OUTLOUD Spotlight represents the next generation of up-and-coming Queer artists. In 2022, we featured 70 LGBTQIA+ live music performances, special guest appearances, and interactive games through a bi-weekly show for our Twitch viewers globally. Reaching 6.72 million live viewers in our two-year partnership with Twitch, OUTLOUD created a unique Queer space that otherwise would not exist and demonstrated the need for community-centered live music content.
As a part of closing out this year’s partnership, OUTLOUD Spotlight returns to hosting in-person live events. Through the annual OUTLOUD music festival and in-person Spotlight events, we reached over 30,000 LA-local community members and event attendees. Our irreplicable approach to live music and music talk content welcomes all walks of life to become allies and celebrate their identities. OUTLOUD is poised to expand its reach and programming variety further in 2023.
On May 2, 2021, non-profit City Year hosted their annual Spring Break event which celebrates their dedicated AmeriCorps members who stepped up for students during a time of enormous hardship, helping them achieve academically while also serving as a critical social lifeline. While the incredible work being done is always worth honoring, the 2021 event had an extra layer of poignancy given how AmeriCorps members stepped up for students ina time of enormous hardship, helping them achieve academically while also serving as a critical social lifeline during a pandemic full of isolation and uncertainty.
Mirroring the pivot to virtual in the classroom, City Year’s Spring Break fundraiser took place on a virtual platform, energetically blasting through the screen to provide an evening of music, inspiration, and fun. The free event featured musical performances by Miguel and guest appearances by actors Steve Yeun, America Ferrara, Regina King, Jesse Williams, and Sterling K. Brown who read beautiful “Why I Serve” pieces written by AmeriCorps members. Long-time supporter Octavia Spencer returned as host, sharing her love and dedication for the organization.
On top of countless sponsorship contributions, roughly 200 donors took advantage of the text-to-donate feature over the course of the one-hour show This resulted in over 1.6 million dollars raised for the nonprofit.
JJLA creative produced, directed, and edited the live event which can now be viewed on Vimeo. Check it out here.
JJLA presented OUTLOUD: Raising Voices from June 4th-6th at the Los Angeles Coliseum, kicking off the first in-person Pride Month event of 2021.
JJLA knew the return to in-person events needed to be bigger and better than ever, so OUTLOUD teamed up with Pride Live’s Stonewall Day in conjunction with Adam Lambert’s Feel Something Foundation to create something truly special! To extend the experience beyond the Coliseum, JJLA partnered with Twitch to livestream the three-day music festival for fans all around the world. Additionally, each day, OUTLOUD introduced different LGBTQIA+ charity partners, helping to raise awareness and funds for these causes. JJLA utilized the Tiltify platform to make contributing a seamless process for donors.
Boasting over 4.8 million streams on Twitch, OUTLOUD: Raising Voices gained global attention with a captivating line-up that shone a spotlight on queer musicians. Headliners included Sofi Tukker, Hayley Kiyoko and Adam Lambert, with performances by Daya, VINCINT, Kim Petras, JoJo and a surprise debut performance by POSE star Michaela Jaé Rodriguez OUTLOUD strategically paired up-and-coming LGBTQIA+ performers in lineups with well established headliners, exposing them to new audiences and adding a layer of discovery to the event. Performers reflected the diversity of the LGBTQIA+ community through their varied ages, ethnicities, genders, sexualities, and music styles.
To engage virtual viewers, OUTLOUD: Raising Voices created an interactive hybrid experience with hosts DJ Hannah Rad, Ryan “The Slaygawd” Mitchell, and Shar Jossell connecting with Twitch viewers live from the Vizzy Stage. This incredibly entertaining trio responded in real time to viewer comments, music requests, and questions throughout all three days of the event. They interviewed performers and OUTLOUD special guests and the virtual audience was encouraged to interact with each attendee to expand the “in person” experience to at-home guests around the world.
JJLA was solely responsible for the entirety of the show’s production, and was honored to be a key part of bringing live events back to Los Angeles.
Over the last 14 years, Red Bull Batalla has grown into the leading global competition for Spanish freestyle rapping. Every year, Red Bull accepts amateur performers from all over the world and brings them into the limelight, providing an opportunity to be noticed and heard by millions! JJLA was asked to produce the USA National Finals on September 18th, 2021, as 16 competitors battled it out to be crowned the US National Champion.
In addition to livestreaming on Twitch and Red Bull’s very own Red Bull TV, the high-energy 2021 competition had a live audience – a first for the event! Working with two trusted A/V (4Wall) and Audio (MS Events) vendors, JJLA was able to bring the competitors and audience into The Cypher, a 30-foot, 360 Degree LED video ring, where the contestants went head to head. It was a massive production undertaking, and the combination of the live performances, incredible energy from the audience, and sizzling visuals combined to create a dynamic, adrenaline-fueled event consistent with Red Bull’s boundary-pushing brand. As they announced the winner, everyone was up on their feet, cheering for more!
It was a day filled with culture, entertainment and passion. Click the link to watch the full experience here.
On Sunday, May 9th, 2021, DAP Health hosted its annual Steve Chase Humanitarian Awards virtually, broadcasting as a Mother’s Day television special on NBC Palm Springs for the first time in the organization’s 30 year history. In celebration of the successful “Hope Begins with Health” fundraising campaign, DAP Health highlighted leading humanitarians, healthcare workers, and heroes of the community, as well as local businesses and mother-figures for a powerful hour of inspiration focused on spotlighting the selfless efforts of healthcare’s finest.
JJLA creative directed, produced, and edited the show, including filming on-site with TV Personality and DAP Health Board Member Scott Nevins; interviewing DAP Health clients, employees, and community supporters; and producing in-studio performances with Sheryl Lee Ralph and Shoshana Bean. Working hand in hand with DAP Health, JJLA made sure that each element of the show illuminated DAP Health’s four pillars of service: Ongoing HIV Care, Access to Healthcare, Behavioral Health, and Coronavirus Testing. This expert attention to storytelling drove connection with the audience, streamlining DAP Health’s messaging and ensuring that each moment of the TV special had maximum impact.
To top it off, JJLA curated custom gift boxes for guests to enjoy the evening of the show at home. Gift items were selected from local businesses that have supported DAP Health over the years, creating the perfect virtual event viewing kit for an in-person tangible experience.
JJLA is so pleased that during a time when coming together in person was difficult, we were able to put our technical savvy to work, creating a virtual show that streamed across social media and a custom website in addition to airing on NBC Palm Springs. You can take a look at it here!