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black voices

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Barack Obama's Former Speechwriter Wants To Help Black Creators Find And Amplify Their Voice

The innovation of Black entrepreneurs is unmatched! As the CEO at Nēdl , the AI-powered search engine for live audio broadcast, Ayinde Alakoye knows a thing or two about creating processes that make our lives easier. Alakoye created Nēdl , to serve as a place where Black people could find their voices and ensure that it’s heard by the masses. “This is a product that is founded by Black people to give Black voices a platform,” shared Alakoye on the latest episode of Black Tech Green Money with host Will Lucas. Nēdl elevates Black voices across all sorts of channels and spheres so that we are heard. The live audio platform allows anyone to create a live call-in radio show that also transcribes, amplifies, and monetizes words as they are spoken. It also serves as an AI-powered search engine for live audio broadcasts. “I think the voice is the unique proposition,” said Alakoye as he explained the value of his product and why it’s so important for Black creators from all walks of life....

Shanique Yates

Jul 13, 2021

A’Ziah 'Zola' King's Viral Twitter Thread-Turned-Movie Proves The Power Of Black Voices On Social Media

Believe it or not, Black culture is mainstream culture, but you wouldn’t know it sometimes by the way we are erased from receiving credit as trendsetters and innovators. In some cases, we are oftentimes disappointed — though not surprised — to see others profiting off of our contributions, but when it came to A’Ziah “Zola” King and her viral Twitter thread-turned-movie, she made sure she was always credited as the originator that sparked the first tweet-inspired feature film (yes, a Black woman did that). In 2015, King took to Twitter for a second time — after originally publishing the story on Tumblr and Twitter before deleting it — to share her wild and dangerous road trip story to Florida with strangers. What came of it was the greatest Twitter story ever told and a film adaptation at A24 that chronicled 148 tweets worth of friendship gone wrong, betrayal, stripping, sex trafficking and unbelievably real-life scenarios. The most important lesson from “Zola” is not the film’s...

Njera Perkins

Jul 7, 2021

Spotify Launches Frequency, A New Initiative To Celebrate Black Culture, Creativity, and Community

Streaming giant Spotify has announced an all-new initiative that intends to invest in and amplify Black voices. The new initiative “Frequency” is described as a a global hub and holistic destination that celebrates both established and emerging Black artists, all while fostering community and appreciating the culture that has made an impact across fashion, tech, business and music. “Frequency is a celebration of resilience in all forms of creativity. The genesis of this brand came out of a demand from Black employees who felt it was important to be seen and heard,” Dzifa Yador, supervising creative producer of Studio 4, said in a statement. “Those same employees created space for other Black employees to not just express themselves through the editorial voice of the brand, but give recognition to the culture shifters, artists, and creators that fuel our global brand. The brand does not exist to solve racial injustices. It’s here to celebrate resilience in the face of it.” According...

Njera Perkins

May 18, 2021

Producer Salim Akil Uses Diverse Story-Telling to Keep Black Creators Employed Amid COVID-19

Supporting Black stories in Hollywood goes beyond just sharing these creations amongst our community, it requires real action behind our words as well. For TV director and “Black Lightning” creator Salim Akil, his mission in the entertainment industry involves championing both Black creators and creators of color who work behind the scenes to put these stories together. The social reckoning that occurred back in June took a good look at Hollywood’s infrastructure and made a mass call for restoration to make the industry more diverse and inclusive. Although that social moment in the summer lit a fire under Hollywood’s playmakers to begin making those necessary changes, creators like Akil have been telling Black and diverse stories far before then and the pandemic. “The events of the summer gave some people who may have been a little reluctant to delve into those stories permission and/or the courage to go ahead and tell them,” he said. In regards to producing said stories, Akil...

Njera Perkins

Jan 1, 2021

Charlamagne Tha God Renews and Extends iHeartMedia Relationship With New Five-Year Deal

Pioneering Radio Hall of Famer and multimedia mogul Charlamagne Tha God has inked a new deal with iHeartMedia that has him moving up the ladder. This week, iHeartRadio announced that the media company has both renewed and extended its relationship with Charlamagne in a new five-year agreement that includes a new job title and continued tenure on award-winning show, Power 105’s “The Breakfast Club.” Under this five-year deal, Charlamagne will continue his trademark interview style at the nationally-syndicated radio show and also fulfill his duties in his new role as Senior Creative Officer of Cultural Content and Programming.   View this post on Instagram   A post shared by LENARD (@cthagod) “I give my sincerest thanks to iHeart for empowering me over the past decade to be the best talent that I can be, and for honoring me as an owner and executive,” Charlamagne said in a statement. “I love the audio business and iHeart is the biggest and best audio company in the world. As...

Njera Perkins

Dec 9, 2020

Kevin Hart & Charlamagne Tha God Announce Audible Partnership to Amplify Black Voices

Media giants Kevin Hart and Charlamagne Tha God have announced an exclusive partnership with online platform Audible in an effort to bring forth more Black voices to the forefront of culturally-nuanced conversations, Forbes reports . According to Audible , the global multi-year, multi-project development, production, and audio licensing deal is an innovative collaboration that joins both Kevin’s Hartbeat Productions and Charlamagne’s CTHAGOD World Productions, to achieve a common goal that aims to amplify rising Black creatives and their unique narratives.   View this post on Instagram   Been working on this for a minute with my brother @cthagod ….We are finally here and I’m hype as hell about it damn it!!!!! It’s not just about what you do…it’s also about the opportunities that you create for others….I can’t wait for you all to get a major dose of what we have coming your way!!!!!!! Major thank you to @audible for understanding and believing in our vision!!!!!!! A post shared by...

Njera Perkins

Oct 27, 2020

iHeartMedia Announces First-Ever 24/7 Audio News Service Dedicated to the Black Community

The need for more Black voices is at an all-time high right now, and the world is especially looking toward media companies to lead the charge for more inclusion. As a means to provide more Black-focused outlets, iHeartRadio is launching its Black Information Network — the first and only 24/7 national and local all news audio service dedicated to providing an objective, accurate, and trusted source of continual news coverage with a Black voice and perspective, a press release reports. “We are pleased and proud to enable the support the launch of BIN: Black Information Network by contributing resources that will have the greatest impact — our reach, our multiple platforms, our technology infrastructure and our broad, in-depth relationships with consumers,” said Bob Pittman, iHeartMedia chairman/CEO. In an announcement, Variety reported the company stated that BIN is “focused on service to the Black community and providing an information window for those outside the community to help...

Njera Perkins

Jun 30, 2020

This New Campaign Recognizes That 'We Need to Listen to Black Women'

People all over the world are participating in social media activism in support of the fight against racial injustice in America. Now more than ever, it’s important that above all, Black voices are being uplifted to be leaders for the Black liberation movement. One campaign, in particular, is aiming to amplify the voices of Black women by giving them bigger platforms online to be heard. Today, one day only, nearly 50 Black women activists, celebrities, and entrepreneurs will take over the outsized Instagram accounts of A-list white women actresses, authors, fashion designers, athletes, politicians, and executives to drive the #SharetheMicNow campaign, Variety reports . View this post on Instagram A post shared by Share the Mic Now (@sharethemicnow) According to The Hollywood Reporter , #SharetheMicNow is the brainchild of Endeavor CMO Bozoma Saint John, bestselling authors Luvvie Ajayi Jones and Glennon Doyle, and fashion designer, Stacey Bendet. The campaign arrives as a result of...

Njera Perkins

Jun 10, 2020