Spotify is committed to amplifying the voices of underrepresented groups, and that starts with empowering the creators who will shape our industry's future.
NextGen is Spotify's ongoing program designed to infuse, activate, and grow podcast and creator culture on college campuses. Through our Creator Equity Fund (CEF), we've expanded NextGen to support historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) including Spelman College, Howard University, Hampton University, and now North Carolina A&T State University.
This year, the program has funded $50,000 in scholarships to students at North Carolina A&T State University interested in pursuing careers in audio media, including podcasting, storytelling, writing, sound engineering, and music. NextGen programming helps promote new and different voices, stories, and perspectives and provides students with the skills to pursue their dreams.
After a competitive selection process, we are excited to announce this year's scholarship recipients: Armani Ross, Christ n Davis, Chrysta Nichols, Emery Whipple, and Nicole Neal. Learn more about these talented students and their aspirations.
Armani Ross (she/her) Junior, Mass Media Production Major
How can scholarships and learning opportunities like Spotify's NextGen help HBCU students? The scholarship opportunities pave the way for students to continue to network and learn-not only from professors but also from each other, especially at an HBCU like A&T. This school is filled with so many creative individuals and the learning opportunities help students expand and execute their ideas.
Who are some creators of color who inspire you, and if you could collaborate with any of them, who would you choose and why? Ava DuVernay and Issa Rae. As a Black woman in film, they've both paved the way and have truly been an inspiration. I admire their filmmaking and storytelling of Black lives, whether it's a documentary like Colin in Black and White or a film like Insecure. I would love to learn how they select shots or aesthetics-and why-to tell a compelling story and make it relatable to the audience.
What's one thing you hope to achieve personally or professionally as a creator? I'm still working on finding my look when it comes to producing and directing films. With time and learning from my mistakes, I hope that one day when people see a film of mine, they will know that it's my work because it's different from others.
What's your favorite Spotify playlist? The Legendary Labels playlist series.
What's your favorite Spotify podcast? On Purpose with Jay Shetty.
What's your favorite Spotify audiobook? Rich Dad Poor Dad.
Christ n Davis (she/her) Junior, Multimedia Journalism Major
How can scholarships and learning opportunities like Spotify's NextGen help HBCU students? Opportunities like Spotify's NextGen program help students in ways that go far beyond what words can measure, bringing passionate individuals from both underrepresented and economically disadvantaged backgrounds into the professional world. It's a great blessing to have programs which provide resources for education and professional growth. It can often be what makes the difference in whether or not a student is able to graduate from a university.
Who are some creators of color who inspire you, and if you could collaborate with any of them, who would you choose and why? Issa Rae and AMP (the YouTube creative group) inspire me the most, and I would enjoy collaborating with either of them. But if I had to choose ONE, I would pick Issa Rae, because I see myself in her work. She has created TV shows that make me feel seen and heard, not just as a Black woman, but as an awkward and slightly nerdy one, too. That kind of content is rare to find. Issa is truly an innovator.
What's one thing you hope to achieve personally or professionally as a creator? I hope to travel to countries where economic crises are prevalent to document those issues and raise awareness through the media. Internationally, populations of people are struggling to survive in their environments due to war, poverty, deadly hunger, and more. After my family and I faced food insecurity during the COVID-19 pandemic, I was motivated to work toward this philanthropic goal.
What's your favorite Spotify playlist? I love the playlist Chill Hits! Calm music and chill beats are definitely my kind of vibe.
What's your favorite Spotify podcast? Ted Talks Daily is my favorite Spotify podcast. There is something special about being able to strengthen yourself with knowledge by listening to experts.
What's your favorite Spotify audiobook? The Duke and I, by Julia Quinn. I love the Bridgerton love stories!
Chrysta Nichols (she/her) Junior, Multimedia Journalism Major
How can scholarships and learning opportunities like Spotify's NextGen help HBCU students? As a journalism student deeply immersed in the realms of media and marketing, I see firsthand the transformative power of initiatives like Spotify's NextGen scholarships for students attending HBCUs. These opportunities are not just about financial assistance; they symbolize a pathway to empowerment and representation within industries where diversity and inclusion are paramount. By offering support to HBCU students, companies like Spotify are not only investing in individual futures but also championing a broader narrative of equity and access.
Who are some creators of color who inspire you, and if you could collaborate with any of them, who would you choose and why? Dearra Taylor, Isimeme Edeko, and Issa Rae are creators of color who embody authenticity and staying true to oneself, which I deeply resonate with. If I could collaborate with any of them, I would choose Isimeme Edeko. As someone who has personally struggled with confidence and
Europe Stories
05/01/2027
Worlds first 802.15.4ab-UWB chip verified by Calterah and Rohde & Schwarz to be ...
06/09/2026
June 9 2026, 23:00 (PDT) Dolby and MagentaTV Bring Fans Closer to the FIFA Worl...
04/08/2026
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, t...
04/07/2026
April 7 2026, 19:00 (PDT) Detective Conan: Fallen Angel of the Highway Opens in...
01/07/2026
New AI Assistant, Multi-channel Audio, ARA2 improvements & more
Tracktion's DAW software has just received its latest major update, gaining a selection ...
01/07/2026
Stammering, stuttering, strangulated tones
The Crow Hill Company's latest creation promises to be the most original sound set they've produced to d...
01/07/2026
Exclusive run of limited-edition modelling pedals
Sweetwater and Andertons M...
01/07/2026
UKTV has today announced the appointment of Matt Berry to the newly created role of General Manager - Marketing, effective 1 July.
Matt will take on this senio...
01/07/2026
Sky Zero Footprint Fund-backed TV campaign featuring Deborah Meaden challenges consumers to rethink everyday bathroom wasteWednesday 1 July 2026
Fussy asks Bri...
01/07/2026
Constituency-level analysis reveals where girls miss out most on sport - and where targeted action could unlock more than £640 million in economic and health be...
01/07/2026
Wuppertal July 1, 2026
Riedel and SKAARHOJ Expand Collaboration With SimplyLive IntegrationRiedel Communications today announced an expanded collaboration wit...
01/07/2026
Apple today introduced power-packed updates to Apple Creator Studio, a groundbre...
01/07/2026
Nectar360, the Retail Media, Loyalty and Insights business of the Sainsburys Gro...
01/07/2026
9.2 million streams on RT Player between 11 and 28 June
Reach of 2.9 million viewers during Group stages of FIFA World Cup on RT 2
23 million video views acr...
30/06/2026
Could your journalism reach an international stage?
Entries are now open for the Thomson Foundation's Young Journalist Award 2026, one of the most prestigi...
30/06/2026
Brings together saturation & lo-fi effects
Following on from the release of their Voxcraft vocal-processing plug-in, UJAM have announced the launch of Retro...
30/06/2026
New IR reverb engine, Juno-inspired chorus & more
The latest version of Rapid Flow's hardware-emulation synth plug-in expands on its predecessor with a ...
30/06/2026
Excels at heavy-handed VCA compression
For their latest release, Shy Audio have recreated the crunchy' sound of a rackmount compressor that found its w...
30/06/2026
Component scarcity drives cost increases
Shortly after Apple's CEO Tim Cook acknowledged that cost increases would soon be inevitable , the company hav...
30/06/2026
Hitachi and Bank Pekao S.A. have completed the installation of the first Hitachi...
30/06/2026
eds3_5_jq(document).ready(function($) { $(#eds_sliderM519).chameleonSlider_2_1({ content_source:......
29/06/2026
Four-layer instrument aimed at dark electronic music
Excite Audio's latest software instrument has been designed with dark drum and bass, atmospheric te...
29/06/2026
New AI Assistant, Multi-channel Audio, ARA2 improvements & more
Tracktion's DAW software has just received its latest major update, gaining a selection ...
29/06/2026
Details environmental policies & results
The Focusrite Group have just announced that following a long audit process, they have published their 2026 sustain...
29/06/2026
Arvato Systems Achieves AWS Cloud Operations Competency
The team behind the AWS Cloud Operations Competency (from left to right: Philipp Hellmich, Johanna Bod...
29/06/2026
RT today announced that Ger Gilroy will join the RT Podcasts team to present a daily sports podcast. Launching later this year, the new show will set the spor...
29/06/2026
RT Commercial announced OUTsurance as sponsor of the Oliver Callan show on RT Radio 1 from Wednesday 1 July.
Oliver Callan doubles the fun, delivering two ...
28/06/2026
Half-size model joins Console 1 line-up
Shortly after the release of their new Flow Studio controller, Softube have announced the launch of another new surf...
28/06/2026
New EXO Series DSP control software announced
EVE Audio's EXO Series monitor range has just gained a new software element that provides remote access to...
27/06/2026
Brings together saturation & lo-fi effects
Following on from the release of their Voxcraft vocal-processing plug-in, UJAM have announced the launch of Retro...
26/06/2026
Virtual session musician plug-in gains new percussion options
Celemony's latest update for their virtual session musician platform complements the exist...
26/06/2026
Half-size model joins Console 1 line-up
Shortly after the release of their new Flow Studio controller, Softube have announced the launch of another new surf...
26/06/2026
ELT Group and Rohde & Schwarz sign a cooperation agreement to explore commercial...
26/06/2026
Flicker Productions to produce five-part docu-reality series following women who have fallen for men in prison and have become TikTok sensations, with brands an...
26/06/2026
Catch up on the latest developments across Baselight and Daylight v7, Nara and F...
26/06/2026
26. June 2026 News
DFT is pleased to announce that a second Polar HQ film s...
26/06/2026
A fresh look at how the Irish helped shape the foundations of the United States
...
25/06/2026
Six free workshops across two days
Global music education platform Music Production for Women (MPW), have just announced a brand new and highly anticipated ...
25/06/2026
Popular pedalboard PSU gets an upgrade
The DC7 v2 is a new and improved version of the renowned effects pedal PSU from CIOKS, and is said to be the thinnest...
25/06/2026
Optimised for lush, enveloping sounds
Described as an instantly rewarding reverb , the latest addition to Arturia's range of creative effects plug-ins ...
25/06/2026
27 June 2026, Westminster University Harrow Campus
GearExpo UK is now upon us, with just two days to go until 150 of the worlds top pro-audio brands and ind...
25/06/2026
alt= data-nectar-img-srcset=https://www.antonbauer.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/0...
25/06/2026
Thursday 25 June 2026
Read all about it! The Paper will return for a second sea...
25/06/2026
Thursday 25 June 2026
How to watch the 2026/27 EFL season on Sky Sports
Which EFL matches are Sky Sports showing on the 2026/27 opening weekend?
Sky Sports w...
25/06/2026
Launching today (Thursday 25 June), new RT podcast Ramble with Joe McGucken is a series of curiosity-driven conversations where actor, writer and comedian Joe ...
24/06/2026
Plus: VoiceAssist Basic now available to UA LUNA users
NoiseWorks Audio have just released an update that adds a new Mouth De-Click module to the Advanced t...
24/06/2026
New heavy-duty mic stand joins range
The latest arrival to Gator's Frameworks family introduces a new heavy-duty boom stand that's been designed for...
24/06/2026
Latest major plug-in update goes live
Waves have just announced that the latest major update for their hugely popular plug-in range is now officially availa...
24/06/2026
When assessing cellular coverage, many people look at the signal bars displayed on a smartphone, router or modem. More bars are often assumed to mean better per...
Spotify is committed to amplifying the voices of underrepresented groups, and that starts with empowering the creators who will shape our industry's future.
