Jeeni Blog

Helping the next generation of talent to build a global fanbase

MUSIC STARS JOIN NEW TALENT TO BEAT COVID

/ By Shena Mitchell
MUSIC STARS JOIN NEW TALENT TO BEAT COVID

On April 10th seventeen acts from around the world will beat the pandemic restrictions and join together to perform in a virtual festival called JAM, and they guarantee complete unknowns will get equal billing with world-famous headliners.

Grammy Award nominee Barrington Levy contributes from Jamaica, in defiance of the Covid virus. Spanish youngster BlueVein will multi-track his own backing from his bedroom. Number One Billboard Dance Chart star Zeeteah Massiah will appear in her own spectacular James Bond movie sequence. Indie rocker How Mean will perform from his grandmother's house in California. Daisy Chute, the lead singer with platinum-selling supergroup All Angels, performs live from her home in London with newcomers on the other side of the world in Australia. Grammy-Award winner Skyler Jett, whose Record Of The Year with Celine Dion for Titanic is the highest-grossing movie theme of all time, will perform his latest track with complete unknowns dancing in lockdown on every continent in the world. And more artists will beam in their contributions from Detroit to Brighton, from Northern Ireland to Rhode Island.

The producer of JAM is Mel Croucher, veteran founder of the UK video-games industry, and creator of the world's first million-user viral marketing campaign. Mel says, "Members of my team have made it to the top. We've been responsible for over 500 million record sales over the years, we've pioneered the online music revolution, and now we're giving something back to help unsigned independents and new talent in an industry that all but collapsed in the face of Covid. We've got Paul McCartney's Wings Over Europe double-decker bus ready to roll out as a mobile live venue, and we can't even think about using it until the crisis eases. So we've gone online. This is our third online festival, and by far the biggest. And it's absolutely free."

Mel goes on to explain why it's called JAM. "The Festival is a collaboration between three organisations. The J is for my own company Jeeni, where performers showcase their talent and keep 100% of everything they make. The A is for AmplifyX, based in Los Angeles, where you invest in artists you believe in. And the M is for MultiView Media, an amazing streaming platform where fans get to be the director and control the action."

The JAM Festival is at 12 noon Los Angeles time, 8pm London time on Saturday April 10th 2021, 
free to live stream on: https://mvm.multiviewmedia.co.uk/jamfestival

For further information etc...

jeeni.com

amlifyx.com

multiviewmedia.co.uk

05
May

Artists' rights have been stuck like a broken record, until Broken Record asked for Reform

An open letter was sent to Prime Minister Boris Johnson on the 20th of April, demanding, finally, that there be a reform in music streaming services. Hoorah! We hear you say, but what does this mean? Well, everything that Jeeni stands for, in essence the fair and equal treatment of music makers and artists.  High profile artists such as Sir Paul McCartney, Coldplay’s Chris Martin, Boy George and Jessie Ware, have all signed the open letter and petition asking for a regulator to ensure these actions, in order to make the UK “…the best place in the world to be a musician or songwriter.” The move was spearheaded by the Musicians’ Union and the Broken Record campaign but has garnered more than 150 signatures from famous faces across the UK music industry and the support of over 5000 musicians and fans.  Since the launch of Spotify in 2008, streaming services have quickly become our primary method for listening to music instead of through the more traditional methods of radio and Television. What these streaming services don’t offer however, is protection and fair treatment of the artists and songwriters.  In November 2020, as part of an investigation into streaming royalties, it was found that some artists were receiving just a fraction of a US cent per song streamed and worse, some no compensation at all.  In order for this to change, only small amendments need to be made to the 1998 Copyright, Designs and Patents Act, however the outcome for artists could mean the difference in being able to pay next month’s rent or not as many have unfortunately experienced. At a time when we need to be looking for ways to restart the post-Covid financial recovery, a truly free market would allow a song to achieve greater profits and therefore, as the letter addresses, put more money in the pockets of UK taxpayers which can only benefit our economy.  Fundamentally we don’t want to stop listening to and seeing the artists and musicians we love. When we are able, we want to dance along at concerts, sing our hearts out at gigs and sway to the rhythm that an artist has worked hard to create for us, so why should they not be paid and treated fairly?  We want the music industry to thrive, and it is why we at Jeeni believe that it is so important to do this.  You can support the petition at  https://www.change.org/p/boris-johnson-put-the-value-of-music-back-where-it-belongs-in-the-hands-of-music-makers Let’s make 2021 a great and fair one.

12
Oct

Jeeni crowdfunder success!

Fantastic news! Jeeni has reached its funding target and is now fully funded. Thank you to all our investors for helping fund the wonderful artists! We are delighted that so many investors share our vision. It's been a very happy, valuable experience, and our heartfelt thanks goes out to every one of our investors for making it such a success. You have been brilliant. Thanks too to Crowdcube for all their help. As for Team Jeeni, we've been working seven days a week since the start of the campaign, so tomorrow is a day of rest. First thing Monday morning our expansion and scaling up begins, on plan, on budget and on schedule. Thank you all for your enthusiasm, your sanity checks, your due diligence, your discussions, your pledges and your support in helping us make it happen! Here’s to a better future for online entertainment, Mel Croucher and Shena Mitchell, Co-Founders, Jeeni

14
Oct

Interview with Budding R&B Singer-Songwriter NNAOMI

Jeeni's EJ Salako got to chance to interview NNAOMI at this year's Victorious Festival, an R&B/soul singer-songwriter from Portsmouth UK. She discussed her influences, inspirations, and where she sees herself in 5 years. Naomi describes her music genre as R&B, neo-soul and alternative R&B. She discovered her passion for creating music during the coronavirus pandemic. Sharing that when the country was in lockdown she found herself having nothing to do in her free time. However, this gave her the time to reflect on her future and Naomi realised she wasn’t fulfilled. Although Naomi has always enjoyed singing, she never previously took it seriously and just sang for fun. She told us that one day she was invited to the studio with a friend, and “he was like why you don’t jump in the booth quickly and I was like okay, and it was lit”. As a result, this experience pushed Naomi to start creating her own music in February 2021. Naomi is inspired by a mix of different artists including Whitney Houston, Michael Jackson, Tyler Creator, and Chris Brown. Using elements from these in her music, she explains she can write an entire song within 15 minutes when inspired by a good beat. Adding that “I think the beat is my Muse”. Following that her favourite track that she has released is “Like me” a soulful R&B song. Naomi explained - “My heart is on my sleeve, emotions everywhere, you know the vibe”. Closing the interview Naomi shares her future goals: With the hopes to be able to make music her full-time career and to be performing on bigger stages. We can't wait to see more from NNAOMI and continue to follow her as she grows as an artist. Watch the full video interview here: https: https://jeeni.com/nnaomi-inside-story-interview/ JEENI is a multi-channel platform for original entertainment on demand. We’re a direct service between creatives and the global audience. • Firstly we give creatives, independent artists and performers a showcase for their talent and services. And they keep 100% of everything they make.• Secondly we empower our audience and reward them every step of the way.• Thirdly we promise to treat our members ethically, fairly, honestly and with respect. Additionally, you can check out NNAOMI’s showcase here: NNAOMI | Showcase | JEENI. As well as other showcases to add to your playlist. jeeni.com.