SPOTIFY EXPANDS BLACK HISTORY PROGRAM

Spotify is pushing black history beyond the month of February with the creation of its Black History is Happening Now campaign. Janelle Monáe is its first curator.

Black History is Happening Now, co-created by the creative collective Saturday Morning, provides a platform for artists, creatives and organizations working to affect change for communities of color through story-telling and addressing issues through video, podcasts and music curation.

To start, Monáe will provide a personal look at black history and black culture. She’ll provide playlists featuring artists who have influenced her music, her favorite new artists and a documentary film that pays homage to the history and narrative of Afrofuturism in partnership with author/filmmaker Ytasha L. Womack.

“I’ve always been excited and inspired to try to redefine how we’re seen,” Monáe said. “It’s important to me to celebrate black history year round. With Spotify’s commitment to honoring the black community all year long and showcasing artists and organizations who are dedicated to imparting change, I felt it was the perfect platform to share my story of Afrofuturism and express my vision and creative ideas.”

As part of the campaign, Spotify’s Sound Up Bootcamp, taking place in New York 6/25-29, will provide 10 aspiring female podcasters of color with resources to develop their craft. Radio and podcast veterans Rekha Murthy and Graham Griffithwill lead the event that focuses on storytelling, production and marketing.

Spotify is also creating a Black History Is Happening Now Fellowship for an individual to join the Shows + Editorial team at Spotify.

Throughout the campaign, playlists and conversations will change as artists contribute to the platform.