53+ speakers and 4 days of programming on monetization and the investment opportunities for diverse-owned media
BOMESI, founded in 2020 by DéVon Christopher Johnson and Rhonesha Byng, wrapped its 5th Annual Summit on June 6 in Detroit, Michigan, uniting media professionals, executives, and entrepreneurs across 125 organizations around ownership, economic equity, and innovation in diverse-owned media. The event generated an ad reach potential of $6.5 billion.
Hosted by NAACP Image Award–winning entertainer Dustin Ross and Quartz Wellness Collective Founder Amber Lee Forrester, the summit featured 53+ speakers and leaders across 26 sessions and activations including keynote addresses, panel discussions, networking sessions, and workshops. Notable programming included a keynote address by Jason Harvey of BET+ and an opening fireside chat with Jemele Hill, and a fireside conversation between Rashad Robinson and BOMESI CEO, DéVon Christopher Johnson.
Key themes across the four days included AI & Publishing Transformation, Revenue Growth & Multi-Platform Strategy, Video Distribution & Streaming, Podcast Infrastructure & Capital, and the Collective Power of Black Media Owners. Media organizations represented included The Shade Room, Forbes Media, BET+/Paramount Global, Rolling Out, and dozens more.
Sponsors Ben & Jerry’s, Nielsen, Press Forward, and OTTera Media Group backed the event, reflecting a growing coalition of organizations committed to the sustainability of diverse-owned media.
The summit also honored Justin Barton (AdGrid/Snackable) with the Growth Catalyst Award; Munson Steed, founder of Rolling Out, with the Digital Trailblazer Award; and Ben & Jerry’s was honored with the Champion for Equity Award.
“Multicultural consumers represent $5.3 trillion in spending power in America, and less than 2% of advertising spend currently reaches diverse-owned media,” says DéVon Christopher Johnson, CEO and co-founder of BOMESI. “The BOMESI Summit exists to close that gap, mobilizing culture, capital, and community to build the future that diverse media owners deserve.”
For more information on future BOMESI programming and partnership opportunities, visit bomesi.org.
