ABOVE: Lena Waithe, photo via Waithe’s Facebook page.
LOS ANGELES (AP) | Lena Waithe will join several influencers on an advisory board for Audible to help discover new talent.
The online audiobook and podcast platform announced Dec. 7 the formation of the Emerging Voices Advisory Board. The diverse board of esteemed artists, podcasters, producers and writers was created to help Audible experts define and “further the creative vision” of storytellers.
The board will also help attract and develop projects from the “best emerging and established voice across the globe.”
Waithe is the openly LGBTQ creator of Showtime’s “The Chi” and wrote the film “Queen & Slim” and has appeared in “Master of None,” “Ready Player One” and “Westworld.” Other influencers include and Malcolm Gladwell, the bestselling author of “The Tipping Point” and “Outliers.”
“There’s nothing I love more than amplifying new and exciting voices,” Waithe said in a statement. “I’m so grateful to Audible for giving us the space to do that.”
Other board members will include former New York Magazine editor-in-chief Adam Moss, Grammy-winning songwriter-producer T Bone Burnett and Marshall Lewy, the chief content officer at Wondery.
On Monday, Audible also announced the launch of the Audible Podcast Development Program. The program will identify, develop and create opportunities for the next generation of audio-driven storytellers.
Selected participants will have the opportunity to work alongside Audible experts to receive editorial, production and financial support. Original podcasts for Audible listeners are expected to begin releasing in summer 2021.
Rachel Ghiazza, the EVP and Head of U.S. Content at Audible, said the company will offer its own resources through the program to “voices that need to be heard and to podcasters aspiring to make cultural and artistic impact.”
