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.

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.

Beyoncé Donates $6M to Coronavirus Relief

The donation is in partnership with several organizations to provide mental health help and other services to communities in need.

Beyoncé is getting into formation to help those in need during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

The Grammy winner, 38, announced that she has committed $6 million to help those disproportionately affected by the public health crisis, particularly those on the frontlines who will need assistance even after the pandemic.

"Beyoncé’s BeyGOOD recognizes the immense mental and personal health burdens being placed on essential workers during the COVID-19 pandemic," a rep for Beyoncé said in a statement. Beyoncé spoke about the heroes of the pandemic, while also shining a light on the communities devastated the most by the deadly virus.

What It Means To Homeowners If Lumber Keep Rising

 

After falling back sharply from a record high in May of last year, lumber prices began climbing again. They are now about 22% lower than that peak but still about three times their average pre-pandemic price. The National Association of Home Builders estimated the recent price jump added more than $18,600 to the price of a newly built home.

Mick Jagger Joins Dave Grohl In New Song 'Eazy Sleazy'

 

Mick Jagger and Dave Grohl are itching for an end to the pandemic shutdowns on a new single, "Eazy Sleazy."

The optimistic and at-times satirical new track features the Rolling Stones frontman on lead vocals and rhythm guitar and the Foo Fighters frontman on everything else.

“It’s a song that I wrote about coming out of lockdown, with some much needed optimism," Jagger said in a statement. "Thanks to Dave Grohl for jumping on drums, bass and guitar, it was a lot of fun working with him. [H]ope you all enjoy 'Eazy Sleazy.'”

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.

RZA and GZA of Wu-Tang Talk 'The Game Of Life'

For as long as the two leaders of the Wu-Tang Clan have known each other, it still shocks GZA that he never played chess with RZA as a kid.

The pair are busy practicing this week for their Twitch debut on Saturday, where they will play and compete in a chess tournament hosted by Chess.com and Hennessy. It’s to benefit Black, Latinx and Asian small businesses struggling with the pandemic. GZA says he still remembers vividly to this day when his cousin taught his 9-year-old self how to play chess.

“I guess I remember it well because he had a black and red checkerboard, but the pieces were like clear plastic neon,” GZA tells The Washington Post in a video interview, who said he never forgot the lesson. “And they were weird colored, and they were caked in green. And he showed me the names of the pieces and how they moved.”

#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!

Can Music Keep Up in the Attention Economy?

Music streaming services have continued to add U.S. subscribers this year, according to MIDiA Research, growing by 11 million paying users from January to September, to 117.9 million. But in a potentially troubling sign for the recorded music business, the number of total streams has remained the same.

For the past four months and counting, audio music streams have averaged 17.5 billion a week. That’s up slightly from the early March pre-pandemic peak, before the lockdown cut music listening down by 13% to a year low of less than 15 billion streams, as consumers stopped commuting and obsessed over the news. Streaming gradually rebounded, increasing 15% by the end of June — but has plateaued since.

This could actually be good news for streaming services, which for the past two years have been pouring money into podcasts, which cost them less. Streaming companies don’t have to share as much revenue on podcasts — a growing number of which they own — as they do on streams of music, most of which they don’t. But for record labels, publishers, songwriters and artists, this may be the calm before the storm. In the short term, at least, the lack of growth in the number of streams won’t  impact the music industry’s aggregate streaming revenue — if subscribers are added and consumption stays flat, rights holders just make more per stream. But a move toward podcasts could cost rights holders leverage in licensing negotiations.

The Corduroy Blue - Could it be?

Retro-Inspired, The Corduroy Blue, Defines Alt-Rock with “Could It Be?”  

ATLANTA – A rising alt-rock band, The Corduroy Blue is taking fans on a nostalgic journey to some of the best sounds from the 90s to 2000s, coupled with today’s cutting lyrics and electric performances with flashes of Elton John and The Beatles.

Madeline Rose - The Long Road

Wanderlust and hope take center stage on new Americana album from Madeline Rose 

SANTA CRUZ, CA – The last year has been a desperate one for many people around the world. Desperate for a relief from the pandemic. Desperate for a return to social normality. Desperate for something hopeful to look forward to. And now that things are starting to look brighter, musicians like Madeline Rose have the perfect soundtrack for that celebration. 

China Discovers Next Global Pandemic

 

According to Taiwan's Centers for Disease Control, a new potentially fatal disease called the Langya Henipavirus has emerged in Shandong and the neighboring providence of Henan (in China), and it has the potential to become the next global pandemic. Thus far, 35 people have reportedly come down with the animal-derived Henipavirus virus. 

Pure Luxury (@4nwhipswerver) - "Original P" (Album)

Recently charismatic Los Angeles bred rapper Pure Luxury delivered his new single, "WTH" for fans online in the form of a colorful new music video. With a desire to make music that goes well beyond just the L.A. sound, Pure Luxury dropped the upbeat and commercial friendly visual from his recently released project Original P. 

Coachella Music Festival Announces 2022 Return

After two years of rescheduling due to COVID, Coachella music festival announced it would return for Spring 2022.

One of the world's largest musical festivals, the event has been held every spring in the Coachella Valley in the Colorado desert since 1999. 

Beyoncé Now Helping Black-Owned Businesses

The star has teamed up with the NAACP to found the Black-Owned Small Business Impact Fund.

Beyoncé has launched a new fund to give Black-owned businesses grants through her BeyGOOD foundation.

The fund has been started in collaboration with the National Association For The Advancement Of Colored People (NAACP).

The Black-Owned Small Business Impact Fund will provide grants of $10,000 (£7,923) for business owners “in select cities to help sustain business during this time”.

Beyoncé to give $5,000 grants to families facing eviction

 

The “Drunk In Love” singer and her philanthropic organization, BeyGOOD, are awarding $5,000 grants to families or individuals who are facing eviction and/or foreclosure as the housing moratorium is set to end this month.

“When the pandemic hit, we helped organizations across the country that were aiding and assisting people with basic needs like food, water, household supplies and COVID testing. We also provided mental health support,” read a press release. “We then launched our BeyGOOD small business impact fund and to date, over 250 small businesses have received $10K grants.”

“This holiday season while many are stressed with what they will do next regarding their housing, we are proud to share some GOOD news,” the press release continues. “Beyoncé is giving $5K grants to individuals and families facing foreclosures or evictions.”

Anyone who wants to apply to receive the grant is asked to send their application to the NAACP. The online application process is set to open on Jan. 7 and 100 recipients will be chosen. The grants will be sent out later that month. Round two of the applications will open in February.

Press Play On Watzreal's New Album "The Dark Album" | @WatzrealTheHapa

 

San Francisco rapper Watzreal releases his 4th studio album with the new project, The Dark Album out now via Apple Music, Spotify, Tidal, and more. 

Watzreal addresses a wide range of topics on his latest offering including depression, racism, transphobia, the pandemic, love, loss, and so much more. Opening his heart and his pen, Watzreal takes listeners on a personal journey and speaks with honesty on his new album that is bold and refreshing. Watzreal places well-thought-out features on The Dark Album including Def-I, Casti, J. Lately, and Frank Vencci but it's his collaborations with singer Danae Labraña that stick out the most. 

HBCUs Funding Decreased

 

President Biden's $3.5 trillion spending bill was set to provide $45 billion to HBCUs and additional minority-serving institutions (MSIs). But due to Democratic infighting, the newest version of the bill only allocates $2 billion to HBCUs.

See How Beyoncé and Jay-Z Celebrated 13 Years of Marriage

 

The most powerful couple in music, Beyoncé and Jay-Z, just celebrated 13 years of marriage with a quick trip to Las Vegas, as you do.

The “Drunk in Love” spouses got married on April 4, 2008. You can catch a glimpse of their wedding—plus other sweet, candid moments from their relationship—in the “Die With You” video, released on their ninth anniversary:

This year Bey didn’t drop a video, but she did share photos from their two-person party. In a series of snaps called “Sin City” and posted to her website, Bey and Jay-Z are shown taking a private jet and dining at Cipriani Vegas.

P.U.G. (@PugSouljah) - "Time To Celebrate"

Born and raised in Georgetown Guyana, Olson Van Rossum also known under his musical alias of ‘PUG’ has been fixated by the concept of music since he was young. Now living in New York, Olson is focused on pursuing his dream and creating music that instils happiness, and inspiration. “I live in New York because it's a place for many opportunities and people can reach their highest potential.” – ‘PUG’ ‘PUG’ claims that living in Guyana and New York has enabled him to get a firmer understanding of life, and the varying differences that both locations offer. Using these experiences, ‘PUG” has been able to use the two location as inspiration for his music, and incorporate the popular and local sounds explored and utilised in both areas. Growing up ‘PUG’ also found his passion for music at a young age, navigating his passion through both piano and writing – two areas which would remain constant throughout his life. As COVID-19 hit the music industry, causing hundreds of thousands of creatives to lose their jobs and gigs, many people were forced to resign from their music journey. However, Olson Van Rossum did something completely different – he started his music journey, in the midst of a global pandemic. Not many people can say that – ever. As the start of a musician's career, the first song can either break or start the journey, before it’s even really begun.