When two of the most defining voices in R&B announce a joint tour, the culture instantly pays attention. But as fans scramble to secure their seats for Usher and Chris Brown’s massive 2026 North American R&B Tour, Usher is quietly making sure the most important moves are happening behind the curtain.
Through his philanthropic organization, Usher’s New Look (UNL), the global superstar is teaming up with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Detroit (BGCGD) to launch the Entertainment Industry Club: Live Touring Edition. It is a first-of-its-kind workforce development program that will pull 10 young adults out of the crowd and place them directly on the payroll of one of the year’s biggest tours.
The live touring industry is a lucrative, multi-billion-dollar machine, but historically, the pathways to get a foot in the door have been heavily gatekept. Unless you know someone in the business, landing a role in tour production is nearly impossible. Usher is actively hacking that system.
“At Usher’s New Look, we’ve always believed talent is everywhere, but access is not,” Usher explained. “This program is opening doors and putting young professionals in a position to learn, grow, and work inside the entertainment trades. It’s about giving them a real opportunity.”
The program is scouting specifically for young adults (ages 18 and up) based in Atlanta and Detroit. The 10 selected interns won’t be grabbing coffee or standing on the sidelines; they will be completely immersed in the tour’s ecosystem. Following a rigorous pre-tour training boot camp focused on safety and professional standards, the interns will be put to work across heavy-hitting departments like tour production, multimedia, wardrobe, and operations.
“Together, we’re changing [the landscape] by placing young professionals on one of the most historic tours and turning access into real pathways to lasting careers,” Shawn H. Wilson, President & CEO of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Detroit and Co-Founder of UNL, shared in a press release.
As the R&B Tour travels from city to city, the interns will step up as leaders, partnering with local Boys & Girls Clubs to host career workshops and peer-to-peer training sessions for the youth in those markets.
For aspiring professionals who can’t make it on the road, the program is also launching national Spark Sessions: Making of the Tour. These sessions will give youth across the country an exclusive, behind-the-scenes breakdown of the business, logistics, and creative planning required to execute a stadium-level tour.
Usher has spent decades entertaining the masses, but with initiatives like this, his ultimate legacy may just be the next generation of Black executives, production managers, and creative directors he is quietly building behind the scenes.
If you or someone you know is ready to bypass the traditional Hollywood hustle and learn the touring business from the best to ever do it, applications are open now. Head over to the Entertainment Industry Club section at UshersNewLook.org to apply before spots fill up. Deadline is May 8.
Photo Credit: DepositPhotos.com
