Tag: United Negro College Fund

Spotify’s UNCF Scholarship Awardees Are Ready To Make Their Mark

February 28, 2023

a black background with the uncf and spotify logo on top

Last year, as part of our commitment to fight against racial inequity and develop opportunities for Black creators, we shared that Spotify was partnering with UNCF (United Negro College Fund) to provide scholarships and career opportunities for young Black creatives at various stages in their artistic journeys. In particular, there are two scholarship programs we’ve developed through our work with UNCF.

The Spotify-UNCF Scholars Program provides renewable three-year, need-based scholarships to Black students attending HBCUs (historically Black colleges and universities) who are pursuing careers in the music and media industries. The program supports two cohorts of 20 students per year.

The Spotify Frequency Scholarship Program provides renewable two-year, need-based scholarships to Black students attending any accredited college or university who are interested in pursuing a career in music. The program supports two cohorts of eight students per year.

For the Record is taking a moment to highlight some of the scholarship recipients who are already making their mark. Get to know four of these talented students below.

 

Ceni Banks (she/her)

Texas Southern University
Major: Entertainment Recording Industry Management

a photo of Ceni Banks looking at the camera sitting outsite

What’s your career plan? 

I intend to become a well-known artist who creates music that is important to the world. I want to make music that does not divide us, but makes us whole. My dream is to travel around the world and sing music that creates a safe environment for everyone to feel like themselves. Music has always been so healing to me, so the dream I have is to be able to do the same for others.

Which BIPOC creator inspires you most? 

One of the biggest inspirations for my career has been H.E.R. She has truly created a sound for herself. Her voice stands out in a crowd, and her music has soul and passion. Since I am someone who wants to do the same thing, it inspires me to write music about the things that matter to me, and to create something that I am passionate about for other people who just haven’t had the opportunity yet.

How do you celebrate Black culture?

My favorite way to celebrate Black culture is to be around family. There’s no better way to experience Black culture than by being around people who make up their own rules to Uno or by celebrating the music our culture is known for.

 

Rodney Earl McClendon, Jr. (he/him)

Tougaloo College
Major: Music Performance / Minor: Psychology

A photograph of Rodney Earl McClendon Jr posing in front of the camera

What is your plan for your career?

My dream job is to be a world-renowned music artist. After completing my Bachelor of Arts in Music Performance, I plan on having a long-lasting music career. I want to travel the world and perform for all kinds of people. My goal is to make people’s souls feel good with my artistry. I want to make people smile and feel inspired.

Which BIPOC creator inspires you most? 

One of my BIPOC inspirations is Mariah Carey. She’s one of the best-selling female artists of all time. Mariah inspires through her iconic vocal ability. Her voice is one in a million, and her vocal placement is superb. She also inspires me through her philanthropic work. Mariah also consistently uses her voice for social issues, especially voting rights.

How do you celebrate Black culture?

My favorite way to celebrate Black culture is by hosting informational events centered on Black culture. Black culture is so diverse and full of history, just waiting to be discovered. The more we talk about the culture, the more we know about our culture, and the more we can understand our culture.

 

Sean Williams (he/him)

Morehouse College
Major: Psychology

a photo of Sean Williams posing in front of the camera

What’s your career plan? 

My history in music and media has fortunately been fulfilling. I have been playing the trumpet— in marching and concert band—and getting into other kinds of music for nine years. Music is a huge part of my life. I don’t go a day without listening to music. I also specialize in arranging, listening to, and deciphering specific kinds of music such as HBCU band music, instrumental R&B, slowed reverb, house, techno, dubstep, and electronic. 

As far as media goes, I have gone viral on TikTok twice, and even had the opportunity to perform in a Disney+ movie doing a marching band segment. I’m still figuring things out, but if I had to pick, I’d say my dream job would be music therapy, movie soundtrack composing, or acting.

Which BIPOC creator inspires you most? 

BIPOC creators who inspire me are Quincy Jones and Brian Tyree Henry. Quincy is a world-renowned musical composer known for numerous hits like “The Secret Garden,” “Liberian Girl,” and the theme for TV sitcom Sanford & Son. Brian Tyree Henry (my Morehouse brother) is an actor who landed roles in famous movies like The Eternals, Bullet Train, and Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse.

How do you celebrate Black culture?

My favorite way to celebrate Black culture is by doing Black things around Black people. I love doing my hair or getting it done while watching a Black sitcom or movie; eating soul food while listening to Black music and having fellowship with my Black family and friends; thriving academically, musically, and socially at my HBCU with my SpelHouse family. 

 

Aayasah Jenerson (she/her)

Benedict College
Major: Mass Communications

A photograph of Aayasah Jenerson posing in front of the camera

 

What’s your career plan? 

My intended career is a PR agent/manager/officer of fashion brands like Jaded London, Dolls Kill, or UNIF. My dream job is to be a business owner, creative director, and designer of my own clothing brand. 

Which BIPOC creator inspires you most? 

Ron Norsworthy is one of my favorite creative directors. He was the production designer for Missy Elliot’s “The Rain” music video. I love the aspect of afro-futurism in his work. Y2K futurism was such a cool concept. He added a “touch of Blackness” to his projects, and it made them 100 times more aesthetically pleasing.

How do you celebrate Black culture?

My favorite way to celebrate Black culture is through music and fashion. My favorite subgenres of music are smooth R&B, quiet storm, and neo-soul. I also love fashion, specifically streetwear and futuristic Y2K looks. Music influences fashion so much. My biggest fashion inspirations are Missy Elliot, Da Brat, André 3000, Aaliyah, Blaque, Janet Jackson, and TLC. I especially loved hairstyles from that era, and I am very inspired by those people to step out of the norm and wear eccentric hairstyles on a consistent basis.

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.