There’s a method to the madness for J. Cole’s upcoming tour with Drake, according to Cole’s manager, Ibrahim “Ib” Hamad. The tour, set to ignite 2024, is not your usual concert tour. It’s a mission to revisit the roots, the cities that shaped J. Cole and Drake’s musical journey but often get overlooked on the conventional touring map.
The Announcement: A Different Kind of Tour
On Monday, it was announced that J. Cole and Drake will go on the road together in 2024 for a joint run dubbed It’s All a Blur Tour: Big as the What? The tour is set to kick off on Jan. 18 in Denver, Colorado. It will then visit San Antonio, New Orleans, Tampa, Nashville, Kansas City, and wrap up in Birmingham, Alabama on March 27.
Ib Hamad took to social media to share his excitement about the upcoming journey, stating that the tour is a special run for markets that they don’t usually get to visit. The decision sparked conversations, with fans asking why the tour wouldn’t visit other stops such as Washington, D.C.
Hamad’s Take on the Tour
Ib Hamad clarified that the tour is not a major city run. Instead, it’s for the secondary market they don’t get to go to as much, hence the choice of cities. He further expressed his excitement to hit those cities again and reminisce about their early days in the music industry when they were grinding through these markets.
When asked why J. Cole and Drake wouldn’t pull up to North Carolina, Ib reminded the fan about Dreamville Festival 2024, which is happening in North Carolina a few weeks after the tour.
“We literally have a festival in North Carolina a few weeks after,” he wrote.
The Unique Approach: Revisiting the Roots
The decision to focus on the secondary markets instead of the major cities is a refreshing take on the usual concert tours. This approach allows the artists to reconnect with their roots and gives fans in these areas a chance to experience their favorite artists live, something that doesn’t happen often.
By doing this, J. Cole and Drake are not only creating a unique experience for their fans, but they’re also reminding themselves of where they came from and the journey they’ve been through.
Final Thoughts
In the world of music news, this tour stands out for its unique approach. It’s a testament to J. Cole and Drake’s humility and their dedication to their fans in all corners of the country. As they revisit the cities that played a crucial part in their journey, they’re also creating an opportunity for their fans in these areas to be a part of their ongoing journey.
While some fans might feel left out, this approach is a reminder that every city and every fan is important. It’s a celebration of music and its ability to connect people, regardless of where they are.
It’s All a Blur Tour: Big as the What? is set to be a memorable journey for both the artists and their fans. It’s a look back at the past, a celebration of the present, and a glimpse into the future.
So, if you’re in one of these cities, don’t miss out on the opportunity to see J. Cole and Drake live. And for those in the major cities, don’t feel left out. There’s always the next tour, and who knows, it might be even bigger and better.
Spotify, the renowned music streaming platform, has recently made a significant stride in enhancing its user offerings. A mere month after the announcement of introducing a selection of audiobooks as part of its Premium subscription, the company is now extending this service to its U.S. user base for the first time.
A Progressive Leap
This expansion grants Premium subscribers 15 hours of monthly audiobook listening time, a notable rise from the initial 150,000 titles in the U.K. and Australia to a vast catalog of 200,000 titles. This move is a clear sign of Spotify’s commitment to diversifying its content and catering to the evolving preferences of its users. Spotify first ventured into the realm of audiobooks in September 2022, following its acquisition of Findaway, a digital audiobook distributor, in 2021. The company debuted with a catalog of approximately 300,000 titles for U.S. users, later extending its reach to other English-speaking markets. Canada was added to the list in early 2023.
apping into a Growing Market
Spotify has acknowledged the potential of tapping into the growing market of audiobooks. Even though audiobooks currently hold a 6% to 7% share of the broader book market, the category is witnessing a 20% year-over-year growth. This growth is majorly driven by Gen Z and millennials, with 72% of 18- to 34-year-olds indulging in audiobook listening.
Initially, accessing Spotify’s audiobooks was a somewhat complex process, primarily due to the company’s reluctance to share commissions with app stores on in-app purchases. Users had to purchase titles individually via Spotify’s website before listening to them in-app. However, the introduction of a certain number of hours in the Premium subscription has streamlined this process, enabling users to select a book and start listening with a single click. Users desiring more time can opt for an additional 10 hours by purchasing a “top-off.”
Discoverability and Content Diversity
Spotify has ensured easy discoverability of its audiobooks. They can be found on the app’s Home feed or by searching for a specific title. A curated selection of popular titles is also available for browsing in the app’s audiobook hub.
Notable titles include recent releases like Britney Spears’ “The Woman in Me” and Jesmyn Ward’s “Let Us Descend,” alongside works by renowned authors such as Janet Evanovich, John Grisham, Stephen King, Colleen Hoover, and musical artists like Willie Nelson and Dave Grohl.
The platform boasts over 70% of bestselling titles, encompassing books from the big five publishers as well as independent publishers and authors. The titles span across various genres and include classics like Emily Brontë’s “Wuthering Heights.”
Spotify’s Continued Growth
In its most recent quarter, Spotify reported a 16% year-over-year growth in paying subscribers, now totaling 226 million. Its monthly active users saw a 26% increase, reaching 574 million, surpassing the company’s forecast by 2 million. Revenue also rose by 11% year-over-year to €3.4 billion ($3.63 billion USD), aided by recent price hikes. This development heralds a promising upswing for Spotify, underlining its forward-thinking strategy and commitment to user satisfaction. The inclusion of audiobooks in its Premium subscription not only broadens its content spectrum but also positions it favorably to tap into the burgeoning audiobook market.
Amazon, the e-commerce giant, is altering its grocery delivery model in a bid to stay competitive in the rapidly evolving online grocery landscape. The company’s revised strategy for its grocery service, Amazon Fresh, could prove to be a significant turning point in the industry.
A Shift Towards Inclusivity
Amazon has announced changes to its grocery delivery service, Amazon Fresh, aiming to make it more competitive with rivals like Instacart, Walmart, Target-owned Shipt, and DoorDash. The most significant alteration? Customers no longer need an Amazon Prime membership to order groceries for delivery or free pickup from Amazon Fresh.
This move allows non-Prime members to avail themselves of Amazon Fresh’s services, giving the company a broader customer base. It is expected to roll out in locations across the U.S., where Amazon Fresh is offered, and soon, a similar option will be made available to Whole Foods shoppers.
Expanded Service and Delivery Options
According to the company, once this expansion phase is completed, customers in more than 3,500 U.S. cities and towns will have the option of ordering two-hour grocery delivery from either Amazon Fresh or Whole Foods Market, depending on availability.
In addition to this, Amazon shoppers can now order from local grocers and specialty shops through the Amazon website. These include stores like Bristol Farms, Cardenas Markets, Pet Food Express, Weis Markets, and Save Mart.
Pricing and Discounts
While Amazon Fresh is not a free service, even for Prime members, Amazon’s membership program will offer several discounts. For example, Fresh orders over $100 will still be free if you have a Prime membership, and won’t include a delivery fee. Meanwhile, two-hour deliveries will include a service fee of $6.95 for orders ranging from $50-$100, and $9.95 for deliveries under $50, for Prime members.
Non-members will be charged between $7.95-$13.95 depending on their basket size and the delivery window selected. Flexible orders with delivery times of up to six hours may also receive a fee reduction, while rushed orders may include additional fees.
Grocery Pickup and More
For grocery pickup with Amazon Fresh, the company offers stores in California, Illinois, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Washington, D.C., and Washington State. Some of these stores will also offer Amazon’s cashierless payment option, Just Walk Out where customers pay with a palm reader.
Both Amazon Fresh stores and Whole Foods Market locations can also be used for package pickup and return for Amazon.com orders, and those using this service in Fresh stores will receive coupons to use in-store.
The Bigger Picture: Amazon’s Grocery Market Position
This significant move of broadening Amazon’s grocery reach is indicative of how far Amazon has fallen behind in the broader online grocery market. Operating different grocery brands has led to consumer confusion — particularly in markets where both services are available with their own unique product selections.
The autonomous driving scene in Europe is about to get shaken up. Deeproute.ai, an autonomous driving startup headquartered in Shenzhen, China, has plans to set up an operations center in Germany by 2024. The company, which has received over $350 million in funding and employs more than 500 employees worldwide, is the latest Chinese mobility upstart to establish a physical presence in Germany, home to some of the world’s largest automakers.
The move marks a significant step in the company’s global expansion strategy, which aims to collaborate with more local automakers and support OEM partners on smart driving mass production.
Unveiling The Plan
The announcement came during the International Motor Show Germany in Munich, where several Chinese mobility players marked their presence. The company has also revealed its plans to roll out its production-ready autonomous driving solution in Germany next year, with other European markets to follow.
Tech Behind The Wheel: Drive 3.0
The solution, dubbed Drive 3.0, works without HD maps and includes features like valet park assist. With a competitive hardware price of $2,000, the system is quite compelling. This affordability is largely thanks to Deeproute’s collaboration with its competitively priced Chinese lidar suppliers. Powering the system is Nvidia’s Drive Orin system-on-a-chip.
The Operations Center: A Mystery Unfolding
Details about the operations center remain sparse at this point. Deeproute has shared that it plans to hire a business development team in Germany, but the specifics about the operations center’s roles and responsibilities, as well as its geographical location, are yet to be disclosed.
Learning From History: Momenta’s Foresight
It’s worth noting that Deeproute is not the first Chinese autonomous driving company to establish a base in Germany. Suzhou-based competitor Momenta had the foresight to open an office in Stuttgart two years ago. This strategic move arguably paved the way for Momenta to foster closer relationships with its investor Mercedes-Benz, as well as other European OEMs.
Nio’s Footprint in Germany: A Case Study
Nio, another Chinese premium electric vehicle startup, already has a 1,500-sqm innovation center in Berlin and a design facility in Munich. In addition to these, it also runs a “Nio House,” a stylish members’ club and showroom in the German capital.
Deeproute’s Strategic Shift: From Robotaxi to Production-Ready Car
Like many ambitious Chinese AV startups, Deeproute initially focused on Level 4 driverless technologies to power robotaxis. However, over time, the company shifted its focus to less advanced driving solutions for auto partners, which could generate immediate cash flow. A representative from the company explained that they have been working with OEMs on mass production since last year, which prompted the shift in focus.
Deeproute’s Expanding Customer Base
As of the end of 2022, Deeproute’s services had provided over 800,000 passenger rides, most of which were executed by its robotaxis in major Chinese cities. With its impending expansion into Germany, the company hopes to grow its OEM customer base, which already includes Seres and Geely. A local business development team will be instrumental in connecting with more local automakers.
The Road Ahead: More Chinese Companies to Follow?
With Deeproute’s planned expansion, it’s possible that more Chinese robotaxi companies will consider venturing into Germany. If successful, Deeproute could potentially pave the way for other companies to follow suit, further solidifying China’s presence in the global autonomous driving landscape.
Life is never about where you’re from, but what you become.
Sixteen thousand five hundred forty-three people reside in Stuart, Florida, as of 2019. The city of Stuart, Florida, is known for a lot of things, but not for Hip-Hop.
Major Recording Artist Cris Cray is driven to become a Hip-Hop Icon & open doors for future Generation Z music creators coming “Straight Outta Stuart.” The childhood of Cris Cray was influenced heavily by music, crime, drugs, economic struggles, rage, passion, & love. As a child, his parents encouraged his musical vision and inner desire to create music. Having watched the Notorious B.I.G. & 2Pac rap videos as a child, he started writing lyrics from them.
They inspired Cris Cray to dream of being an Icon of Hip-Hop due to their lyrical delivery & swag. Cris Cray’s lyrics always centered around his passion for life, self-empowerment, defining your purpose, & spiritual healing.
When Cris Cray was just 18, he experienced the harsh realities of incarceration. As a result of his imprisonment, Cris reflected on his life, mistakes, and associates and discovered a new purpose for his music.
Cris Cray is cut from a rare musical cloth in life.
For Cris Cray, crafting lyrics that uplift & motivate youth culture became his new mission. Cris Cray understood the power of God & how he was able to save himself during the darkest moments of his incarceration due to his divine intervention.
It is rare for a person in this world to be able to understand how blessings from the highest force in the universe should be interpreted. Cris Cray can extract raw emotions from his soul and convey them through music as spiritual, inspirational poems.
In 2018, Cris Cray launched his own Multimedia Company, which includes a record label, a clothing line, T.V./Film & global merchandising. Since 2018, Cris Cray has dropped multiple radio singles to critical acclaim from upper-echelon music executives.
The lead track, “Spiritual,” has become a favorite among fans on Instagram and Spotify. ‘Spiritual’ lyrics express people’s deepest desires, faith, and perspectives. ‘Spiritual’ is currently in heavy radio rotation on 99.7 DA HEAT MIAMI powered by iHeartRadio.
Cris Cray is a leading Generation Z voice in the NFT, Web3, and crypto markets. He’s currently integrating his music, message, and brand into the blockchain world.
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