Image of Dyana Williams
Jury

Dyana Williams
CEO
Influence Entertainment

NEW YORK, USA // Dyana Williams is an entertainment powerhouse who is a beloved advocate and authority in popular culture, especially Black music. The veteran award winning on-air personality is a trailblazer in broadcasting, music activism and celebrity media strategy.



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.

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, Justin Bieber, Jazmine Sullivan, Kirk Franklin, Jack Harlow, Charlie Wilson, and Saweetie, among others.

A popular speaker on Black music, Dyana has been featured on The Breakfast Club, Sway in the Morning, Get Up Mornings with Erica Campbell and other media shows. Additionally, Williams has been a featured speaker at The House of Commons in London, Howard University, Harvard University, The University of Pennsylvania, Hampton University, Temple University, Warner Brothers Records, YouTube, Amazon, NYU, as well as many other institutions and corporations.

Williams sits on the board of the Klein College of Media and Communication at Temple University, the National Museum of African-American Music and the Recording Academy (GRAMMY organization) Philadelphia Chapter, where she also serves as a past president.