About Us
Our vision is a fair Charlotte music scene where what makes us different is what makes the difference.
The mission of FAIR PLAY Music Equity Initiative is to advocate for a fair music ecosystem in Charlotte by engaging venue owners, event producers and organizations on the value of inclusivity in music programming as well as through establishing new equitable music platforms for all.
The Team
Sara Colée
Sara Colée is the Founder of Stella Creative Studio, a Charlotte-based brand strategy consultancy dedicated to helping creatives, organizations, and cultural initiatives translate vision into sustainable growth. Her work focuses on building the strategic foundations that allow creative communities to thrive through clear positioning, thoughtful systems, and meaningful audience connection.
With a background spanning creative direction, experiential design, and communications, Sara brings a global perspective shaped by years living and working in cities including London, Sydney, Montreal, and San Francisco. She applies that perspective locally, supporting projects that strengthen Charlotte’s cultural infrastructure and expand pathways between artists, audiences, and opportunity.
Sara is a co-founder and steering committee member of the FairPlay Music Equity Initiative, where she contributes to research, storytelling, and community-driven programs designed to build a more connected and representative music ecosystem. She is also part of the team launching The Riff Report, a civic media platform focused on documenting and amplifying the people and places shaping Charlotte’s sound.
Her work centers on the belief that creative success is not only about expression, but also about access, structure, and long-term sustainability for the communities that make culture possible.
friday jones™
friday jones is an American a.rtist c.reative e.ntrepreneur (ace) raised in the Carolinas. As a music artist friday creates inspirational, Afrofuturistic Americana music. Her signature genre-blending style is whimsical and soulful with an emphasis on lyricism, storytelling, and epic production, painting masterful worlds of experience with her theatrical performance art.
friday has managed to successfully produce music and leverage her years of professional experience to help fellow aces develop magnetic brand experience. In 2021, she founded friday’s dope llc, a visionary arts, media, and entertainment conglomerate headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina that is leading the way in creating impactful artistic experiences that inspire healing, growth, and manifestation for artists and art lovers alike.
As an arts advocate and member of the local arts and culture community, friday is a resident of The VAPA Center as well as the Programming Committee Secretary, ASC Advisory Council Member for the City of Charlotte - at large, ARTS+ Programs + Technology Committee Member, and an ASC Cultural Leadership Training Alumni. friday is deeply committed to building an inclusive, thriving cultural hub that empowers artists in the Queen City.
Joseph Quisol
Joseph Quisol is a multifaceted artist, producer, and advocate dedicated to creating inclusive, equitable music ecosystems. Known professionally as Quisol, his work spans genres and media, including performance, music production, event curation, visual art, design, facilitation, and nonprofit leadership.
A Harvard University graduate with a Master's in Education, Quisol has been instrumental in bridging the arts and education, contributing to international research projects and community initiatives. His mission is to expand Charlotte’s local music scene by fostering collaborations that drive economic growth and regional tourism. Quisol envisions the city’s diverse music culture as a powerful catalyst for economic empowerment, and he is committed to curating innovative partnerships that elevate Charlotte's artistic and cultural influence.
Dweh Brown is a Charlotte-based creative entrepreneur, filmmaker, and founder of Homebase Films and Homebase Studios. His creative journey began in music as a hip-hop artist, producer, and recording studio owner before expanding into film, photography, media production, and creative direction. That background continues to shape his approach to storytelling and his commitment to creating opportunities for other creatives.
Through Homebase Films and Homebase Studios, Dweh has built a creative platform that helps artists, entrepreneurs, organizations, and small businesses bring their ideas to life. His work centers on authentic storytelling, strong visual experiences, and giving people access to professional creative resources.
A resident of The VAPA Center, Dweh also serves on VAPA’s Ethics Board and remains active in Charlotte’s growing arts and creative community. His leadership and community work have included participation in the inaugural CEI program and the 2025 Blumenthal Fellows program.
Dweh is deeply committed to inclusivity, creative ownership, and empowering creatives and small businesses. Through his work, he aims to create spaces where people can develop their craft, build meaningful connections, grow their businesses, and have their work seen.
Tyler Bunzey is an educator and culture worker based in Charlotte, NC. After receiving his Ph.D. in English and Comparative Literature from UNC Chapel Hill in 2021, he has served as the Associate Professor and Program Coordinator of Cultural Studies at Johnson C. Smith University, Charlotte’s only HBCU. As he has built up the Cultural Studies program on campus, he has had a particular eye on developing programming that preserves the integrity and rigor of humanities education while responding changing markets and needs of the 21st century student. His work has followed that aim. In addition to his work at JCSU, Tyler has worked as a freelance journalist for outlets like CLTure Magazine, the Queen City Nerve, and SuperEmpty. He also manages Nia J, a rising voice in the Charlotte pop scene. Tyler’s goal is that all of his work—academic or otherwise—fosters a strong connection between educational institutions and the arts.
Advisory Board
David ‘Dae-Lee’ Arrington
GRAMMY Nominated producer, recording artist, creative entrepreneur and co-founder of Hue House. In all he does, Dae is passionate about using his influence and leveraging the power of the Arts to bring diverse people groups together for the greater good.
Tim Scott
Artist-in-residence at Charlotte Center City Partners and CEO of TiMar Entertainment, connecting the best of Charlotte's local and regional talent to some of the city's most notable events and institutions. Tim also speaks on music education, personal and professional development as well as advancement in professional music both on and off stage.
Claudio Ortiz
An interdisciplinary creative who’s motivated by the potential impact his art and the art of others has on the community. While blending styles, genres, and influences to catalyze human connection and interactions that may otherwise not happen, he sees the roll of accessible music and art as cornerstones to meaningful societal progress.
Harvey Cummings II
Charlotte native, award winning saxophonist, pianist, songwriter, and producer. Harvey has performed for President Barack Obama, had music featured on Cartoon Network’s "The Boondocks" and commercials for Allen Edmonds. He is a North Carolina Central University graduatewith two degrees in music.
DJ Fannie Mae
“A purveyor of deep, infectious southern sh*t mixed with feel-good energy.” That’s how Fannie Mae describes herself as a DJ. Originally from North Carolina, Fannie has spent her life writing songs, spinning records, and being an advocate for the arts.
Hank Patterson
An entertainment consultant of 6 years at East Coast Entertainment, the largest full-service entertainment agency in the country, booking entertainment and producing custom events coast-to-coast and around the globe.
Michelle Hamilton
Michelle is currently the Managing Director at Carter, Advancing Philanthropy Worldwide. She previously held the role of Interim President & CEO the Charlotte Symphony, an orchestra bucking the trend in its belief that sharing music should be a right and not a privilege. She has held leadership roles with the Houston Symphony, Dayton Philharmonic, the Arts Council of Fort Worth and Tarrant County and Crisis Assistance Ministry. Michelle splits her weekends between Symphony concerts and Charlotte’s excellent jazz scene.
Braxton Winston
Braxton Winston II served as an At-Large member and Mayor Pro Tem of Charlotte City Council until December 2023 with a goal of developing a city that is more equitable, accessible, and interconnected. He was first elected in 2017 and re-elected twice.
As North Carolina’s next Commissioner of Labor, Braxton will combine his experience in municipal leadership with his experience as a labor leader to build coalitions of our communities to keep North Carolina a place people want to come to live and work. We can connect the diversity of strengths in our rural and urban communities to work together for the common good of North Carolina's workforce and business communities.
Alexis Jo Bruce
Music manager, vocal coach and owner of Charlotte Star Room - a boutique music development & corporate video production studio. Alexis takes a very hands-on approach in offering services catered to independent artists, focusing on everything from their musical content to branding and marketing.