Melody in Diversity —ACCSA X The Digilogue
What we all enjoy about music is how well all the notes blend in synchrony to create it. Skyler and I, Sanika, from Annenberg Cross-Cultural Student Association got the opportunity to meet a rather harmonious group of talented folks in the music industry who are diversifying the space, both on stage and off stage. We interviewed members of The Digilogue, which is a diverse community of tech and music creators and industry professionals. Their mission is to curate conversations and programming around industry education, career resources, and artist discovery content. It was refreshing to meet people our age creating a dent in the music space with their talent and fervor. We had conversations with Olivia Le, Angeline Abrera, Lizhi Qin, and Grace Luong, exploring their journeys from becoming interns to core team members and their tryst with the music industry. All team members emphasized how seamless this transition to becoming a member was. The autonomy given by The Digilogue allows their interns to pick roles that best suit their interests.
A little about them
We first spoke to Olivia Le, who is a Music Careers Coordinator at The Digilogue. She is a recent MBA graduate from Binghamton University, where she also received her bachelor's in Business Administration with a concentration in marketing. Born to immigrant parents, Olivia always wanted to do something that blends her creative instincts with analytical skills. She was intrigued by the powerful connection between artists and their fans. During the pandemic, she got in touch with Drew de Leon, one of the founders of The Digilogue, and expressed her interest in working with the organization. She immediately bagged an internship with their Music Careers team in Spring ‘22. ‘‘Fans are the foundation of music,’’ said Olivia while detailing her role in elevating the experience of fans during shows. She now helps companies in their hiring process and finds the perfect match for senior positions in the industry. She highlights new hires, accomplishments of the people in the industry, and companies currently looking for people to join their teams. Roles like these ensure that a diverse population gets exposed to the sea of opportunities in the industry.
We then spoke to Angeline Abrera, who is now the Content & Brand Strategy Coordinator at The Digilogue. With a bachelor's in Media Production and Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies from the University of Houston, Angeline was always fascinated by how media and storytelling influenced the entertainment and music space. She began working with The Digilogue as a College Curator intern in the Fall of ‘21. Angeline relishes the unconditional support all her team members provided, which helped her find her place in the industry. “Everyone is hungry to learn more, which is great” she said while mentioning how she feels driven and motivated at each step in this journey. She facilitates Digilogue programming by coordinating with the creative teams and curating marketing campaigns. Her roles constructively utilize her passions for storytelling and bringing a humane aspect to the pool of available data.
Next, Lizhi Qin spoke about his role as a Community Insights Coordinator at The Digilogue. Lizhi started piano lessons at a young age and this inspired him to explore music production in his free time. While his inventive sensibilities drove him, he was very keen to explore the ‘business’ side of this creative field. He graduated from Indiana University with a degree in Marketing and a co-major in Digital and Social Media Business Applications. After connecting with Drew, Lizhi joined the College Curator program helping the Patreon team in the Spring of ‘22. He now enhances content engagement on their platforms, devises new strategies for growth, and provides consumer insights.
In the end, we had a chat with Grace Luong who is the Community Manager at The Digilogue. A hustler, who interestingly always had more than two internships every semester throughout college, Grace graduated from Cal State Fullerton with a degree in marketing. She interned with the Digital Marketing team of The Digilogue in the Spring of ‘21. She works towards solidifying people’s vision of the company through events and public-facing opportunities. All of them unanimously emphasized how organically diverse The Digilogue is.
Diversity & the Industry
We all spoke about how important it is for diverse voices to feel included in the music industry. We have summarized everyone's takes on diversity here. To this date, you need to know who’s who in the entertainment industry to get your foot in the door. It’s even tougher for people in marginalized groups to make their mark. Nevertheless, times are changing as conversations around inclusion are now expanding. Even the audience now understands the distinction between diverse faces being used for token brownie points versus being represented authentically. Music in itself is a significant symbol in a lot of cultures. It captures history and traditions that have been passed through many generations. Thus, it is even more important to preserve and promote diversity in this space. A member very rightfully mentioned how a lot of people in the United States have now discovered Asian music only because of its prominence in pop culture! It's notable how receptive audiences have become toward global music cultures. This conversation around diversity should not just stop at artists but also be transcended to include all people working behind the scenes, like the managers, producers, and record labels. Music communities like The Digilogue are now helping people from different backgrounds feel like they belong somewhere by exposing them to opportunities and helping them make connections.
Tips & Tricks
The music industry is definitely not a conventional career option. We talked about how in some Asian cultures, the entertainment industry isn’t perceived as a safe and secure field. Many times, parents also feel a bit hesitant about this career choice due to certain negative connotations attached to the industry. But remember that where there is a will, there is a way! Open conversations with your parents and your sincere efforts with your work will help you sail through! It is a bumpy ride in the beginning, but having the right kind of guidance and networking opportunities smoothens the path. LinkedIn was a common term that popped up in all the conversations. This platform is a great way to organically meet people from different areas, especially if you reside in a region that isn’t located within the usual music scene, to the likes of New York or Los Angeles. Don’t hesitate in asking for five minutes of someone’s time and when you connect with them, show your genuine interest in their work. Ensure you give credit to people if you have benefitted from their advice. A few kind words go a long way. In the end, as cliche as it may sound, it is important you believe in yourself and trust the process. Everyone has their own journey –– you need to trust and relish what yours brings.
