Max & Spotify Celebrate Black Music Month With ‘Shaped by Sound’ Experience in NYC

In celebration of Black Music Month, Max and Spotify are presenting a special one-day music experience called “Shaped by Sound.” Spotlighting the impactful relationship between Black music and entertainment, the June 22 event at New York City’s Hall des Lumières will feature three themed rooms, curated DJ sets and a performance by rising rapper Cash Cobain, among other musical surprises.

“Max is thrilled to partner with Spotify for ‘Shaped by Sound,’ an extraordinary celebration of Black Music Month,” stated Jackie Gagne, senior vp of multicultural marketing at HBO and Max, in announcing the event. “We’re excited for guests to experience this one-of-a-kind immersive journey for the senses, through projection mapping and transcending sound, to highlight the profound influence of Black music on our culture and innovation. We hope you can join us for an unforgettable experience that bridges both Max and Spotify’s dynamic programming and music libraries in ways that resonate deeply and universally.”

Guests for both the general (11 a.m.– 5 p.m. ET; RSVP here) and invite-only VIP (8 p.m.–11 p.m. ET) sessions will be escorted downstairs to visit the three main rooms comprising the immersive experience. In the first room, which will be fully mirrored, 360-projection mapping technology will provide guests with a close-up view — from all angles — of iconic concert moments.

In the second room, film and TV scenes from the Max library will be paired with music videos of the songs that helped make those scenes so memorable. At the same time, guests will learn about the creative process behind these pairings, underscoring the role that music can play in shaping a movie or TV show. And in the third room, classic ‘90s sitcoms from the Max library will be revisited via key scenes and memorable quotes alongside music’s influence during that period.

Back upstairs, guests will head to the Scene in Black and Frequency lounge where they can listen to  South House-curated DJ sets and Spotify Frequency playlists. There will also be limited-edition T-shirts by The Crate. In addition, VIP guests at the evening session will watch Cash Cobain perform among other musical surprises. Earlier this month, the New York rapper scored his first Billboard Hot 100 entry as a recording artist with his collaboration on Don Toliver’s “Attitude” with Charlie Wilson.

“Frequency is Spotify’s content brand dedicated to celebrating and expanding the visibility of Black artists, which is why we are so excited to be partner with Max,” said Kimmy Summers, Spotify’s artist partnerships lead. “We always want to collaborate with brands that value the diverse creativity, influence and impact of Black artistry. ‘Shaped by Sound’ will give listeners the opportunity to understand and acknowledge the impact that Black music has had on culture at large. There is a vast spectrum of musical expression to explore across multiple genres and sounds, and Spotify is proud to be a part of this important moment.”