BMG, Penguin Random House and Fremantle collaborate to create new UK youth culture podcast, This is Spoke

09 October 2018 - Press release

BMG has teamed up with fellow Bertelsmann companies publisher Penguin Random House UK and production company Fremantle to launch This Is Spoke, a new UK podcast series for Generation Z, the first episode of which goes live today.

This Is Spoke is a 12-part podcast series discussing youth culture through a music and literary lens, told through stories and conversation between some of the UK's hottest cultural influencers. Along with hosts Chidera Eggerue aka THE SLUMFLOWER, and YouTuber and poet Suli Breaks, the podcast draws on creative talent from across the three companies. Guests include musicians Maverick Sabre, Nadia Rose and Caitlyn Scarlett, writers and poets Emma Dabiri, Caleb Femi and Yomi Sode, and actors and presenters Femi Oyeniran, Amelia Dimoldenberg and Yinka Bokinni, among others.

Each episode aims to be provocative, fun and authentic, tackling themes ranging from whether artists have a responsibility to be political and women in male-dominated industries, to microaggressions and institutionalized racism. The aim is to provoke and encourage debate amongst Generation Z listeners – aged 17 to 24 – on some of the most important and contemporary issues influencing their lives, empowering them to join in and speak out.

You can find the first episode here - https://www.acast.com/spoke - featuring activist and model Munroe Bergdorf and South London soul singer Poppy Ajudha discussing being creative and its effect on mental health, in the episode titled 'We Need To Talk About Ye'.

This Is Spoke will also host a live event at Unit 8 Copeland Park in Peckham, south London, on Saturday November 17th. The event will be made up of interactive workshops, idea sharing and a live recording of the podcast, followed by a DJ set and performance by Ghetts.

Alistair Norbury, President, Repertoire & Marketing, at BMG UK, said, "This is a concrete example of what can be achieved through the power of the Bertelsmann network. BMG is proud to represent many of today's most powerful new voices from Mabel to George Ezra, from Mostack to Rejjie Snow and The Sherlocks. We are delighted to support this exciting new initiative."