Why Beyoncé holds the key to office culture

 

In May 2019, before COVID-19 began sweeping through the world, the World Health Organization declared burnout “an occupational phenomenon.” In fact, concern about work and well-being goes back centuries and was always linked to culture: It was Aristotle, after all, who worried about what it would take to create a sense of flourishing or eudaimonia.

Now that chief executives around the globe are trying to maintain or reinvent both corporate culture and future strategy in the wake of a pandemic that rewrote the rules of work, it’s popular culture that leaders should consider to win the hearts and minds of their workers — specifically pop music.

High School Students Workout For Free All Summer Long

 

Planet Fitness, one of the largest and fastest-growing franchisors and operators of fitness centers with more members than any other fitness brand, is inviting high schoolers ages 14 – 19* to work out for free at any of its more than 2,200 Planet Fitness locations throughout the United States and Canada from May 16 through August 31 as part of the High School Summer Pass initiative.

High School Summer Pass was formally known as Teen Summer Challenge, which was the first program of its kind launched in 2019 and saw more than 900,000 teens sign-up and complete more than 5.5 million workouts over a three-and-a-half-month period. Starting today, high schoolers can visit PlanetFitness.com/SummerPass to pre-register, and get a reminder to formally sign up when the program officially kicks off on Monday, May 16. Teens under 18 must register with a parent or guardian online or in-club.

Eminem wins big at 31st Detroit Music Awards

 

Jazz-soul singer Tosha Owens led the slate of winners Sunday night at the 31st Detroit Music Awards, taking three honors across multiple genres.

Owens took outstanding blues artist, rock-pop recording (“Love More, Hate Less” with Bob Mervak) and vocalist in the streaming ceremony, the show’s third year as an online-only event.

Connecting Black Studies with STEM Subjects

 

The University of California San Diego will be bringing in 13 new, tenure-track faculty members who will connect Black studies with STEM subjects. Diverse Education reports three hires have already been announced.

The first three hires by UCSD are neurobiologist Dr. Hiruy Meharena, computer scientist Dr. Imani N.S. Munyaka, and chemist Dr. Lisa Jones. UCSD’s DEI Chancellor, Dr. Becky Petit told Diverse Education this cluster of hires focuses on diversifying its Black faculty over the next two years. UCSD is also working on a cluster of Latinx talent.

New York City Workers Fired Over Vaccine Mandate

 

The mandate, which was first announced by former Mayor Bill de Blasio ahead of an expected winter surge in COVID-19 cases, came to fruition last week amid a much less dire coronavirus situation in the city and the country at large. Nevertheless, nearly 3,000 workers were at risk of termination on Friday over the rule, but many submitted their proof of vaccination or chose to get the shot after being notified of their imminent termination.

Prayer Up For R. Kelly As Jury Deliberates

 

As the trial still continues for R. Kelly, members and writers of the Wrap-Up Magazine would like to send out its prayers to the singer has his life depend on a few votes. Here is a look at the key moments as jury deliberates.

The jury has retired in R. Kelly's sex trafficking trial in New York, after a month of testimony regarding the star's alleged sexual abuse of men, women and underage girls.

More Than $375,000 In Student Loan Debt Forgiven

The president of the historically Black university made the announcement during 2021 commencement exercises Saturday, noting the total amount of cleared debt will be more than $375,000.

Jay-Z Announces The Return Of Made In America Festival

 

The Made In America Festival is returning to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania this Labor Day Weekend. The 2021 edition of the Roc Nation-produced musical event is scheduled for Saturday, September 4 and Sunday, September 5.

Made In America was founded by Roc Nation leader/Hip Hop icon Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter in 2012. Last year’s MIA was rescheduled due to safety concerns caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and civil unrest in America at the time.

#MusicVideo by Kosha Dillz 'Solo' Ft Gangsta Boo

 

The pandemic has been hard for everyone and Kosha Dillz is no stranger to it. During the last week before the complete lockdown, the unlikely pair of Three 6 Mafia's Gangsta Boo and Kosha Dillz recorded "Solo" with 2021 Grammy Nominated producer Sam Barsh (Anderson Paak, Earthgang, Logic) for Kosha's album Nobody Cares Except You, which was the precedent going into the loneliness of the pandemic.

Now that most of society is on an upswing out of it, the temperature has changed the possibility of happiness, and a whacky creative music video could be what we need!

This Will be The Concert to Reunite the World

 

SoFi Stadium in Inglewood will play host to an all-star concert that will be broadcast and streamed worldwide as part of a global effort to inspire confidence in COVID-19 vaccines and encourage people to be inoculated, organizers announced today.

Vax Live: The Concert to Reunite the World will be pre-taped at SoFi Stadium and air May 8 as part of a worldwide event broadcasting on ABC, CBS, Fox, YouTube and on iHeartMedia radio stations. Selena Gomez will host the event, which will include performances by Jennifer Lopez, Eddie Vedder, Foo Fighters, J Balvin and H.E.R.

Selena Gomez and J.Lo headlining concerts for COVID-19

 

Backed by an international concert hosted by Selena Gomez and headlined by Jennifer Lopez, Global Citizen is unveiling an ambitious campaign to help medical workers in the world’s poorest countries quickly receive COVID-19 vaccines.

The anti-poverty organization is announcing the musical event — “VAX Live: The Concert to Reunite the World” — with the goal of enlisting corporations and philanthropists to raise $22 billion for global vaccinations. The concert, which airs May 8 on ABC, CBS and FOX as well as on iHeartMedia radio stations and YouTube, will also showcase the Foo Fighters, Eddie Vedder, J Balvin and H.E.R.

What Caused Jennifer Lopez and A-Rod Breakup?

 

The stunning split comes after the superstar couple twice postponed their wedding — and after rumors surfaced that the former Yankees third baseman had been playing the field with a young reality star.

Neither of the celebs would comment Friday. But the 45-year-old A-Rod hinted at the break-up on Instagram, as he posted a shot of himself alone on a yacht in Miami, grimacing and staring at his cellphone.

“Don’t mind me, just taking a sail-fie… What are your plans for the weekend?” he joked in the Friday post.

Lopez, 51, meanwhile, was on location in the Caribbean Friday shooting her latest film, “Shotgun Wedding.”

The Covid-19 Pandemic Has Led China To Be The Biggest Foreign Investors

 

China overtook the U.S. as the largest recipient of foreign direct investment in 2020, a year in which overall global flows cratered by 42% as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, a United Nations trade agency said.

Flows fell to an estimated $859 billion from $1.5 trillion in 2019, according to the UNCTAD Investment Trends Monitor. It was the lowest level since the 1990s and 30% below the investment trough that followed the 2008-09 global financial crisis.

While the world as a whole struggled, China held on, said UNCTAD, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development. It became the world’s largest FDI recipient with flows rising by 4% to $163 billion.

A return to positive GDP growth and a targeted investment facilitation program helped stabilize investment in China after the first coronavirus lockdowns there, the agency said.

How Much Does It Cost Beyonce To Stay In Paris?

 

Beyoncé is one of the most recognizable people on the planet. She’s been in the public eye since she was a teenager building her career and massive wealth. Though the singer lets fans in on to small glimpses of her life through Instagram, Beyoncé is also known for keeping her private life out of the spotlight.

Lady Gaga, Jennifer Lopez to perform at Biden swearing-in

 

Pop artists Jennifer Lopez and Lady Gaga will be among A-listers who will perform at the largely-virtual swearing-in ceremony of Joe Biden as the 46th President of the United States on January 20.

Gaga, one-of-a-kind artist, performer and a trailblazer in beauty and fashion, will sing the national anthem and Lopez will give a musical performance on the West Front of the US Capitol, where the ceremony will be taking place.

Biden, 78, and Kamala Harris, 56, will be sworn in as President and Vice President of the United States during the ceremony.

But it won't be a typical inauguration, for several reasons.

The ongoing coronavirus pandemic and fresh security concerns following a pro-Trump mob breaching the Capitol last week have combined to force some changes to what is a historical American day.

#NewMusic AC/DC - Realize

 

AC/DC has unveiled a second single from its forthcoming 17th studio album, PWR/UP.

With a ceaseless backbeat and wordless refrain, "Realize" is one of AC/DC's hardest-driving tracks in years. You can listen to it via the player above.

The release of "Realize" comes about a month after the Aussie rock legends unveiled their first new single in six years, "Shot in the Dark," which has all the hallmarks of an instant AC/DC classic.

Beyonce New Adidas Gear Is #OutNow

 

Beyoncé's second Ivy Park x Adidas apparel collection is dropping online Thursday, a day ahead of its release in stores.

The athleisure line, dubbed "The Drip 2 Collection," comes nine months after the first installment of Beyoncé's Ivy Park x Adidas gear, which sold out almost instantly when it dropped at the start of the year.

Online sales were set to begin at 4pm ET on the Adidas Ivy Park website. Prices range from about $25 for accessories and up $200 for apparel.

The collaboration is a continuation of Adidas' (ADDDF) strategy of leveraging non-athlete influencers to work as "creative partners" for limited capsule collections of its athletic wear. Scarcity and celebrity have proven a winning combination for Adidas' high-profile collaboration with Kanye West's Yeezy label.

Garth Brooks Pulls Out Of The CMA's

Garth Brooks won't compete for "Entertainer of the Year" at the Country Music Association Awards. 

Brooks, a seven-times recipient of the top country music honor, said Wednesday that "it's time for somebody else to hold that award."

He last won CMA "Entertainer of the Year" in 2019, when some in country music fandom argued passionately for Carrie Underwood or Eric Church to earn the annual trophy. 

'There's one tweet in there that really stuck in my head," Brooks said in a virtual press conference Wednesday. "It said, 'Hey, man. This guy, why doesn't he just step down (and leave) the entertainer for the next generation?' 100% agree."

Mariah Carey Joins Jennifer Lopez And More For Rise Up New York Performance

The one-hour benefit was presented by the New York-based poverty fighting organization Robin Hood and iHeartMedia.

Mariah Carey opened the streaming event with a beautiful medley of her 2002 track Through The Rain and the 1991 single Make It Happen, helping to raise money for New Yorkers affected by COVID-19.

Mariah Carey who is a native of New York prefaced the performance with some uplifting words: 'I know we're strong enough to get through this. We will rise again. We can do this together.' She belted her iconic high notes from home, accompanied by three backup singers, also performing from their respective homes.

Jennifer Lopez Wont Be Purchasing The NY Mets

Alex Rodriguez and Jennifer Lopez are no longer interested in buying the Mets. That decision was reached after negotiations with potential partners failed to materialize.

J-Rod’s quest to become the biggest power couple in Queens since Archie and Edith Bunker hit a major snag in recent weeks when their chosen money partner, Long Island biotech billionaire Wayne Rothbaum, made it clear he was only interested in scooping up the MLB franchise.