MS. DEB TO SPOTIFY CEO: WRITE THE CHECK

Hip-Hop Pioneer Calls $100 Million Investment in “Historically Marginalized Groups” A Starting Point; Says Atlanta Has People, Projects and Content of Color Ready to Go

(ATLANTA, GA) – Refusing to allow another media-tech executive to pontificate about investing in content for people of color without going unchecked, Deb Antney, aka Ms. Deb, today simply said, “Write the check!”

“I’m tired of all of these media-tech executives talking all this talk about investing in projects for people of color, or BIPOC, so that they can drive headlines that make their shareholders feel good,” said Ms. Deb, Executive Producer of What the Flocka, Growing Up Hip-Hop. “If we were to audit all of those companies, you would discover that budgets weren’t fully spent and that the balance sheets don’t coincide with the narrative being advanced.”

Ms. Deb’s comments come on the heels of Spotify CEO Daniel Ek apologizing to employees for racial slurs made by Joe Rogan, host of The Joe Rogan Experience. According to a report in Forbes, “Ek committed an incremental investment of $100 million to license, develop and market content created by historically marginalized groups”.

“As far as I’m concerned, a $100 million investment in projects from people of color is the floor; it’s a starting point,” said Ms. Deb. “Urban America, black America, the multi-cultural community, a historically marginalized community, whatever you want to label us, we have two things for sure: talent and buying power. Write the check, let’s go!”

“Right now, in Atlanta, we have people, projects and content of color,” said Ms. Deb. “We have stories and storytellers, creatives and creativity, architects and architecture, all ready to go.”

Ms. Deb is committed to using her platform, network, know-how and reputation to ensure that media-tech executives start thinking 10 figures, not nine, when it comes to investing in content in the urban space.

Her door remains open to continuing the conversation and giving black creatives an opportunity to excel.