Beats Academy is providing students with real industry experience alongside notable athletes such as Olympic gymnast Jordan Chiles.
Founded in 2023, Beats Academy, based in Los Angeles, is a program affiliated with audio brand Beats by Dr. Dre. The organization was born out of a need for college students in creative fields to secure roles after earning their degrees. Beats’ Head of Social Impact, Alexis Johnson, told AFROTECH™ that students were surveyed about their experiences in other programs. The consensus was that you can have multiple internships under your belt, but without tangible works or writing samples to show to an employer, that experience becomes less impactful.
Who Can Apply?
From its inception, Beats Academy has been committed to providing students enrolled in two- or four-year degree programs (including students in graduate and technical schools) with hands-on experience to work on a campaign with a Beats ambassador. Students can network with top creative marketing professionals and learn about the tech and advertising industry, according to information on its website.
Students also receive a competitive stipend.
“Especially in these larger cities, there is an expectation that you have to have a family connection or some sort of leg up by way of having those connections. But everyone realistically does not have that,” Johnson said.
“So, [Beats Academy is] also providing students an opportunity to not only work with or network with us as a brand and our staff, but also our agency partners. And it really does help them start to build their network so that they can gain that experience on a personal front,” she continued.
Learning Opportunities
In total, Beats Academy has served 39 students. Its cohorts are separated into three tracks: content (filmmakers, cinematographers, and photographers); music (lyricists or producers); and customs (illustrators, animators, and graphic designers), according to information shared with AFROTECH™.
The most recent roundup of students participated in the Academy from Sept. 8 to Oct. 30. They joined workshops on topics including brand storytelling, copywriting, editing, roles on set, portfolio development, and how to address feedback on their deliverables. They also had access to technology to ensure they produced their best work.
“They work within our systems. We get them headphones and the software that they need from a creative perspective to be able to edit the videos or edit photos, etc.,” Johnson explained.
Working With Jordan Chiles
Students also put their knowledge and skills to the test, working alongside Olympic gymnast Jordan Chiles. Students on the content track helped produce behind-the-scenes (BTS) content, created TikTok videos, and shot 2D visuals, while those on the music track were behind the soundtracks for her social content and BTS film, and custom track students designed headphones inspired by Chiles.
“Providing any caliber of Beats athlete is going to be exciting for students. A lot of them have never been on a formal set before or maybe they’ve worked on smaller projects with their schools, but working with big talent gives them yet another unique layer of an experience that you typically don’t get when it comes to doing more traditional internships,” Johnson explained.
“Jordan was amazing. She’s obviously no stranger to working with brands and showing up as her best self. But it was unique for us because this was our first opportunity to work with her in this capacity. The students really loved her. She is everything that a Beats athlete exudes from her personality to her style, her confidence, how she shows up in the sport, it was a no-brainer for us that we wanted to have her involved,” she added.
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Deja Shearrill, a junior cinema and media studies major at University of Southern California, was part of this year’s cohort at Beats Academy. She expressed to AFROTECH™ that her internship experience set a new precedent as it allowed her to have a direct experience with the exact work she aims to center her career around.
“I feel like I have a better understanding of who I am creatively and how I want to work in this industry. This is also the first opportunity I’ve had where I got to not only learn, but also put what I’ve learned into action in a real way. I loved that it was such a hands-on experience,” Shearrill said.
Paying It Forward
Beats Academy aims to empower all students so they can thrive in their respective careers. This also means considering their success beyond their time in the eight week program. The Beats Academy hosts a program wrap party for the cohort and alumni and fosters a community on LinkedIn, according to information shared with AFROTECH™.
Students have gone on to collaborate with their peers on short films and other projects. Some have even landed internships at Apple.
“We’ve even had students from other cohorts that will send opportunities to the newer students … That’s definitely part of the program that doesn’t necessarily get highlighted in a recap film. It really is these small moments that I think maintain the integrity of what we’re trying to do, but then it’s also putting the students in position to be able to be the next marketers at Beats or whichever direction their career takes them,” Johnson expressed.
For those interested, applications will re-open in Spring 2026.
