Grammy-winning and Oscar-nominated artist, actress and producer Mary J. Blige, along with influential recording executive and social justice activist Jason Flom, will be recognized with honorary awards at the 2022 Clio Music Awards presented by Pepsi in Nashville, Tennessee, on May 10. In a live ceremony hosted by Grammy-nominated artist Yola, Blige will receive the 2022 Clio Music Legend award and Flom will receive the 2022 Clio Music Impact award.

The Clio Music Legend Award is given to an artist who has had a significant impact on popular culture by channeling their originality in ways that will move the music industry forward and inspire a new generation of artists to think differently about their own potential. creative. Blige is a prolific inspirational figure and defining voice of the contemporary music era. For years, marketers have relied on Blige’s star power to represent their products in high-profile moments, like this year’s Super Bowl commercial for Hologic. Blige has also appeared in commercials for AT&T, Target and Apple Music. Hot on the heels of Blige’s epic performance at the Pepsi Super Bowl LVI Halftime Show, she will host the inaugural “Strength of a Woman Festival and Summit” May 6-8 in partnership with Pepsi and Live Nation Urban. The event is shamelessly hosted for and by women in Atlanta’s hotbed of creativity and culture, and will feature music, comedy, and community-building sessions. Blige hinted at Oscar nominations for Best Supporting Actress and Original Song (“Mighty River”), both for muddy in 2018. Blige has also established herself as an entrepreneur, launching many successful ventures including her production company Blue Butterfly, Sun Goddess Wines and Sister Love Jewelry.

Clio Music will honor Flom for his work with The Innocence Project and numerous criminal justice reform organizations. Currently CEO of Lava For Good and Lava Media, Flom previously served as Chairman and CEO of Atlantic Records, Virgin Records and Capitol Music Group. He is personally responsible for launching acts such as Katy Perry, Kid Rock and Lorde. The mark he left on the music industry would be more than enough to celebrate, but his work outside the traditional lines of his career had the biggest impact. As Founding Benefactor of the Bronx Freedom Fund, Founding Board Member of the Innocence Project, Board Member of the Legal Action Center, Drug Policy Alliance, Families Against Mandatory Minimums, VETPAW, Advisory Board Member of NYU Prison Education Program and host of the Wrongful Conviction podcast, Flom has helped influence progressive legal reform, deliver justice, and fundamentally help improve the lives of countless people who needed someone by their side.

“Each year, we select people at the forefront of the music industry whose creative work has a far-reaching impact that shapes our culture,” said Michael Kauffman, Executive Director of Clio Music. “We are so inspired by Mary J. Blige and Jason Flom for their courage to break the mold and show budding artists and executives that there are no limits to what they can accomplish.”

Clio Music celebrates creative excellence in music marketing and the use of music in advertising. These specialty honors will be awarded alongside the Grand Clio Music Awards for Design, Embedded Campaign, Social Media, Use of Music in Film and more. For the first time ever, Clio Music is teaming up with the Music Business Association (Music Biz) to host a live awards ceremony as part of Music Biz 2022, the trade association’s annual conference taking place at JW Marriott Nashville May 9-12. Clio Music will also host Brand Summit programming at Music Biz on Tuesday afternoon, which will include conversations with Pepsi, Mastercard, the NFL and more.