Tag: Spotify Pulse Fellowship

Meet Four Spotify Pulse Fellows From Our Development Program for Black Creatives—and Apply to Join the 2023 Cohort

January 10, 2023

Behind Spotify’s platform, playlists, and programs are passionate individuals who harness creativity in their work every day. And because creative thinking is at its best when pulled from a variety of backgrounds and experiences, unleashing the full scope of creative potential at Spotify means giving as many people as possible a seat at the table. So one year ago, we announced several new ways we’d be working with existing partners—like the 4A’s Foundation, which provides scholarships and career opportunities for young Black creatives at various stages in their artistic journeys—to add and fill those seats.  

The Spotify Pulse Fellowship is the result: a cocreated, yearlong creative development program for Black professionals with one to three years of professional experience in the advertising industry. To bring it to life, we partner with programs that are already doing inspiring work supporting, developing, and empowering Black creatives like MAIP (Multicultural Advertising Internship Program), D&AD Shift, Marcus Graham Project, ONE School, and our newest program partner, BLAC Internship. Tapping into organizations already created for and by Black creatives is key to finding talent for the Spotify PULSE Program. It initiates opportunities for individuals in underrepresented communities to gain access to careers at the top, and ensures the opportunities and offerings we’re enabling are even more intentional, impactful, and meaningful.

This week, we’re excited to announce that we are accepting applications for the second cohort of the Pulse Fellowship. Learn more by getting to know some of the inaugural members and their work across Spotify. 

Miso Brown, He/Him, Art Director/Production

Miso Brown, Spotify Pulse Fellow

Tell us a little bit about your experience at Spotify so far. 

The experience has been great. Working on ideas and coming up with concepts for the culture is probably as close to a dream job as I could imagine. I mean, working on “Ripple Effect TX” was fantastic. I always love being on set and taking in the beautiful chaos of shoot days. But “Sunday Dinner” TX came together, and you could feel the level of interest and involvement from all of the team members, stakeholders, and crew, so it really felt like being a part of something important.

You’re already six months in, but there’s still plenty more of the fellowship to come. What are you most looking forward to on the horizon? 

I’m looking forward to working on more “Sunday Dinner” content and potentially pitching some of my own ideas for projects, especially stuff focused on emerging artists. For me, hearing the stories of musicians and creatives, whether they be emerging or established, has always been close to my heart; they’re the best kinds of underdog stories. There are also some really cool catalogs of music coming to Spotify, so I’m already ideating new ways to get people involved with hip-hop musically and culturally. 

What’s a piece of advice you’d give to other aspiring young Black creatives looking to work in your field?

The biggest piece of advice I have sounds like a long-reused trope unfortunately, which is, “Be yourself.” But I think more specifically, “Be more afraid of what would happen from not letting your real self shine through than getting it wrong.” The fear of wanting to get it right, whatever “it” may be, will keep you stuck in “survive thinking” instead of “thrive thinking.” To be creative in your job, even if you aren’t traditionally considered creative, you need the freedom to be able to make some mistakes. And you only bear the benefit from that if you give yourself the permission to make a few mistakes, learn from them, and be better on the next one.

 

 

Alyssa Williams, She/Her, Art Director/Design

Alyssa Williams, Spotify Pulse Fellow

Tell us a little bit about your experience at Spotify so far.

Spotify cares. The people care and it shows in the culture. People are not afraid to reach out and ask questions about material that they are not familiar with and are willing to loop in people who are. I’m excited to see that this company encourages real conversations about culture, community, music, and unity.

You’re already six months in, but there’s still plenty more of the fellowship to come. What are you most looking forward to on the horizon?

I’ve worked alongside the most talented intellectuals in the game; therefore, I’m looking forward to soaking up as much knowledge from my mentors as possible. Whether that be knowing where to find the coolest snacks in the office or learning design secrets you can’t find on YouTube. I look forward to creating meaningful work with meaningful people for meaningful people.

What’s a piece of advice you’d give to other aspiring young Black creatives looking to work in your field?

Keep that same energy. The energy that was the key to opening doors that made you successful. Just because you are in the door doesn’t mean the grind is over. Keep challenging yourself and studying your craft. When you focus on your craft, you always win.

 

Zane Durham, He/Him, Copywriter 

Zane Durham, Spotify Pulse Fellowship

Tell us a little bit about your experience at Spotify so far. 

Spotify has provided a nurturing environment that allows me to have organic growth within my career. Being able to touch multiple types of work in a short amount of time allows me to see the depths of my creativity. So far I’ve loved creating assets for some of my favorite artists, such as Kendrick Lamar and The Weeknd for “My Top 5.”

You’re already six months in, but there’s still plenty more of the fellowship to come. What are you most looking forward to on the horizon? 

With the time we have left, I would love to continue our work with emerging artists across Frequency and really build visibility to independent artists.

What’s a piece of advice you’d give to other aspiring young Black creatives looking to work in your field?

I would say be a sponge and soak up as much knowledge as you can early on. Don’t be afraid to ask those clarifying questions to help yourself be better prepared. Lastly, do not tie your creative identity just to the work you do in the office; continue to be the creative genius that makes you an asset to any agency or company. 

 

Amare Symone She/Her or They/Them, Copywriter

Amare Symone, Spotify Pulse Fellow

Tell us a little bit about your experience at Spotify so far.

Being a part of the inaugural cohort for the Spotify PULSE Fellowship has been magical. So far, I’ve had the opportunity to collaborate in diverse team settings and have witnessed the importance of team building in relation to the creative process and the final product. My favorite project that I’ve worked on thus far has been Jemele Hill’s Unbothered Network launch with Spotify. The theme of the work is very much aligned with my own creative ethos and why-factor. It was a blessing to amplify Black women’s voices across different industries. Throughout it all, I’m grateful for my family, friends, mentors, peers, PULSE fellows, the One Club for Creativity, 4As Foundation, and the entire One School US family.

You’re already six months in, but there’s still plenty more of the fellowship to come. What are you most looking forward to on the horizon? 

Time waits for no one, and that’s the exact reason why you should live each minute to the fullest. With that said, I’m looking forward to giving myself freedom to live more. When I go out and live, then I’m able to go and create work that changes the world. I’m also looking forward to strengthening my skills as a creative storyteller and building community across the advertising space. 

What’s a piece of advice you’d give to other aspiring young Black creatives looking to work in your field?

One piece of advice that I’d pass on to aspiring Black creatives is to remember YOUR North Star. There are days that you’ll stare at your hands and wonder why you’re even creating. Your North Star will always be there to ground you and remind you who you are and where you came from. Also, never dilute who you are. It’s your authenticity that helped you dream so big, and it’s also what will make your ideas shine. Go be the light that you’ve always been.

 

The 2023 Spotify PULSE Application is now live. Learn more and apply here.

Spotify’s New Scholarship Programs With 4A’s Foundation and UNCF

January 30, 2022

In spring 2021, when Spotify reaffirmed our commitment to combating racial inequity, we did so with the future in mind. We knew we had to work intentionally and holistically to make a true impact in the ongoing fight against racism and injustice. So when we announced we’d be contributing $10M to support legislation and fund global organizations that are making a difference in the search for racial equity, we aimed to find partners that would enable our impact to be long-lasting. 

In the U.S., two of these partners are the 4A’s Foundation and UNCF (United Negro College Fund), which focus on scholarships and career opportunities for young Black creatives at various stages in their artistic journeys. Spotify has been partnering with the 4A’s Foundation in various ways for a few years now, notably through its MAIP (Multicultural Advertising Internship Program) initiative, which creates opportunities for individuals in underrepresented communities to gain access to careers at top companies. (There are MAIP alumni working at Spotify in a variety of roles). 

“With many of our partners, we are invested in a joint future together,” Travis Robinson, Global Head of Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging at Spotify, explained to For the Record. “This is where we see true, meaningful change as we walk side by side with an organization; where we find good synergies as we co-create something new to support young Black creators. For the 4A’s Foundations and UNCF, this was the path forward for us.”

And now, our new, co-created programs with 4A’s Foundation and UNCF—The Spotify-UNCF Scholars Program, The Spotify Frequency Scholarship Program, and the Spotify Pulse Fellowship—allow us to ensure that the opportunities and offerings we’re enabling are even more intentional, impactful, and meaningful. 

We asked Travis to explain the new programs, as well as Spotify’s larger work and role in advancing equity and access for Black creatives.

Why is it important for Spotify to play a role in advancing equity and access for Black creatives and musicians? How do these programs fit into those goals?

It all boils down to how we show up as a brand for our employees, for the communities we serve, and the creators we have an opportunity to work alongside. I believe we have a responsibility, but also an opportunity, with advancing racial equity and access. I believe in how Spotify’s brand can show up in the world in a meaningful way. We’re working to execute on the plan of action we laid out in our 5-Star BLK Strategy, which focuses on People, Culture, Content, Donations & Giving, and Public Policy Advocacy. 

We know the Black community continues to shape culture. For us to stay at the pulse of culture and continue to be a platform where creators can connect with their fans, we must be on the journey of advancing racial equity through access and representation. So we’re doing that in part through our Frequency initiative, which celebrates Black Culture, Creativity, and Community on platform. And then one component within our Donations & Giving initiative was related to partnering with organizations that were aligned with our efforts as a Racial Equity Coalition. That’s where these partnerships and programs come in. 

Can you tell us a little bit about each of the programs being announced? 

The Spotify-UNCF Scholars Program (one of two Spotify x PLUS1 for Black Creatives) will provide renewable three-year need-based scholarships and leadership development components to Black students attending HBCUs (historically Black colleges and universities) interested in pursuing a career in music and media. The program will support two cohorts of 20 students per year during each of the next two academic years, giving each of them aid for their sophomore through senior years.

The Spotify Frequency Scholarship Program (the second of two Spotify x PLUS1 for Black Creatives) will provide renewable two-year need-based scholarships to Black students attending any accredited college or university interested in pursuing a career in music. The program will support two cohorts of eight students per year for two years each (junior through senior year) during the next two academic years. The four scholarships will be awarded in honor of Frequency’s four ambassadors: Monique Blake, Archie Davis, Eve Fairley–Chickwe, and Tommy Brown. This is the first of its kind, and we believe this collaboration in the music industry is going to really make a difference in the lives of these students. I am excited to see what is to come with this program, and to see how things expand in the future.

The Spotify Pulse Fellowship Program is a year-long creative development program for Black professionals with one to three years of professional experience in the advertising industry. We are accepting alumni from 4A’s MAIP, the Marcus Graham Project, the One School, and/or D&AD (Design & Art Direction).

These opportunities are available to Black creators at different points in their music journeys. Can you speak to why these two points (college and post-college) are so pivotal? 

We are a team that wants to activate meaningful impact in an intentional way. We know for many in the Black community, there are many avenues into music, entertainment, and media. I want us to be intentional and relevant in our reach and how we provide access to opportunity. These programs are two of many ways we are investing in the community for those early in their career, just getting started and those who are seasoned—we are looking for and wanting to work alongside Black creators at all points.  

According to multiple research studies, we know that Black college graduates tend to be at a greater disadvantage as it relates to the wealth gap due to college debt. We also know that not all Black kids consider college as an avenue to growth and career development simply because of the economics of how to pay for an education. With UNCF, we are able to provide scholarships that will help with some of these financial impediments. 

We also are dedicated to investing in the selected Spotify Scholars’ personal and professional development to kick-start their career in media. That is why a program like the Spotify Pulse Fellowship is also important. This program provides direct access to the advertising business with a unique, curated experience.  

What’s next? Either for these programs or beyond them? 

The Black experience is global, and we see opportunities to improve racial equity not only in the U.S. We are eager to listen, learn, and understand the experiences in different markets where we can make a difference—in Europe, for instance. I am also excited about our recent announcement as a group of technology companies working together to take diversity, equity & inclusion in the industry to the next level. While we are excited about what’s on the horizon for new activations that we believe will be impactful internally and externally, I also want us to scale the initiatives & programs that have proven successful at Spotify. There’s plenty of work to do. 

Dive further into Black art, entertainment, creativity, culture, and community with Frequency.