage to come out. I truly believe that their coming out is a true testament that homophobia does exists in the music industry. It was so exciting to share that Live Nation sees the value of supporting equality in the music industry,” says Diedra Meredith, chairwoman and CEO of OUTMUSIC –The LARA. “Having the support of LIVE NATION, the world’s largest entertainment company, is the beginning of a relationship that we hope to cultivate beyond the OUTMUSIC Awards. This is the beginning of providing more opportunities for LGBT music people in the mainstream music industry.”
Originally scheduled for December 2010, the OUTMUSIC Awards were postponed due to economic difficulties. However, in response to the postponement, the organization received offers of support from companies and individuals in the community.
“We’re proud that a historic venue like Irving Plaza can once again serve as a home to a program such as this,” said Laura Mulholland, Director of Sales. “Part of our mission is to be an integral part of the community and serving as a venue for these special types of events helps us accomplish just that.”
Dubbed the biggest night in the LGBT music industry, the coveted OMA trophy is the highest and most prestigious honor. OUTMUSIC – LGBT Academy of Recording Arts (The LARA) is the premiere 501c3 non-profit organization dedicated to empower and present it’s members to a broader audience base, raise awareness and ensure that LGBT music people’s contributions to music history are acknowledged, documented and archived. LARA currently boasts a membership base of over 1,000 recording artists and performers worldwide and is continuously growing.
To purchase tickets to the 7th Annual OUTMUSIC Awards, please log onto www.outmusicawards.com
About OUTMUSIC – The LGBT Academy of Recording Arts (The LARA)
Founded by life partners Daniel Martin and Michael Biello in 1990 Outmusic – THE LGBT Academy of Recording Arts (The LARA) is the premiere 501c3 non-profit organization created to empower, celebrate and honor openly-LGBT recording artist and performers. The LARA is an alliance of openly LGBT recording artists, musicians, composers, producers, performers and supporters who are dedicated to the movement for equality in the music industry. The LARA exists to raise awareness of discrimination in the industry and ensure the contributions of LGBT people are acknowledged, documented, and archived in Music History.
