- In this poignant first novel, set in the enchanting world of New York music, a young black woman gets her dream job at a major music production company, only to discover later how dangerous this place was created to give birth to stars. *
“An inspiring first novel brilliantly amplifies the depth of the enduring struggle between striving for more and preserving the soul for it,” says Matteo Ascaribor, author of the New York Times bestseller “ Black Pack.” *Growing up in the Bronx, where she found solace in music, Billy Grand found herself in the pulsating rhythms, poignant lyrics, and captivating sounds that saved her when financial troubles and family struggles weighed heavily on her. When she finally landed a prestigious job as an assistant in the talent discovery division of Light Music Productions, one of the largest music production companies in the country, it seemed at first like everything she'd ever dreamed of - stylish offices, exclusive concerts, dazzling deals - and she longed for the moment whenIt's her turn to discover the next rising star.
But as she continues to work at Lit, Billy discovers a dark side behind all the sparkle. The hours are long, the demands are insane, the subtle insults from her mostly white colleagues are increasingly bothering her, and Billy can't shake the feeling that Litt's top brass is hiding something about their dealings. Then Billy encounters a rapper with a hoarse voice and a sweet melody, who possesses that spark that ignites the stardom, which represents all that Billy has entered thisfield for it - supporting real music, without any pretence that it is the dominant culture. On the verge of signing the first contract with an artist, a sudden change threatens everything and jeopardizes Billy's already fragile status. The business has put her at odds with a lover who questions her morals, and with her mother who relies on her to pay her bills, but Billy is focused on stardom. As a defining moment at work approaches and the costs of her dreams grow, she will have to decide: Is it worth sacrificing herself to achieve success? " When the Music Beats" A captivating, touching, and highly entertaining work, addressing the theme of privilege and power, it serves as a poignant anthem to create a space where it never existed before, presenting Amber Oliver as a sparkling new talent worth pursuing.
