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viBe Theater Experience Walks the Talk and Promotes from Within

viBe Theater Experience

Contact Details Cheryl Overton +1 917-373-3514 cheryl@cheryloverton.com Company Website https://www.vibetheater.org

May 18, 2022 09:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Over 50,000 Meals Distributed to Homeless after Sir Paul McCartney Licenses Song to Homeless Charity, with support from Iconic Songwriter Mike Stoller

The Man/Kind Initiative Inc.

On any given night, over half a million homeless people in the United States go to bed hungry. Because of major support from Mike Stoller and wife Corky Hale, and the gift of music from Sir Paul McCartney, TheMan/Kind Initiative announced that they had distributed 50,000 meals to the homeless and needy in the Los Angeles area. When iconic songwriter Mike Stoller (Leiber and Stoller) along with his wife, activist and musician Corky Hale decided to support The Man/Kind Initiative’s #CovidKindness outreach to the homeless, they never expected that Sir Paul McCartney would be joining them in this mission. “ We reached out to Sir Paul’s office to ask permission to use his song ‘Junk’ from his first solo album”, explained Man/Kind Initiative’s founder and CEO Richard Stellar. “The song reminded me of a homeless guy who lived out of his car at the end of the street where I grew up, and it always played in my head when we were feeding the homeless. So, I wrote to Paul in care of his company, and he responded that he was ‘happy to give us the song’. I’m pretty sure that having Mike and Corky on board didn’t hurt.” Mike Stoller commented: “Richard Stellar of the Man/Kind Initiative is the kind of activist who collects and personally hands food to the homeless where they are—in the streets and under overpasses. Corky and I are in awe of his energy and his compassion, and we’re thrilled that Paul lent his support to the fantastic work of the organization Richard leads.” The video made from Sir Paul’s song and voiced by actor and activist Anne-Marie Johnson got this small non-profit on the radar of FoodCycle, LA. From this, The Man/Kind Initiative was able to affiliate with distribution partners like Bristol Farms, Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s. To learn more about The Man/Kind initiative and to support their work with the homeless, please visit mankindhomeless.com. See Paul McCartney / Man/Kind Initiative video at mankindhomeless.com Or on YouTube here. The Man/Kind Initiative is a California non-profit corporation whose mission is to provide food directly to the homeless where they live, in the streets. They also distribute EDAR (Everyone Deserves A Roof) mobile shelters. To learn more about The Man/Kind Initiative and to support their work with the homeless, please visit mankindhomeless.com About the principals (available for on air or phone-in/Zoom interviews - contact Richard Stellar - richard@mankindinitiative.org or 213-369-1097 to schedule) Richard Stellar, founder of The Man/Kind Initiative is known for his ‘vituperative blogs’ - Vanity Fair on social issues impacting the motion picture and television industry. Richard has won several first place Los Angeles Press Club National Journalism and Entertainment Journalism awards. He was instrumental in the successful fight for motion picture industry elderly and won Los Angeles Press Club’s Best Facebook Group for his online group AGE: Activists for Geriatric Equality. Richard has worked on campaigns that fight anti-Semitism, systemic racism and is the producer of TEARS: The Event Against Racism and Stereotyping. Anne-Marie Johnson, past Vice President of the Screen Actors Guild is a well-known actor and activist. Anne-Marie represented the Screen Actors Guild as a national board member and 4 term First Vice President from 1997 - 2013. She was the first African American to be elected to that position in the union’s history. Anne-Marie was honored to be presented the 2016 Screen Actors Guild Ralph Morgan Award, the highest honor an actor can receive for service to their union and the first African American to receive the honor. Contact Details The Man/Kind Initiative Richard Stellar +1 213-369-1097 richard@mankindinitiative.org Company Website https://mankindhomeless.com/

May 17, 2022 08:45 AM Pacific Daylight Time

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Telos Offers Fast-Tracked Grants To Support Terra Developers

Telos Foundation

The Telos community offers its sympathy and full support to Terra developers for the hardships endured during this tumultuous period. In light of this, Telos welcomes all Terra dApps to join the 12 million TLOS Ignite grant and ventures program. The team will fast-track applications from Terra dApps seeking refuge with investments, marketing support, and technical assistance. Terra developers are encouraged to communicate with Telos' team via Discord, Telegram, or apply for a grant directly through the following link: https://ignite.telos.net “We feel for the talented teams and projects that have fallen victim to the collapse of Terra. We know many of you are long-term builders of the Web 3 future, and for those that are looking for a blockchain that shares your long-term vision, you will find an amazing home at Telos.” AJ Dinger, Telos Head of Business Development If the abundance of congested, pausing, and, more recently, failing blockchain networks has taught us anything, it's that dApp developers must choose wisely when finding a home to deploy their dApps. The Telos Mainnet has been live with zero downtime since 2018, can finalize a billion transactions per day with zero carbon footprint, and is home to the world's most robust EVM. We look forward to working with LUNA developers to help foster uncharted growth with the support of our team and a purely grassroots community. About Telos Live since 2018, Telos Blockchain (ticker: TLOS) is a third-generation smart contract platform that offers compatibility with Solidity, Vyper, and Native C++ smart contracts. Telos provides full EVM/Solidity support with fixed low-cost gas fees and no front running and, more uniquely, offers a path to fee-less transactions via its robust native C++ smart contract support. Even while operating as a Net Zero Blockchain, Telos still sustainably supports hundreds of millions of transactions per day, produces blocks in 0.5 second intervals (on a first-in-first-out basis, eliminating front running on the network), and securely validates transactions via a credibly neutral and globally decentralized block producer network. As a result, the Telos blockchain has the throughput needed to facilitate and scale the thriving Metaverse / Web 3.0 landscape better than any other blockchain in existence. Its performance is unrivaled in the industry and was purpose-built to offer speed, scalability, cost-effectiveness, credible decentralization, and end-user fairness. Telos harnesses its power by utilizing tight C++ on the frontend and a custom WASM runtime environment on the backend. About The Foundation The Telos Foundation is a Decentralized Autonomous Organization established as a promotional and funding body to advance the Telos Blockchain Network and provide support to network applications. Contact Details The Team hello@telosfoundation.io Company Website https://www.telos.net/

May 17, 2022 10:06 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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tvScientific Partners with Adjust for CTV Integration

tvScientific

“We are thrilled to partner with tvScientific to deliver comprehensive CTV measurement for mobile app marketers in a reliable, transparent, and scalable way,” said Gijsbert Pols, director of connected TV and new channels at Adjust. “As viewers take on an increasingly more active role in their content consumption, it’s paramount for marketers to measure success across screens against their set KPIs for increased optimization of campaign performance.” Leading, connected TV performance advertising platform tvScientific, today announced its partnership with Adjust, the mobile marketing analytics platform pioneering in CTV measurement. The launch of the strategic partnership will now enable mobile app marketers to accelerate growth through the integration of CTV into omnichannel strategies. tvScientific’s self-managed platform simplifies and automates TV buying and optimization by gathering large amounts of granular first- and third-party data onto one platform. This allows marketers to target and assess their highest quality users from impression to post-install events. Leveraging tvScientific’s proprietary, deterministic ID technology, in tandem with Adjust’s attribution data, mobile marketers can now attribute cross-device, with full, holistic visibility into CTV impressions and its ability to drive installs. Marketers can then analyze performance of their campaigns inside Adjust, providing a complete picture of their UA marketing strategy across all channels. “We believe CTV represents the largest growth opportunity for app marketers. This partnership is designed to unlock that potential by providing unprecedented control, flexibility of media buying strategies and transparency at every point in the customer journey,” said Jason Fairchild, CEO at tvScientific. “Through tvScientific’s end-to-end solution, app marketers will be able to optimize omnichannel strategies and accelerate campaign performance.” Mobile marketers’ precision targeting capabilities are further enhanced through their ability to target across 15K unique audience segments, including age, gender, interests, and behavioral habits, or via pre-built audiences. Leveraging granular data, tvScientific enables mobile marketers to optimize their performance through campaign controls, data transparency down to log level, and automated optimization. Marketers will be able to increase campaign optimization and validation of ROI through Adjust’s ability to unify all marketing channels onto one platform. Additionally, marketers will be able to have adjusted insight into walled gardens through tvScientific’s always-on incrementality testing. tvScientific is the most sophisticated performance advertising platform built for connected TV. The tvScientific platform makes TV advertising accessible and measurable for brands and apps of all sizes. tvScientific offers a self-managed solution custom built for performance marketers, that simplifies and automates TV buying and optimization, leveraging massive data to prove the actual value of TV advertising. The platform reaches 95% of AVOD inventory using proprietary, deterministic ID technology to measure ad exposure to outcome in an approachable, radically transparent and scalable way. An Idealab company, tvScientific was co-founded by senior executives with deep roots in programmatic advertising, digital media, and ad verification. Today, the company continues to make strategic alignments with key players — the most recent being NBCUniversal — to advance CTV performance advertising forward. The company is headquartered in Pasadena, California. For more information, visit https://www.tvscientific.com. Adjust is the mobile marketing analytics platform trusted by growth-driven marketers around the world, with solutions for measuring and optimizing campaigns and protecting user data. Adjust powers thousands of apps with built-in intelligence and automation, backed by responsive global customer support.In 2021, Adjust was acquired by AppLovin, a leading marketing software company providing developers with a powerful, integrated set of solutions to grow their mobile apps. Learn more about Adjust at www.adjust.com. Contact Details Kite Hill PR Ernestine Belgrave +1 917-689-8488 ernestine@kitehillpr.com

May 17, 2022 09:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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viBe Theater Experience Names New Co-Executive Directors Beryl Briane Ford and Michelan Le’Monier

viBe Theater Experience

viBe Theater Experience’s Board of Directors is pleased to announce the appointment of Beryl Briane Ford and Michelan Le’Monier as the organization’s new Executive Co-Directors. The organization has been under their interim leadership in this capacity since November 2021, and viBe’s Board unanimously approved their permanent appointments in March 2022. Ford and Le’Monier are well suited to lead viBe in its next chapter, having lived, institutional experience and demonstrated success in growing the organization’s operations, budget and programming. They are poised to shape, manage and inspire viBe's advancement as collaborators and in partnership with its talented staff and deeply committed Board of Directors and Junior Board. “I’m very ecstatic to be co-leading this organization with Beryl Briane! Ever since my participation in the viBeApprentices program in 2017, I knew that I wanted to contribute something to this community of artists and being in this position really brings my experiences as a participant and as a staff member full circle. As Co-Executive Director, my vision is for abundance to be a lifestyle, not a privilege for Black girls, young women, and femmes through art and wellness. viBe has grown immensely over the past few years and it’s my goal to continue to guide that growth with the support of our Board and Staff."- Michelan Le’Monier “I firmly believe that investing in the leadership of Black girls, young women, and gender expansive youth is one of many critical pathways to liberation. I am eager to build and sustain these pathways in my new role as Co-Executive Director. I came to viBe in October 2020 from The Museum of Modern Art with a desire to support viBe’s larger mission of creating safer spaces for youth to make art that’s deeply rooted in their lived experiences. It’s an honor to be amplifying their work alongside Michelan, viBe’s Staff & Board. I am thrilled to be co-leading an organization that’s responsible for nurturing the artistic & professional praxis of emerging artists, administrators, and educators. I look forward to continuing this legacy.”- Beryl Briane This shared leadership model is a living manifestation of viBe’s ethos of investing in and activating leadership opportunities for young people. So much of viBe’s work uniquely positions the organization in the larger nonprofit sector, cultivating pathways for program participants to become arts practitioners in the field, and leaders in their own right. In fact, the co-executive leadership model is not new to viBe – the organization was co-founded and led by Dana Edell and Chandra Thomas when they were both under the age of 25. Ford and Le’Monier look forward to continuing the organization’s nearly 20 year commitment to centering the voices of young Black women. Both Ford and LeMonier have tenured histories as leaders within viBe Theater Experience, having been trained and mentored by former Executive Director, Toya Lillard, as Development Associate and Operations Director respectively. “As Board Chair, I couldn’t be more proud of viBe’s growth and impact — and our new co-leaders are proof positive that our way WORKS! Inclusive and dynamic programming, an unwavering purpose, implicit trust in Black women, centering lived experiences and cultivating leaders from within is what we practice and preach.” Cheryl Overton Ford and LeMonier are committed to continuing viBe’s impact within the theater community both locally in NYC and nationally, bringing greater visibility and supporting more young people who seek to share their artistic genius with the world around them. They’re committed to deepening the organization’s advocacy work in its core areas of focus: racial equity, gender & healing justice, youth and women’s empowerment, and financial equity. Together, they will strive to ensure that viBe’s at the forefront of these issues through key partnerships with individuals, community and impact-oriented organizations, and mission-aligned corporations. With a clear vision for the present and a larger vision for viBe’s future, their appointment will preserve viBe’s historical impact while also leading the organization into a new era of growth. Their appointment demonstrates a deep commitment to centering Black women’s leadership in the arts. As an organization, viBe is dedicated to building pathways for the professional and artistic advancement of Black women. This appointment not only exemplifies this investment, it‘s also a clarion call to the larger community to consider and build up the systems and structures that will ensure the success and advancement of Black women in the arts. viBe Theater Experience produces original theater, music and media written and performed by NYC teens, young women and nonbinary youth of color about their lived experiences. For more information, visit www.vibetheater.org For downloadable high-resolution images, visit vibetheater.org/press-room Contact Details viBe Theater Experience Cheryl Overton, Board Chair +1 917-373-3514 cheryl@cheryloverton.com viBe Theater Experience viBe Marketing & Communications Team us@vibetheater.org Company Website https://www.vibetheater.org

May 17, 2022 08:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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VFS Partners with Blackbird Interactive, East Side Games, and Timbre Games for $200,000 Indigenous Scholarship in Video Games Fund

Vancouver Film School

Announcement Highlights: The fund features three full-tuition scholarships for VFS’s Game Design program and one full-tuition scholarship for VFS’s 3D Animation & Visual Effects program. The total fund is valued at over US$200,000. Scholarship winners will be selected by Blackbird Interactive, East Side Games, and Timbre Games. Winners will also receive monthly mentorship from VFS instructors and design professionals from either Blackbird Interactive, East Side Games, or Timbre Games, as well as a four to six-month paid design contract at their respective game studio upon graduation. Submission process is currently open and closes on June 8, 2022, at 11:59 p.m. PDT. (Vancouver, BC) May 9, 2022 - Vancouver Film School (VFS), in partnership with Blackbird Interactive, East Side Games, and Timbre Games Studio is pleased to present the 2022 Indigenous Scholarship in Video Games, including mentorship and a paid internship. The scholarship fund, valued at over US$200,000, is open to applicants 18 years of age and older who identify as First Nations (status or non-status), Inuit, or Métis, and who are looking to enter the game industry as developers. The deadline to apply is June 8, and winners will be announced on National Indigenous Peoples Day, June 21. The Indigenous Scholarship in Video Games is a collaborative initiative between VFS and Vancouver-based game studios Blackbird Interactive ( Homeworld 3, Hardspace: Shipbreaker ), East Side Games ( The Office: Somehow We Manage, RuPaul’s Drag Race Superstar, Trailer Park Boys: Greasy Money ), and Timbre Games Studio (part of The Sumo Group). Three full-tuition scholarships for VFS’s Game Design program and one full-tuition scholarship for the 3D Animation & Visual Effects program will be awarded and may be applied to either the October 24, 2022, or January 3, 2023 intakes. Winners will be selected directly by top-tier AAA studios Blackbird Interactive, East Side Games, and Timbre Games, the latter of which will also select the winner who will enrol in the 3D Animation & Visual Effects program. Additionally, all winners will receive private mentorship by design professionals from Blackbird Interactive, East Side Games or Timbre Games, as well as by their instructors at VFS. Upon graduation, these winners will also receive a paid four to six-month work contract at their respective studio. Finally, each of the winners will be provided with a laptop for use during the program and to keep. The winner chosen by Blackbird Interactive will also receive a $5,000 housing stipend while studying at VFS. "Blackbird Interactive (BBI) is honoured to be collaborating with local gaming studios and VFS on the Indigenous Scholarship in Video Games. We are working to create impactful opportunities that First Nations, Inuit, and Métis students can explore, fulfilling their creative technology aspirations in meaningful ways. An education from VFS helps open the door to careers in film, games, 3D animation, and VR/AR design, among other fields. We believe that actions speak louder than words and that young people are the future. There is a lot more that needs to be done, but this is a small and important step for just one of our many local industries.” -Rob Cunningham – CEO & Co-Founder, Blackbird Interactive "Communities thrive on diversity. Whether we’re talking about games, entertainment, or film, we need to ensure we’re including voices and perspectives representative of the community around us. The Indigenous Scholarship in Video Games through Vancouver Film School can do just that. As a member of the Métis community, it is an honour to be able to support a program taking a step in the right direction towards a more inclusive creative landscape. While there's much work to be done, this is a good start." -Josh Nilson – Co-Founder, Studio Head and General Manager, East Side Games “At Timbre Games, our mission is driven by the idea that ‘culture drives creative’. The opportunity to support and collaborate with VFS, Blackbird Interactive and East Side Games on the Indigenous Scholarship in Video Games is a small first step to removing systemic barriers in entering the game industry for the Métis, Inuit, and First Nations people. All of us at Timbre are thrilled to be a small part of creating space in the games industry for these communities. I believe these students will play a significant role in the world of interactive entertainment in the years to come and we are grateful to have the opportunity to support their careers along the way. There is more hard work to be done in this space and Timbre is committed to listening and learning as we embark on our own journey.” -Joe Nickolls – President and Co-Founder, Timbre Games “It is a pleasure for VFS to be joining forces with three outstanding Vancouver studios to offer the 2022 Indigenous Scholarship in Video Games. This scholarship aims to foster more diversity and more inclusion in the game industry with the aim to have more Indigenous developers actively designing the next generation of games. At VFS, we are proud of the many Indigenous graduates from our programs who now have successful careers both in Vancouver and globally, and this scholarship is Vancouver Film School’s privilege and opportunity to play a role in emerging Indigenous developers building their creative careers.” -Christopher Mitchell – Head of Game Design and Programming for Games, Web & Mobile, VFS Vancouver Film School is committed to fostering and growing Indigenous representation in the video game industry. Indigenous artists, performers, and storytellers are a foundational thread in the fabric of the Canadian narrative, continuing to grow stronger as key voices within our country’s multidimensional creative landscape. For more information about the 2022 Indigenous Scholarship in Video Games, or to apply, visit https://vfs.edu/scholarships/indigenous-scholarship-2022. About Vancouver Film School In 1987, Vancouver Film School introduced the world’s first true immersion film program. Today, VFS is Canada’s premier post-secondary entertainment arts institution, offering an immersive curriculum in film, animation, design, and beyond. VFS is known for providing high-quality education in accelerated time frames and offers 15 industry-integrated programs in which students graduate in 12 months as an in-demand, industry-ready creative professional. VFS alumni are consistently credited on the highest grossing films, television shows, and games worldwide, in a global industry set to generate US$2.1 trillion in revenue in 2022. VFS Media Contact: Evan Biswanger Creative Director & Head of Marketing Vancouver Film School Follow VFS on Social Media: www.VFS.edu YouTube: www.youtube.com/VancouverFilmSchool Facebook: www.facebook.com/vancouverfilmschool Twitter: www.twitter.com/VFS Instagram: www.instagram.com/vancouverfilmschool Contact Details ebiswanger@vfs.com ebiswanger@vfs.com Company Website https://vfs.edu/

May 10, 2022 03:31 PM Eastern Daylight Time

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Telos “Mission” NFT Challenge - 175,000 in Crypto Prizes!

Telos Foundation

Telos Blockchain (ticker: TLOS) presents its “Mission NFT Challenge” for digital graphic creators, offering a very attractive prize pool to be shared among contest winners. Telos believes that NFTs are both an art form and a pivoting technology that should be easily and affordably accessible to the masses. As such, Telos strives to facilitate the lowest barrier of entry into the emerging field of NFTs. Utilizing Byt.io, the latest leading NFT marketplace to integrate Telos, end-users will mint and trade their NFTs at unprecedented fast speeds while enjoying industry-low gas fees. The Telos EVM will also offer a congestion-free minting experience that leaves no carbon footprint or any of the front running / MEV that constantly plagues Ethereum users. Furthermore, contract deployment is a fraction of the cost and significantly faster on Telos when compared to virtually every other network, making it a far superior ecosystem to build on. Transactions are instant on Telos! Some Contest Details: The contest opens for registration on Monday May 9th, 12:00 pm EST and participants can submit their projects by Friday, June 24th, 12:00 pm EST. Public Voting on the submissions will take place between Monday May 23rd, 12:00 pm EST to Thursday, June 30th, at 12:00 pm EST. Twenty finalists will be announced on Friday July 1st, 12:00 pm EST and the top five winners will be selected and announced on Tuesday July 5th at 11:00 am EST. Telos encourages all digital artists and aspiring NFT projects to compete in this contest to win one of 5 prizes worth 25,000 TLOS each. Furthermore, an honorable pick by The Big Gooey, Telos’ in-house NFT curator, will award one winner with an additional 50,000 TLOS. The contest and voting will be hosted on the Taikai platform (also built on telos), which recently completed a very successful hackathon for the Telos Ignite contest. The public will vote on all submissions to select the top 20 projects after which a panel of judges will decide on the top five. This maiden NFT contest is inviting artists to bring their NFT projects (ERC 721) and deploy them on the tEVM where they can be minted to be sold on the Byt marketplace or other secondary markets. All additional details and criteria can be found on the Taikai platform through the following link: https://taikai.network/en/telos-foundation/hackathons/nftp-slug/overview About Telos Live since 2018, Telos Blockchain (ticker: TLOS) is a third-generation smart contract platform that offers compatibility with Solidity, Vyper, and Native C++ smart contracts. Telos provides full EVM/Solidity support with fixed low-cost gas fees and no front running and, more uniquely, offers a path to fee-less transactions via its robust native C++ smart contract support. Even while operating as a Net Zero Blockchain, Telos still sustainably supports hundreds of millions of transactions per day, produces blocks in 0.5 second intervals (on a first-in-first-out basis, eliminating front running on the network), and securely validates transactions via a credibly neutral and globally decentralized block producer network. As a result, the Telos blockchain has the throughput needed to facilitate and scale the thriving Metaverse / Web 3.0 landscape better than any other blockchain in existence. Its performance is unrivaled in the industry and was purpose-built to offer speed, scalability, cost-effectiveness, credible decentralization, and end-user fairness. Telos harnesses its power by utilizing tight C++ on the frontend and a custom WASM runtime environment on the backend. About The Foundation The Telos Foundation is a Decentralized Autonomous Organization established as a promotional and funding body to advance the Telos Blockchain Network and provide support to network applications. Contact Details The Team hello@telosfoundation.io Telos NFT Curator The Big Gooey thebiggooey@telosfoundation.io Byt Co-founder Will Perkins will@byt.io Company Website https://www.telos.net/

May 09, 2022 11:06 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Raj Chaudhuri’s Claims Against R&S Records And Renaat Vandepapeliere Dismissed

R&S Records

All claims submitted to an Employment Tribunal in London (United Kingdom) by Raj Chaudhuri, were dismissed on 06 April 2022. In a trenchant judgment following a 2-day hearing on 10 th and 11 th March 2022 at which Chaudhuri gave evidence, the judge ruled that Chaudhuri was not an employee of R&S Records. As such, his claims were dismissed. Employment Judge (EJ) Wright rejected Chaudhuri’s version of events. She found that: For his 700 Euros a month, Chaudhuri did as much or as little work for R&S Records as he saw fit and in fact, he did very little; Contrary to his claims, Chaudhuri was in business on his own account and knew that he was not an employee. His contemporaneous descriptions of himself contradicted the status he wished to present to the tribunal and what Chaudhuri claimed now was not what he understood at the time he was scouting for R&S; On Chaudhuri’s evidence, there were 33 missing invoices which he failed to disclose, and it was strange and of concern that Chaudhuri only provided a tax return for a single year which had been amended just before a tribunal deadline. Having sought to extend his remit and further ingratiate himself with R&S Records, he was unsuccessful in attempting to negotiate a partnership deal with Vandepapeliere and never managed to secure the deal he wanted; He had no authority to sign acts for R&S Records and did not do so; The basis of Chaudhuri’s claim to be entitled to a payment of £10,000 was unclear but, more seriously, in September 2020 he threatened to publish an open letter online unless £10,000 was paid into his account that evening which Vandepapeliere referred to as blackmail; Chaudhuri released details of his claim though it was sub judice leading to a concern that media outlets including the BBC, Guardian and Resident Advisor were in contempt of court; Contemporaneous documents pointed to the opposite of Chaudhuri’s alleged basis for his claims which were all dismissed; It was a difference of view about the future direction of the label that led to a fundamental difference of opinion and a parting of the ways. Renaat Vandepapeliere commented, “ After 18 months of making false, malicious and damaging allegations about me and the record label, the judge has utterly rejected Chaudhuri’s attempts to rewrite history.” Following criticism about the basis for his claims by a judge in a previous hearing, and despite having pursued wide press publication for his allegations, Chaudhuri withdrew significant aspects of his claim without explanation, retraction or apology. In consequence of the judges’ decisions and his failed claims, Chaudhuri and his legal representative now face applications for costs in excess of £95,000. In further developments, the Belgian authorities are investigating the possible prosecution of Chaudhuri for blackmail threats. a reference on contempt has been made to the UK Attorney-General by leading media law firm, Manley’s. Background Summary and Further Comment follow...... Background Summary Mr Vandepapeliere formed R&S Records in 1983 with his partner Sabine and is widely regarded as a pioneer of the electronic dance music industry. The label is one of the forerunners in the genre. Chaudhuri’s race discrimination allegations are contradicted by the exceptional African American artist and label stalwart, Mikahl Anthony. Anthony said, “ Renaat has been nothing but genuine in regards to my musical career and also understanding the culture i come from as an African American living in the states. He’s not only supported my Art; he’s been a mentor and true supporter of diversity. I fully affirm his character and the allegations seem completely opposite of the individual he’s been to me. He’s been a man of respect, honor and authentically a great human being. Renaat; he’s changed my life for the better and has always been present in a time of need.” It was a reference to Mikahl by Vandepapeliere which sparked the press furore exploited by Chaudhuri. A former, disgruntled LA-based artist, Eddington Again, whose contract had been terminated by Vandepapeliere, accused R&S Records of lacking racial and gender diversity among its artists; a label that doesn’t “sign colour”. An allegation that is categorically false. In a series of leaked, private, email exchanges between Mr Vandepapeliere and Eddington Again, Vandepapeliere said he had, “found a full pure breed black artist that he could spend his life focussed on”. Vandepapeliere’s remark in Flemish referred to Mikahl Anthony as world class and unique, a one-off artist. When told the meaning of the phrase could be misconstrued in other languages, Vandepapeliere immediately apologised. But Raj Chaudhuri exploited the ambiguity with a self-serving intention to damage the reputation of Vandepapeliere and R&S Records having previously ‘warned’ Mr Vandepapeliere about what harm allegations of racism would cause,. R&S Records is a world class label working with music’s top creative artists signed for their ability to write and produce great tracks irrespective of colour, creed or gender. R&S Records and Mr Vandepapeliere now look forward to future releases and refocussing their attention on sharing music for all to enjoy. Further Comment From Mr Vandepapeliere On the employment tribunal dismissal of all three claims, Mr Vandepapeliere said: “I am delighted that the tribunal has dismissed all three claims brought by Raj Chaudhuri. Given our label’s roster of artists, his allegations of racial discrimination always looked like a cover for his unwarranted demands for money. “This last two years has been absolute hell for me and my partner Sabine, my family and the artists on our record label. My artistic policy for R&S Records has always been inclusive and Raj Chaudhuri knew that. He also knew that allegations of racism would have a devastating impact on me and my business. We would like to personally thank our loyal friends, fans and artists who have remained supportive throughout these very difficult times. “Differences of opinion over music and artistic direction in a record label are one thing, but to falsely label them as racism or racial inequality is wrong; it undermines the very fabric of tackling racism and makes a mockery of those who are genuinely fighting inequality. “Dance music has always been about uniting people through the commonality and love of electronic music, regardless of ethnicity, colour, religion or sexuality. I have always been a champion and supporter of original artists. Signing an artist is about their talents; the music they make and produce – it’s what the label stands for. “As the Tribunal Judge found, my priority is, ‘the integrity of the music R&S Records produced’.” Note: Relevant claim numbers: 2300271/2021, 2300665/2021, and 2301949/2021. London South Employment Tribunal in Croydon, London Contact Details R&S Records Gerard Franklin +44 7791 039636 hello@i5media.co.uk

May 09, 2022 07:06 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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During Mental Health Awareness Month, 17-Year-Old Memphis Singer/Songwriter, Brooke Fair, Releases Her Single, "Suck It Up"

Moore Media | Tanya Moore

Award-winning Memphis singer/ songwriter, Brooke Fair, releases her single “ Suck It Up,” and video from her forthcoming album, “The Things We Were,” which releases on May 20th. The inspiration for the track came to fruition when Brooke was stuck with feelings of not fitting into social norms. She carried on with a brave smile, telling everyone that she was fine when she was not. Brooke wrote the song, “Suck It Up,” as an anthem for those who suffer from depression, and for those who feel invisible. She hopes this song will evoke conversation among adolescents, their parents, and the school systems, and inspire more conversations about mental health, the feelings tweens and teens go through, and the challenges that arise throughout those tender years, especially when feeling alienated. “This is an important time with Mental Health Awareness Month, and a very important song to me, as I too have had my bouts of depression and anxiety. We need to be mindful of others' feelings and be there for one another. We can be kinder, gentler, and lend an ear when needed. Growing into adulthood, and just being human, is not always easy, but it’s worth it. Together we can get through the tough times, with more community and conversation,” says Brooke. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WzaLdHW9HCc&feature=youtu.be CLICK ON THE VIDEO ABOVE TO WATCH “SUCK IT UP” SAVE/LISTEN/PURCHASE "SUCK IT UP”: https://brookefair.lnk.to/suckitup PRE-ORDER/PRE-ADD THE ALBUM: https://brookefair.lnk.to/ttww Her exquisite storytelling and the depth of her vocals exhibit a sweet, and raw innocence reminiscent of a past era. Her voice resembles the likes of singer Taylor Swift-meets-Dodie Clark. Brooke, an advocate for mental health, sings her tender lyrics, exposing a pressing issue among tweens, teens, and adults alike. She writes, “No one understands, it’s getting out of hand, how lonely that I feel each night // Voices in my head scream, no one really wants me, but everyone thinks I’m alright // Suck it up, hold your breath, I’m fine // Smile now, so they think you shine // Dry your tears, so they won’t see you lie // Suck it up, hold your breath, it’s fine.” The upcoming album is produced by Matt Tutor (Derek Trucks, Eric Gales, Kenny Wayne Shepherd) and Chris Carter (Kirk Franklin, Chrisette Miller, Marcus Miller, and Jekalyn Carr), and is a follow-up to her 2018 6-track EP titled, “All Queens Wear Crowns,” with her track, “Love Songs On Loop,” garnering over 100,000 Spotify plays. “Universe,” and “I Can’t Breathe,” produced by Justin Timberlake’s guitarist/producer Elliott Ives and Scott Hardin, followed the EP. Brooke boasts an impressive collection of songwriting awards, being named Songwriter of the Year, by the Memphis Songwriters Association, along with a finalist in the International Songwriting Competition, as well as a top finalist in The John Lennon Songwriting Contest. Her last single, “ First Love,” from the forthcoming album, “The Things We Were” was released on April 01st, and garnered international attention by winning “ Outstanding Achievement in Songwriting,” in the Adult Contemporary category of The Great American Song Contest. “I wrote “ Suck It Up,” at a time when I felt entirely alone. When I tried to communicate with adults, it seemed I wasn’t taken seriously. I was told to let it go, smile, and suck it up, and that is what inspired me to write the song,” says Brooke. The album is being released and distributed globally by Zojak World Wide. For more information, visit BrookeFair.com. ### For interviews with Brooke Fair, or additional high-res photos, contact her publicist Tanya Moore of Moore Media at PR@MooreMedia.TV. MUSIC LINKS Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6U6h7O3p2bJj1SKWeT4PLF Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/brooke-fair/1440619359 Contact Details Moore Media | Tanya Moore PR@MooreMedia.TV

May 06, 2022 06:00 AM Pacific Daylight Time

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