Thursday, January 26, 2017

Netizens Around The World Celebrate EPK Day 2017

In a ultra polarized world where politics and ethnocentric tendencies have divided many a nations and humanity, social media netizens from around the world set aside their differences for one day in order to celebrate Electronic Press Kit Day or EPK Day for short. And rightfully so. Invented by great inventor Andre Gray on January 8, 1995, and featuring R&B singer Aaron Hall as the first artist ( person) to have an EPK created on their behalf, the first EPK in the world had a bio, videos, audio clips, press, photos, basic technical requirements, calendar and a set list. Since its introduction in 1995, the electronic press kit quickly became the single most important branding, public relations, marketing and promotional tool that is indispensable to every industry in the world. Historians and netizens alike agree that the greatest contribution of the EPK is that it served as the precursor and exact template for social media. Indeed, EPK/social media profiles account for 88% of all indexed search engine pages and, quite frankly, without the invention of the EPK, there would no LinkedIn, Facebook or Youtube, a thought too grim for millenials to imagine!

Seeing first hand the impact of the EPK, Andre Gray, the Godfather of Digital Music, decided that there should an annual EPK Day. For this year's celebrations many cafes, bars, restaurants and pubs from around the world have agreed to give their paying customers a 10% discount. Indie college radio stations spoke at length to their DIY audience about the importance of the EPK for both their professional and private lives. Gray was interviewed by two radio stations in China, one in Japan and yet another in Australia via WhatsApp. In his Australian college radio interview, gray pointed out that the EPK is so essential to our lives that it will never die. It will keep changing with the times and, at the same time, point to the future. The adage goes something like this: whenever someone starts talking in lofty futuristic terms, turn around and run in the other direction. The advice here is that we should all run; that is, we should all drop everything we are doing and run after the genius who singlehandedly transformed the Internet from a military and academic research platform into a digital sandbox for the world to play in when he posted the first song ever on the Internet on August 8, 1988 titled " Internet Killed The Video Star".

By: Jennifer Williams

Monday, January 23, 2017

NFL Legend Terrell Owens Debuts His New Athleisure Collection Prototype81 January 31st 2017

NFL Hall of Fame Candidate Terrell Owens, will launch his new athleisure brand Prototype81 exclusively on his website, www.prototype81.com, January 31st 2017. T.O.'s new ready-to-wear collection exemplifies the convergence of the modern and active lifestyles.

Prototype81 is an athleisure influenced lifestyle brand inspired by the six-time Pro-Bowler with style and performance in mind. Terrell has combined his exceptional track record of high-caliber performance, flamboyant personality, and unique creativity to marry fashion and sports in an unprecedented way.

The Prototype81 collection is stylish in design, comfortable, trendy, and most importantly made with cutting-edge fabrics to promote durability and maximize athletic performance.

Prototype81 showcases the nexus of Terrell's passions for life, sports, performance, and fashion. The collection represents the cutting edge of the athleisure lifestyle. The brand's price points are on par with competition and consumer expectations with an average price range of $40 to $200.

According to Mr. Owens "Prototype 81 has been a long time coming. My mother had a passion for fashion, her light and direction in my life has affected me in many ways including inspiring me to bring something special and unique to the athleisure space.

Our goal is to disrupt the fashion market in a way the world has never seen. I am one of the greatest to ever play wide receiver, Prototype 81 will help people achieve and represent their own greatness."

Terrell Owens is a former American football wide receiver who played 15 seasons in the National Football League. He is currently nominated for the 2017 NFL Hall of Fame class. He is a six-time Pro-Bowl selection. Owens holds or shares several National Football League records. His 15,934 career receiving yards rank second in NFL history and his 153 receiving touchdowns rank third all-time. Terrell is an author, philanthropist, sports commentator and television personality.

For more information about Prototype81 or Terrell Owens, contact Kwasi Asare at kwasi@prototype81.com

For more details on Prototype 81 visit https://www.prototype81.com/

Sunday, January 22, 2017

Philadelphia's Mike Marino & His RestlessSoul Release Heartland Rock Album

Americana singer-songwriter Mike T. Marino opens the New Year with a masterful collection of heartland rock songs called "Tomorrow's Yesterday" through his band Mike Marino & His RestlessSoul. 'Tomorrow's Yesterday' conjures the cool pastoral musings of singer-songwriters like Mark Knopfler, Tom Petty, and recent releases by Bob Dylan. Mixed by Phil Nicolo & mastered by Richard Dodd, both Grammy award winners, the album is available on CDBaby and all major online music services such as Spotify.

Tracked at Philadelphia-based Forge Recording & Phil Nicolo’s Studio 4, the 12-track album features a handpicked selection of all-star players such as Nashville greats Jimmy Heffernan and Danny Eyer – who’ve graced stages from The Tonight Show to The Grand Ole Opry & toured with Brad Paisley, Wilson Pickett & Chuck Berry to name a few. Also onboard is Bobby Campanell – Co-Founder of The Shakes with Viny Mad Dog Lopez of The E. Street band and bluesman Mike Dugan, from Mike Dugan & the Blues Mission, who was once awarded Bluesman of the Year by NYC Show Business News after that honor was previously bestowed to Mike Bloomfield & Eric Clapton.

'Tomorrow's Yesterday' represents Mike's triumphant recovery from a life-threatening illness that ate away at his body, mind, and soul. The paternal beauty to Mike's vocals is imbued with melodies that are sweet and sage, and with each vulnerable lyric feeling hard fought. A throwback to the bygone days of The Band, The Byrds & CSNY, Marino's musical influences permeate but with lyrics that cut to the edge of this modern technocracy we are left to deal with today.

Mike has currently released four acclaimed albums of roots rock that alchemize the optimum balance of folk, blues, and alt country. His work shifts between literal and metaphorical perspectives as it chronicles the American countryside getting paved over by the modern industrial complex. Previous entries in his catalog have been praised by National Reviewer Keith "Muzikman" Hannaleck and the esteemed UK publication Blues Matters. He's been the featured artist pick on Philly's WXPN 88.5 FM, received the ASCAP Plus Emerging Artist Award for extended plays, and placed as a semi-Finalist in both the Great American Songwriting Contest and The Dallas Songwriting Competition. His song "Edge of Dawn" won a contract with the CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Corp) to be used on an episode of the acclaimed series Revision Quest. And his song "Twenty Too Late" (a tribute to Stephen Stills & the Folk Rock migration from Greenwich Village to the Sunset Strip) was included on Volume 38 of The Acoustic Rainbow (Poetman Records) alongside such artists as Judy Collins, Stephen Stills and Vince Gill.

Please visit Mike online at:
http://www.miketmarino.com
http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/mikemarino4
https://play.spotify.com/album/6oce322CjAevGBDnmwebz8