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Melissa Ingram in entrance of Aspire mural
Picture Courtesy of AspireTV and Strategic Heights Media
Los Angeles native Melissa Ingram is the current SVP of Multicultural Networks and Strategy at UP Enjoyment. She is a graduate of the all females HBCU, Spelman School in Atlanta, Georgia, in which she been given a Bachelor of Arts Diploma in English, magna cum laude, and the College of California, Berkeley School of Law earning a Juris Doctorate (J.D).
“Growing up, I generally realized what I preferred to do with my existence.” “I preferred to go to Spelman, study English and go to Regulation School.” “I also knew I needed to be an Enjoyment Law firm,” stated Melissa.
In 2004 he began her vocation as an affiliate attorney at Atlanta’s Alston & Bird, LLP and in 2006 superior her vocation as an affiliate law firm at The Carter Legislation Organization, Computer also in Atlanta in which she taken care of a variety of leisure contracts. During this time Melissa went on to seek the advice of for the Gospel Tunes Channel which is now UP Amusement, LLC.
Ingram joined Aspire Television set from its sister-community UPtv, wherever she was Senior Counsel of Enterprise and Legal Affairs, serving as guide counsel and negotiator for programming acquisition agreements. In August 2012 she began her job as Senior Counsel, Small business and Authorized Affairs at Aspire Television, and was promoted to Senior Director of Business Affairs and Improvement in December 2014. She was appointed by Magic Johnson Enterprises (who introduced Aspire Television in 2012) as the head of the network in 2016. In 2019 UP Enjoyment obtained Aspire Television set and Magic Johnson divested ownership, which led to Melissa’s purpose evolving to further than Aspire Tv set as a single of UP Entertainment’s top executives.
“I am a quite religious person—I definitely consider that it was God’s approach for me to be where by I am now.”
#Seeyourselfhere
“I read a McKinsey & Organization examine that documented Hollywood leaves 10 billion bucks a yr on the desk from undervaluing and underneath-funding Black-led jobs,” states Ingram.
“At Aspire Television we have a promise, #seeyourselfhere and that applies to our on monitor programming and guiding the scenes.”
In her part as SVP of Multicultural Networks and Technique at UP Amusement, Melissa is responsible for driving the advancement and good results of Aspire Tv set, Cine Romántico and other multicultural makes from UP Amusement throughout all distribution platforms. Preserving her Spelman roots in head and commencing with Melissa at the helm, Aspire Television set is operate fully by female executive management. An outstanding accomplishment taking into consideration an IBM review that reports— there are fewer women of all ages that hold the titles SVP, VP, Director and Manager in 2021 than did in 2019.
As a member of the government group, Melissa presents direction and develops strategies on how to ideal serve multicultural audiences for all UP Enjoyment brands. She is a winner for fostering a winning and numerous get the job done ecosystem.
“You can’t catch the attention of the Black viewers without the need of representation on screen and in the Company—our workforce and personnel reflect that,” states Ingram. With her management, Aspire Television set has emerged as a premium way of living articles manufacturer targeting the Black Millennial audience. In Viant’s 2020 investigation paper The Marketer’s Tutorial to African-American Millennials, African-American Millennials overwhelmingly support Tv exhibits and networks that element stars who share their ethnic track record. Melissa characteristics her leadership results to her practical experience as a Black lady, HBCU graduate and member of The Back links, Included and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Integrated.
“The work that I am accomplishing at UP Amusement and Aspire Television set is even bigger than me, but it does not prevent with me.”
Melissa Ingram
Photograph Courtesy of Aspire Tv and Strategic Heights Media
Eat, Live, Shop, Participate in and Dream
“Aspire was made nine yrs in the past. We preferred to alter the way in which the Black viewers sees by themselves.” “Aspire was produced to celebrate and share the contemporary Black and urban lifestyle expertise.”
According to a Consider with Google survey 3 out of 4 Black Millenials say they’re a lot more most likely to take into consideration a model that positively demonstrates black lifestyle. Preserving her finger on the pulse of escalating requires, Melissa was in a position to strategically venture and strengthen with facts the desire for luxury and premium way of life information from Black Millennials.
“To be satisfied and have pleasure in the Black practical experience is a variety of protest and Aspire Television definitely needs to be at the forefront and personal that place.”
Aspire Television set is defined by five main ideas: Consume, Stay, Shop, Play and Aspiration. All of Aspire TV’s dynamic programming falls in just a person of these five disciplines.
Try to eat Well.
Butter+Brown is a breakout cooking demonstrate that was on for a few seasons, created by Issa Rae and Chef G. Garvin. The Butter+Brown creators and hosts Seth Brundle and Leslie Antonoff elevate day-to-day foods paired with signature cocktails.
G. Garvin Stay is the hugely anticipated cooking experience by author, restaurateur, and Chef G. Garvin.
Dwell Your Lifetime.
Just Angela is a way of living sequence acquiring to know Angela Simmons.
Aspect by Side with Malika and Kahadijah follows the pair’s journey as a result of lifetime, sisterhood and motherhood.
Unboxed with Nikki Chu is a style and design sequence where by movie star designer Nikki Chu helps transform
areas by getting enthusiasts decide on involving two unique packing containers made up of a curated set of “inspiration elements” of a style style these kinds of as Outdated Hollywood Glam or Boho Chic.
Aspire Tv will also be premiering a new residence makeover sequence at the commencing of the 12 months.
Shop with Reason.
In 2018, Aspire Tv, spearheaded by Ingram, launched Aspire MKTPLC to encourage shoppers to “shop with purpose.” Aspire MKTPLC is an on the internet marketplace curated with Black owned organization and merchandise. The Marketplace system generates 3.8 million impressions regular monthly and has featured 60 vendors together with magnificence & beards, home living, style, eats and little ones.
Perform Hard. Perform Really hard.
Aspire Tv is home to CIAA live athletics furthermore distinctive way of living material from HBCUs.
HBCU 101 is an approaching collection that will interview HBCU alumni, pupils and campus leaders to emphasize HBCU lifestyle and institutions.
Dream Major.
Urban Indie Film Block is showcasing the subsequent generation of Black filmmakers. The series features small films that depict a wide array of genres this sort of as intimate comedies, drama, action and sci-fi. More than 150+ BIPOC creatives have been presented a platform by Aspiration.
Society Collaborations.
Beneath Melissa’s path, the community has built partnerships that carry awareness to Black film and displays together with increasing its reach to Black viewers.
“I’m very pleased to say that we are the residence for CIAA stay sports activities.” suggests Ingram.” “You can observe stay sports and HBCU life-style packages on Aspire Tv.” Through our partnership with the CIAA and the producers of HBCU 101, No Huddle and Fast Crack, Aspire Tv highlights the prosperous legacy and record of HBCUs and their pupils.
“We have a partnership with Damn Write Originals and Nakia Stephens that has led to the generation of 7 original quick movies for Aspire Television set.” Damn Compose Originals is a leading unbiased screenwriting label primarily based in Los Angeles and Atlanta. It is accountable for popular limited films History and Endangered which are completely on the network. Through this partnership, the network has impacted more than 200+ BIPOC creatives.
Before this 12 months, Comcast and Aspire Tv declared an expansion into 12 new Xfinity marketplaces nationwide which will provide the network to hundreds of thousands of new customers and licensing discounts. At this time, Aspire Tv set is out there in the major 25 African American marketplaces which includes New York Metropolis, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Chicago and Washington, D.C.
Long run Innovation
“With almost everything that has took place with Covid 19, we are at a pivotal issue the place men and women are demanding extra come to feel superior material,” mentioned Ingram. “We have Aspire MKTPLC exactly where we are connecting individuals with Black Owned corporations and in the long run hope to get into podcasts.”
Melissa’s eyesight to authentically portray Black society and life style written content has enormously impacted the network’s existing results and her capability to discover programming calls for from Black Millenials will lead to Aspire TV’s future.
“Not only do we want to assistance cultivate the up coming era of Black creatives, we want to assist spin the narrative on what the Black practical experience is and the articles we want to symbolize us.”
“I want this brand name to are living wherever our audience is.” “Where Black lifestyle lives, so will Aspire Television.”
You can tune in and check out all of the above-pointed out programming exclusively on Aspire Tv set. Master a lot more at aspire.television set.
