Spotify is dedicated to amplifying the voices of underrepresented teams, and that begins with empowering the creators who will form our trade’s future.
NextGen is Spotify’s ongoing program designed to infuse, activate, and develop podcast and creator tradition on school campuses. Through our Creator Equity Fund (CEF), we’ve expanded NextGen to assist traditionally Black faculties and universities (HBCUs) together with Spelman College, Howard University, Hampton University, and now North Carolina A&T State University.
This yr, this system has funded $50,000 in scholarships to college students at North Carolina A&T State University fascinated with pursuing careers in audio media, together with podcasting, storytelling, writing, sound engineering, and music. NextGen programming helps promote new and totally different voices, tales, and views and gives college students with the abilities to pursue their goals.
After a aggressive choice course of, we’re excited to announce this yr’s scholarship recipients: Armani Ross, Christén Davis, Chrysta Nichols, Emery Whipple, and Nicole Neal. Learn extra about these gifted college students and their aspirations.
Armani Ross (she/her)
Junior, Mass Media Production Major
How can scholarships and studying alternatives like Spotify’s NextGen assist HBCU college students?
The scholarship alternatives pave the way in which for college students to proceed to community and study—not solely from professors but in addition from one another, particularly at an HBCU like A&T. This college is stuffed with so many inventive people and the training alternatives assist college students develop and execute their concepts.
Who are some creators of shade who encourage you, and if you happen to may collaborate with any of them, who would you select and why?
Ava DuVernay and Issa Rae. As a Black lady in movie, they’ve each paved the way in which and have really been an inspiration. I like their filmmaking and storytelling of Black lives, whether or not it’s a documentary like Colin in Black and White or a movie like Insecure. I’d like to find out how they choose pictures or aesthetics—and why—to inform a compelling story and make it relatable to the viewers.
What’s one factor you hope to realize personally or professionally as a creator?
I’m nonetheless engaged on discovering my “look” in terms of producing and directing movies. With time and studying from my errors, I hope that someday when individuals see a movie of mine, they’ll know that it’s my work as a result of it’s totally different from others.
What’s your favourite Spotify playlist?
The Legendary Labels playlist collection.
What’s your favourite Spotify podcast?
What’s your favourite Spotify audiobook?
Christén Davis (she/her)
Junior, Multimedia Journalism Major
How can scholarships and studying alternatives like Spotify’s NextGen assist HBCU college students?
Opportunities like Spotify’s NextGen program assist college students in ways in which go far past what phrases can measure, bringing passionate people from each underrepresented and economically deprived backgrounds into the skilled world. It’s an amazing blessing to have applications which give assets for schooling {and professional} development. It can usually be what makes the distinction in whether or not or not a scholar is ready to graduate from a college.
Who are some creators of shade who encourage you, and if you happen to may collaborate with any of them, who would you select and why?
Issa Rae and AMP (the YouTube inventive group) encourage me probably the most, and I’d get pleasure from collaborating with both of them. But if I had to decide on ONE, I’d choose Issa Rae, as a result of I see myself in her work. She has created TV exhibits that make me really feel seen and heard, not simply as a Black lady, however as an ungainly and barely nerdy one, too. That form of content material is uncommon to seek out. Issa is actually an innovator.
What’s one factor you hope to realize personally or professionally as a creator?
I hope to journey to international locations the place financial crises are prevalent to doc these points and lift consciousness by means of the media. Internationally, populations of persons are struggling to outlive of their environments as a consequence of struggle, poverty, lethal starvation, and extra. After my household and I confronted meals insecurity through the COVID-19 pandemic, I used to be motivated to work towards this philanthropic purpose.
What’s your favourite Spotify playlist?
I like the playlist Chill Hits! Calm music and chill beats are positively my form of vibe.
What’s your favourite Spotify podcast?
Ted Talks Daily is my favourite Spotify podcast. There is one thing particular about with the ability to strengthen your self with data by listening to specialists.
What’s your favourite Spotify audiobook?
The Duke and I, by Julia Quinn. I like the Bridgerton love tales!
Chrysta Nichols (she/her)
Junior, Multimedia Journalism Major
How can scholarships and studying alternatives like Spotify’s NextGen assist HBCU college students?
As a journalism scholar deeply immersed within the realms of media and advertising, I see firsthand the transformative energy of initiatives like Spotify’s NextGen scholarships for college students attending HBCUs. These alternatives aren’t nearly monetary help; they symbolize a pathway to empowerment and illustration inside industries the place variety and inclusion are paramount. By providing assist to HBCU college students, corporations like Spotify aren’t solely investing in particular person futures but in addition championing a broader narrative of fairness and entry.
Who are some creators of shade who encourage you, and if you happen to may collaborate with any of them, who would you select and why?
Dearra Taylor, Isimeme Edeko, and Issa Rae are creators of shade who embody authenticity and staying true to oneself, which I deeply resonate with. If I may collaborate with any of them, I’d select Isimeme Edeko. As somebody who has personally struggled with confidence and illustration as a dark-skinned Black lady as a younger lady, Isimeme’s journey and the unapologetic celebration of her identification have been instrumental in serving to me embrace my voice and create content material that displays my reality.
What’s one factor you hope to realize personally or professionally as a creator?
One factor I hope to realize personally and professionally as a creator is to have my content material resonate with the plenty and depart an enduring impression on people by means of digital media. Through my platform, The Resonate Effect, devoted to amplifying and uplifting Black voices, I purpose to not solely entertain but in addition advocate for causes related to underrepresented communities. I aspire to make use of my voice and platform to carry consciousness to vital subjects and encourage motion in combating challenges confronted by marginalized teams.
What’s your favourite Spotify playlist?
My favourite Spotify playlist is RapCaviar. Growing up in Atlanta has deeply influenced my ardour for media and leisure. RapCaviar not solely options a few of my favourite artists but in addition serves as a cultural hub, reflecting the colourful vitality and creativity of the Atlanta music scene. Whether I’m in search of new music to gas my creativity or just one thing to vibe to, RapCaviar by no means fails to ship the right soundtrack for any second.
What’s your favourite Spotify podcast?
My favourite Spotify podcast is The Mallory Bros Podcast. I’ve been a devoted listener for years, having adopted their YouTube channel for over 5 years now. The podcast affords a various vary of views on life, music, relationships, and numerous subjects related to the Black group. It serves as a secure house for me to get pleasure from insightful discussions and have interaction with totally different viewpoints.
What’s your favourite Spotify audiobook?
My favourite Spotify audiobook is The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz. It holds a particular place in my coronary heart because it was the primary audiobook I ever listened to. Diving into its knowledge and teachings marked the start of my journey to self-discovery and private development as a girl. It has added profound insights and sensible steering for residing a satisfying and genuine life which I stay by.
Emery Whipple (she/her)
Freshman, Public Relations Major (Minor in Public Health)
How can scholarships and studying alternatives like Spotify’s NextGen assist HBCU college students?
As a younger African American lady, I can confidently say that faculties and universities home the inventive souls and sensible minds which can be very important to the success of our communities. We have the concepts and the mind energy wanted to vary the world for generations to come back. However, we aren’t at all times granted the alternatives, assets, and monetary help vital for our goals to change into our actuality. These alternatives construct a basis for younger Black college students like me and create areas for us to develop into our potential profession focus.
Who are some creators of shade who encourage you, and if you happen to may collaborate with any of them, who would you select and why?
My creator of alternative is Tabitha Brown. Tab has been my “standard” for so long as my social impression journey started. She embodies a lot grace, love, and positivity by means of media, which isn’t seen or appreciated as a lot correctly. I consider that who she is, and what she stands for, brings a lot peace to the world, particularly the African American group.
What’s one factor you hope to realize personally or professionally as a creator?
I’ve at all times seen the necessity for extra variety, fairness, and inclusion in communities all around the globe. My experiences with home and worldwide group service initiatives and conversations with those that have been affected by the dearth of variety, fairness, and inclusion within the medical, technical, and manufacturing industries helped me uncover that my calling is to hunt options to interrupt these limitations.
What is your favourite Spotify playlist?
My favourite Spotify playlist consists of previous R&B songs that includes artists like: Aaliyah, 2Pac, Monica, and USHER
What’s your favourite Spotify podcast?
My absolute favourite Spotify podcast is In Totality with Megan Ashley.
What’s your favourite Spotify audiobook?
My favourite Spotify audiobook is The Darkened Light of Faith by Melvin L. Rogers.
Nicole Neal (she/her)
Sophomore, Mass Media Journalism Major
How can scholarships and studying alternatives like Spotify’s NextGen assist HBCU college students?
These alternatives may help HBCU college students by offering monetary assist to college students in want, and serving to college students study extra within the industries of music and content material creation.
Who are some creators of shade who encourage you, and if you happen to may collaborate with any of them, who would you select and why?
Issa Rae and Aliyah Simoné.
What’s one factor you hope to realize personally or professionally as a creator?
I need to have the ability to make content material in a constant method and nonetheless have superb high quality.
What’s your favourite Spotify playlist?