Dior Ashley Brown is a DC native Hip Hop artist who is changing the game for fellow DMV creative artists in the music field!

Dior has always loved expressing herself creatively through writing and music. A Duke Ellington School of the Arts alumna, as well as holding a bachelor’s degree in Theatre Arts from the University of Maryland, College Park it’s no surprise the Washington Post dubbed her the “Hip-Hop Polymath”.

“The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.”
– Mahatma Gandhi

In 2016, Dior decided that focusing on her own music career was not enough. Frustrated by the lack of resources and opportunities for other Black artists in the area, Dior decided she wanted her community to thrive and she was going to do something about it. It was this motivation that created her dream, which later became a reality, The DC Music Summit, a premier music conference and exchange hub, featuring industry leaders, artists, influencers, and high-profile brand sponsors who join forces to help grow the music industry in the nation’s capital.

The first event, housed in a warehouse, Dior expected only 50 attendees. However, over 200 people showed up, and that’s when Dior knew that this was even bigger than she had imagined.

Each year, this event has surpassed expectations. In 2020, right before the Covid-19 Pandemic shut down our area, the event accommodated over 300 people from all over the region!

This year, Dior and her team had to make a pivot, and switched over to a 3-day virtual hybrid event that allows attendees to be online and for a limited number of registrants to attend an in person viewing party. Chock-full of national artists, performers and musical executives, this year is promising to be another stellar event! Themed, The Year to Empower, the workshops, presentations, and performances are all designed to provide an empowering and uplifting experience for DMV music creatives.

Dior says that her goal for the DC Music Summit has always been to create a hub for music creatives to build their connections and resources. She also desires for artists to have regular access to programs and people that can help them treat their talent as their business and receive the professional services needed to thrive. While currently a DC Non-Profit, Dior’s long-term goal is for the DC Music Summit as an organization to receive its 501c3 status, which will allow it to receive additional funding and support.

Would you like to attend this event? You can still register for this event.

You can find additional info at: www.dcmusicsummit.org