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Outside Voice returns with a DEI-embracing Spotify podcast

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Outside Voice, the Spotify Advertising series that celebrates and amplifies the voices, perspectives and opinions of BIPOC professionals across the global creative community, is back—in a brand new podcast format.

Back in 2020, Spotify Advertising launched Outside Voice to give BIPOC professionals a creative platform to tell their personal stories, discuss their creative passions, and speak to important social issues affecting underrepresented communities. Across four seasons, each guest was invited to curate an original playlist that featured their favorite music, alongside spoken-word annotations.

Today we’re reinventing the series as a podcast that celebrates diversity, equity, and inclusion. Hosted by award-winning podcast host, producer, writer, and co-founder of the POC in Audio Directory, Zakiya Gibbons, the Outside Voice podcast spotlights BIPOC professionals who have built equity for businesses and personal brands through programs that authentically elevate their communities.

"I’m thrilled to share that I’ll be hosting Spotify’s new Outside Voice podcast. As an ‘outside voice’ myself, I’m excited for the opportunity to partner with Spotify and shine a light on BIPOC creatives and marketing leaders. These individuals have pushed their businesses and industries forward throughout their impressive careers with stories that showcase the power of diversity, equity and inclusion when it’s done right."

Zakiya Gibbons,
Outside Voice Podcast Host

Created in partnership with Molten Heart, Outside Voice’s inaugural podcast season features a lineup of guests with their own uniquely engaging stories to tell. First up is Xavier "X" Jernigan, Spotify’s Head of Cultural Partnerships and the voice behind Spotify’s AI-powered DJ, before we pass the mic to founder and CEO of CultureCon & The Creative Collective, Imani Ellis.

I find a great sense of purpose in [AI DJ]. I’m your personal DJ. Whatever you like is okay. I want you to feel seen.

Xavier "X" Jernigan

Head of Cultural Partnerships, Spotify

When someone tells me I can’t do something, it’s like fuel to me. I’m like, no—you just can’t see it.

Imani Ellis

Founder and CEO of CultureCon & The Creative Collective

Later in the series, we’ll hear from ADCOLOR founder and Executive VP, Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer for Sony Music Group, Tiffany Warren, the chart-topping R&B icon, EGOT winner, and senior coach on The Voice, John Legend, and many more.

Tye Comer,
Creative Director at Spotify Advertising and Executive Producer of the Outside Voices podcast

“The Outside Voice podcast puts BIPOC professionals center stage, giving them the mic to share everything from inspiring stories to their everyday challenges—these are the stories we should all be tuning into. With this new podcast, we’re excited to host a space for these conversations on Spotify to inform and inspire the creative industry to strive for change.”

How can your business, brand or agency work with Spotify to connect with multicultural communities?

The Outside Voice podcast can be a great source of inspiration for advertisers who want to demonstrate their commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, in their marketing strategies. But you can also tap directly into the many programs and packages Spotify has already rolled out to help you put your best foot forward.

Our ongoing NextGen program, for instance, is designed to infuse, activate, and grow podcast culture on college campuses, inspiring confidence in young people from a young age, and we’re excited to be able to partner with brands on this initiative. Additionally, our cultural moment packages allow brands to unlock sponsorship and live event opportunities that celebrate significant cultural moments like Latin Heritage Month.

Spotify is committed to driving equity across every layer of our business including the content and creators that live on our platform, serving our diverse audience of streamers as best we can.

Tune into Outside Voice.

Listen, subscribe, and learn how to creatively elevate underrepresented communities in your marketing strategies. Or get in touch with your Spotify sales rep to discuss ways of integrating our content for an upcoming campaign.
Listen now

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