Listening Session Guest Co-Host

Cue the Record is a NYC-based cultural organizing collective that uses music as a living archive. We believe every record is a document — of a moment, a movement, a feeling that refused to disappear — and that collective listening is one of the most powerful ways communities preserve history, build identity, and find each other.

Since launching in December 2024, we've hosted 16 listening sessions featuring albums from Betty Davis, J Dilla, Solange, Marvin Gaye, Missy Elliott, Frank Ocean, Roy Ayers, D'Angelo, Stevie Wonder, and more. Our programming blends music history, storytelling, and community-building — creating experiences that honor both the artistry and the culture surrounding each record, and the communities that created it.

The Role

We're seeking guest co-hosts to join our listening sessions on a one-off or occasional basis. This is ideal for someone with deep expertise around a particular album, artist, genre, or cultural moment who wants to share that knowledge with our community.

This is a paid, creative role for people who love vinyl, music history, and facilitating meaningful conversations around albums and artists. You'll work alongside Mustafa Ali-Smith (co-founder) to select an album, research its cultural and historical context, and bring that story to life in an engaging, accessible way.

Key Responsibilities

  • Album Selection: Collaborate on choosing a record that resonates with our community and fits the Cue the Record ethos — albums with cultural significance, rich backstories, and lasting impact on the communities that shaped them.

  • Research & Storytelling: Dig deep into the album's history, production, artist biography, cultural context, and legacy. Develop a narrative arc that connects the music to the broader social and historical forces surrounding it.

  • Session Preparation: Participate in 1-2 prep calls leading up to the session to align on presentation flow, key talking points, and logistical details.

  • Co-Hosting the Event: Present the album alongside Mustafa (typically on Sundays). This includes introducing the album, sharing research and insights between tracks or sides, facilitating Q&A or discussion, and helping create a welcoming, engaged atmosphere where people feel connected to the music and to each other.

  • Community Engagement: Interact with attendees before, during, and after the session — answering questions, connecting with guests, and helping build the Cue the Record community.

What We're Looking For

  • A deep relationship with music. We're less interested in which genres and more interested in how music has shaped how you move through the world.

  • Strong research skills and genuine curiosity about music history, artist stories, and cultural context — especially the communities and conditions that produced the music.

  • Comfort speaking in front of groups (sessions typically have 70–100+ attendees).

  • The ability to make complex or niche music history accessible and engaging for a general audience.

  • A collaborative spirit — you'll be working closely with Mustafa and contributing ideas to the shape of the session.

  • Reliable and communicative — able to meet prep deadlines and attend the scheduled session.

  • Bonus (but not required): Experience in music journalism, DJing, radio, podcasting, education, or event hosting.

Time Commitment & Compensation

Each session involves approximately 5–10 hours of work:

  • Album research (self-directed, flexible timing)

  • 1–2 prep calls (typically 30–60 minutes each)

  • Day-of session (typically 2–3 hours on a Sunday evening)

Compensation: $$350-400 per session.

Frequency: One-off or occasional, aligned around your availability and areas of expertise.

What You'll Gain

  • A paid opportunity to engage deeply with an iconic album and share that knowledge with a passionate, growing community.

  • Creative collaboration with an established presence in NYC's vinyl and music culture scene.

  • Exposure to a growing audience of music lovers, artists, industry professionals, and community members.

  • Access to exclusive listening sessions, artist stories, and a network of people who believe music is more than entertainment — it's history, it's organizing, it's how we recognize each other.

For any questions, please email mustafa@cuetherecord.org.

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