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Wick and Glow Candle Company Inks Collaboration Deal with the Estate of Betty Wright

Wick and Glow Candle Company, in association with Macadoo™, is pleased to announce a collaboration deal with the estate of the legendary singer/songwriter/entrepreneur Betty Wright, BWL Entertainment, LLC, and the Betty Wright Music Royalty brand to create the “Betty Wright Limited Candle Collection.”

This thoughtfully curated, 3-wick luxury scented candle collection reflects the alignment of Betty Wright’s incredible legacy as not only an artist, but as a black female entrepreneur through something she genuinely loved, scented candles.

Each scent blend was specifically chosen by Betty’s daughters Namphuyo Aisha, Patrice Parker-Latimer, and Asher Timmons to honor their mother and give her fans a deeper insight to who she was.

“Through her songs, the world got to share our mother’s passion for life, love, faith, and family,” says Namphuyo Aisha. “At home, she loved using candles and aromatherapy to help express her moods. With this signature candle collection based on some of her favorite scents, fans get to experience Betty Wright beyond the music.”

Born Bessie Regina Norris in Miami, Florida on December 21, 1953, Wright was the youngest of seven children. She began her professional career at the age of two when her siblings formed the Gospel Group, Echoes of Joy. After performing all through her young life, she released her first solo album, My First Time Around, when she was age 14. Her first hit single was “Girls Can’t Do What the Guys Do” In 1970 at the age of 16 she released “Pure Love” while in high school. At 17, she released her highest charting hit on the Billboard Hot 100, “Clean Up Woman” which peaked at number 6. This led to a career encompassing dozens of hits on the R&B, Disco, and Pop charts. Visit BettyWrightOfficial.com for a complete discography. Betty also had a track record of discovering and mentoring other artists such as George and Gwen McCrae. She collaborated with many top artists like Gloria Estefan, Snoop Dogg, Joss Stone, Tom Jones, and Lil Wayne. Several of Wright’s works have been sampled over the years by hip hop, rock, and R&B musicians. Betty passed away in May of 2020, leaving behind a rich musical legacy that endures to this day.

The collaboration with Wick and Glow Candle Company, a black-owned, female-led home fragrance brand based in New Jersey, is a natural fit given Wright’s natural entrepreneurial spirit.

“Betty represented empowerment, ownership and strength,” said Brandi H. Munden, CEO and Co-Owner of Wick and Glow Candle Company. “We feel a very deep synergy with the values she held dear and are honored to create these candles and introduce the world to another aspect of who Betty was, a candle lover.”

The Betty Wright Limited Candle Collection is available for pre-order now by going to bettywrightofficial.com and www.wickandglow.com. Orders start shipping June 24, 2024.

 

StubHub’s 2024 Summer Tour Preview: Live Music’s Global Reach Soars As More Fans Travel Abroad for Shows

With summer effectively underway, StubHub is pleased to share its annual Summer Tour Preview, showcasing the season’s most in-demand tours, concert events, and other trends. This summer, live concerts have become a global phenomenon, with ticket buyers from 195 countries on StubHub, showcasing the widest-ever global reach on StubHub in one summer. And more of those fans are traveling for these novel experiences: three times more U.S. fans are traveling internationally for concerts and festivals this summer on StubHub, compared to last summer, and a 42% uptick in international concert fans coming to the U.S. for events.

Key highlights include:

  • Global Concert Appeal: U.S. buyers are traveling to more than 53 countries for the events they’re experiencing abroad this summer
  • Newcomers Join the Lineup: Newcomers Olivia Rodrigo and Zach Bryan make a list that has five acts returning from last year for an encore appearance: Taylor Swift, Coldplay, Morgan Wallen, Bruce Springsteen and P!NK
  • Female Artists Make An Impression: Each of the three female artists in the top 10 list this summer is driving over twice the sales on average than their male counterparts and generating 150% more sales per show, on average, than the seven male acts

“The global reach of live music is the widest we’ve seen in any given summer season on StubHub, with ticket buyers coming from 195 countries,” said Adam Budelli, spokesperson for StubHub. “Americans traveling to international concerts and festivals is up threefold over last summer, while we’re also seeing 42% growth in the number of international fans coming to the U.S.”

StubHub’s Top 10 Global Touring Artists of Summer 2024

  1. Taylor Swift (37 events this summer)
  2. Coldplay (25 events this summer)
  3. The Rolling Stones (13 events this summer)
  4. Zach Bryan (31 events this summer)
  5. Olivia Rodrigo (33 events this summer)
  6. Morgan Wallen (20 events this summer)
  7. Bruce Springsteen (23 events this summer)
  8. Foo Fighters (20 events this summer)
  9. Chris Stapleton (23 events this summer)
  10. P!nk (23 events this summer)

*Ranked by cumulative global concert sales this summer on StubHub and viagogo as of June 3, 2024 for events taking place from Memorial Day (May 27th) through Labor Day (September 2nd) 2024.

Top Artists for International Buyers Traveling to the U.S. this Summer
International buyers are flocking to see these top acts in the U.S.:

  1. Chris Stapleton
  2. Zach Bryan
  3. The Rolling Stones
  4. The Killers
  5. Foo Fighters
  6. Billy Joel
  7. Kenny Chesney
  8. Metallica
  9. Adele
  10. IU

*Ranked by artists with the highest number of tickets sold for their U.S. only events to buyers outside of the U.S. on StubHub North America and viagogo as of June 3, 2024 for events taking place from Memorial Day (May 27th) through Labor Day (September 2nd) 2024.

Green Day x Dickies Unveil New Co-Branded Collection to Celebrate 30 Years of Dookie

Green Day, the globally loved iconic rock band, is excited to announce the launch of an all-new limited-edition capsule that celebrates the 30th anniversary of their groundbreaking album, Dookie, in partnership with the renowned workwear brand, Dickies. This powerful partnership merges Green Day’s rebellious spirit with Dickies’ legacy of quality work apparel, resulting in a collection that pays homage to everyday working men and women while pushing the boundaries of style.

“We’re super excited to be partnering up with Dickies for a really special collaboration this year.” Green Day shared, “We’ve all rocked Dickies as long as we can remember, so teaming up with them to honor 30 years of Dookie and 20 years of American Idiot is pretty rad!”

For decades, Green Day has electrified audiences worldwide with the band’s raw, energetic music, inspiring generations with their rebellious ethos and uncompromising attitude. Meanwhile, Dickies has been synonymous with durable, functional workwear, reflecting the resilience and dedication of the American worker. From classic workwear staples to bold, statement pieces, each item in the collection embodies the spirit of both brands, celebrating the intersection of music, fashion, and culture.

Formed in 1986 in Berkeley, CA, Green Day is one of the world’s best-selling bands of all time, with more than 75 million records sold worldwide and 10 billion cumulative audio/visual streams. The five-time Grammy Award-winning Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees released their breakout album Dookie in 1994, which sold over 10 million and achieved 10x Platinum Diamond status, is widely credited with popularizing and reviving mainstream interest in punk rock, catapulting a career-long run of #1 hit singles. Entertainment Weekly calls Green Day, “The most influential band of their generation,” while Rolling Stone attests, “Green Day have inspired more young bands to start than any act this side of Kiss, and that doesn’t seem to be changing.” In 2004, Green Day released the rock opera American Idiot which captured the nation’s attention, selling more than 8 million copies in the U.S. alone and taking home the Grammy Award for Best Rock Album. Mojo declared “It’s exhilarating stuff, the kind of record that sets new parameters as to what is possible from a punk rock’n’roll band in the 21st century.” In 2010, a stage adaptation of American Idiot debuted on Broadway to critical and commercial acclaim.  Released in 2020, Green Day’s thirteenth studio album Father Of All… debuted at #1 on Billboard’s Album Sales Chart and #1 in both the U.K. and Australia. Pitchfork declared, “Green Day’s most fetching and youthful songs in ages. The trio sounds reinvigorated, more like hungry newcomers staking their claim.” In July 2021, Green Day embarked on The Hella Mega Tour (w/ Fall Out Boy & Weezer). The global tour included 29 sold-out stadium gigs – including renowned venues like London Stadium and Los Angeles’ Dodger Stadium. Their highly anticipated 14th studio album Saviors is out now. They’ll be embarking on a global stadium tour – The Saviors Tour – this summer.

To coincide with the milestone of 30 years of Dookie, the Green Day x Dickies collection includes a jacket, hoodie and tee featuring designs inspired by iconic imagery from the album. With the rebellious energy of Dookie, the collection seamlessly blends Green Day’s iconic style with Dickies’ heritage craftsmanship, embodying the essence of hard work and unapologetic authenticity.

“We are so excited to work with a band as legendary as Green Day as they celebrate Dookie’s 30th anniversary and their upcoming world tour,” said Dickies Director of Marketing, Troy Kerr, “As a workwear brand organically adopted by so many, the partnership was a natural fit, aligning with our values and allowing us to develop a collection that celebrates both the band and the hard-working crew behind the scenes.”

Items from the capsule are now available on Green Day’s website and will be at select Urban Outfitters on June 14 and as exclusive tour merch beginning July 29. Check out the collection in action and on the stage on Green Day’s YouTube channel.

For more information and updates, please visit https://www.dickies.com/green-day.

 

Thomas Dolby Announces Release of New Historical Novel “Prevailing Wind”

Renowned musician and technology innovator Thomas Dolby is set to release his highly anticipated novel, Prevailing Wind. This gripping historical fiction will be available on June 25, 2024, marking Dolby’s significant foray into the literary world.

On the eve of WWI, the young Haskell brothers, Davey and Jacob, dream of escaping their impoverished lobsterman life in Deer Isle, Maine. Their sailing skills attract the attention of the powerful New York Yacht Club, offering them a shot at glory in the prestigious America’s Cup race.

Their bond is tested as they both fall for Edith, a captivating Irish maid, and family loyalty is at stake. A near-fatal accident leaves one brother hospitalized and consumed by revenge, but a compassionate Latina nurse helps him heal. Meanwhile, millionaire yachtsmen harbor dark secrets, including a hidden concubine leading to blackmail and scandal.

As the heir to the Vanderbilt railroad fortune grapples with his future, the Haskell brothers must navigate choices between love, family, and ambition. Can they overcome the trials that threaten to tear them apart, or will the winds of change leave them stranded in the past?

Thomas Dolby is best known for his innovative contributions to music and technology. A five-time Grammy nominee, Dolby’s hit single “She Blinded Me with Science” became an iconic anthem of the 1980s. Beyond music, he has significantly impacted the tech industry, notably by creating the synthesizer used in billions of Nokia mobile phones. His memoir, The Speed of Sound, chronicles his journey through the music and tech industries and was well-received for its insightful storytelling.

Dolby has also contributed to the film industry, providing original music for productions by George Lucas, Steven Spielberg, Barry Levinson and Ken Russell. He has performed with musical legends such as Stevie Wonder, David Bowie, and Roger Waters, and his technological innovations have left an indelible mark on the entertainment world.

Prevailing Wind will be available for purchase at local and major bookstores, including Barnes & Noble and Amazon, starting June 25, 2024. Pre-orders are currently open on Amazon.

Peter Dinklage Brings Spalding Gray’s Post-9/11 Love Letter to New York City to Life

Renowned monologist Spalding Gray was 26 when he arrived in New York, beginning a love affair with the city that would last the remainder of his life. He wrote the following letter in 2001, the day after the World Trade Center towers were brought crashing to the ground.

To read it, Letters Live were joined by Peter Dinklage at Letters Live in New York, hosted at The Town Hall, Midtown Manhattan, on May 16th 2024.

If Motörhead Performed Depeche Mode’s ‘Personal Jesus’

Rock and Metal mashup maestro Denis Pauna brings a thrilling twist to the iconic Depeche Mode classic “Personal Jesus” by reimagining it as if it were performed by the legendary Motörhead.

Midge Ure Announces 2024 North American Tour

Midge Ure has announced a late summer North American tour that will kick off at Daryl’s house in Pawling, NY on August 7. The gigs dubbed ‘Band In A Box’ will take Midge across North America and back, wrapping up in Ft. Lauderdale on September 12.

Midge says: “Lots of people asking me to clarify what ‘Band in a Box’ actually is. It consists of myself on electric guitar, synthesiser and vocals alongside my long time keyboard player Charlie Round-Turner playing live with various loops, samples and programmed drums. A band in a box! This format allows me to perform a full band performance with a ’stripped down’ duo. I will be playing a range of material from my long and varied career. From early Ultravox and Visage to recent solo material. Who knew two people could make so much noise?”

Midge Ure has an impressive catalogue fronting the groundbreaking electrorock band Ultravox as well as being a member of such notable bands as Visage and Thin Lizzy. He helped form Band Aid where he produced and co-wrote the smash charity single ‘Do They Know It’s Christmas,’ still one of the biggest singles in UK music history. He was also one of the principle creators of Live Aid and Live 8 along with Bob Geldof. Ure has spent most of his career touring the globe playing solo and with Ultravox who reformed in 2009. He served the notable role of MD for the Princes Trust at the Royal Albert Hall with a cast of the usual suspects including Queen, Eric Clapton, Phil Collins and Mark King. Ure is now working on three albums including a follow-up to Fragile, an Orchestrated Pt. 2 in addition to a totally instrumental album.

Tickets for the tour can be purchased HERE.

Midge Ure Tour Dates:

August 07 – Pawling, NY – Daryl’s House
August 08 – Hamden, CT – Space Ballroom
August 09 – Boston, MA – City Winery
August 10 – Roslyn, NY – My Father’s Place
August 11 – New York, NY – City Winery
August 13 – Annapolis, MD – Ram’s Head
August 14 – Philadelphia, PA – City Winery
August 15 – Pittsburgh, PA – Jergels
August 16 – Toronto, ON – El Mocambo
August 18 – Evanston, IL – Space
August 20 – Milwaukee, WI – Shank Hall
August 21 – Minneapolis, MN – Parkway
August 23 – Vancouver, BC – Rickshaw
August 24 – Everett, WA – APEX Art & Cultural Center
August 29 – Oakland, CA – Yoshi’s
August 30 –  Los Angeles, CA – Zebulon
August 31 – San Diego, CA – Casbah
September 01 –  San Juan Capistrano, CA – Coach House
September 11 – Mt. Dora, FL –  Mt. Dora Music Hall
September 12 – Ft. Lauderdale, FL – Culture Room

Enhancing Workplace Efficiency: The Role of Employee Monitoring Software

By Mitch Rice

In today’s rapidly evolving business landscape, the efficient management of human resources plays a pivotal role in organizational success. Businesses are increasingly turning to Employee Monitoring Software and Data Loss Prevention Software to optimize productivity, ensure data security, and uphold regulatory compliance. This article explores the benefits, features, and importance of Employee Monitoring Software solutions in modern workplaces.

Employee Monitoring Software Overview

Employee Monitoring Software encompasses a suite of tools designed to track and manage employee activities within an organization. It serves as a crucial mechanism for enhancing productivity, bolstering cybersecurity measures, and maintaining adherence to regulatory standards. By providing real-time insights into employee performance and behavior, this software enables businesses to make informed decisions that drive operational efficiency.

Key Features of Employee Monitoring Software

One of the cornerstone features of Employee Monitoring Software is its robust employee time tracking system, which allows employers to monitor and manage workforce efficiency effectively. This capability not only aids in resource allocation but also facilitates accurate project planning and budgeting. Additionally, advanced functionalities such as screen monitoring and activity logging provide supervisors with visibility into daily tasks, ensuring that employees remain focused on key objectives.

Benefits of Employee Monitoring Software

The implementation of Employee Monitoring Software yields significant benefits for both employers and employees alike. For employers, it translates into heightened productivity levels through streamlined workflows and optimized resource utilization. Moreover, by mitigating distractions and unauthorized activities, organizations bolster their data loss prevention efforts, safeguarding sensitive information from potential breaches.

Compliance and Privacy

Addressing concerns surrounding privacy and compliance is paramount when deploying Employee Monitoring Software. Organizations must adopt transparent policies and practices that adhere to data protection laws, thereby cultivating a culture of trust and accountability among employees. By prioritizing ethical use and respecting individual privacy rights, businesses can harness the full potential of monitoring tools while maintaining regulatory integrity.

Use Cases

Across various industries, Employee Monitoring Software has proven instrumental in facilitating remote work management, monitoring project timelines, and maximizing operational efficiency. For instance, in healthcare settings, the software ensures adherence to patient confidentiality protocols while optimizing staff scheduling and patient care delivery. Similarly, in financial institutions, robust monitoring capabilities aid in fraud detection and compliance monitoring, thereby fortifying organizational resilience.

Choosing the Right Software

Selecting the appropriate Employee Monitoring Software hinges on several critical factors, including scalability, integration capabilities with existing infrastructure, and user-friendly interfaces. Organizations are encouraged to evaluate solutions that align with their specific operational needs, ensuring seamless implementation and sustained performance enhancements.

Implementation Best Practices

Successful deployment of Employee Monitoring Software necessitates comprehensive employee training and transparent communication regarding its objectives and benefits. By fostering a collaborative environment that prioritizes employee well-being and organizational goals, businesses can maximize the efficacy of monitoring tools while nurturing a culture of productivity and accountability.

Trends and Future Outlook

Looking ahead, the landscape of Employee Monitoring Software is poised for continued innovation and advancement. Emerging trends such as AI-driven analytics and enhanced reporting functionalities are set to redefine workplace monitoring, offering deeper insights into workforce dynamics and operational efficiencies. By embracing these technological advancements, businesses can stay ahead of the curve and adapt to evolving workplace dynamics effectively.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Employee Monitoring Software represents a transformative tool for modern businesses seeking to optimize productivity, enhance data security, and ensure regulatory compliance. By leveraging its comprehensive features and benefits, organizations can empower their workforce to achieve peak performance while safeguarding critical assets and maintaining ethical standards. As businesses navigate the complexities of a digital age, investing in robust Employee Monitoring Software emerges as a strategic imperative for sustainable growth and operational excellence.

By incorporating these elements, businesses can harness the full potential of Employee Monitoring Software to drive tangible improvements in efficiency, security, and compliance within their respective workplaces.

Data and information are provided for informational purposes only, and are not intended for investment or other purposes.

Harnessing the Power of Datacenter Proxies in Modern Digital Landscapes

By Mitch Rice

In the ever-evolving realm of cybersecurity and digital privacy, the concept of datacenter proxies has emerged as a pivotal tool for businesses and individuals alike. This article delves into the intricacies of datacenter proxies, their role in today’s digital infrastructure, and explores how they contribute to enhanced online security and operational efficiency.

Understanding Datacenter Proxies

Datacenter proxy are intermediary servers situated in datacenters, acting as a gateway between users and the internet. Unlike residential proxies that use IP addresses assigned by ISPs to homeowners, datacenter proxies are hosted in datacenters and provide users with anonymous IP addresses. 

These proxies serve several crucial purposes:

Anonymity and Privacy: Datacenter proxies mask the user’s IP address, making it appear as though the request originates from the datacenter’s IP rather than the user’s actual location. This anonymity is vital for privacy-conscious users and businesses seeking to protect their online activities.

Geographical Flexibility: Businesses often use datacenter proxies to access geo-restricted content or to conduct market research across different regions without physical presence. By rotating IP addresses from various datacenters worldwide, companies can gather data ethically and efficiently.

Enhanced Security: Datacenter proxies add an extra layer of security by shielding the user’s device from direct contact with the internet. This isolation reduces the risk of cyber threats such as DDoS attacks, ensuring smoother and safer online operations.

Scalability and Performance: Due to their centralized location and dedicated infrastructure, datacenter proxies typically offer faster connection speeds and lower latency compared to residential proxies. This advantage is crucial for tasks requiring rapid data retrieval or high-volume scraping.

Applications Across Industries

The versatility of datacenter proxies makes them indispensable across various sectors:

E-commerce and Price Aggregation: Retailers use datacenter proxies to monitor competitors’ prices, ensuring they remain competitive in the market while adhering to pricing strategies.

Ad Verification: Advertisers deploy datacenter proxies to verify ad placements and monitor their campaigns’ effectiveness across different regions and platforms.

Market Research: Companies leverage datacenter proxies to gather market intelligence, analyze consumer behavior, and tailor their strategies based on regional trends and preferences.

Cybersecurity: Datacenter proxies assist cybersecurity professionals in testing network defenses and identifying vulnerabilities without exposing their true identities.

Challenges and Considerations

Despite their advantages, datacenter proxies face challenges such as:

Detection and Blocking: Some websites employ sophisticated techniques to detect and block proxy traffic, limiting their effectiveness in certain contexts.

Ethical Use: Misuse of datacenter proxies for illegal activities like hacking or unauthorized data scraping can lead to legal repercussions and damage to a company’s reputation.

IP Reputation: Datacenter IP addresses may sometimes have a tainted reputation due to previous misuse, resulting in restrictions or challenges in accessing certain online services.

Future Outlook

As digital landscapes evolve, the role of datacenter proxies is likely to expand further. Innovations in AI and machine learning may enhance proxy technologies, enabling more sophisticated evasion of detection methods while maintaining ethical boundaries.

Conclusion

Datacenter proxies represent a cornerstone in the architecture of modern digital operations, offering a blend of anonymity, security, and performance optimization essential for businesses navigating the online environment. Understanding their capabilities and implementing them responsibly can empower enterprises to achieve their goals efficiently and ethically in an increasingly interconnected world.

For businesses and individuals alike, embracing datacenter proxies responsibly can unlock a realm of possibilities, from safeguarding privacy to driving competitive advantage through informed decision-making and secure digital interactions.

My Next Read: “Deliver Me from Nowhere: The Making of Bruce Springsteen’s Nebraska” by Warren Zanes

Without Nebraska, Bruce Springsteen might not be who he is today. The natural follow-up to Springsteen’s hugely successful album The River should have been the hit-packed Born in the U.S.A. But instead, in 1982, he came out with an album consisting of a series of dark songs he had recorded by himself, for himself. But more than forty years later, Nebraska is arguably Springsteen’s most important record—the lasting clue to understanding not just his career as an artist and the vision behind it, but also the man himself.

Nebraska is rough and unfinished, recorded on cassette tape with a simple four-track recorder by Springsteen, alone in his bedroom, just as the digital future was announcing itself. And yet Springsteen now considers it his best album. Nebraska expressed a turmoil that was reflective of the mood of the country, but it was also a symptom of trouble in the artist’s life, the beginnings of a mental breakdown that Springsteen would only talk about openly decades after the album’s release.

Warren Zanes spoke to many people involved with making Nebraska, including Bruce Springsteen himself. He also interviewed more than a dozen celebrated artists and musical insiders, from Rosanne Cash to Steven Van Zandt, about their reactions to the album. Zanes interweaves these conversations with inquiries into the myriad cultural touchpoints, including Terrence Malick’s Badlands and the short stories of Flannery O’Conner, that influenced Springsteen as he was writing the album’s haunting songs. The result is a textured and revelatory account of not only a crucial moment in the career of an icon but also a record that upended all expectations and predicted a home-recording revolution.

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That Eric Alper
6-time nominee for Publicist of the Year during Canadian Music Week, a 16-time JUNO Award winner overseeing PR campaigns, and have also been truly honoured to work with some of the biggest and most important artists of our time.

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