In 2017, music industry veteran Naima Cochrane, launched #MusicSermon, a storytelling series on Twitter/X focused on pre-blog era Soul and Hip-Hop. The series became a viral hit, fostering community through shared nostalgia and a deep love of music. That community expanded to Instagram with Naima’s annual #BlackMusicMonthChallenge. The engagement and impact of #MusicSermon earned Naima a spot on Essence Magazine’s inaugural Power 40 list for music in 2023.
 
#MusicSermon also catalyzed her transition into journalism. Since 2018, Naima’s work has been featured in Billboard, Rolling Stone, The New York Times, and published works like the Smithsonian Anthology of Hip-Hop and Rap (2021). Partners such as Spotify, Netflix, and SiriusXM/Pandora have tapped into her unique expertise for campaigns, research, and scripted projects—including SiriusXM/Pandora’s Webby Award-winning All Music is Black Music podcast. She remains deeply involved in the business side of the entertainment industry as a marketing consultant and led the creative strategy for Empire Records’ Clio Award-winning campaign for the late singer Aaliyah’s highly anticipated catalog re-release in 2021.