New Indie Streaming Social Platform set to launch at the South by Southwest (SXSW) Music Festival in Austin, Texas
Dousic Media Group
Dousic Media Group (DMG), is set to launch its new Dousic Social Platform at the South by Southwest (SXSW) Music Festival in Austin, Texas between March 10th thru 13th, 2019, located at Booth No. 1239, Halls 2-5 in the Austin Convention, where the newly upgraded Dousic website and App will be unveiled.
Dousic is an interactive social media platform that engages users with a diverse discovery experience. In the Dousic community the public can personalize their content and creators can monetize their products.
“With Dousic we wanted to create a social media platform for people like photographers, models, authors and musicians, so that they have total control of their destiny by owning their brands and products via the website and the App. In addition, Dousic is a fully functioning social media platform giving users a wide variety of connectivity such as chat, audio or video calls, all in one convenient location,” said Michael Ferguson, DMG Executive Vice President/Founder.
DMG Founder and CEO, Brian Moore, emphasized that “the Indie Music Industry has been trying to find its footing for some time and from where I sit there is still a clear lack of understanding of how to ensure that Indie Creators get an even playing field and are being properly compensated. Accordingly, we have designed Dousic to give them back brand control and content ownership.”
Following on from SXSW, our future website and App enhancements will ensure Dousic is a place where Creators maintain full ownership and control, giving them stronger leverage when in negotiations with Record Labels.
Dousic’s Mission is to provide a global hub for an interactive and personalized entertainment experience. We are committed to helping Indie Creators reach their full potential. https://dousic.com
Genius. Virtuoso. Savant. Whichever word you choose to describe the dexterity of Quennel Gaskin, he’ll surely answer. He is one of the world’s most gifted musicians, mastering the organ, piano, drums and vocals. His cunning on the instruments is of biblical proportion and has set him in high regard with both listeners and his musical colleagues. He is humble and you would have to pry to discover the depths of his musical gift, having played with and recorded alongside some of the world’s greatest singers, musicians and ministers.
Next weekend, Gaskin and friends will showcase new music at the Steinway Hall in Fort Worth in what he describes as “a night of great music and entertainment that will touch your hearts and ears.” He has never met a genre he didn’t like and flows seamlessly through gospel, jazz, classical and any other genre that makes up the amalgam of his sound.
Gaskin has released recordings and is poised to make the leap from obscurity to national and even worldwide renown. His effortless stride is reminiscent of the greats like Art Tatum and the incomparable Oscar Peterson. His voicings, syncopations, percussive phrasing, and overall command of the universal language of music has captivates musicians, music lovers and the general public wherever he plays. In a word, it’s enthralling.
You can hear the latest from Gaskin and friends Saturday March 9th at the Steinway Hall in Fort Worth at 7pm. For Gaskin, intimate settings and limited seating arrangements are advantageous as he regularly engages the audience as they bask in his limitless display of musical prowess.
You can purchase Gaskin’s previously released music on iTunes. To date, he has released a solo worship piano album, two worship singles and an album of praise break compositions…the only way to describe it is “Weather Report meets Gospel”. Gaskin will share some new music as well as some favorites, at the piano hall. Get there and treat yourself. Remember, seating is limited so get your tickets now!
Pre-enrollment for the online class is available now on MasterClass.com
The premier online education platform MasterClass announced today that the legendary icon and fourteen-time Grammy® Award-winning musician Herbie Hancock will teach his first ever online class exclusively with MasterClass. The class is currently available for pre-enrollment starting today at www.masterclass.com/hh.
In his class, Hancock teaches his approach to music and how this translates into life philosophy. From his mentorship with Miles Davis through his genre-bending work as a bandleader and solo artist, he will share stories from a life in music and deliver expert technical lessons for professional and amateur pianists, musicians, jazz performers, composers across all genres, lovers of music and jazz aficionados.
Photo Credit: MasterClass
In addition to being recognized as a legendary pianist and composer, Herbie Hancock has been an integral part of every popular music movement since the 1960’s. At a young age, Hancock had already gained recognition as a child piano prodigy and performed an impressive Mozart piano concerto with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra at age eleven. He went on to play jazz in high school and explored his passion for both electronics and science. In 1963, Hancock joined Miles Davis’ Second Great Quintet. Davis served as an inspiration and mentor for Hancock. Hancock continued to progress in his field and became one of the most influential jazz musicians, discovering the melodious bridge between traditional jazz and electronic sound. His many accolades include being named a Kennedy Center Honoree, UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador, Institute Chairman of the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz, and Co-Chair of International Jazz Day. Now in the sixth decade of his professional life, Herbie Hancock remains where he has always been: at the forefront of world culture, technology, business and music. He is currently in the studio at work on a new album and most recently announced a world tour.
Photo Credit:MasterClass
“Miles Davis taught me a lesson I’ll never forget: in jazz there are no mistakes. Every note you play is an opportunity to take your music further. That idea opened my ears to worlds of musical possibilities. In my class, I will share those ideas and help you discover your sound. Through lessons in harmony, rhythm, composition, and improvisation, I will show you how to write and perform with freedom,” said Herbie Hancock, MasterClass instructor.
“Herbie is simply amazing. He is not only a music legend, but he is devoted to helping the next generation of musicians. The depth and the joy with which he shares his craft is a revelation,” said CEO and Co-Founder David Rogier of MasterClass.
MasterClass is an online education company which provides classes from world-renowned instructors, making it possible for anyone to learn from the best. Each class offers a unique learning experience which includes video lessons from the instructor, interactive exercises, course materials, peer interaction and more. All classes are available online for individual purchase at www.masterclass.com.
ABOUT MASTERCLASS
Established in 2015, the San Francisco-based company was founded on the idea that everyone should have “access to genius.” The premier online education platform provides affordable, engaging, and inspirational online classes taught by world-renowned instructors, making it possible for anyone to learn from the best. Each class offers a unique learning experience which includes video lessons, interactive exercises, a series of course materials, peer interaction, and more. MasterClass’ current roster of courses includes Christina Aguilera (singing), Kevin Spacey (acting), Usher (performance), Gordon Ramsay (cooking), Serena Williams (tennis), James Patterson (writing), Dustin Hoffman (acting), Werner Herzog (filmmaking), Aaron Sorkin (screenwriting), Reba McEntire (country music), Deadmau5 (music production), Hans Zimmer (film scoring), Shonda Rhimes (writing for television), Steve Martin (comedy), and David Mamet (dramatic writing). Most recently, the company announced pre-enrollment for Frank Gehry (design and architecture), Diane von Furstenberg (how to build a fashion brand), Jane Goodall (conservation), and Garry Kasparov (chess). For more information, please visit www.masterclass.com.
Deezer Celebrates Launch of Family Offer in the U.S. with National Study That Highlights Connections Between Music, Family and Favorite Songs Spanning All Generations
Will Ferrell and Stranger Things influence Millennial music tastes, according to Deezer (PRNewsfoto/Deezer)
Today Deezer, the world’s most diverse, dynamic and personal global music streaming company, launched its first-ever Family offer in the United States. A shared music plan that provides access for up to six family members to the full Deezer Premium+ plan, at a cost of $14.99 per month, Deezer Family offers unlimited access to more than 43 million tracks on multiple devices at the same time.
In conjunction with the launch of Deezer Family, the streaming platform released findings from research which explores the connection of music tastes and discovery habits between generations. The results, from 2,000 respondents, revealed that, while family members of all ages shared many of the same habits, there were a few notable differences and surprises.
Consistent with the results, Deezer Family offers members the ability to keep their music tastes from tainting one another’s personalization within Deezer, by keeping their own personal soundtrack – a feature known as Flow – but also by offering them a Family Mix to share with one another.
Talkin’ ‘Bout My Generation The increase in streaming use and new technologies have evolved the way different generations discover and engage with new music, primarily among the younger generation. In fact, 40% of Millennials said they discover music today through streaming apps, the internet or social media, although only 15% of Baby Boomers said they discover music this way. And while nearly 75% of Gen Y’ers said they discovered music as a child through radio, Millennials discover through the internet and by watching TV and films – more than any other age group.
We Are Family Family has a huge impact when it comes to music discovery and influence, with 23% of Millennials saying their sibling(s) impact which artists they like and dislike and nearly 20% of Gen Y gives credit to their children for that honor. When surveyed, a surprising 48% of people showed loyalty to their clan and said nobody in their family has bad taste in music – talk about “We are family!”
Stop, Hey, What’s That Sound? When surveying across generations, Deezer found music has the power to bring family members of all ages together, while its Family Plan aims to have the same effect. Many share the same favorite songs, with Millennials showcasing knowledge for both the classic and new remixes of songs from pop culture, while the use of music streaming and their family upbringing has helped refine their overall tastes:
Regardless of how emotional Sean Combs’ tribute to Notorious B.I.G., “I’ll Be Missing You,” is, The Police’s original tune is more well-known amongst Gen Y, with 81% associating them with the song. However, 31% of Millennials think of Puffy when they listen to it.
Of those who are familiar with Por Ti Volare, by Italian opera singer Andrea Bocelli, over 30% of Millennials credit films, such as Step Brothers and Blades of Glory, for turning them onto it.
When asked who released “Make You Feel My Love,” 19% of Millennials answered Adele, while 36% Gen Y correctly identified Bob Dylan as the original artist behind the 1997 hit remix. As a whole, 35% of all respondents thought Garth Brooks was the correct artist.
When asked which singer they most associate with “I Will Always Love You,” 74% identified Whitney Houston, with only 19% identifying the true angel behind the tune, Dolly Parton.
“Regardless of where and when music is discovered, we believe it has the power to create some of the best family moments and memories,” said Jorge Rincon, VP of North America at Deezer. “We’re so excited to bring Deezer Family to the U.S. market so all families can build their own personal Flow while continuing to share their favorite hits with each other.”
Deezer Family Plan includes:
Premium+ Access – Up to six family members can enjoy over 43 million tracks, zero interruption, and offline listening at just $14.99 per month
Personalized, Individual Profiles – Each family member can jam out simultaneously whenever and wherever, with access to their own personal Flow, which predicts the music they want to hear based on their musical preferences
Family Mix – A bespoke mix that plays the combined music tastes of all family members
Deezer Kids – ‘Just for Kids’ includes the best audio content for little ones, from nursery rhymes all the way to the latest hits for tweens and teens
Multiple Devices – Each family member can use two devices per profile and up to three connected devices on the main account, for a total of 13 devices
Upgrade your current Deezer account to Deezer Family or sign up for a free trial of Deezer Premium+. To learn more, visit Deezer.com/offers/family
About Deezer
Deezer connects 12 million active users around the world to over 43 million tracks. Available in more than 180 countries worldwide, Deezer gives instant access to the most diverse global music streaming catalogue on any device. Deezer is the only music streaming service with Flow, the unique mix of all your old favorites and new recommendations in one ever-changing stream. Based on an intuitive, proprietary algorithm and created by people who love music, it’s the only place to hear all your music back-to-back with fresh discoveries tailored to you. Deezer is available on your favorite device, including smartphone, tablet, PC, laptop, home sound system, connected car or smart TV.
Making music happen since 2007, Deezer is a privately held company, headquartered in Paris with offices in London, Berlin, Miami and around the world. Deezer is available as a free download for iPhone, iPad, Android and Windows devices or on the web at deezer.com.
For the latest news on Deezer go to Deezer.com/company/press
$25,000 SCHOLARSHIPS AWARDED TO WOMEN STUDENTS FROM BERKLEE COLLEGE OF MUSIC, HOWARD UNIVERSITY, PARSONS SCHOOL OF DESIGN AT THE NEW SCHOOL AND SPELMAN COLLEGE
Scholars include a sophomore from Berklee College of Music Boston Conservatory at Berklee, a graduate student from Howard University, a second-year student from Parsons School of Design at The New School, and a junior from Spelman College
Beyoncé Knowles-Carter posing in her BeyGOOD T-shirt. Photo Credit: Beyoncé/ Instagram
Today, Beyoncé Knowles-Carter announces the four winners of The Formation Scholars Award for the 2017-2018 academic year. The establishment of the merit scholarship program was announced on April 24, in celebration of the one-year anniversary of LEMONADE, her critically-acclaimed and globally-lauded visual album, through her BeyGOOD initiative.
Current and incoming female undergraduate and graduate students at Berklee College of Music, including those enrolled at the college’s campuses in Boston and Valencia, Spain, Berklee online and Boston Conservatory at Berklee, Howard University in Washington, DC, Parsons School of Design at The New School in New York City, and Spelman College in Atlanta, Georgia, were eligible for the scholarships.
The Formation Scholars award encourages and supports young women who are bold, creative, conscious, confident and unafraid to think outside the box. Students’ disciplines included creative arts, music, literature and African-American studies. All applicants maintain a 3.5 GPA or above and submitted a short essay stating how LEMONADE inspired their educational goals. All finalists and winners were selected by committees from the colleges and universities.
The winners are:
SADIYA RAMOS, Sophomore Berklee College of Music Sadiya Ramos is currently studying dance at Boston Conservatory at Berklee. She is originally from Suffern, New York. Ramos began dancing at the age of six under the guidance of Arthur Mitchell at the Dance Theatre of Harlem, where she was asked to perform with their ensemble at the Kennedy Center and the White House. By age eight, she was studying at Ballet Academy East’s pre-professional program with Darla Hoover. Ramos worked with François Perron at the French Academie of Ballet as a teenager, where she acquired the instruction needed to develop her individual style and improve her performance skills. She joined the Paul Taylor Teen Ensemble four years later to increase her knowledge of modern dance after her classical ballet training. During her time there, she performed as a soloist in an excerpt from Taylor’sBrandenburgs. While training with the Debbie Allen Dance Academy during the summer of 2015, Ramos was invited to perform with Allen’s dancers for the Opening Ceremony of the Special Olympics at the Los Angeles Coliseum for an audience of 62,000. She was also selected to dance on stage as Stevie Wonder performed at the event.
Maya Rogers, Graduate Student Howard University Maya Rogers is a songwriter and vocalist who believes in the power that music has to heal, connect us with one another, and help us understand ourselves more deeply. Maya has returned to school to study music therapy after recovering from a traumatic brain injury in 2013. She describes her recovery as the most frightening and fascinating time of her life, and music played a large role in her regaining the ability to read, write, play music, and sing. Maya will be the first student to graduate from Howard University with a certificate in Music Therapy, a program that was created with her in mind. In 2015, Maya created Her.Voice, a program empowering young girls through singing and creative writing. Maya received her bachelor’s degree from Berklee College of Music, and can be heard on television and in films such as Alpha Dog, Made In Hollywood, and Hearts of Christmas.
AVERY YOUNGBLOOD, Second-Year Student Parsons School of Design at The New School Avery Youngblood is a recent Stanford University graduate, Class of 2016 and an undergraduate student in the AAS (Associates) Graphic Design program at Parsons School of Design at The New School, Class of 2018. From Dallas, Texas, and one of six children, she loves being with her family and her four dogs at home. As an undergraduate at Stanford she studied Linguistics and Comparative Studies in Race and Ethnicity. Avery discovered that it was possible to translate her creative curiosity for design by focusing on language and the social interaction that takes place in our multicultural society, and the variety of platforms we use to connect with one another. As we reach across boundaries of race, gender, sexuality, religion, political stance, and so much more, Avery is prepared to take an active role in building relationships and reaching out to an audience that represents the diversifying voices of our social world through design and other creative outlets.
BRIA PAIGE, Junior Spelman College Bria Paige is a rising junior English major at Spelman College from Jackson, Mississippi. At Spelman, Bria is invested in her academics as she maintains membership in the Ethel Waddell Githii Honors Program, Alpha Lambda Delta honor society, and is a Dean’s List scholar. In addition, Bria holds various leadership positions, including Spelman Student Government Association (SSGA) secretary of academic affairs and co-president of the English Club. Previously, she served as Sophomore Class Council president, managing editor of The BluePrint and treasurer of the English Club. Recently, Bria was selected as a UNCF Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellow, which will provide support and training towards her plan to pursue doctoral studies in English literature and Black feminist scholarship. Bria will attend the Mellon program’s summer institute at Emory University before returning to Spelman in the fall.
ABOUT BeyGOOD Founded in 2013 during the Mrs. Carter Show World Tour, BeyGOOD is an extension of Beyoncé’s charitable heart. Through impactful dynamic partnerships, BeyGOOD’s mission is to set an example of giving back and paying it forward while empowering others to do the same with what they have in their own communities. BeyGOOD is built on the belief that we are all in this together and each and every one of us can make a difference by giving back.
For more information on all the Formation Scholars, click here:
