Posts tagged with "passion"

Black Music Action Coalition

Black Music Action Coalition Partners with Wasserman Music, Nashville Music Equality, Recording Industry Association of America, and YouTube Music to conclude the first annual Tennessee State University Music Accelerator Program

May 26, 2022 marked the completion of the three-week Maymester Music Accelerator Program at TSU. This program ended with guest lecturers, super producer Dallas Austin and recording artist Sir The Baptist, they both received honorary doctorates in music from TSU on May 6. The last class was held at the National Museum of African American Music and to their surprise, each student received a gold plaque from the RIAA. The Music Accelerator Program at Tennessee State University is a program in partnership with Black Music Action Coalition (BMAC), Nashville Music Equality, Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), Wasserman Music, and YouTube Music.

Over the course of the 3-week program, guest lectures from influential music executives, along with internship placements for students looking to start their career paths across multiple music industry companies, including Wasserman Music, Warner Music Nashville and LVRN. Speakers who participated included Post Malone manager Dre London, Artistry Group founder/CEO Max Gousse, Tuma Basa (Youtube Music), Andrew Lieber (MAC Agency), Roddy Ricch manager Shawn Holiday, recording artists BRELAND, Blanco Brown and Joy Oladokun, Mary J Blige’s manager Ashaunna Ayars, Marcus Johnson (Goldenvoice/AEG), Brandon McEachern and Marcus Allen (Broccoli City) EMPIRE product manager Russell Barrett, RIAA’s Jackie Jones, Tina Davis (Vp of EMPIRE), BMG’s Tim Reid and Jon Loba, and Wasserman Music agents Lee Anderson, Lenore Kinder, Callender, Chappel McCollister and Mallory Smith and many more.

“The Music Business Accelerator course was a one-of-a-kind learning experience that exposed students to successful music professionals. Whether having guests in the classroom, or visiting a music related company, the course provided real-time and real-live information that have enabled the students to see their future careers as a tangible goal and not an ambiguous dream. This course provided inspiration, calculation, and anticipation of things to come!” – Dr. Mark Crawford, Professor of Music and Coordinator of Commercial Music, TSU.

“The level of passion and focus I saw at the accelerator program gave me so much hope and excitement for the future of the music industry. I was so impressed with these students, and I’m honored that I was given the opportunity to share wisdom that they’ll carry throughout their journey.” – Tina Davis, EMPIRE.

“I am truly honored to come speak with a live audience of music lovers at Tennessee State University. The Music Accelerator Program is an incredible resource for aspiring young creatives, a program I would have loved to be a part of when I was starting out on my music journey, so I am grateful for the opportunity to be able to share what I’ve learned and to help in any way that I can.” – Dre London.

“The Tennessee State students were incredible. I could tell the future of the music business was in the room by how intently they listened to each of us. This program is special!” – Tuma Basa, Dir. Of Black Music & Culture, Youtube Music.

“Black Music Action Coalition wants to be intentional about addressing the erasure of Black artists, executives, and the creative community on Music Row by creating a real pipeline to opportunities and resources to level the playing field in Nashville. I was able to watch the students in this music accelerator program show up at 8:15 in the morning on a daily basis, ready to learn and were completely engaged for over 3 hours, as some of the most successful and influential leaders in the entertainment industry poured into them. The students were able to learn about publishing, management & branding, distribution, marketing, tour routing & talent buying and even participate in a focus group for an upcoming release from an artist signed to a major label. Three weeks of nonstop action. I met some incredible artists, rappers, singer/songwriters, managers, producers who will definitely make their mark in this industry. Not only through the paid internships that follow this program, but we will continue to work directly with all of these students to ensure they are equipped with all they need to succeed. This was an incredible first step, of which many BMAC will take with those in Nashville dedicated to racial, social and economic justice. We are grateful for the partnership with Dr. Crawford, Wasserman Music, RIAA, Youtube Music and Nashville Music Equality and Tennessee State University.” – Willie “Prophet” Stiggers, co-founder/co-chair of BMAC.

“It was truly an honor and privilege to have the opportunity to share my story, knowledge, and experiences in the music business with the amazing students and future music executives at the Music Accelerator Program at Tennessee State University. My personal goal was to show young black aspiring creatives that a career in music business is attainable at the highest levels. The students were smart, engaged, and fun! Thank you to everyone involved”! – Marcus Johnson, Goldenvoice/ AEG.

“TSU has always had talented and hard-working students, and they deserve the same access to opportunities in the music industry as their contemporaries at local PWIs. I loved being able to share my experience and story with them, and I have faith that these students will go on to do great things in this industry. I’m grateful to RIAA and BMAC for the chance to connect with the class and give back to the next generation of leaders.” – BRELAND.

“LVRN supports BMAC and Wasserman Music Accelerator Program at Tennessee State University. We all started very young in this business and are forever grateful to those that invested time into developing us as executives. We believe we have a responsibility to pay it forward and invest in the next generation of young leaders and this program is the perfect opportunity.” – Amber Grimes, EVP and GM of LVRN.

“Being a part of this program has been an amazing experience and an important first step to bringing more voices to the table. These students are incredibly talented and I believe they are the future of the music industry. We have all learned a lot from the speakers and each other and I look forward to partnering on more intentional efforts to bring opportunities like this to more students.” – Jackie Jones, Artist and Industry Relations, RIAA.

“The magnitude of this program is so important for our TSU students who have been historically shut out of access and opportunities within our music landscape here in Nashville, TN. On behalf of Nashville Music Equality and the Nashville Promise Zone, I couldn’t be more proud and inspired to see the number of Black Music Executives this program will produce. And to have this happen at Tennessee State University is absolutely amazing!” – Brian Sexton, Nashville Music Equality Community Chair/Nashville Promise Zone Manager.

ABOUT WASSERMAN MUSIC

Wasserman Music represents a world-class roster of artists for live performance, touring, brand partnerships and beyond, empowering them to create culture and impact audiences globally. The passionate, entrepreneurial agents at Wasserman Music are long-term artist development strategists who build significant, global platforms for the world’s most impactful artists. Wasserman Music is a division of Wasserman, a partner to the world’s most iconic sports figures, musical artists, brands, and properties.
Website | Roster | Instagram

ABOUT TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY

Founded in 1912, Tennessee State University is Nashville’s only public university, and is a premier, historically black university and land-grant institution offering 39 bachelor’s degree programs, 24 master’s degree programs, and eight doctoral degrees. TSU is a comprehensive research-intensive institution with a R-2 Carnegie designation and has a graduate school on its downtown Avon Williams Campus, along with the Otis Floyd Nursery Research Center in McMinnville, Tennessee. With a commitment to excellence, Tennessee State University provides students with a quality education in a nurturing and innovative environment that prepares them as alumni to be global leaders in every facet of society. Visit the University online at tnstate.edu.

ABOUT BLACK MUSIC ACTION COALITION

Tuesday June 2, 2020, the music industry went silent for one day to join the fight for equality as part of #BlackOutTuesday…the day the show paused!. This movement spread beyond the music business and inspired tens of millions worldwide to follow suit. Galvanized by this historic moment, close to 200 preeminent artist managers, attorneys, business managers, agents and other industry executives signed up to join forces, instituting and introducing the first-ever BLACK MUSIC ACTION COALITION. Together, these individuals form one common voice, representing the interests of artists, producers, songwriters and executives. This illustrious cadre of industry heavyweights notably represents artists who comprise a majority of the industry’s revenue. This advocacy organization endeavors to uphold and actualize the mission of Black Lives Matter in the music industry and reach racial justice not just across record labels, publishers, agencies, distributors, and DSP’s but throughout society at large. BMAC works together with various business leaders to hold their companies accountable and implement a system of checks and balances to ensure change takes root. The group fosters and shepherds various educational, mental health, financial literacy, entrepreneurship, policing, social justice, and political causes that directly impact Black communities. In 2021, BMAC released the first annual Music Industry Action report card that measured and assessed the music industry’s progress toward achieving racial justice and equity. To commemorate the report card, BMAC also held its inaugural Music In Action Awards Gala to honor musicians, activists and industry professionals who have used their platforms to enact change within the music industry and broader society. The Weeknd, H.E.R., Ethiopia Habtemariam, Ben Crump and more were honored for their contributions to change.

About RIAA

The Recording Industry Association of America® advocates for recorded music and the people and companies that create it in the United States. RIAA’s several hundred members – ranging from major American music groups with global reach to artist-owned labels and small businesses – make up the world’s most vibrant and innovative music community, working to help artists reach their potential and connect with fans while supporting hundreds of thousands of American jobs.

For more information on Wasserman Music, please contact:
WassermanMusicPR@shorefire.com

For more information on Nashville Music Equality (NME), please contact:
Brian Sexton | sexton.brian@gmail.com

For more information on Black Music Action Coalition (BMAC), please contact:
Tori Johnson | tori@biz3.net
Kathryn Frazier | kathryn@biz3.net

For more information on YouTube Music, please contact:
Margaret Hart | magregory@google.com

For more information on RIAA, please contact:
Marcel Pariseau | marcel@truepublicrelations.com

Black Music Action via True Public Relations by 360 Magazine

JOHN K – A LOT

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The RIAA-certified platinum pop singer/songwriter John K celebrated the new year by releasing his hot new single, “A LOT.” Listen to the song HERE via Epic Records and watch the music video HERE.

The track produced by WYNNE [MGK, Jaden Smith] was created and written in collaboration by John and songwriter Steph Jones. Steph, too, co-wrote John’s critically acclaimed single, “if we never met.” Throughout his new single, “A LOT,” John seemingly sings out to an ex-lover while guitar riff blends in the background. John references his ex directly, pondering, “Do you ever wear my sweatshirt when it’s colder?” As the chorus sets off, John declares, “I think about you a lot.”

John spoke about the single and its meaning, stating, “I never realized how often I say the word ‘a lot’ until I wrote this song. The story is about that feeling when you can’t get someone out of your head, except for now that person is out of the picture. It’s about replaying memories over and over, thinking about the person you wish you never lost. A simple concept really, but I felt like it was one my fans would relate to right away. You ever mess something up so bad and then all you have left is the memory of how good it used to be? That’s A LOT.”

The music video was directed by Erik Rojas [Jessie J, Dillon Francis] and illustrates the lyrics that John sings to a tee. Throughout the video, the camera cuts to reminiscent times shared between lovers to scenes of John alone at the bar.

John joins Marc E. Bassy on his North American winter tour. The tour is set to begin on February 14 at the Varsity Theater in Minneapolis, MN, continuing through many top locations throughout the country, concluding March 12 in San Diego, CA at Observatory North Park. The full list of tour dates will be below, and you can visit www.ticketmaster.com to snatch up tickets.

About John K

John K was originally born and raised in Orlando, FL, but now is a Los Angeles-based singer/ songwriter. Musical talent ran in John’s family, as his father was an amateur guitarist and his grandmother the daughter of a professional trumpet player. His passion for music ran in his blood, which made no surprise when John asserted himself into the industry in 2017. John’s breakthrough song “if we never met,” holds platinum accreditation, and has been appreciated by Billboard, Flaunt, L’Officiel and Rolling Stone. John’s total streams add up to over half-a-billion, and his career just continues to grow. Most lately, John released his album in case you miss me [Epic Records] in 2021, and as we dive into 2022, we cannot wait to see what else is up his sleeve.

Tour Dates

February 2022

2/14 – Minneapolis, MN @ Varsity Theater*

2/16 – Chicago, IL @ HOB*

2/17 – Louisville, KY @ Mercury Ballroom*

2/18 – Grand Rapids, MI @ Elevation*

2/19 – Detroit, MI @ St. Andrews Hall*

2/22 – Columbus, OH @ Skully’s*

2/24 – Philadelphia, PA @ TLA*

2/25 – Boston, MA @ Big Night Live*

2/26 – New York, NY @ Irving Plaza*

March

3/1 – Silver Spring, MD @ The Fillmore*

3/3 – Charlotte, NC @ Underground*

3/4 – Atlanta, GA @ Masquerade Heaven*

3/5 – Nashville, TN @ Cannery*

3/6 – St. Louis @ Delmar Hall*

3/10 – Phoenix, AZ @ The Van Buren*

3/11 – Anaheim, CA @ HOB*

3/12 – San Diego, CA @ Observatory North Park*

*With Marc E. Bassy

Matteo Bocelli × Close

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Singer/songwriter Matteo Bocelli rang in the new year with a brand new single and video of “Close.” Bocelli’s sensitive and passionate nature is encapsulated through “Close,” where he proclaims, “it feels like heaven when I hold ya/so I will never let you go/and when the worlds too much to shoulder/just keep me close close close close.” Listen HERE.

The music video for the new single was shot at the 2000-year-old Arena di Verona in Italy. This iconic Roman amphitheater has seen other noteworthy artists perform there, such as, Paul McCartney, One Direction and Maria Callas. The historic location for the heartfelt song that is “Close” sends off an eternal essence. Throughout the video, Bocelli roams the streets of Italy and plays with his band. Watch the music video HERE.

Matteo Bocelli spoke on the track, stating, “I had the pleasure of writing ‘Close’ with Stuart Crichton and Wrabel this past year. This was such a fun song to write. I love the upbeat tempo and vibrant melody. I hope it brings some happiness and maybe even the urge to let loose and dance a little bit, just as it does for me! After enduring so much time apart from friends and family over the last couple of years, I would love for this song to become a hymn of hope.”

Bocelli will be featured on The Kelly Clarkson Show on this upcoming Thursday, January 20, where he will be performing. Bocelli, the son of opera icon Andrea Bocelli, was a special guest for his fathers U.S. arena tour. The tour has seen two Madison Square Garden shows and returns back on February 20 at State Farm Arena in Atlanta.

This artist finished out the year of 2021 with a showing of his single “Solo” on December 31 on Good Morning America. Like the music video setting for “Close,” Bocelli also gave a renowned performance of “Solo” from Arena di Verona, watch HERE. Before appearing on GMA, Bocelli gave a series of performances in 2021 while appearing on the PBS special In Performance at the White House: Spirit of the Season, TODAY, and CNN”s New Year’s Eve Special.

About Matteo Bocelli

Matteo Bocelli’s career began at the mere age of six when he first learned how to play the piano. His first stage appearance came when he was 18, while he sang Verdi at the Rome Colosseum. You may even remember him from Andrea Bocelli’s 2018 “Fall on Me,” where his impeccable vocals and piano skills were highlighted. Now graduating from the Conservatory of Lucca in Tuscany, Bocelli tours the world and captivates audiences with his melodic gift.

IV4 × Only Fans

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Alternative contemporary artist IV4 has just released her well awaited single and music video for “Only Fans.” The video, directed by Austin McCracken and produced by Blank Square Productions, showcases intimate moments of IV4 singing to a lover. Additional behind-the-scenes footage is accessible solely on the content subscription platform of OnlyFans. Stream the single HERE and catch the music video HERE.

The Los-Angeles based artist platforms her impeccable musical capabilities while showcasing her sultry and seductive side in the video for “Only Fans.” IV4 struts down an empty road while her body is hidden by a platinum blonde, waist-length wig. “Who knows you better?” she sings, leading up to her passionate chorus; “Baby, it’s hard to focus when I touch you so right.”

“Only Fans” is the most recent single that pairs apart of IV4’s upcoming EP Get Rich and Cry Trying. The single follows one of IV4’s most noteworthy collaborations with singer, songwriter and producer Jeremih on the single “Stroke.” To date, “Stroke” has collected over 356k views on YouTube. IV4 had other lucrative partnerships, including her single “Swimming” featuring Trippie Redd, with the music video accumulating over 1.2 million YouTube views.

IV4 continues to grow and progress her identity through her music and fashion. All her pieces of work are jam-packed with emotion, paired with her natural, chill and stylish vibe. Stay tuned for more upcoming work soon.

Nikki Sixx – The First 21

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Mötley Crüe and Sixx:A.M. founder Nikki Sixx is now a four-time New York Times best-selling author with his new book, THE FIRST 21: How I Became Nikki Sixx entering the coveted list at #8 on the Hardcover chart and #11 on the Combined Print And Ebook List. THE FIRST 21 joins Nikki Sixx’s other three bestsellers, The Heroin Diaries, This Is Gonna Hurt, and the Mötley Crüe biography, The Dirt: Confessions of the World’s Most Notorious Rock Band. In addition, THE FIRST 21 also quickly rose to Amazon’s bestsellers list since its release on October 19, occupying the top spot on Amazon’s rock music books chart and in the Top 40 overall biographies and memoirs chart. THE FIRST 21 is also #22 on the USA Today’s best-selling books top 150 list, as well as #9 on Canada’s The Globe and Mail bestsellers list, evident of the book’s global appeal.

“I am such a fan of books and storytelling,” said Nikki Sixx. “The whole process is extremely creative from the beginning to the end, which allowed me to open up candidly in the memoir about addiction, sobriety and reflect about the formative years of my life, while unpacking the complicated childhood that had some twists and turns along the way. I am really happy THE FIRST 21 connected with people in such a deep way.”

THE FIRST 21: How I Became Nikki Sixx is available at book sellers everywhere including Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million, INDIEBOUND, BOOKSHOP, HUDSON BOOKSELLERS, Powell’s, Target, and Walmart, among others. Fans can also listen to the latest release of his band Sixx:A.M, SIXX:A.M. HITS via Better Noise Music. The album serves as a companion piece to the book. The album debuted at #2 on the iTunes Metal in the US (#2 Rock), UK, Canada and Australia, as well as top 10 in numerous other countries. For more information, please visit: www.hachettebooks.com, or www.TheFirst21Book.com for the book and www.betternoise.com for the album.

About THE FIRST 21: How I Became Nikki Sixx:

Rock-and-roll icon and three-time bestselling author Nikki Sixx tells his origin story: how Frank Feranna became Nikki Sixx, chronicling his fascinating journey from irrepressible Idaho farm boy to the man who formed the revolutionary rock group Mötley Crüe.

Nikki Sixx is one of the most respected, recognizable, and entrepreneurial icons in the music industry. As the founder of Mötley Crüe, who is now in his twenty-first year of sobriety, Sixx is incredibly passionate about his craft and wonderfully open about his life in rock and roll, and as a person of the world. Born Franklin Carlton Feranna on December 11, 1958, young Frankie was abandoned by his father and partly raised by his mother, a woman who was ahead of her time but deeply troubled. Frankie ended up living with his grandparents, bouncing from farm to farm and state to state. He was an all-American kid—hunting, fishing, chasing girls, and playing football—but underneath it all, there was a burning desire for more, and that more was music. He eventually took a Greyhound bound for Hollywood.

In Los Angeles, Frank lived with his aunt and his uncle—the president of Capitol Records—for a short time. But there was no easy path to the top. He was soon on his own. There were dead-end jobs: dipping circuit boards, clerking at liquor and record stores, selling used light bulbs, and hustling to survive. But at night, Frank honed his craft, joining Sister, a band formed by fellow hard-rock veteran Blackie Lawless, and formed a group of his own: London, the precursor of Mötley Crüe. Turning down an offer to join Randy Rhoads’s band, Frank changed his name to Nikki London, Nikki Nine, and, finally, Nikki Sixx. Like Huck Finn with a stolen guitar, he had a vision: a group that combined punk, glam, and hard rock into the biggest, most theatrical, and irresistible package the world had ever seen. With hard work, passion, and some luck, the vision manifested in reality—and this is a profound true story of finding identity, of how Frank Feranna became Nikki Sixx. It’s also a road map to the ways you can overcome anything, and achieve all your goals, if only you put your mind to it.

PinkPantheress – To Hell With It

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PinkPantheress has released her debut mixtape To hell with it, out now via Elektra Records/Parlophone Records. To hell with it includes fan-favorites “Pain,” “Passion,” “Break It Off” and recent hit singles “Just for me” and “I must apologize.”

Speaking on the mixtape PinkPantheress says: “I’m super excited to share this project with you all as my first body of work, I’ve been collecting songs that I’ve made this year and while I’m still developing my sound, I’m hoping these songs immerse you into your ideal fantasy world as you listen.” 360 Magazine is surprised to see the amount of Halloween and Christmas music that is coming out this year for each Holiday.

Though she only debuted in 2021, PinkPantheress has gained a strong fanbase including Dazed who referred to her music as “irresistibly catchy earworms.” She has also received love from i-D, Pitchfork, NPR, Pigeons & Planes, and more.

Tracklist:

Pain
I must apologise
Last Valentines
Passion
Just for me
Notice I Cried
Reason
My Friends know
Nineteen
Break It Off (Bonus)

Tracy Sugarman’s Works Offered at Auction

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“AND ALL THAT JAZZ”! WORKS BY TRACY SUGARMAN – ARTIST TO THE MUSIC INDUSTRY, TO BE OFFERED AT AUCTION

September 2021. Artworks by the American illustrator, Tracy Sugarman (1921-2013), who documented some of the most momentous events in American history, such as Mississippi’s Freedom Summer of 1964 (a milestone in the civil rights movement in America) and images of World War II, will be offered in Dreweatts Modern and Contemporary Art sale on October 12, 2021.

As well as encapsulating historical moments in a unique way, Sugarman illustrated hundreds of books and record covers in a career spanning 50 years. The group of works coming up for auction spotlights Sugarman’s work for the music industry. Between 1954 and 1959 he produced more than a hundred album covers for the record labels Grand Award and Waldorf Music Hall Records. These were later reissued on CDS.

His illustrations were published in hundreds of magazines and books, as well being shown as on TV (PBS, ABC TV, NBC TV, and CBS TV). He was in high demand as a multi-talented artist, scriptwriter, producer, and author and won numerous awards from the Society of Illustrators in New York and the Art Directors Club in Washington, D.C. He was also a civil rights activist, something he also captured in his artworks.

While carrying out his commissions for the music industry he was given complete artistic freedom to create the works as he wished. Commenting he said: “I had been able to explore every medium from scratch-board to oils, from pastels to watercolors and seen them reproduced. I had captured Mahalia Jackson singing gospel and Knuckles O’Toole playing ragtime piano.” A work in 2007 marked the beginning of a lifelong love affair with jazz and the works in this sale show how he creatively captures the spirit and energy of Jazz.

In the Studio (lot 301) in its bright red hues, communicates the passion and vibrancy of Jazz and music in general. Dark lines contrast the colour, creating the shapes of the figures, resulting in a simple, but powerful piece. It carries an estimate of £400-£600. Portrait of a Trumpet Player (lot 299) by Tracy Sugarman captures a trumpet player in full flow. Created in wax crayon, the raw image brings the paper to life. It is estimated to fetch £400-£600. The Thinker (Lot 300) in wax crayon and watercolor shows the creative process and thinking behind the creation of music. In rough strokes Sugarman conveys all of this in a minimal way, creating the impact by its very simplicity. The work is estimated to fetch £400-£600.

More works by Sugarman can be seen in the online catalogue, follow the link here

Winner of Hot Wheels Legends Tour

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The winner of the 2021 Hot Wheels Legends Tour Houston live event stop has been announced.

Michael Tran of Houston, Texas will go on to compete for a chance to have his fully customized 2007 “Soo Sik C6” Corvette become the next Garage of Legends inductee and made into a 1:64 Hot Wheels die-cast toy sold around the world.

About the “Soo Sik C6” Corvette:

The Houston-winning “Soo Sik C6” Corvette started life as a factory 2007 Corvette. It is now anything BUT. In true garage spirit, Michael Tran, a Houston-native, custom fabricated an entirely new body AND interior for his C6 Corvette. The only original components remaining are the frame and the engine, which now makes roughly 1,000 horsepower thanks to a pair of rear-mounted turbos. Having built custom cars since 1998, Tran also fitted the “Soo Sik C6” with custom wheels, exhaust and a one-of-a-kind headlight design to complete the vehicle’s winning looks.

Judges for today’s Houston Hot Wheels Legends Tour live event included:

Bryan Benedict, Design Director Hot Wheels and Matchbox Die-casts

Matthew Gabe, Lead Designer, Hot Wheels Packaging

Trae tha Truth, Houston Rapper, Activist, Record Executive and Angel By Nature Charity Founder

Bill Carlton, Ekstensive Metal

Tim Donelson, Ekstensive Metal

Sean Tajipour, West Houston Muscle

Allen Iverson × Reebok

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WHY NOT US? REEBOK AND ALLEN IVERSON DARE ATHLETES TO EMBRACE UNWAVERING MANTRA AND DEFY EXPECTATIONS IN ALL-NEW ANIMATED FILM

Reebok and basketball icon, Allen Iverson, are proud to debut an all-new animated film honoring young athletes who continue to defy societal expectations through their passion for the sport. The film, titled, “Why Not Us,” is the celebration of that mantra, a creed and an assertion of power that Allen Iverson has brought to every aspect of his life, culminating in the official bring back of Reebok’s Question Mid ‘Why Not Us’ silhouette on March 19, 2021.

“Why not us” was the question posed by Iverson and his team twenty years ago in one of the greatest comebacks in all-star history, and the new campaign prompts young athletes to continue living through that lens. The “Why not us” mentality drove Iverson to become one of the sport’s most legendary figures. Often seen as an underdog at the time, it was during that game that Iverson questioned the status quo and proceeded to take home MVP honors by scoring 15 of his 25 points in the fourth quarter as he weaved through the West’s much larger lineup.

“Everybody was saying we couldn’t win because of our size,” said Iverson. “It’s about the size of your heart… Coming into the fourth quarter, we were all sitting on the sideline saying ‘Why not us? Why can’t we be the ones to come back from a 19-point deficit in an All-Star game?’”

The film, narrated by Allen Iverson, tells the story of grit, determination, and the conquering of inner doubt. Illustrated by Kellen Hatanaka, the film takes us on a journey of color and emotion, detailing that very moment in 2001. The voiceover then transitions to the greater impact the ‘Why Not Us’ mentality has on culture today, highlighting many voices of Benny’s Club, an all-inclusive surf collective based in New York City, who have had to overcome adversity to succeed in their sport.

Ending with a series of silhouettes referencing various figures and pivotal moments throughout his life, the red thread remains, ‘Why Not Us’, offering viewers the chance to position themselves in his shoes, begging the question once more.

To honor athletes living up to the ‘Why Not Us’ mantra, Reebok designed bespoke jerseys aiming to lift the underdog beyond expectations. The jerseys will be given to the Drew Charter Boys Golf Program, the first all-Black high school golf team, and the first public school in Atlanta, Georgia, to win the state golf championship. Two teen ballerinas who recently went viral and started work on a new mentorship program for girls, Kennedy George and Ava Holloway, will also receive the exclusive jerseys, and Benny’s Club. These individuals and teams will be able to wear the jerseys proudly while practicing their passion and overcoming the question of ‘Why Not Us’.

A bring back of the black-toe model issued by the brand in 2006, the Question Mid ‘Why Not Us’ sneaker was most notably worn five years earlier by Allen Iverson during the historic 2001 east-west exhibition in which he earned MVP accolades after leading his team to an improbable comeback victory. Today, the Question Mid “Why Not Us?” (GX5260) returns with its original high-contrast black toe box, the “Reebok” wordmark and Vector logos running up the ghillie lacing system and embroidered “3” and “Question” logos at the heel, all brought together by a classic all-white leather upper seated atop its translucent black outsole. The sneaker is also made available for up-and-comers creating their own “Why Not Us?” story with grade school (GW5229), preschool (GW5208) and toddler (GW5227) offerings.

The Question Mid “Why Not Us?” ($140) is available globally, in full-family sizing, from reebok.com and select local retailers beginning March 19, 2021.

Lexus – “All In”

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Sneakerhead, audiophile, fashionista, gamer … these people are “all in” on their passions. In a new marketing campaign breaking today for the Lexus 2021 IS, the automaker celebrates its own obsession: an unapologetically pure sports sedan. Entitled “All In,” the new campaign engages an audience that’s just as unapologetic about pursuing their unique interests. It features influencers and deep, diverse media partnerships.

“The IS customer is our youngest, most fiercely authentic yet,” said Lisa Materazzo, vice president of Lexus marketing. “The marketing campaign, like the new IS, is equally authentic and celebrates those who fully embrace their passions.”

Rather than casting actors, the campaign features eight micro-influencers. The first spot, “Names,” moves quickly through people from different walks of life who introduce themselves by the names they’ve earned—be it sneakerhead, gamer or audiophile.

Another spot, “Vanity Plates,” demonstrates just how far these enthusiasts will go to show off the obsessions that define them. To ensure a connection with all consumers, unique ads were created to further explore the meaning of “all in” for Asian, Black, Hispanic and LGBTQ markets.

“Names” and “Vanity Plates” will air during primetime, special events and sports including NFL playoffs and NBA. Potential drivers and enthusiasts of Lexus will be able to ask their Google Assistant-ready devices about the new Lexus IS model to learn more about the vehicle’s latest technology, audio, performance and safety features, as well as a link to nearby dealerships. The campaign also includes video, audio, connected speakers, print, social and display.

Lexus is connecting with an audience that embraces their passions fully by providing content that celebrates those who go “all in.”

Epic Race. Lexus partnered with MotorTrend for an epic race between race car driver Rhys Millen and downhill skater Josh Neuman at speeds of over 70 MPH on Malibu’s legendary Deer Creek Road. The video is live now.
Travel Influencer. Lexus is partnering with Courageous Studios, CNN’s brand studio, to produce a documentary-style campaign that follows Ugandan-American photographer, self-proclaimed geography nerd and travel expert Jessica Nabongo. The first black woman to visit every country in the world, Jessica’s story unfolds as she approaches her next milestone: seeing every state in the U.S. The campaign will be distributed via CNNgo in February.
Fantasy Football. Last Fall, Lexus worked with Yahoo to create dynamic banners on the Yahoo Fantasy Football web site that leverage the players’ stats to serve custom ads to fans engaging in their passion.

About Lexus

Lexus’ passion for brave design, imaginative technology, and exhilarating performance enables the luxury lifestyle brand to create amazing experiences for its guests. Lexus began its journey in 1989 with two luxury sedans and a commitment to pursue perfection. Since then, Lexus has developed its lineup to meet the needs of global luxury customers in more than 90 countries.

In the United States, Lexus vehicles are sold through 242 dealers offering a full lineup of luxury vehicles. With six models incorporating Lexus Hybrid Drive, Lexus is the luxury hybrid leader. Lexus also offers eight F SPORT models and two F performance models. Lexus is committed to being a visionary brand that anticipates the future for luxury customers.

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