The Qube website: https://e3radio.fm/the-qube/
The Qube Indiegogo website: https://igg.me/at/thequbeapp
About E3 Radio / The Qube:
In 2004, the idea for E3 Radio was born in the library halls of Drake University. E3 Radio’s founder Anna DeShawn was spending the summer on campus and discovered books about influential Black women whose stories were erased from history, such as Fannie Lou Hamer, Elaine Brown, and Ella Baker. Anna was inspired to create a platform that shared their stories and offered a space for all underrepresented voices to be heard.
In 2009, Anna brought the concept of E3 Radio to life when she started the “Anna DeShawn & the QCrew,” a weekly radio show that focused on Chicago Black LGBTQ+ news, artists, and events. The three pillars of E3 Radio are to educate, empower, and entertain its listeners by playing music and telling stories that are overlooked on mainstream media outlets, with the goal of centering BIPOC/Queer and Trans People Of Color (QTPOC) voices. Anna realized she could use what, at the time, was a new internet streaming technology to overcome barriers to entry of traditional radio and reach her audience.
Over the years, E3 Radio has acted as an amplifier for BIPOC/QTPOC artists such as Lena Waithe, Aina Brei’Yon, Tim’m West, and The Vixen. E3 Radio has also produced such events as The Purple Tie Affair, the Queer as Art Summer Concert Series, and the Chicago Finest podcast.
In 2021, Anna’s next ambitious endeavor hope to solve some major pitfalls in traditional media that BIPOC/QTPOC communities face.
In celebration of PRIDE month, DeShawn and their company E3 Radio created the concept launch of ‘The Qube’ (https://e3radio.fm/the-qube/), a new *first of its kind* streaming app of music and podcasts that is wholly owned, run by, produced by and dedicated to QTPOC creatives, on June 1 on Indiegogo (https://igg.me/at/thequbeapp).
The Qube hopes to rectify a number of challenges including:
- A deficit of nuanced, diverse intersectionality of characters and talent. Typical tropes of LGBTQ+ are often white/white appearing characters;
- BIPOC and QTPOC creatives are undeniably undervalued and underrepresented in all sectors of the business and creative process, from producing, writing and on-air talent to ownership and financial gains;
- From an ownership perspective, while there are individual podcast shows, even networks, that exist that center Black people and their experiences, most are still distributed through large, predominately white-owned corporations.
The Qube’s mission and values fill a void in the podcast industry in an authentic and intentional way, while also promoting financial wealth, ownership, equity and longevity within the Black community.
What does PRIDE month mean to your company?
For us, PRIDE is a time to celebrate our rainbow family and all the beautiful ways we show up in the world. It’s also a time to remember that PRIDE started as a riot. There was a three-day uprising because trans folks of color were fed up with being harassed and mistreated by the cops. During PRIDE, we celebrate, we party, and it’s imperative that we also remember those who fought on our behalf. I remember and lift up Marsha P. Johnson, Sylvia Rivera, Storme’ DeLarverie & Miss Major in particular because their stories have been left out of the LGBTQ canon. Today, with over 250 anti-trans & anti-lgbtq bills introduced across the country our community is under attack. Let us celebrate, fly rainbows, and continue the work because there is a lot more to do.
How have you integrated the message of acceptance and inclusion into your business?
Inclusivity is at the heart of what we do. We center Black, Brown, & QTPOC musical artists and stories that are not amplified. We seek to change that narrative by providing a platform that plays the music & tells the stories that deserve to be heard. In that evolution, the inspiration of The Qube was born. We are raising the money now to bring it to the market and could really use your help. Check out our campaign here, https://igg.me/at/thequbeapp. If it sparks something good in you please consider giving or amplifying or both.
What can members of the Chicago community learn from PRIDE month?
Our Chicago community can learn to lead with love and respect. LGBTQ people aren’t looking for your permission to live but rather to live in a world where our identities are respected and treated equally.
Please list social media channels, website and any other platforms for us to promote your business:
IG, Twitter, Facebook: @e3radio
IG: @thequbeapp