This is an archived page from 2019. Find out more
The podcast world is still predominantly white and male. In 2018, only 22% of podcasts were hosted by women, and even fewer when it came to minority women. Spotify is continuing to attempt to shift that imbalance by announcing year two of Sound Up, focusing on bringing even more diverse voices into the podcast world, especially those belonging to women of color. Here’s how it works:
• Applicants can expect an immersive experience that will help them take their ideas to pilot production. The program covers technical production, storytelling through audio, marketing your podcast, and more, geared to develop the skills and confidence to create a podcast pilo • No prior experience is required. Applicants just need to have something unique to say and a desire to use the podcast medium to tell their story. • At the end of the week, participants will pitch for a chance to win $5k and the opportunity to have up to five of their podcast episodes produced. The participants will each own the IP to their podcast idea. • Past alumni of Sound Up have received podcast development deals, connections to industry leaders and production grants to take their concepts to the next level.
Launched in 2018, Sound Up is an immersive accelerator for new and aspiring podcasters to raise up and inspire the next generation of podcasters through education and support. Last June, Spotify hosted the first-ever Sound Up Workshop in the US, a weeklong intensive program for aspiring female podcasters of color. Along with the US, Sound Up launched globally in Australia, Brazil, and the UK. Sound Up Workshop featured daily sessions for 10 women of color who had been selected from over 18,000 applicants.