What is changing is who is paying attention.
From North Carolina A&T’s band-focused media series, to bands building dedicated media teams, to Texas Southern’s campaign with Vogue, and Southern University partnering with Gap, and Grambling with Urban Outfitter, HBCU bands are increasingly being recognized and packaged within mainstream fashion and media spaces.
This isn’t necessarily HBCU bands “going mainstream.” They have been here.
The mainstream is finally recognizing that the HBCU band audience is a market of its own.
And that could have major implications for media, fashion, sponsorships, entertainment and the future of HBCU band culture.
But the real question is: what do you think this shift means for the culture?
