Our platform's Annual Gala recognizes honors for Eugene Levy, Darren Star, and Billie Eilish's managers, amidst escalating combat against hate speech.
In a remarkable gathering, the nonprofit organisation Ambassadors of Peace celebrated its tenth anniversary with a live event aimed at encouraging artists to collaborate and bring their talents to Israel, combat antisemitism, and promote peace.
The event, held recently, was a resounding success, setting new records for attendance, sponsorship, and donations. David Renzer, a co-founder of the organisation, noted that the following day would mark the fourth anniversary of the tragic Tree of Life synagogue shooting in Pittsburgh.
The event brought together a who's who of entertainment executives and creatives, including past honorees Diane Warren, Warner Records CEO/co-chairman Aaron Bay-Schuck, Virgin Music label and artist services president Jacqueline Saturn, and Atlantic Records Group’s EVP of global A&R Aton Ben-Horin.
One of the standout speakers was Autumn Rowe, the daughter of a Black father and Jewish mother, who compared slavery with the Holocaust and discussed her involvement with the CCFP and the BJEA during a time of introspection. Rowe, who is perhaps the perfect representative for both the CCFP and the BJEA, is an activist involved in anti-racism, women's, and creative rights organisations.
Brandon Goodman, another speaker, expressed that art should unite, not divide, and that the role of music managers is to let artists speak for themselves through their own experiences.
The organisation honoured an eclectic group including comic legend Eugene Levy, "Sex and the City" creator Darren Star, Grammy-winning performer/songwriter Autumn Rowe, Billie Eilish managers Brandon Goodman and Danny Rukasin of Best Friends Music, and UTA global co-head of music David Zedeck.
Steve Schnur, co-founder of the organisation, expressed his continued outrage at Kanye West's rhetoric, citing the Jewish Hanukkah warrior Judah Maccabee as an example of resistance against hate. UTA's David Zedeck defended fellow talent agency CAA's decision to drop Kanye West as a client, stating that it's important to be responsible for whom they represent.
In a move of solidarity, Autumn Rowe removed Kanye West's music from her Serato DJ software due to his recent comments. Steve Schnur reiterated that the objective is peace, not to divide.
CCFP Director Ari Ingel suggested a three-prong answer for promoting peace: taking a trip to Israel, encouraging artists to perform there, and supporting the organisation in its future goals. Darren Star recalled teaching a film and TV writing class at the University of Tel Aviv and emphasized the importance of storytelling in transcending politics and creating characters that showcase humanity.
Eugene Levy attributed his honour to the award-winning sitcom "Schitt's Creek," and joked about the misspelling of his name on the video display in back of him. He also shared a story about his senior year of high school, where his Superman-inspired campaign posters were defaced with "Jew," and he won the election by refusing to back down or remove the posters.
The organisation has a larger role than just combatting the BDS movement. It aims to foster understanding, cooperation, and collaboration between artists of all backgrounds and beliefs, and to promote a message of peace and unity in the entertainment industry and beyond.
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