According to an article published by Fast Company, there are over 525,000 podcast shows currently active, and according to U.S. podcast statistics and facts reported so far in 2018, 44 percent of the U.S. population has listened to a podcast. Of those listeners, it’s reported that most of them are “loyal, affluent and educated.”
Veteran fashion journalist Constance C.R. White, who served as editor-in-chief at Essence magazine for two years and authored ‘How to Slay: Inspiration from the Queens and Kings of Black Style’ in February, has recently signed with Univision to develop a fashion-focused podcast.
Trade publication Women’s Wear Daily (WWD) reports that White said Univision was attracted to the deal after noting the success of ‘How to Slay.’ Apparently, the idea of a fashion podcast featuring White was appealing after the company saw people’s level of engagement at book events for ‘Slay.’ Company officials are also said to be looking forward to White’s “authoritative voice that will come with her now-decades in the industry.”
A previous writer for The New York Times who later served as style director at eBay, White has chosen an ideal time to tap into the podcast market. Research indicates that 80 percent of podcast listeners listen to all or most of each podcast episode; and those listeners listen to an average of seven shows per week, which will bode well for ratings.
And women of color podcasters are on the rise, with companies such as Spotify pouring resources into training boot camps and programs designed to garner equity for women of color in the podcasting space.
Now a consultant and contributing editor of Ozy, White said of the podcast due to launch later this year, “Women want to talk style, women of color want to talk imagery in fashion and media, and we’ve had great conversations with African-American audiences as well as mixed white and black audiences.”
