In establishing the first black music industry trade, Black Radio Exclusive (BRE), Sidney Miller, Jr. earned his place as a pioneer in Black Music. We are proud to have him on our Board of Directors.
Sidney was a pioneer in marketing concepts before the start-up of BRE. He is a trumpeter and after graduating from FAMU, Florida A&M University, the Pensacola native started booking gigs for The Adderley brothers, Cannonball and Nat, and other bands along the East Coast. (BTW, Sidney was pre-med in college but changed his major). Even when he joined the Army as an officer, he continued his sideline business of playing and booking bands and entertainment for the Army.
His first record gig was A&R for Capitol Records heading the Fame imprint and was quickly promoted to heading the entire promotions division, which included country, pop and R&B. He believed so much in the idea of BRE that he sold his house, his car and invested his savings into launching the publication in 1976. He introduced it to the NATRA Convention in Antigua, and it quickly became recognized as the first major magazine focusing on black music.
In addition to the magazine, Sidney started holding annual BRE Conferences, which became a prestigious gathering of key national and international music figures. Stevie Wonder even composed a special song for BRE.
Sidney also began “Hollywood Live,” the first live via satellite radio syndicated show of its kind to feature 800 call-in numbers and active participation with the music consumer. Frankie Crocker, of WBLS fame, was his host.
He served on the board of NARAS MusiCares Foundation, the Evander Holyfield Foundation, the National Black Programmers Coalition, the New Orleans Music Commission, the Atlanta Music Commission and the Washington, D.C. Music Commission. His walls are lined with many awards, accolades and commissions including the NAACP Image Award.
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