Sony Pixel Power calrec Sony

Spotify Partners With Inevitable Foundation To Support and Empower Podcasters with Disabilities

01/12/2022

Across the TV and film industries, writers with disabilities are heavily underrepresented. While an estimated 15% of the global population is disabled, these individuals only make up 1% of the creative workforce. When it comes to podcasting, though, there's a huge opportunity to shift the balance on representation. Thanks to a lower barrier to entry, podcasting has offered an alternate route for creators with disabilities to make their mark. But the rapidly growing and evolving nature of the podcasting industry means there's still a lot of need to invest in underrepresented artists. Until now, there haven't been any programs that support podcasters with disabilities who are working to break through.

Spotify is partnering with the Inevitable Foundation to launch Elevate for Podcasters, a program that empowers professional podcasters with disabilities with the funding, mentorship, equipment, and accommodations they need to level up their careers.

We want to create a world where disabled storytellers are able to create projects about anything they want, regardless of whether their stories contemplate disability, which is only one part of their complex identities, Richie Siegel and Marisa Torelli-Pedevska, the cofounders of Inevitable Foundation, told For the Record in a statement. For a community that has been shut out of so many creative industries for so long, the lower barriers of entry for podcasting create a fruitful starting point to make sizable gains when it comes to fostering the next generation of disabled podcasters and storytellers.

Those who are accepted into the program will receive a $10,000 grant, which can be used for:

Professional Development: Content-based professional development such as script consulting, and education and workshops on broader storytelling; technical professional development such as education on editing and mixing.

Accommodations: Expenses to make podcasts more accessible, including transcripts and other forms of access.

Equipment: Essential equipment for podcasting, editing, or work.

Show Marketing: Essential marketing expenses for a show, which includes ads, creative, and festival fees.

Living Expenses: To support the ongoing careers of disabled podcasters.

IP Licensing: To license IP to adapt into a fiction podcast.

Participants will also receive ongoing support through quarterly check-ins with the Inevitable Foundation team, as well as community-building events where members can expand their professional networks and meet other creatives with disabilities in podcasting, film, and television.

At Spotify, we're constantly looking for ways to amplify diverse and underestimated voices through the power of audio, says Dina Gabriel, Head of Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging at Spotify. This partnership with the Inevitable Foundation offers a unique opportunity for us to utilize our platform to create pathways for creators with disabilities and provide them with tools and resources that will help them hone their craft and build their professional careers.

How to apply

So who is eligible for the Elevate for Podcasters program? For starters, applicants must meet the following requirements:

They self-identify as disabled.

They are 18 years of age or older.

They are currently pursuing a career in podcasting.

They are not enrolled in an accredited degree program.

In addition, applicants must meet at least one of the following criteria:

They have an agent/manager for podcasting.

They have writing, directing, or producing credits on a fiction-genre audio project completely funded by a major audio platform or production company.

One of their audio projects has been acquired by a major studio, production company, or podcast network.

They've successfully crowdfunded $10,000 or more for one of their audio projects.

They've created their own fiction podcast that has received over 10,000 listens per episode on average over a 30-day period.

They've created and produced at least 30 fiction podcast episodes (can be across multiple shows).

They've had their show recognized by a mainstream or independent outlet (that has multiple writers) for news or criticism.

We're thrilled to launch this first-of-its-kind program as a way to raise the visibility of this talented group of artists. Those interested in Elevate for Podcasters can click this link and apply starting today. Winners will be selected starting in early 2023.

For more information, please visit https://inevitable.foundation/podcasters.
LINK: https://newsroom.spotify.com/2022-12-01/spotify-partners-with-inevitab...
See more stories from spotify

More from Spotify

13/05/2025

Spotify Releases 51 Audiobooks From Bloomsbury's Popular 33 Series

Spotify aims to bring compelling audiobooks to as many consumers as possible, and we're eager to give fans even more options as they discover their next gre...

13/05/2025

Spotify's DJ Now Takes Requests, Enhancing Real-Time Music Discovery

People all over the world love DJ. At the gym, at home, whenever and wherever you want a deeper experience with great music, DJ is the answer. In fact, DJ liste...

09/05/2025

Spotify Data Reveals Eurovision 2025 Fan Favorites, With Sweden's KAJ Leading the Pack

As excitement builds for the annual Eurovision Song Contest, Spotify data offers...

07/05/2025

Experience a New Dimension of Music Discovery With More Controls and Enhanced Tools

Discovering music should feel effortless and fun. That's why Spotify continu...

06/05/2025

Spotify Amplifies Colombia's Booming Local Music Scene With Sbele a Eso' Initiative

In Colombia, music isn't just background noise-it's center stage. It'...

06/05/2025

La nueva apuesta de Spotify para destacar la msica local en Colombia: Sbele a Eso'

En Colombia, la m sica no suena de fondo: es el centro del escenario. Es el cora...

06/05/2025

Spotify Introduces Plays, a New Way To See What Content Is Resonating With Podcast Fans

At Spotify, we always seek ways to connect users with their next favorite podcas...

06/05/2025

In Mumbai, Our Public Affairs Chief, Dustee Jenkins, Spotlights the Role of Spotify in the Growth of India's Music Industry

Since Spotify's 2019 launch in India, the growth of the country's local ...

05/05/2025

Loreen, Nemo, and More Reimagine Eurovision Anthems for Spotify Singles

As Europe gears up for the Eurovision Song Contest 2025, Spotify is celebrating the spirit of unity and musical legacy with a new series of Spotify Singles. Fiv...

02/05/2025

Following Landmark Court Ruling, Spotify Submits New App Update to Apple to Benefit U.S. Consumers

Updated May 9, 2025: Earlier this morning Spotify submitted a new update. If app...

02/05/2025

Spotify and FC Barcelona Collab With Travis Scott on a Special Cactus Jack Shirt and Exclusive Concert

Since 2022, Spotify and FC Barcelona have brought the worlds of music and footba...

02/05/2025

Spotify Sparks UK Returns To Bring Together Advertisers and Creators

With more than 678 million users worldwide tuned in to Spotify, we're at the heart of music and culture. Our unrivaled global community of artists, songwrit...

01/05/2025

Best in Class' Touts the Anthems That Defined Student Listening in Celebration of This Year's 2025 College Graduates

After four years of lectures, study sessions, exams, and parties, college senior...

30/04/2025

Spotify and EA SPORTS Team Up To Pilot a New Kind of Audio Experience

EA SPORTS FC 25 fans in Australia and Saudi Arabia, get ready to immerse yourselves in the beautiful game like never before. Spotify is excited to announce a n...

30/04/2025

Tucker Wetmore Celebrates His Debut Album Release With an Intimate Performance for Fans

The past year has been nothing short of a whirlwind for Tucker Wetmore. After th...

30/04/2025

Spotify Celebrates Mexico's Booming Podcast Scene With First-Ever Podcast Awards

Mexico's love for podcasts is no longer a trend-it's a lifestyle. With m...

29/04/2025

Spotify rapporterar intkter fr frsta kvartalet 2025

Idag rapporterar vi f r det f rsta kvartalet 2025, och vi inleder ret starkt med ett resultat som vertr ffar f rv ntningarna inom v ra nyckeltal. Vi levererad...

29/04/2025

Spotify Reports First Quarter 2025 Earnings

Today, we announced our first quarter 2025 earnings, starting the year off strong by outperforming across key metrics, including the highest Q1 Subscriber net a...

29/04/2025

Celebrate Arab Heritage Month With the Local Genres and Artists Making Waves Globally

April is Arab Heritage Month, a time to celebrate the vibrant creators from acro...

28/04/2025

From Audio to Video, Spotify's $100 Million Payout Fuels Creator Success Stories

Podcasts have become a cornerstone of the Spotify experience, evolving from a ni...

28/04/2025

Spotify Lends a Helping Hand to NYC Neighbors, the 9/11 Memorial & Museum

Each April, runners and walkers of all stripes gather together in Lower Manhattan for the 9/11 Memorial & Museum 5K. This race remembers those killed on Septemb...

24/04/2025

Spotify Expands AI Playlist in Beta to Premium Listeners in 40+ New Markets

Playlists have always been at the heart of the Spotify experience. Since AI Playlist in beta launched last year, Premium users have used it to create millions o...

24/04/2025

How Latin Artists Are Thriving Both at Music Festivals and on Spotify

From the California desert and Chicago's Grant Park to New York City's Flushing Meadows Corona Park and beyond, music festivals this spring and summer w...

24/04/2025

82 Artists, 10 Countries, Limitless Sounds: Meet the RADAR Asia Class of 2025

The sounds of Asia are as diverse and vibrant as the continent itself. From the lively beats of Indonesian pop to the gritty rhymes of Pinoy hip-hop, the region...

22/04/2025

Celebrate Earth Day With New Music Featuring the Sounds of Nature

Music has the power to connect us to one another and to the world around us. Spotify is once again teaming up with the Museum for the United Nations - UN Live&#...

22/04/2025

Spotify and ELLE Once Again Collaborate in Celebration of Emerging Women in Music

Spotify has an unwavering commitment to supporting emerging artists across all g...

22/04/2025

Celebrate Earth Day With Audiobooks That Educate and Entertain

This year marks the 55th anniversary of Earth Day, celebrated annually on April 22. On Spotify, listeners can explore a world of stories about our planet in our...

15/04/2025

Indian Artists Are Reaching More Global Fans Than Ever Before (and the Data Proves It)

In March this year, Spotify unveiled its annual Loud & Clear report, a transpare...

15/04/2025

Spotify Expands Its Audiobooks Offering To Listeners In Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein

As the world's most popular audio-streaming subscription service, Spotify is...

14/04/2025

Rocket Scientist Aisha Bowe Shares Her Space-Bound Soundtrack in Honor of Historic Blue Origin Flight

On Monday, April 14, Blue Origin's NS-31 mission lifted off from Launch Site...

14/04/2025

Celebrating the Vibrant Traditions That Make Global Fandoms Unique With New Campaign

Whether it's having first access to tickets, being a part of once-in-a-lifet...

11/04/2025

Spotify Invests 1 Million To Help Authors and Publishers Produce More Audiobooks

Since entering the audiobooks space in 2022, Spotify has positively impacted the industry, paying out hundreds of millions of dollars to rights holders on an an...

11/04/2025

Uncover a Cult Conspiracy in New Scripted Thriller DIAL' From Spotify Argentina and Kuarzo

Latin America's love for scripted audio is about to get a thrilling new chap...

08/04/2025

FC Barcelona Star Lamine Yamal Shares His Favorite Locker Room Jams On the Latest Edition of Bara Matchday

As part of the first-of-its kind partnership between Spotify and FC Barcelona, w...

03/04/2025

Spotify Tunes Up Platform To Make It Easy for Advertisers To Buy, Create, and Measure

Spotify Advertising hit a new high note today as we unveiled how we're makin...

03/04/2025

The Three Key Takeaways for Advertisers From Our Spotify Advance Event

The next stage of Spotify Advertising has arrived. Today, during our Spotify Advance event in New York City, we unveiled a host of updates that make it easier f...

03/04/2025

Spotify Celebrates Its Next Stage of Advertising in New York City

Some of the biggest names in marketing, advertising, publishing, traditional and social media, and the creative worlds gathered yesterday at Chelsea Factory in ...

01/04/2025

Inside USHER's Star-Studded Black Box' Event in London

USHER's London takeover is in full swing. After kicking off his sold-out run of shows at the O2 Arena to rave reviews, the R&B icon joined forces with Spoti...

27/03/2025

The Spotify Partner Program Expands To Nine New Markets, Giving More Creators New Ways To Monetize Their Content

Since announcing the Spotify Partner Program last fall, we've heard from cre...

26/03/2025

Svenska artister genererar rekordutbetalningar frn Spotify: 1,9 miljarder under 2024

nda sedan Spotify grundades har vi arbetat h rt f r att ka betalningsviljan f r...

26/03/2025

Meet the New Class of Artists Shaping the Future of Spanish Music

Spotify's RADAR program spotlights rising talent from around the world, and in Spain, it's been making waves since 2020. Five years in, RADAR Spain has ...

20/03/2025

Our New Concerts Near You Playlist Makes It Fun and Easy To Discover Touring Artists

Spotify listeners love discovering new artists and songs, but they also love fin...

18/03/2025

Celebrate Women's History Month With These Empowering Audiobooks

Looking for inspiration this Women's History Month? Discover the stories of trailblazing women with audiobooks on Spotify. Our Women's History Month aud...

18/03/2025

Podcasts Take Center Stage at SXSW as Top Creators Discuss Video's Impact

From morning commutes to late-night listening sessions, Spotify is the essential daily companion for millions of listeners globally. Podcasts, in particular, ha...

14/03/2025

Bill Simmons Reflects on Five Years of The Ringer

Time flies when you're having fun and we can confidently say that Bill Simmons, founder of The Ringer and Spotify's Head of Talk Strategy, is having not...

13/03/2025

How Spotify Is Driving Growth, Discovery, and Innovation in the Audiobook Market

Spotify took center stage at the London Book Fair this week, reaffirming our commitment to the audiobook market and showcasing our impact on the publishing indu...

13/03/2025

Spotify Audiobooks Launches a New Publishing Program for Independent Authors

At Spotify, we work every day to lift up new voices, giving creators the opportunity to live off their art. Through Spotify Audiobooks, our in-house publishing ...

12/03/2025

Como o Impacto Cultural e Financeiro da Indstria Musical Define Seu Sucesso em 2025

O Spotify acaba de lan ar o relat rio Loud & Clear deste ano, uma vis o transpar...

12/03/2025

Cmo el impacto cultural y financiero de la industria musical define su xito en 2025

Spotify acaba de presentar el informe Loud & Clear de este a o, una mirada trans...

12/03/2025

Nourish Mind, Body, and Soul This Ramadan With Spotify

Ramadan, a period of profound spiritual significance for Muslims worldwide, is a time for fasting, prayer, reflection, and community. Enrich your experience thi...