Author: kevin

RCRDSHP, the digital collectibles platform for electronic music, is  announcing the close of its first investment round. Supported by some of the leading innovators and investors in the NFT/digital collectibles space including legendary NFT collectors Metakovan and Twobadour (via PortKey Technologies), and Dapper Labs, this hybrid funding round has generated millions in capital to fuel the ever-growing ecosystems on the platform. 

“The waves of attention and money flowing onto NFTs have still not reached the vast majority of artists and creatives,” Metakovan notes. “A platform like RCRDSHP promises to shift the balance and let more creators benefit from digital collectibles” Metakovan and Twobadour helped bring NFTs into popular consciousness, having bought the highest price NFT in history back in March, a $69M digital art piece created by Beeple and auctioned at Christies

“RCRDSHP takes NFTs and brings them to a much broader audience by creating a platform that’s tuned in to what matters to music communities. Through their creativity and market knowledge, what we see very clearly is a visionary leadership team of senior music and tech executives at the top of their fields, and passion for miles,” said Roham Gharegozlou, CEO, Dapper Labs. “RCRDSHP is the first project that uses the Flow blockchain to mint NFTs that include music that can be played right there. This application of our technology is really exciting,” added Mickey Maher, SVP, Partnerships. 

“The support from such high-profile and knowledgeable investors validates our model and affirms that our approach to digital collectibles and electronic music culture is poised to skyrocket,” notes Eric Reithler-Barros, Co-Founder and Chief Commercial Officer at RCRDSHP and parent company LTMP. “We’re excited to launch our vision and create a space where creators can finally reap well-deserved rewards for their work.”

Each limited-edition RCRDSHP collectible, built on Flow blockchain, encapsulates a unique aspect of an artist, label, or festival’s musical worlds. Packs of collectibles come in a range of sizes and rarity levels that define their price point, with many available at affordable prices accessible to an overwhelming majority of dance music fans. 

The platform launched in mid-August with a drop of 5555 genesis packs, made up of digital collectibles from the best in electronic and dance music. The drop sold out in a matter of hours, with a second and larger drop selling out in minutes just the following week. After its first drop, RCRDSHP opened its secondary marketplace to a global crowd of enthusiastic fans looking to complete their own collectibles sets. “We saw electronic music fans getting into NFTs, and NFT collectors discovering new music they loved,” notes Crispin Taylor, RCRDSHP Chief Of Staff. 

RCRDSHP’s music and content partners included Aneesh Gera, Ashley Wallbridge, Bar25, Black Hole Recordings, Blanco Y Negro, Blacksoul Music, Christian Barbuto, Circus Recordings, CloudKid, Dexter King, Dino Maggiorana, Disco Fries, D-Nox & Beckers, D-Unity/Unity Records, Great Wall Festival, HQ Recordings, Iboga Records, Kaiserdisco, Kaiser Souzai/Ballroom Records, Kittball Records, Liquicity, M.I.K.E. Push, Magic Music, Mark Knight/Toolroom Records, Mason, Mauro Picotto, Music Over Matter, Minimal Audio, Mobilee Records, Nakadia, Natura Viva Records, Plastik Funk, Robert Babicz, Rob Hes/Pursuit Recordings, RSSRCT, Scott Diaz, Sharam Jey/Bunnytiger Records, Solarstone/Pure Trance, Stefano Noferini/Deeperfect Records, Strange Fruits, TheFatRat, The Scumfrog, Tidy Trax, Transmission Festival, Tribal Trap Records, Vassy, Vision Impossible, Wookie, and many more to come.

Before Spike Lee there was Melvin Van Peebles, one of the greatest black actors, filmmakers, playwrights, novelists and composers who talks about how difficult it was to get his movie Sweet Sweetback’s Badass Song into commercial theaters in the early ’70s.

The movie was rated X by the MPAA which prevented his movie from being advertised in the commercial newspapers before it was rated. Here he explains the politics he had to encounter as a black filmmaker in the early 70s

Music Daily, an all-new website aimed at Gen-Z and Millennial music fans, is taking a different approach to music charts. While the overall programming is based in part on trends from Google, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and TikTok, Music Daily’s Content team – and even its interns – then dive in to create specialized playlists based on chart data.

Featured in the “Tracks” section on their innovative platform, the Music Daily team uses their own algorithm to analyze charts from all streaming platforms to create three proprietary playlists each week: Top 30 Streamed Tracks, Music Daily Discoveries, and Trending Tracks.

The Top 30 Streamed Tracks is exactly what it sounds like: the top songs of the week utilizing all available data. Music Daily Discoveries looks beyond the chart topping acts to find rising artists with a new and unique sound and that seem to come out of nowhere, while Trending Tracks are the songs that are quickly moving up the charts.

Accompanying the charts each week is a video editorial segment – one of the site’s most engaging assets – called the “Tracks Report” which highlights the top artists across all three charts. 

There are a myriad of words to describe T.D. Jakes: Pastor. Global leader. Best-selling author. Filmmaker. Real estate industrialist. Conference producer. The senior pastor of The Potter’s House in Dallas, Jakes blazed the trail in bringing a message of hope to millions around the world through any mode of communication, never being limited to just the pulpit.

He has counseled several U.S. presidents and been the guest of numerous leaders around the world. Jakes will be honored for his 45 years of ministry at a special worship service on Sunday, Sept. 26, at The Potter’s House beginning at 9 a.m. CT, set to feature special guests and tributes.

Jakes began his ministry in West Virginia at the age of 19. Now 64 years old, Jakes has reached the masses through his various ministries and enterprises. Since starting The Potter’s House in Dallas in 1996 with 50 families, more than 30,000 members now attend the megachurch’s multiple campuses, with millions more attending online around the world. The Potter’s House mission is carried out through global humanitarian outreach, inspirational conference series, media and entertainment venues, and thought leadership forums.

Key international events created by Jakes include:

Woman, Thou Art Loosed!
What began as a Sunday school curriculum turned into a cornerstone of Jakes’ ministry. Now a conference, a book, a play and a movie, Woman, Thou Art Loosed! reaches into the souls of women and catapults them into the confidence to live as God intended. The first Woman, Thou Art Loosed! conference was held in Atlanta in 2004, hosting approximately 45,000 women. The conference continues to attract thousands from around the world.

International Leadership Summit
Jakes’ leadership in the religious arena has led him to host an annual leadership conference for people of faith. Drawing in more than 10,000 leaders globally, the International Leadership Summit has featured industry leaders like Tyler Perry and Denzel Washington to teach others how to succeed in their areas of work.

ManPower
This conference for men began in 1993 to help men of all races and backgrounds address specific needs, hurts and struggles from a biblical perspective. The conference grew from 2,500 to 20,000 attendees.

MegaFest
Combining Jakes’ conferences and the International Faith & Film festival into one, MegaFest is considered one of the largest faith-based international conferences in America. In 2015, more than 91,000 people attended to hear from a wide array of international speakers. In 2008, the global gathering was held in Johannesburg and contributed more than 60 million South African rand to the local economy.

Tapping into the digital world to further Jakes’ message, the Bishop’s Village offers on-demand subscribers unique, behind-the-scenes insights into the workings of the T.D. Jakes “machine.” Viewers are treated to videos and other online content, including (but not limited to) worldwide speaking engagements, conferences, business seminars, meeting preparations and sermon notes that are not available on any other Jakes platform. 

Other Key Milestones

• 1993: launched a weekly TV broadcast on Trinity Broadcasting Network
• 1994: began weekly TV broadcasts on Black Entertainment Network
• 2000: named one of the Top 10 Religion Leaders by PBS’ Religion and Ethics Newsweekly
• 2001: named America’s Best Preacher by Time magazine and CNN
• 2009: delivered the morning service for President Obama’s inauguration
• 2016: debuted the “T.D. Jakes” talk show
• 2021: premiered “Kingdom Culture with T.D. Jakes” (a weekly sermon and conversational series) on REVOLT, the leading Black-owned-and-operated multimedia platform servicing content 24/7 across digital, linear and live media channels

Books, Film, Comedy and Music
Jakes is a New York Times bestselling author and has published more than 40 books. His 2014 book Instinct is one of his most successful, spending 16 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list. His latest book, Don’t Drop the Mic, which gives insights into communicating well, was on the New York Times, USA Today, Amazon and Publisher’s Weekly bestseller lists.

An accomplished film producer, Jakes’ movies have grossed over $500 million and catapulted the faith-based film industry. His films include: A Dog’s Way Home (for Sony Pictures) starring Edward James Olmos and Ashley Judd; Miracles from Heaven, the follow up to Heaven is for Real; the made-for-TV-film Faith Under Fire (for Lifetime); On the Seventh Day; Winnie Mandela; Black Nativity; Jumping the Broom; and Sparkle. Jakes’ film projects continue to redefine and reimagine the ever-evolving “faith-based” genre. Stories about real people and experiences often are oversimplified with a traditional faith-based lens. Jakes’ ability to translate stories about real people with real experiences into sales, streams and support is unprecedented.   

Jakes’ “A Time to Laugh” is a touring comedy show and concert featuring some of the hottest up-and-coming artists and comedians.

Dexterity Sounds is responsible for some of the most innovative expressions in Gospel Music today. Receiving numerous industry accolades, including Grammys for “The Storm is Over” and “A Wing and a Prayer.” Dexterity may be best known for the fan-favorite album Sacred Love Songs II, which featured music inspired by the film Jumping the Broom. The label is also known for its award-winning worship experience DVDs and the all-female contemporary gospel group, Grace.

The Potter’s House charter is to extend a “hand of help to the needy, a heart of compassion to the hurting, and a message of empowerment to the disenfranchised.” Jakes has led and lived this mission each day in his ministry.

Jasmine Sanders, known for her work on the nationally syndicated radio and television program the DL Hugley show, brings her dynamic style, powerful voice, and warm spirit to the Impact Television Network for a special Covid in Color townhall beginning Sunday, October 3 at 11:30 AM EST. “Covid in Color tells me right away that Covid has affected people of color,” says Jasmine, “and I think that no one sees that more than this network.”

The Impact Network is the preeminent channel for uplifting and positive programming for the African American community. The Impact Network is the most significant 100% privately owned African American, an inspirational TV network in the world, focused on urban faith, family, lifestyle, culture, and positive, impactful entertainment with a broadcast footprint of 93 million Homes.

The main objective of Covid in Color is to raise awareness regarding the pandemic’s effect on the Black community both physically and socially and to explore solutions of recovery and revitalization for Communities of Color, specifically the Black community.

Covid in Color begins airing on Sunday, October 3, 2021, at 11:30 AM Eastern on the Impact Network. Where Jasmine curates conversations from experts, leaders, influencers, and everyday people, the Covid in Color townhall segments examine the impact of the pandemic on African-American education, business, and healthcare. Participants include health professionals, educators, social workers, community leaders, entrepreneurs, and more.

The format of these forums blends in-studio roundtable discussions with on-the-ground coverage, where correspondents speak first-hand with everyday people about their Covid-19 recovery concerns.

The amount of people currently changing jobs or entire careers is staggering. What can be an incredibly inspiring and exciting thought can also be downright terrifying. Sure, you have plenty of years of work experience under your belt, have developed your own personal work style and have built up a network of people you could reach out to if needed. All of these things can help in your reinvention, but the real problem is knowing where to start.

One entrepreneur did just that and loves sharing her secrets. Stephanie Synclair, life coach turned luxury tea-preneur, had created a wildly successful consulting firm that worked specifically with female entrepreneurs, self-published three best-selling Amazon books, which all topped various best seller categories on Amazon including Self-Help, Marketing, Women in Business and Entrepreneurship.

But, like most people when the pandemic hit in 2020, Stephanie was forced to take a break. She realized she was constantly caught up on rushing to her next goal and solely focused on reaching the next level of what she was doing and then rushing off to the next thing, soon realizing this kept her in a constant space of not being satisfied and not really happy.

She wouldn’t take moments during the day to be still and just appreciate life. In stillness and being present is about sitting and looking at where you are currently and being grateful in that space and just sitting in that, not thinking about tomorrow, not thinking about what needs to be done later today.

It was in this need of stillness where she began to find herself again, she dug deep to create her own escape – which looked like meditation and her daily cup of tea. What started as making a few herbal concoctions for herself and a few coaching clients, Stephanie’s business trained brain realized everyone could use a daily mindfulness break and she wanted to provide this to the masses.

Stephanie came up with her first product-based business, La Rue 1680, in October of 2020. What started as a luxury loose-tea has now evolved in to a home lifestyle brand that focuses on the mind-body wellness connection. Her artisanal teas provide a high-quality solution for those who desire an organic and more nutritional alternative to traditional bagged teas while also savoring that precious alone time everyone needs.

Stephanie’s driving force has never strayed from the goal to empower women to step into their biggest and best selves and constantly pivoting and improving herself and empowering others to do the same. With the help of pop culture’s obsession with The Crown and Bridgerton, La Rue 1680 became an instant success with a $2.7M valuation in a matter of months. Stephanie has been featured on Vogue, CNN, Today, The Drew Barrymore Show and more.

We invite you to talk to Stephanie or have her contribute to any women in business, entrepreneur or career pivot stories you may be working on.

Phenomenal 6-year-old Philanthropist, Social Entrepreneur, and Youth Influencer, Justyn Boumah is the youngest Award International Winning African American Author and CEO of the Traveling Toddler, and Founder of the 501c3 nonprofit organization, Heroes and Hearts, where he utilizes his talents and creativity to empower underserved communities. 

The mission of the 501c3 is designed to educate, encourage, and empower marginalized communities globally through literacy, leadership, and legacy. The three major annual events are: #1 Around the World Read-A-Thon, #2 The Blessing Project, and #3 Super Justyn’s Giveaway.

Highly acclaimed and recognized for his purity of heart and international impact, Justyn has been recognized by public figures such as Prince Harry and Meghan Markle and has been featured on People TV, Las Vegas PBS, Las Vegas Review Journal, the TODAY Show, ABC World News and more, as well as winning over 20 contests, grants and special recognitions.

Fall 2021 Timeline for Heroes & Hearts Events:

–> October 2, 2021: Super Justyn Giveaway 2.0: Justyn gives “stuff” to kids, teens, and adults.

–> October 28, 2021: Blessing Project: Pastor & Police Breakfast to appreciate these servants in our community.

–> November 14, 2021: Annual Around the World Read-A-Thon: Raising money for homeless and foster kids and teens #kidshelping and encouraging literacy around the world.

Some of Justyn’s Media Coverage 2020-2021

• Blessing Project ABC News World Tonight: https://abcnews.go.com/WNT/video/child-surprises-sanitation-workers-coronavirus-pandemic-72841597
• Around The World Read-A-Thon Afrotech Article: https://afrotech.com/5-year-old-justyn-boumah-entrepreneur-hosts-read-a-thon-to-raise-2000-for-homeless-and-foster-kids
• People Magazine TV: https://people.com/human-interest/boy-hands-out-goody-bags-to-community-workers-las-vegas/
• Vegas Stronger: https://www.ktnv.com/news/vegas-stronger/las-vegas-local-justyn-boumah-6-dreams-big-continues-to-care-for-others

“In the fourth and final year of our HBCU Impact Day Initiative, I am pleased, honored, and excited to report that we have doubled our giving, exceeding the $2 million mark, an historic moment for Alpha Kappa Alpha, our members, other donors, and the institutions that will benefit from these funds,” says Dr. Glenda Glover, AKA international president and chief executive officer. “This means even more support for them – our HBCUs!”

“We started this journey in 2018 with a goal of raising $1 million in one day. Certainly, unchartered territory,” explains Dr. Glover, who is also president of her alma mater Tennessee State University. “We had the audacity to believe we could raise $1 million in one day. We did it then, as well as in 2019 and 2020, in fact, exceeding our million-dollar goal! And, in 2021, to raise more than $2.1 million is simply phenomenal.” 

HBCU Impact Day is one part of a four-year $10 million fundraising goal set by Dr. Glover under the HBCU for Life: A Call to Action initiative. Glover implemented the program when she took over leadership of the sorority in 2018. Aimed at promoting HBCUs by encouraging students to attend and matriculate through these institutions, members were asked to lead the charge in helping to secure fiscal sustainability and success for accredited HBCUs around the country. The sorority has successfully reached and surpassed the $1 million goal each year of its million dollar in one day fundraising initiative.

At its recent virtual international convention in July, the AKA Educational Advancement Foundation presented $1.6 million in unrestricted endowment funds in the amount of $50,000 to the following HBCUs: Alabama A&M University, Alabama State University, Bethune-Cookman University, Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science, Claflin University, Clark Atlanta University, Clinton College, Florida A&M University, Hampton University, Howard University, Interdenominational Theological Center, Jackson State University, Johnson C. Smith University, Meharry Medical College, Morehouse College, Morehouse School of Medicine, Morgan State University, Morris College, North Carolina A&T State University, Prairie View A&M University, Simmons College of Kentucky, Southwestern Christian College, Spelman College, Texas Southern University, Tuskegee University, University of Maryland Eastern Shore, University of the District of Columbia, University of the Virgin Islands, Virginia State University, Virginia Union University, Winston-Salem State University, and Xavier University of Louisiana. Receiving endowments of $12,500 were Bishop State Community College, Coahoma Community College, and Shorter College.

In the past two years, all other four-year, accredited HBCUs received from $50,000 to $100,000 in endowment contributions. The first check was provided to Bennett College to support its fundraising efforts associated with accreditation.

“Most people are unaware of the significant contributions these legacy institutions continue to make in our cities and throughout the country, including graduating 22% of all African Americans with bachelor’s degrees, nearly 80% of all African-American judges, and 50% of all Black lawyers,” adds Dr. Glover. 

“It’s gratifying to know that funds raised will support endowments, providing sustainability to our historically black colleges and universities. I am especially appreciative to everyone who contributed to the success of this year’s HBCU Impact Day.”

The more than $2.1 million raised online does not include mail-in donations or pledges and contributions that are still pending. It’s not too late to make an impact. Individuals or organizations interested in supporting the effort can still make contributions by texting AKAHBCU to 44321, giving by mail or online at http://donate.akaeaf.org. For more information on the sorority’s commitment to HBCUs, visit www.AKA1908.com.

Audius Announces $5 Million Strategic Investment From Katy Perry, The Chainsmokers, Nas, Jason Derulo, Pusha T, Guy Oseary’s Sound Ventures, Electric Feel Ventures, Martin Bandier, And More
 
In a move that leaves no question as to the blockchain winner in the music space, Audius, the blockchain-enabled music platform with more than 6 million monthly users, announced a new $5 million round of strategic funding today from several of the biggest names in the music industry.
 
The capital injection partners Audius with some of the biggest names in music on and off stage. Artists including The Chainsmokers, Katy Perry, Nas, Steve Aoki, Jason Derulo, and many more join industry heavyweights like Maverick Founder Guy Oseary’s Sound Ventures, John Josephson of SESAC, and Martin Bandier, former CEO of Sony Music, to anoint Audius as the favored music platform for artists and as the music industry’s blockchain winner.
 
Some of the biggest artists in the world see the need for alternatives to the current business model. The Chainsmokers, for example, are excited to revisit the roots of their initial success, specifically the ability to share new content with fans more directly:
 
“We got our start sharing music directly with fans and so we are really aligned with the way Audius uses the blockchain to enhance the artist-fan relationship. We plan to upload the stuff we play live, which we wouldn’t typically share on traditional music platforms. It’s a purer alternative to the more polished album rollouts that we will continue to deliver. As an artist it’s empowering to share different creative choices and to test stuff out in a lower-stakes environment. Additionally, for us the role of developing a community around our music has always allowed us to grow and motivated us to take risks. Audius continues to empower the artists and their community to seek freedom in all aspects of their art as the music business hopefully shifts more in favor of the artists fueling the economy.”
 
Music has often been an early adopter of disruptive technology, and it seems blockchain will be no different. Mainstream adoption of Audius is happening in front of us, as over six million users are listening and engaging on a monthly basis. The platform, which recently announced a partnership with TikTok, is now the largest decentralized consumer product on earth and the fastest-growing streaming platform outright.
 
Grammy-winning, platinum-selling hip-hop legend Nas puts it bluntly: “I’ve known that blockchain will change the world since I invested in Coinbase five years ago and I believe it might be the most important technology to ever hit the music industry. Everyone who uploads to Audius can be an owner, you can’t say that about any other platform.”
 
Launched in late 2019, the Audius community has grown to over six million users monthly in just under two years. Artists such as Mike Shinoda of Linkin Park, Russ, Diplo, Skrillex, MadeinTyo, Deadmau5, and over one hundred thousand other artists have all uploaded music to the site, which serves as a boundless creative music community rather than a competitor to traditional online music platforms. While the network has catered favorably to independent artists in the past, this news reflects Audius’ first step toward integrating with the existing industry in a cooperative and exciting way.
 
This latest investment was originated by Blockchange Ventures, an early stage blockchain venture fund. It has made over eighty investments in the space and manages over $1 billion in assets.  
 
AUDIUS STRATEGIC INVESTORS INCLUDE:
 
Katy Perry
Nas
The Chainsmokers
Jason Derulo
Pusha T
Steve Aoki
Mike Shinoda
Disclosure
Guy Oseary’s Sound Ventures
Martin Bandier
Michael Kives
Charles Goldstuck
Austin Rosen’s Electric Feel Ventures
Mark Gillespie
John Josephson
Matt Colon
Tom Windish
Victor Victor Ventures
Shivam Pandya

Songwriter, singer, and producer Ryan Leslie could teach you a thing or two about stock investment. Most people do not know that Leslie is an accomplished investor with years of experience in the industry. He was one of the earliest investors to buy Apple stocks, a decade before the company broke the trillion-dollar revenue ceiling.

The “Addicted” hit singer first invested in Apple in 2009, at a time when the company was just a shell of what it is today. His instincts and patience have seen his $100, 000 investment turn to $16 million today. However, Leslie does not take credit for his success in the Apple investment.

“I remember a conversation I had with my mentor. I said, ‘Hey look, man. I took your advice and man, $100,000 to $350,000″ said Leslie while speaking on the “Earn Your Leisure” podcast.
He explains that, when his initial investment of $100, 000 turned to $350, 000, he was ready to cash out and buy his mother a gift. However, his mentor advised him otherwise and he took the advice.

” ‘You can go ahead and cash out, give something nice to your mom. We’ll shake hands and I’ll never teach you anything again. Or, you figure out a different way to give something nice to your mom and hold onto that investment and we’ll check in every single year around tax time and we’ll see what it grow to.’ ” Ryan narrated his mento’s response

According to Ryan, having a mentor is important, and using the expertise of those who know the industry is the key to success. Even though he was happy with his initial return of $350, 000, he needed the guidance of an expert to see the future.

“If it was up to me, I’m looking in the mirror and thinking, ‘Man I’m smart. I made a great investment,” he continued. “It’s given me a great return.’…… Sometimes, the lens of expertise and the lens of experience can actually provide you wings that allow you to fly further than you can fly on your own.”

Thanks to his sharp investment skills and teachable spirit, Ryan has gained vastly from a small investment. He advises those who wish to grow their wealth to listen to experts and be patient.