Popular audiobook and podcast service Audible just announced an exclusive, worldwide, multi-project development deal with Issa Rae’s music company, Raedio.
The deal between the two companies promises a combination of fresh, original content from black creators, such as original scripted comedy, audio reinterpretations of existing projects such as books, and non-fiction entertainment and commentary.
In a statement posted to Facebook, Issa and the Raedio team expressed their excitement about the new partnership:
“Excited to partner with @audible to continue to develop and produce audio content across genres including scripted comedy and nonfiction, as well as audio adaptations of existing shows and IP!”
Benoni Tagoe, president of Raedio, expounded on the details of the project in an official written statement; Stating that this was a joint effort to create the highest quality content in all ways, through all channels:
“I’ve had tremendous success with scripted podcasts over the years and with our Audible collaboration we’re excited to bring fresh, original content to Audible listeners everywhere. Our goal is to continue to supply the audio pipeline from music to storytelling as an audio everywhere company.”
Audible is not the only company to partner with Issa Rae and the Raedio fam in the last month. Google and Raedio launched a collaborative creators program to further the representation of women of color in the music industry.
The Raedio Creators Program Supported by Google aims to do this by providing underrepresented independent artists of color with more resources and connections. Something which Issa herself recently criticized in an interview with LA Times:
“It’s probably the worst industry that I have ever come across. I thought Hollywood was crazy. The music industry, it needs to start over,” Rae said. “Conflicts of interest abound. Archaic mentalities. Crooks and criminals! It’s an abusive industry, and I really feel for artists that have to come up in it.”
Raedio’s deals with both Google and Audible hope to not only offer tangible resources to those who need them, but also fill each platform’s content gap with fresh, new, and culturally-aligned material by black artists and content creators.
