School’s back in session, which means those of you with kids now have some extra blessed moments of quiet, and those of you without no longer have to worry about catching a stray water balloon to the face at the park. But what to do with all this newfound peace and freedom? Might we suggest looking through our wrap-up of the stories you need to know from this August. Welcome to …now you know.
i heart metaverse concerts
iHeartMedia’s latest investment is a strong signal of live music’s continued movement into virtual worlds. The media giant announced that it will be moving heavily into the metaverse via Fortnite and Roblox, creating a virtual world featuring headlining concerts, an amusement park, a token system to reward users’ participation, and more. And this is just the start.
iHeartMedia Plans to Host Metaverse Concerts In ‘Fortnite’ Virtual World
a second look at second life
The metaverse may feel brand new, but not to the millions who have participated in Second Life for years now, and certainly not for Second Life creator Philip Rosedale, who offers some real gems in this interview. (Case in point, at its best, the metaverse should focus on bringing people together.)
What Second Life and Roblox can teach us about the metaverse
live by the virtual rapper, die by the virtual rapper
Well that was fast. In the span of about two weeks Capitol Records went from signing FN Meka, an artist who’s voiced by a human but otherwise completely AI-generated, to issuing its “deepest apologies to the Black community.” More virtual artists being signed to major labels still feels inevitable, it is working in places, but those labels will certainly be doubling down on their due diligence from now on.
CAPITOL RECORDS JUST SIGNED A VIRTUAL ARTIST, FN MEKA. HE HAS OVER 10 MILLION FOLLOWERS ON TIKTOK.
Capitol Drops ‘Virtual Rapper’ FN Meka After Backlash Over Stereotypes
the sports are e, the diamonds are real
Esports have better viewership than most professional physical sports, but it has been lacking a trophy with the luster of a Lombardi trophy – until now. Behold, the League of Legends’ Summoner’s Cup, created by Tiffany & Co. Take that Stanley Cup.
RIOT GAMES AND TIFFANY & CO. UNVEIL LEAGUE OF LEGENDS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP TROPHY
johnny Cash shot a man in Reno, just to watch him die
Just recently we were helping broadcast a message from Young Thug at SummerJam in part because his lyrics were being used against him as evidence against in court, a practice that’s increasingly common and disproportionately affecting Black artists. CA at least is doing something about the worrying trend by putting forward a bill that would require “judges to weigh whether allowing prosecutors to cite rap lyrics will ‘inject racial bias’ into a criminal case.”
California Rap Lyrics Bill Clears Final Vote, Heads to Governor for Signature
tiny desk, big talent
Tiny Desk might just be the most successful virtually-broadcast music series of all time, and they closed out August with an en fuego set from DOMi & JD BECK, two youngsters who are bringing jazz to a new generation (while impressing the old guard). Enjoy.
DOMi & JD BECK: Tiny Desk Concert
