Posts made in December 2020

Lola Lennox – La La Love Me

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Singer, songwriter and musician, Lola Lennox releases brand new single “La La Love Me” today.

Written by Lola Lennox and Carl Ryden, “La La Love Me” is produced by Annie Lennox alongside Dan Muckala and Braeden Wright. It follows Lola’s critically acclaimed summer single “Back At Wrong” which she performed on The Kelly Clarkson show on NBC and received high rotation on Radio 2 (who added it to their A playlist).

Showcasing both Lola’s powerful voice and her inherent aptitude for song-writing, “La La Love Me” is an ode to escapism bedded in a soundscape filled with joyous colour and cascading melodies. Drawing on Lola’s predilection to daydream, it explores the concept of longing for a love that elevates one’s heart, mind and soul.

“I tend to daydream. As a songwriter I’m drawn to stepping out of the world around me to fantasise about situations that are intoxicating and immersive, like the way a certain smell can take you back to a memory from childhood. I like to indulge in exploring states of being that whisk you away… We have all experienced the phase between attraction and commitment, where love has not yet been expressed and the uncertainty of the future makes you flip between bliss and anxiety, via a chemical rush. ‘La La Love Me’ captures the fervent wishes for love, real love. The kind that makes each day feel like a celebration and conjures an appetite for life.” – Lola Lennox

Earmarked as an artist to watch by everyone from The Sunday Times, Music Week and NME to Vogue Italia, Wonderland Magazine and Numero, Lola Lennox will be releasing her debut EP in 2021. The long player project will feature both “La La Love Me” and “Back At Wrong” alongside brand new tracks recorded in sessions with the likes of Eg White (Florence & the Machine, Sam Smith), Dan Wilson (Adele) and Dan Muckala (Leona Lewis, LeAnn Rimes).

Music has been in Lola’s blood from as long as she can remember. She has played the piano and sung from seven years old, written songs from the age of fifteen, and earned a place at the Royal Academy of Music. 2020 saw Lola duet with her mother, Annie Lennox, for their much talked about performance of “There Must Be An Angel” for Global Citizen One World: Together At Home to an audience of over 270 million viewers. While in 2019 she collaborated with Goldfrapp’s Will Gregory on the soundtrack for the “Serengeti” docu-series, which was narrated by Oscar winning actress Lupita Nyong and aired in over 35 countries around the world (including the UK on BBC and the U.S. on Discover Network).

LOLA LENNOX’S “LA LA LOVE ME” IS AVAILABLE NOW ACROSS ALL PLATFORMS: CLICK HERE

CONNECT WITH LOLA LENNOX

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The National Black Nurses Association – RETHINK & RE:SET

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The National Black Nurses Association (NBNA) is excited to announce the launch of two new major campaigns for its members under its new wellness initiative, NBNA Resilient Nurse Resource. RETHINK, launched yesterday, was created to build awareness around the importance of vaccinations, with a focus on influenza and pneumococcal. The goal of RETHINK is to debunk common myths surrounding vaccines and to inform Black nurses and the Black community on the benefits of vaccinations. The website features an interactive Test Your Flu IQ quiz to test participants knowledge and understanding on the flu and vaccines. There is also a flu and pneumococcal vaccination locator to assist with identifying providers in nearby serving areas. Anyone interested in learning more about vaccines can click HERE.

On December 15, 2020, the NBNA will also launch its mental wellness campaign, RE:SET. This new initiative offers members FREE counseling services, education webinars, wellness podcasts and more, to aid them in maintaining their mental wellness throughout the current COVID-19 crisis. The free counseling services are only available for existing and new NBNA members, and their families.

Unfortunately, there is a stigma in the Black community surrounding mental health. This, in addition to the lack of providers from diverse racial/ethnic backgrounds and culturally competent providers, contributes to only one-in-three African Americans receiving mental health treatment.

To provide the best patient care, nurses must be able to reset and recharge from the daily pressures and renew their resilience and strength. Creating tools for renewal and increased resilience is especially important as nurses have a high prevalence of anxiety and depression. With this comprehensive resource, NBNA members will receive holistic tools and resources designed to give nurses the boost they need to promote mental wellness and wellbeing.

“We know how difficult this year has been for nurses everywhere, especially Black nurses who are faced with both the pandemic and the current racial uprising,” states Dr. Martha A. Dawson, NBNA President. “It is crucial that we protect our nurses’ physical and mental wellbeing during such an unprecedented time in our country. With RE:SET we are able to provide them with the tools necessary to recover from the daily stresses of exhausting working conditions and challenges. It is essentially PPE for their mental and emotional health, which will help to impact their physical health.”

RE:SET provides NBNA members and their families with easily accessible options for mental wellness, including:

RE:SET Support Line: Available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, members who need in-the-moment support, are connected with licensed clinicians for no-cost, confidential guidance and resources.
Free, Confidential Counseling: The RE:SET program provides up to five free sessions with experienced and licensed clinicians. This service removes the cost, access and privacy hassles of getting professional emotional support when NBNA members face a problem or situation that is difficult to resolve.
Text Coach, also known as text therapy is available to NBNA members via mobile phone or desktop computer to help with non-acute concerns. Licensed clinicians will help nurses and their families boost emotional fitness and wellbeing by exchanging text messages, voice notes, tip sheets, videos and resource links.

To learn more about the RE:SET FREE tools and other resources, visit, www.nbna.org on December 15th.

To become a member of the National Black Nurses Association and to gain access to the FREE counseling services, visit www.nbna.org.

About National Black Nurses Association (NBNA)

Founded in 1971, the National Black Nurses Association (NBNA) is a professional organization representing 308,000 African American registered nurses, licensed vocational/practical nurses, and nursing students in 108 chapters and 34 states. The NBNA mission is “to serve as the voice for Black nurses and diverse populations ensuring equal access to professional development, promoting educational opportunities and improving health.” NBNA chapters offer voluntary hours providing health education and screenings to community residents in collaboration with community-based partners, including faith-based organizations, civic, fraternal, hospitals, and schools of nursing. For more information, visit nbna.org. #NBNAResilient

Kid Cudi – Man On The Moon III: The Chosen

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In T-minus three days and counting, Kid Cudi finally launches his anxiously awaited seventh full-length studio album and the third installment of his legendary Man On The Moon series, Man On The Moon III: The Chosen [Republic Records]. The pre-order just went live today.

Pre-order Man On The Moon III: The Chosen HERE

This stands out as the most anticipated sequel of 2020 and a blockbuster befitting of the Man On The Moon legend. Cudi returns with 18 new songs, inviting a cast of A-list collaborators to join him in space. These include anthems such as “Show Out” [feat. Pop Smoke and Skepta], “Lovin’ Me” [feat. Phoebe Bridgers], and “Rockstar Knights” [feat. Trippie Redd]. Not to mention, acclaimed director Nabil [Kanye West, Kendrick Lamar, Frank Ocean] helmed the music videos for “She Knows This” and “Heaven On Earth”—set to be unveiled soon. Check out the full tracklisting below.

In other big news, Cudi recently co-founded his own production and music management company Mad Solar backed by none other than Bron.

Cudi blasted off into history with Man on the Moon: The End of Day in 2009. It has since gone double-platinum, garnered three GRAMMY® Award nominations, and seized a spot on Rolling Stone’s “500 Greatest Albums of All Time.” A year later, Man on the Moon II: The Legend of Mr. Rager claimed #3 on the Billboard Top 200 and went platinum. Audiences worldwide have clamored for the next chapter of this trilogy for a decade now. Cudi delivers with Man on the Moon III: The Chosen now.

Take flight higher than ever with Kid Cudi again.

TRACKLISTING

1. Beautiful Trip
2. Tequila Shots
3. Another Day
4. She Knows This
5. Dive
6. Damaged
7. Heaven On Earth
8. Show Out Featuring Pop Smoke and Skepta
9. Solo Dolo, Pt. III
10. Sad People
11. Elsie’s Baby Boy (flashback)
12. Sept. 16
13. The Void
14. Lovin’ Me Featuring Phoebe Bridgers
15. The Pale Moonlight
16. Rockstar Knights Featuring Trippie Redd
17. 4 Da Kidz
18. Lord I Know

ABOUT KID CUDI

Over a decade ago, Kid Cudi dubbed himself “The Man on the Moon” with good reason. Since 2008, the Grammy Award®-winning multi-platinum trailblazer and trendsetter has cast his influence over hip-hop like a lunar glow. Celebrated by everyone from Kanye West to Travi$ Scott, his 2009 full-length debut, Man on the Moon: The End of Day, has earned double-platinum certification from the RIAA. Cudi followed up with the platinum selling 2010 album Man on the Moon II: The Legend of Mr. Rager. Recognized as a vital force in pop culture and music, 2012 saw him win “Best Rap/Sung Collaboration” for “All of the Lights” at the GRAMMYS®. Indicud captured his highest chart entry on the Billboard Top 200, bowing at #2 and yielding a platinum-selling favorite “Just What I Am” a year later. Selling over 20 million singles worldwide, his influence has only expanded exponentially with time.

2016’s PASSION, PAIN & DEMON SLAYIN’ marked a fiery return to form. “Baptized In Fire”[feat. Travi$ Scott] generated a staggering 39 million streams in six months. His sixth studio offering also drew praise from Complex, Billboard, Pitchfork, and The Fader, while XXL placed it among the “50 Best Hip Hop Projects of 2016.” He scorched late night TV with a powerhouse performance of “Kitchen” on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon accompanied by a string orchestra.

He reunited with West on the 2018 psychedelic hip-hop-rock opus KIDS SEE GHOSTS. The union of these two innovators sent shockwaves throughout the culture. Not only did the record bow at #2 on the Billboard Top 200, but it garnered widespread acclaim from Pitchfork, Rolling Stone, XXL, Vice, The Guardian, and Entertainment Weekly. As the project took off, Cudi also graced the cover of Billboard.

Beyond his prolific musical output, he’s also appeared on the big and small screen. Not only would he lead HBO’s How to Make It in America and IFC’s Comedy Bang! Bang!, but he also starred in Need for Speed, Entourage, and more.

CONNECT WITH KID CUDI

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Tyga Starts OnlyFans Management & Lifestyle Company Too Raww

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Today, GRAMMY® Award-nominated multiplatinum modern hip-hop icon Tyga announces his OnlyFans management and lifestyle company Too Raww. Check out the latest Instagram fun on @TooRaww.

“I had a vision of turning Too Raww into an empire that is not only about management, but can be a full-service lifestyle creative company. Everything Too Raww is my own personal taste and aesthetic, I will be hands on creatively and with the management aspect.” Says Tyga, “The concept of OnlyFans has allowed people to connect with their fans on a more personal level, and it’s allowing for more content driven engagement. I’m having a lot of fun with this so far.”

Tyga joined groundbreaking platform OnlyFans, where for a monthly subscription price of $20.00 his fans can have an uncensored look into his life.

Too Raww contact information can be found on their website www.tooraww.com. Merchandise seen on the Too Raww Instagram @TooRaww will soon be available for sale to the public.

After another banner music year with Ayy Macarena going Gold, 1.8 billion Spotify streams, and features such as “Like It Is” with Kygo, “Still Be Friends” with G-Eazy and Tory Lanez, and “Desce Pro Play” with Anitta topping the charts, Tyga’s focus remains on building a 360-degree empire, not just in music, but in multiple lanes of business, such as Tyga Bites and OnlyFans.

ABOUT TYGA:

As a rapper, entrepreneur, and influential force, Tyga maintains his place at the forefront of hip-hop and the culture. Since emerging in 2008, his influence consistently grew year after year to affect nearly every facet of the mainstream. Throughout his career, he earned dozens of multiplatinum certifications around the world, including the quadruple-platinum “Rack City,” triple-platinum “Faded,” and double-platinum “Ayo” with Chris Brown, to name a few. In 2018, he turned up with his most successful single to date “Taste” [feat. Offset]. Not only did it go six-times platinum and clinch #8 on the Billboard Hot 100, but it generated over 1 billion cumulative streams. It also paved the way for his 2019 opus, Legendary, released via his own Last Kings Records / Empire Distribution. Legendary crashed the Top 20 on the Top 200 chart, scored a gold certification release week, and accumulated 5 billion streams in under a year. Tyga perennially holds a place in the Top 30 of the “Most Streamed Artists on Spotify.” His influence continues to grow with each subsequent album.

ABC’S LOCALISH ANNOUNCES ‘OUTstanding’

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Localish introduces a limited digital series “OUTstanding” executive produced and hosted by award-winning “Modern Family” star Jesse Tyler Ferguson on Localish.com on Tuesday, Dec. 8.

The limited series consists of five episodes focusing on LGBTQ individuals throughout the country making major contributions to their communities. Grounded in its mission to bring out the good in cities across America, each episode will highlight resilient and inspiring LGBTQ individuals ranging from a gay couple adopting a teenager during the COVID-19 pandemic and a bisexual country singer/songwriter to a business owner/winemaker and local activists who are unapologetically “OUTstanding.”

“These people have been inspirations in their own communities for years and I can’t wait for more people to get to know them,” said Michael Koenigs, executive producer of the Localish Network. “Their remarkable lives and uplifting stories are just the thing we need right now!”

“Jesse has been such a tireless advocate for LGBTQ issues over the years and brought so much personal energy to this project,” continued Koenigs. “By featuring extraordinary LGBTQ families in all different corners of this country, we’re excited to inspire audiences with real examples of leaders trailblazing more inclusive paths in their communities.”

With producers based in major cities across the U.S., Localish worked with Ferguson to identify and remotely film LGBTQ individuals who faced major challenges, including the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on their lives.

“The pandemic forced us to rethink our approach to production, but it didn’t dampen our enthusiasm for telling amazing stories that make us proud of our neighbors,” added Koenigs.

In addition to streaming on Localish’s digital-owned platform Localish.com, the series will post one episode a week on Localish’s social platforms with cross-promotion on Jesse Tyler Ferguson’s social media platforms @jessetyler on both Instagram and Twitter, and on ABC Owned Television Stations’ 32 connected TV apps across Amazon Fire TV, Android TV, Apple TV and Roku.

Episodes include the following:

Episode 1 – Record-Breaking Zoom Adoption: The Beanblossoms fostered their now-son Michael for a year before adopting him, during the pandemic, in what became the biggest Zoom adoption ever. During this time, the Beanblossoms lost their home in a fire and now look to the future to build a new house that meets the needs of their growing family.
Episode 2 – Queer Country Star: Sarah Shook grew up in a fundamentalist Christian family rural in North Carolina where she was only allowed to listen to classical and worship music. Shook identifies as bisexual and is politically active in supporting LGBT and civil rights causes. Sarah Shook formed a country band, the Disarmers, with an outspoken message for all.
Episode 3 – Formerly Homeless Activist: Young, Black, gay and homeless, TyRon Jackson used to think he didn’t matter. Now his work speaks for itself. His nonprofit Operation Warm Wishes (OWW) has been giving back to those in need for 13 years. Unbeknownst to him, his community has come together to surprise him with a life-changing gift.
Episode 4 – Trailblazing Winemaker: Winemaker Krista Scruggs has a history of defying expectations. She’s a young, queer Black woman who has chosen to make wine in Vermont that is uniquely made from biodynamically farmed grapes, sometimes co-fermented with foraged apples to create a singular hybrid style. After founding her own label, Zafa Wines, one of her first bottlings, a provocatively named sparkler called Jungle Fever, sold out quickly in its 2017 debut. She was quickly recognized in the industry as a wine wunderkind.
Episode 5 – Meet the Chicken Lady: Ken Thomason was born in rural Indiana where there was a church on every street corner. Feeling displaced in a small city, Ken moved to California where he met his first best friend who later sadly passed away of AIDS. Before his death, Ken’s best friend gifted him a chicken plush toy. In his honor Ken rode in a week-long fundraiser bike ride, the AIDS LifeCycle, from San Francisco to Los Angeles. Thus Ken’s alter ego The Chicken Lady was hatched.

Joining the team behind “OUTstanding” include Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Justin Mikita, Amy Rice, Craig Gartner, and Michael Koenigs as executive producers, Chris Casey as production manager, Georgia Krause as producer, and Elie Sokoloff as editorial producer.

Follow Localish (#Localish) on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. View additional Localish series at abc.com/shows/localish.

Localish is a multiplatform lifestyle brand from the ABC Owned Television Stations aimed at bringing out the good in cities across America through positive, feel-good storytelling. A digital native brand launched in September 2018, Localish expanded on Feb. 17, 2020, and debuted its broadcast home in eight top markets across the country.

Localish has produced over 3,000 pieces of digital video, totaling more than 400 million video views, with 60% of its audience under the age of 44. Most recently honored with the 2019 Innovator Award – the highest distinction among TVNewsCheck’s annual Social Media Excellence Awards – Localish was credited for its forward-minded ideas, sleek execution and all-around positive impact.

As a broadcast network, Localish expanded its short-form series of local storytelling into long-form programming to reach approximately 14 million households across America. The brand also continues to debut stories on localish.com, ABC digital platforms and social media platforms, as it transcends city limits and inspires its audience to live like a local wherever they are.

Keep up with Localish on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

NBA Finals 2020 Viewership Drops 50%

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The sports world is one of the most affected by the COVID-19 pandemic with many major sports all over the world coming to a complete halt. Even after many leagues returned it was clear that the “new normal” will have a significant effect on the entire sports world. With the pandemic throwing many sporting calendars and seasons in chaos, the makeshift calendars proved detrimental to viewership numbers. According to data presented by Safe Betting Sites, the 2020 NBA Finals recorded a 50% drop in viewership compared to the 2019 Finals.

COVID-19 Positive Tests Suspended NBA Season “Until Further Notice”

On March 11, 2020, The Utah Jazz were scheduled to play the Oklahoma City Thunder despite the threat of COVID-19 already rising in other parts of the world. This was until The Jazz’s star centre Rudy Gobert of France tested positive for the virus. This prompted the league to cancel the game merely minutes from tip-off. The league subsequently suspended the remainder of the 2019-2020 season until further notice. In June it was then announced that the season will be restarted on July 31st with an improvised schedule taking in consideration teams current position on the standings when play was suspended. It was agreed that seeding games would be played for all teams that finished within six games of a playoff spot when play was halted.

Season Restarted Under “Bubble Conditions”

As part of the plans for a restart, the NBA instituted a strict medical protocol leading up to the restart as well as during the entire playoffs were played. The games were played in controlled venues within Walt Disney World’s ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, Florida which was popularly referred to as “the bubble.” The entire playoffs were played in the bubble with no physical fans in attendance. Many players likened the experience to their days as AAU players before their NBA careers.

The 2020 NBA Finals pitted the Eastern Conference Champions Miami Heat against the Western Conference Champions, LA Lakers. The finals are traditionally played sometime in June but the pandemic forced an almost 4-month delay with Game 1 played on September 30. This delay, as well as the unique atmosphere the bubble brought, were a clear contributor to the significant decline in viewership numbers.

Tumultuous Time In US History Leads To Decrease In Ratings

The 2020 NBA finals saw an average viewership of 7.5 million viewers. This is a 51% drop compared to the 2019 Finals which recorded an average of 15.14 million viewers. It is also the lowest number of average viewers of any Finals in the last two decades. Expectedly, the 2020 Finals also saw the lowest TV ratings in the last two decades with a rating of 4 compared to 8.8 in 2019.

At around the time of the improvised Playoffs, the US was going through a tumultuous time in its history in several aspects that also contributed to the decrease in viewers. The COVID-19 pandemic was still ravaging through several states which completely altered many people’s daily routine. The pandemic also meant that sports bars and other venues such as casinos were unavailable and thus the Finals reached far fewer people than in previous years.

The delay in the playoffs also meant that the Finals were staged closer to the critical November 2020 US Presidential elections which meant that people’s focus was dramatically shifted. This combined with the pandemic meant more people were tuning in to news programs rather than sporting events.

Significantly, before and during the NBA’s restart the Black Lives Matter movement was also in full swing as cities around the US protested the infamous death of George Floyd in the hands of police. Another shooting of an African-American man in the city of Milwaukee prompted the Milwaukee Bucks to boycott their playoff game against the Orlando Magic and refused to take to the court. After discussions were held NBA players agreed to play on deciding instead to use their platform to bring awareness to social justice causes. This included wearing NBA jerseys with social justice messages chosen by the player. While the move was commended by many, the polarizing nature of the issue meant that the NBA inevitably lost some viewers who had opposing views.

Michael Kiwanuka x Brittany Howard – 13th Century Metal

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Listen to 13th Century Metal (Michael Kiwanuka Mix) HERE

Today, ATO Records released the Michael Kiwanuka mix of Brittany Howard’s 13^th Century Metal. Listen HERE. With his first-ever mix for another artist, the acclaimed British artist brings an irresistible Afrobeat-inspired groove to the song, which is from Howard’s GRAMMY-nominated debut solo album, Jaime.

Michael Kiwanuka says, “I was so excited to get to work on this project as I’ve always been a big fan of Brittany’s music. Knowing this particular track and being such a fan of her voice, I wanted to not meddle with her voice, and then to make it front and center. She sounds so victorious when she sings and speaks, so the music I made was governed by that.”

The New York Times hailed “13^th Century Metal as “a roller-coaster of a spoken-word rant that’s part self-help exhortation, part sermon.” Pitchfork observed, “Amid the noise and chaos, Howard shows that love can be the most radical tool of resistance.”

Howard is currently nominated for five GRAMMY Awards, bringing her total career nominations to 16, with four wins. Jaime is nominated for Best Alternative Music Album. Three different songs from the album have been nominated in three different genres. Stay High earned nods for Best Rock Performance and Best Rock Song. Goat Head is nominated for Best R&B Performance and Short And Sweet for Best American Roots Performance.

Following the announcement of this year’s nominations, Howard appeared on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert and gave a powerful performance of Nina Simone’s Revolution. View HERE. She performed last night at the Museum of Modern Art’s 2020 Film Benefit, a virtual event that honored George Clooney. She talks about Jaime, Clooney and the power of women in rock in this InStyle feature.

Jaime was awarded four stars by Rolling Stone, MOJO and Q and named the Best Album of 2019 by NPR. Praising Jaime as “a candid autobiography in funk,” The New York Times said, “With a voice that can go to the roadhouse, the church or deeply private places, she exorcises troubles with the music’s sheer pleasure.”

The track History Repeats received two GRAMMY nominations last year. Stay High spent three weeks at No. 1 on Billboard’s Adult Alternative Songs chart. It was Public Radio’s Most Popular Song of 2019 and named by Pitchfork and others as one of the year’s best songs. Earlier this year, Atlanta-based hip hop duo EARTHGANG remixed Goat Head and Bon Iver brought fresh textures to Short and Sweet.

Dance Your Dance – Laurieann Gibson

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Thomas Nelson/W Publishing (a division of HarperCollins) today announced the pre-order for Emmy-nominated choreographer, creative director and entrepreneur Laurieann Gibson’s debut book Dance Your Dance: 8 Steps to Unleash Your Passion and Live Your Dream, set for release on February 16, 2021. The pre-order bundle includes access to exclusive video content from Laurieann and a first look at chapter one of the book. Additionally, the first 500 to pre-order will receive a limited-edition promotional item. Pre-order Dance Your Dance here.

Dance Your Dance highlights Gibson’s evolution from a young dancer training in New York City to a well-respected and in-demand creative visionary with an eye for cultivating music artists from the ground up. The book unveils the ultimate blueprint to achieving your dreams—a blueprint she’s implemented countless times to develop some of the world’s greatest superstars including Lady Gaga, Nicki Minaj, Katy Perry, Diddy and The Jonas Brothers, among others. Packed with personal anecdotes from her 20+ year career in entertainment and messages of empowerment, Dance Your Dance speaks to the dreamer in you: the artist, the singer, the writer, the entrepreneur, the mogul, the mover, the shaker, the thinker.

Reflecting on the power of the book’s message, Laurieann shares, “Dance Your Dance is an explosion of inspiration, passion and empowerment—an entertaining and transformative unstoppable ride to your greatness. I can’t wait for people to start reading it. I believe it can be life-changing.”

ABOUT LAURIEANN GIBSON

Laurieann Gibson is one of the most important pop culture influencers in entertainment today. Having served as creative director and choreographer for numerous international superstars, Gibson’s expertise in developing artists’ performance skills earned her an Emmy nomination for directing Lady Gaga’s HBO concert special Lady Gaga Presents the Monster Ball Tour: At Madison Square Garden. Laurieann also directed and choreographed Nicki Minaj’s sold out “Pink Print World Tour” and Diddy’s “Bad Boy 20th Anniversary Reunion Tour.” More than a choreographer, Gibson is a business force whose presence is felt across TV/commercials, film, gaming, and now publishing. She can currently be seen as a judge on FOX’s hit show So You Think You Can Dance and will serve as creative director/choreographer on MTV’s highly anticipated return of Making the Band. On top of film appearances and commercial work (previously choreographing for the likes of Pepsi and Google), she is producing a number of television projects that are currently in development. Laurieann lives in Los Angeles, California, with her doggie “son,” Samson. Connect with her here.

ABOUT THOMAS NELSON

Thomas Nelson is a world leading publisher and provider of Christian content and has been providing readers with quality inspirational product for more than 200 years. As part of HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Inc., the publishing group provides multiple formats of award-winning Bibles, books, gift books, cookbooks, curriculum and digital content, with distribution of its products in more than 100 countries. Thomas Nelson is headquartered in Nashville, TN. For additional information, visit here.

The Most Scandalous Cases of Plagiarism in Art

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By Judy Nelson

Art is generally connected to creativity and original work. The ability to design something that has not been seen before is the driving force behind most artistic minds. Unfortunately, some people choose to take advantage of the creativity of others rather than come up with their own content.

To make matters worse, these people also fail to give credit where it’s due, instead trying to pass these reproductions off as their own. Plagiarism has become a growing problem in the pop art world, with many emerging artists having their work stolen by others looking to make a quick buck. Some of the more scandalous incidents that have happened in this genre include:

Andy Warhol vs. Patricia Caulfield

Andy Warhol is considered one of the founding fathers of pop art culture. His works offered new forms of expression that connected art with the advertisement industry and celebrity culture. Because of his prominent position in the industry, the discovery of his plagiarism came as a shock to the world.

In 1964, the artist released a new series known as “Flowers,” which took the industry by storm. The work consisted of a beautiful floral design printed on various silkscreens. It was soon discovered, however, that instead of creating an original portrait of flowers,

Warhol had used a photograph by artist Patricia Caulfield –which had been published in a 1964 issue of Modern Photography. This shortcut led to Warhol’s first lawsuit, as Patricia lodged an official complaint in 1966. Any such situation leads to disgrace and as a student, you are also recommended professional plagiarism checker for students in the UK. It ensures 100% unique work and this instills confidence in you that you are writing plagiarism-free and then submit the academic work.

Zara vs. Tuesday Bassen

In 2016, Zara, a prominent fast-fashion retail brand from Spain, clashed with Los Angeles based independent artist Tuesday Bassen. The dispute arose because of the global brand’s use of the illustrator’s pin designs without her consent.

The designs had been added to a new line of Zara’s products, with Bassen only finding out when her fans contacted her after noticing the similarities. Zara showed no remorse for their actions, refusing to acknowledge any wrongdoing.

The retail brand even pointed out that complaints related to the similarities in design were insignificant compared to the overall traffic that the company attracted. This callous response caused uproar within the artistic community. It also highlighted the struggles endured by independent brands and artists in the industry when going up against big corporations.

Lili Chin vs. Kohl

In 2016, Lili Chin, another independent artist from Los Angeles, filed a complaint against mega retail store Kohl for the use of her work without permission. The lawsuits consisted of copyright infringement and unfair competition charges.

Lili demanded damages that could have reached up to $1 million. The complaint was based on the retailer marketing her drawings of “Boogie the Boston terrier” on socks and t-shirts sold in their stores. The drawings were based on a 2011 poster designed by the illustrator, showing the dog in various poses.

Lili Chin pointed out that she sold similar merchandise with the same designs on them. She also mentioned that part of her proceeds went to dog rescue organizations, with Kohl’s actions reducing the amount of charity she was able to give to this worthy cause. In the end, the two parties settled out of court.

Modern Dog vs. Disney/Target

Another dog-based design was at the forefront of artwork plagiarism in 2013, when Modern Dog sued commercial giants Disney and Target over the use of an image that had featured in one of their books. Unauthorized copies of the picture had been printed on t-shirts and sold by the two major corporations.

The companies’ online plagiarism checker was found at fault when they tried to argue that the illustrations involved fell under a technical rather than creative category. The image in question was a collection of sketches of different small dog faces.

In the summary hearing, the court ruled in favor of the complainant and awarded Modern Dog with broad copyright protection for all 26 drawings.

Forever 21 vs. Valfré

Ilse Valfré is the third Los Angeles-based artist to suffer plagiarism at the hands of a major corporation. In 2016, the Mexican-born designer created a cartoon-based design of a rainbow featuring pastel colors and white puffy clouds. Less than a year later, fashion giant Forever 21 released a similar design.

Both emblems featured matching colors and were branded on the back of iPhone cases. Further investigations by the complainant found that Rue 21, another major retail corporation, had also plagiarized three other designs from Valfré – in the production of their stereo earbuds.

Conclusion

These examples of plagiarism highlight the need for strict regulation policies when it comes to the protection of copyrighted work. Independent artists deserve recognition for their productions, and, unfortunately, some major companies would rather try and plagiarize these designs than pay the artists for their work. Luckily, the growing influence of social media has made it harder for companies to get away with this act.

Author Bio:

Judy Nelson works for an NGO based in East Africa, where it runs programs to spread awareness about education for all. She is their lead content writer and editor and also works part-time as a thesis and dissertation writer for an online academic writing service. In her free time, she plays with her pets, drives to the countryside and learns caricature drawing.

Amy Shark – All the Lies About Me × other announcements

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Multi ARIA award-winning singer-songwriter Amy Shark announced that her sophomore album CRY FOREVER will be released on April 30th 2021 and is available to pre-order now via Wonderlick Recording Company/Sony Music Entertainment Australia/RCA Records. Shark also released a new track “All The Lies About Me” which will be featured on CRY FOREVER and is available now HERE. Additionally, Shark has announced a massive headline tour of Australia in June/July 2021 in support of CRY FOREVER.

Shark’s national CRY FOREVER tour will be the Gold Coast local’s most ambitious live undertaking yet in some of the largest venues Australia has to offer. The tour will kick off at Qudos Bank Arena (Sydney) on June 12, before moving through to Rod Laver Arena (Melbourne) on June 18, Wrest Point Lawns (Hobart) June 19, HOTA (Gold Coast) June 25, Riverstage (Brisbane) June 26, Adelaide Entertainment Centre July 1 and will finish up in Perth at RAC Arena on July 3. Tickets go on sale Friday 11 December at 10am local time and are available from www.amyshark.com.

Amy Shark sold in excess of 45,000 tickets in 2019 across her metro and regional tours, with her regional tour last week picking up the ARIA for ‘Best Australian Live Act’, paired with her ARIA win for ‘Best Pop Release’ for ‘Everybody Rise’. The CRY FOREVER tour will see Shark level up, rolling out world class production and musicianship as she brings her anticipated new album to life in arenas across Australia.

No stranger to the big stage, Amy Shark has headlined many major festivals, along with winning over the entire stadium at Fire Fight and wowing a huge national audience with her recent NRL Grand Final appearance. Guaranteed to delight fans across Australia, this career defining must-see tour promises to feature stand out performances of songs from the critically acclaimed LOVE MONSTER album, fan faves from the NIGHT THINKER EP and of course brand new music from CRY FOREVER including ARIA winning, platinum accredited ‘Everybody Rise’ which is nearing 20 million streams globally and spent 12 weeks in the top 10 Australian airplay chart.

“I am so proud of this album and it’s time to hand these songs over to the fans,” says Shark. “To announce a tour of this size, after the year we have been through, gives me hope that the world is heading back to normality. I will give every show every part of me, this is going to be massive and I am counting down the days to perform.”

CRY FOREVER is the follow up to Amy Shark’s 2018 #1 ARIA Album Of The Year, LOVE MONSTER . Written and recorded between the US, UK, New Zealand and Shark’s home studio on the Gold Coast, her exceptional songwriting is on full display here, co-producing with A-List producers: Dann Hume (ARIA 2018 & 2019 Producer Of The year), M-Phazes (Ruel, Eminem), Joel Little (Lorde, Taylor Swift), Jamie Hartman (Lewis Capaldi, Rag ‘n’ Bone Man), Dan Wilson (Adele, Leon Bridges) and Sammy Witte (Harry Styles, King Princess). CRY FOREVER will also see Shark team up with Grammy award winning artist Keith Urban following on from her latest collaboration with Blink 182’s Travis Barker on new single, ‘C’MON.’

Through Shark’s honest and emotional storytelling, CRY FOREVER is set to be an evolution from her debut album LOVE MONSTER, “I am now a more confident musician and person than the Amy of 2018, and I feel like I am ready to share some moments from my life that I wasn’t previously ok to talk about, ” says Shark, “These are some of the most personal and confronting songs I’ve ever written, and I can’t wait to share them with everyone.” And to celebrate the album and tour announcement, Shark has dropped a new track, ‘All The Lies About Me’, featuring her trademark soaring vocals, powerful lyrics and acoustic guitar. “This song is me at my most confused, broken and lonely. It’s not easy hearing things about yourself that simply aren’t true. Sometimes the noise gets too loud so I had to write this song as it’s the only way I can talk.”

Amy Shark has come a long way since her breakthrough single Adore. As shared on her Instagram account – in just a few years she has gone from moving 82 tickets in her home state of Queensland, to selling out arena-sized venues all across the country.After bursting on to the global music scene in 2016, her 5 x Platinum single ‘Adore’ put her on the map as one of Australia’s most formidable emerging songwriters. This was followed by 4 x Platinum and number one Australian Airplay Chart hit, ‘I Said Hi’ and the 2019 2 x platinum single ‘Mess Her Up’. Shark’s debut/breakthrough #1 ARIA album and Platinum-certified LOVE MONSTER was recognised in 2018 with four ARIA awards (Album of the Year, Best Female Artist, Best Pop Release, Best Producer [Dann Hume]) and was nominated for another five. LOVE MONSTER went on to become the highest selling album by an Australian artist for 2018.

Undoubtedly, 2021 is poised to be an even bigger year for Amy Shark with the release of her sophomore record and national CRY FOREVER tour.

The CRY FOREVER tour will be held with a commitment to a COVID Safe environment. TEG LIVE will work closely with and comply with all requirements of the public health authorities in respect of these shows.

AMY SHARK ‘CRY FOREVER’ TOUR 2021

Saturday 12 June 2021 Sydney | Qudos Bank Arena

Friday 18 June 2021 Melbourne| Rod Laver Arena

Saturday 19 June 2021 Hobart | Wrest Point Lawns

Friday 25 June 2021 Gold Coast | HOTA

Saturday 26 June 2021 Brisbane | Riverstage

Thursday 1 July 2021 Adelaide | AEC Theatre

Saturday 3 July 2021 Perth | RAC Arena

‘CRY FOREVER’ ALBUM TRACKLISTING:

The Wolves
Everybody Rise
Worst Day Of My Life
C’MON (feat. Travis Barker)
All The Lies About Me
Miss You
Love Songs Ain’t For Us (feat. Keith Urban)
I’ll Be Yours
You’ll Never Meet Anyone Like Me Again
That Girl
Lonely Still
Baby Steps
Amy Shark

TICKETING INFORMATION

Telstra is offering their customers an exclusive Telstra Plus presale from 2pm (local) Monday 7 December to 2pm (local) Wednesday 9 December. For more details regarding the presale, please visit https://www.telstra.com.au/plus/tickets/music

The general public will have the opportunity to purchase tickets from 10am (local) 10am Friday 11 December from https://www.amyshark.com

Fans can also take advantage of Ticketek’s world-leading partnership with Afterpay for Amy’s Cry Forever Tour. Available via the Ticketek app or website, Afterpay is the world’s largest buy-now-pay-later service, offering fans greater flexibility to pay for tickets in four equal instalments and secure seats with the first payment.

For further information, head to www.amyshark.com

ABOUT TEG LIVE:

TEG Live is wholly owned by TEG, Asia Pacific’s leading ticketing, live entertainment and data analytics company. TEG Live is a dynamic and diverse promoter of live content in music, sport, family entertainment, eSports and exhibitions. TEG Live connects millions of fans every year with unique live experiences and adds value to events with hospitality and sponsorship services. For more information, visit http://www.teglive.com.au