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Introducing Astraverse: Black-Led Startup Building The First Play-to-Wear Fashion Metaverse

G2M Digital

Led by a team of energetic, innovative, black designers and digital artists, Astraverse.xyz is on a mission to revolutionise digital fashion experience. By building a virtual world where physical and digital (tech folks call it ‘phygital’) fashion blend perfectly, Astraverse reinvents the way we will stay fashionable in the near future with their 'play-to-wear’ concept where one can win fashion pieces, delivered to their door steps, through their proprietary games. If you were ever hooked on Sims or other games with fashion at its core, you will be familiar with what Astraverse is building. In this universe that the team has created, the possibilities are endless. This gamified retail experience in the metaverse, or what the team has coined “Play-To-Wear'', is here to stay. “We are adding a ‘meta-commerce’ backend to the gaming front to create a global, sustainable fashion platform for the next generation of retail shoppers,” commented Delz Erinle, Founder of Astraverse.xyz. The team is now on a mission to build the first virtual world for gamified retail. Everything happens by jumping into a virtual world with your avatar - with Astraverse, you can now interact with the brands close to your heart, collecting digital coins or landing your hands on mystery boxes from these brands through games and fashion quests found on the metaverse. "It’s the perfect time to things different, almost 10 years since Amazon came online and introduced a new way of shopping; the stars have aligned to reinvent fashion retail and gaming gives us the tools to achieve this," mentioned Niyi Okeowo, Art Direction Lead and Co-founder of Astraverse.xyz at the Astraverse2050 launch party last month in Lagos, Nigeria. New Data from Roblox has also illustrated just how big 2022 was for digital fashion on the virtual world platform. In September, on the heels of its New York Fashion Week show, Carolina Herrera worked with model Karlie Kloss and creator Lovespun to turn one of its runway gowns into a Roblox dress. The digital dress, which was released for 500 Robux (approximately $5), sold out within hours and were resold for over $5,000 in the following weeks on secondary markets. Industrywide, there is also a sustained interest in gamified digital fashion. Some of the notable collaborations include Ralph Lauren on Fortnite; Burberry on Minecraft; and Blankos Block Party and Dior in Gran Turismo 7. More recently, Calvin Klein opened an online gaming experience with avatar company Ready Player Me — a fitting choice for the brand to begin their phygital offering to their customers. Building since 2020 before the metaverse hype cycle began, the Astraverse.xyz team has made great progress. The Astraverse team has since received grants from Epic Games & Meta, and garnered over 1000 demo testers for the 3 iterations they had conducted at Dcentral Austin, Zebu Live London & NFT London. They also managed to attract a 100+ brand waitlist and have grown their community to 20k members, while being accelerated by University of Cambridge I4SF, Nvidia Inception Programme, DeFine, Technation, KPMG. The team believes strongly in a common goal - to add “metacommerce” in a futuristic-yet-familiar way that brings a level of physicality to the e-commerce experience. The Astraverse team has since planned for a lot of partnerships in the upcoming years, including a launch with a global retailer that has everyone excited on how gaming and web3 to create a new experience that makes fashion retail more gamified and sustainable. When asked about the next milestone, the team commented to look out for the upcoming release of their 1st Play-to-Wear event - the Astra Mystery Box Challenge, scheduled to launch in February at NFT Paris. For this challenge, Astraverse has partnered with several brands for their players to win their apparels through games on Astraverse. For a more personal touch with the team at Astraverse, tune in to this exclusive executive interview with the core team at Astraverse.xyz and G2M Digital to find out more on what they are building on the ground. Stay updated with the upcoming news from Astraverse.xyz by following their Twitter or Instagram. Contact Details Delz +44 7423 506633 team@thrill.digital Company Website https://www.astraverse.xyz/

February 08, 2023 12:00 PM Eastern Standard Time

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QYOU USA & Chtrbox Merge Influencer Marketing Operations To Expand Global Capabilities

QYOU Media

This release contains a video. If you can't see a video, click the link: TORONTO, LOS ANGELES & MUMBAI February 8, 2023: QYOU Media Inc. (TSXV: QYOU; OTCQB: QYOUF), the fast-growing media group has announced that it will be integrating its worldwide operations headquartered out of USA and India for global creator media solutions. As part of the integration strategy, Glenn Ginsburg, President QYOU, will oversee synergies across the award-winning US and Indian businesses, while Pranay Swarup & Julie Kriegshaber, CEO & COO of Chtrbox move to co-Vice Chairman roles to strategically advise collaboration efforts. Across the US & India, QYOU & Chtrbox have been leading influencer marketing mandates for global companies such as Paramount Pictures, Hasbro, Activision, P&G, HP, Amazon, Spotify, Pinterest and many others who can further benefit from enhanced expertise, cost efficiencies and cross border reach that comes with this integration. Curt Marvis commented, "QYOU’s vision behind our 2021 acquisition of Chtrbox was to become a global creator media powerhouse. Since then, both the India and US influencer marketing teams have independently doubled their business, and we feel confident that with a joint offering across teams will further fuel this growth trajectory.” Glenn Ginsburg added, “Beyond expanding our client list in the QYOU USA team, we are seeing increased demand for pan-regional and global campaigns. With Chtrbox, we can further support our clients with scalable and cost-effective efforts that are relevant and authentic. We are thrilled to tap into the Chtrbox team of over 80 influencer marketing specialists and their extensive creator networks in India, Asia, and around the world.” Pranay Swarup adds, “While Chtrbox has taken up a fair amount of international work already, we are excited for QYOU & Chtrbox to unlock a new layer of global growth together. Under the QYOU Media group, Chtrbox is in great hands and I look forward to staying strategically involved” Chtrbox’s India teams under the leadership of Karan Pherwani & Mrunali Dedhia, co-Vice Presidents, and Darshil Shah, Director ChtrSocial, will work directly with Glenn Ginsburg, President QYOU USA to further drive this integration and growth. About QYOU Media One of the fastest growing creator-media companies, QYOU Media operates in India and the United States producing, distributing and monetizing content created by social media influencers and digital content stars. In India, under our flagship brand, The Q, we curate, produce and distribute premium content across television networks, VOD and OTT platforms, mobile phones, smart TV’s and app-based platforms. We now have 5 emerging content destinations engaging over 125 million Indian households weekly – The Q (mass entertainment), Q Marathi (regional content), Q Kahaniyan (animated content), Q Comedistaan (comedy focused) and our latest Q-GameX (live gaming). Our influencer marketing company, Chtrbox, has been a pioneer in India’s creator economy, leveraging data to connect brands to the right social media influencers. In the United States, we power major film studios, game publishers and brands to create content and market via creators and influencers. Founded and created by industry veterans from Lionsgate, MTV, Disney and Sony, QYOU Media’s millennial and Gen Z-focused content reaches more than one billion consumers around the world every month. Experience our work at www.qyoumedia.com, www.theq.tv and www.theqyou.com and www.chtrbox.com. Investor Relations Contact: Dave Gentry RedChip Companies Inc. 1-800-RED-CHIP (733-2447) Or 407-491-4498 QYOUF@redchip.com Join our shareholder chat group on Telegram: http://t.me/QYOUMedia Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Contact Details QYOU Media Doug Barker +1 437-992-4814 shareholder@qyoutv.com Company Website https://www.qyoumedia.com

February 08, 2023 11:30 AM Eastern Standard Time

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double jump.tokyo Inc. to Produce Official NFT Collection of Captain Tsubasa the Popular Anime Character

double jump.tokyo, Inc.

TOKYO, JAPAN - Media OutReach - 7 February 2023 - double jump.tokyo is thrilled to announce that it is producing a high-quality NFT that combines the special moves and famous scenes of the world famous Japanese soccer anime character, Captain Tsubasa. Started in 1981, “Captain Tsubasa” continues to have an incredible influence on current FIFA soccer superstars, other professional athletes and up and coming beginners. This Project, branded as “World Peace Through The Power of Soccer'' will donate a soccer ball for each NFT purchase to be distributed to countries around the world. As Tsubasa Ozora said, “the ball is our friend.” “Captain Tsubasa is all about having dreams and pursuing those dreams,” stated Yoichi Takahashi. “What better way to have fun than by kicking around a soccer ball, and what better way to dream than wondering around the world with that ball. This project reinforces that message and highlights the importance of having dreams as children.” This is a completely original collection that incorporates various elements of "Captain Tsubasa." They are currently producing a large number of NFTs that combine characters, special moves, legendary scenes, and parameters. The project is using a new technological mechanism from Ethereum co-creator Vitalk Buterin called soulbound tokens (SBT), non-transferable NFTs that represent social identity. Users who purchase the NFTs have the choice of converting the NFTs into SBTs – allowing them to receive a physical ball with an original design drawn by Yoichi Takahashi. Details of the “The Ball is Our Friend” NFT Project can be found on Twitter or Tsubasa’s Official Site. Join the Captain Tsubasa Social Stadium Twitter Campaign to spread the awareness of this project and help donate soccer balls to the world! When：2023 /2/6 ~ 2/25 (PST) Where to join: https://stadium.tsubasa.world About double jump.tokyo, Inc. Founded in 2018, double jump.tokyo is the leading startup in Japan that specializes in NFT solutions and developing blockchain games. double jump.tokyo has partnered with companies including Square Enix, Bandai Namco, and Sega. Contact Details Media Contact Otter Public Relations +1 720-936-4480 caleb.harper@otterpr.com Company Website https://tsubasa.world/

February 07, 2023 09:00 AM Eastern Standard Time

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SIGMA Updates fp & fp L Cameras Appealing to Cinematographers by Adding New Color Mode, 4TB SSD Compatibility, Atomos Cloud Support and More

SIGMA CORPORATION OF AMERICA

SIGMA Corporation of America, the US subsidiary of SIGMA Corporation (CEO: Kazuto Yamaki. Headquarters: Asao-ku, Kawasaki-shi, Kanagawa, Japan) is pleased to announce major firmware updates for the SIGMA fp series cameras: Version 5.0 for the 24-megapixel SIGMA fp, and Version 3.0 for the 61-megapixel fp L. Key updates include the addition of a "Warm Gold" color mode, support for 4TB SSDs, and Atomos Cloud support. With these firmware updates, the fp and fp L are also now the first mirrorless still/cine cameras to incorporate the EL ZONE metering system created by cinematographer Ed Lachman, ASC. EL ZONE is a false-color exposure tool where standard exposure (18% reflectivity) is displayed in gray, with up to six steps of both highlights and shadows displayed in an intuitive, standardized, color-coded format to allow creators to utilize the dynamic range of the cameras to its fullest. Additionally, Open Gate with Anamorphic Desqueeze for the ARRI ALEXA LF / ALEXA Mini LF has been added to the camera and settings registered in Director’s Viewfinder Mode; which will be a benefit to high-end filmmakers utilizing the popular ARRI line of cine products. "The introduction of the EL ZONE metering system, along with the full roster of additional features and functions provided in the latest firmware, demonstrates SIGMA's commitment to the fp camera series." reports Mark Amir-Hamzeh, SIGMA America President. "With each major firmware update, the fp cameras become ever more important tools catering to the needs of the creative community." The firmware updates for both cameras will be available on February 8, 2023, on the sigma-global.com website. The full description of the firmware update follows below. ##### Major firmware update for the SIGMA fp for Ver. 5.00 and fp L for Ver. 3.00 The SIGMA fp and fp L cameras both gain added functionality with the new major firmware update Thank you for purchasing and using our products. We are pleased to announce that firmware update Ver. 5.00 is now available for the SIGMA fp and Ver. 3.00 is available for the SIGMA fp L full-frame mirrorless camera. #SIGMfp #SIGMAfpL #SIGMA [Applicable product] SIGMA fp / SIGMA fp L [Benefits of the update] SIGMA fp Ver. 5.00 / SIGMA fp L Ver. 3.00 A new color mode "Warm Gold" is added. This Color mode creates a mellow atmosphere with subdued tones and warm colors. The "EL ZONE" option has been added to the "False Color" function, which displays the exposure status of any part of the screen in a color-coded manner, allowing you to monitor the exposure status of any part of the screen. "Focus frame only" *has been added to the information display menu in the |▢| (Display) mode setting * "Focus Frame Only" appears in the menu only when the shooting style in STILL mode or CINE mode is set to STILL-like. The camera can now be switched off even during long exposures. The camera is now compatible with a 4TB (terabyte) external SSD. Open Gate (x1.25 / x1.3 / x1.5 / x1.65 / x1.8 / x2) for ARRI ALEXA LF / ALEXA Mini LF has been added to the camera and setting information registered in the Director's Viewfinder. ATOMOS Cloud is now supported. * * Firmware update of ATOMOS devices is required to use the cloud solution provided by ATOMOS. Please wait for the announcement from ATOMOS for information on compatible devices and the release date of the firmware. To update the firmware, please refer to the following links: SIGMA fp Ver. 5.00 https://www.sigma-global.com/en/cameras/fp/?tab=support&local=firmware SIGMA fp L Ver. 3.00 https://www.sigma-global.com/en/cameras/fpl/?tab=support&local=firmware [Learn more] About SIGMA fp: https://www.sigma-global.com/en/cameras/fp-series/ About SIGMA fp Ver. 5.00 / SIGMA fp L Ver. 3.00: https://www.youtube.com/user/sigmaglobalvision About SIGMA's color modes: https://www.sigma-global.com/en/magazine/m_series/cameras/sigma_color_mode_library/ [About instruction manual] The latest versions of the instruction manuals (PDF format) that support this firmware update can be downloaded from the following URLs: https://www.sigma-global.com/en/cameras/fp/#catalog https://www.sigma-global.com/en/cameras/fpl/#catalog [Contact] For further information, please contact your local authorized SIGMA Service Station listed at the link below: https://www.sigma-global.com/en/world-network/ We appreciate your continued support for SIGMA products. About SIGMA Corporation Craftsmanship. Precision. Dedication. Since 1961, SIGMA has been devoted to the pursuit of advancing photographic technology. Unique to the industry, the family-owned business produces its high-quality, award-winning still photo and cinema camera lenses, DSLR and mirrorless cameras, flashes, filters and accessories from its state-of-the-art manufacturing facility located in Aizu, Japan. In 2012, the company introduced SIGMA Global Vision with three distinct lens lines: Art, Contemporary and Sports. Designed for industry camera mount systems including Canon, Leica, Nikon, Olympus, Panasonic, Sony and SIGMA, each lens is handcrafted and tested in Japan to ensure a high-performance, premium product that is purpose-built to last. In 2016, the SIGMA Cine lens lineup was launched, further cementing SIGMA as an innovator in imaging engineering. Embodying the core optical DNA that has defined the SIGMA benchmark of excellence, SIGMA Cine lenses meet the needs of advanced 6k and 8k cinema production. Forming the landmark L-Mount alliance alongside Leica and Panasonic in 2018, SIGMA continues its storied tradition of imaging excellence through groundbreaking innovations such as the native L-mount SIGMA fp and fp L full-frame mirrorless digital cameras, announced in July 2019 and March 2021 respectively. These products, along with over 30 award-winning SIGMA Global Vision lenses available in native L-Mount format, demonstrate SIGMA's continued commitment to the creative community through expanded product offerings. With the fp, fp L and these lenses, even more users can now leverage SIGMA's renowned optical formula to achieve their creative vision with ease. ### For information about SIGMA America, please visit sigmaphoto.com and SIGMA Blog for helpful information about our products. Follow SIGMA America on social media! SIGMA Photo: Facebook, Twitter and Instagram SIGMA Cine: Facebook, Twitter and Instagram Contact Details SIGMA Corporation of America Jack Howard +1 631-201-7381 sigma.pr@sigmaphoto.com Company Website https://www.sigma-global.com/en/

February 07, 2023 07:30 AM Eastern Standard Time

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AI-Powered Congressional Transcripts From FiscalNote (NYSE: NOTE) So You Never Miss Another Floor Speech

Benzinga

By Jad Malaeb, Benzinga Artificial intelligence (AI) made huge strides in 2022. The release of OpenAI’s ChatGPT exemplified AI’s evolution. The chatbot broke news headlines in November 2022 when its user count crossed 1 million in the first week of its launch. The mind-boggling user growth inspired comparisons to the growth rates of its larger corporate counterparts, and the results were outstanding. ChatGPT achieved 1 million users faster than Netflix, Facebook, Spotify and Instagram by a significant margin. It took Netflix, for example, nearly three and a half years to achieve 1 million users. The outstanding growth rates reflect ChatGPT’s incredible capabilities. The chatbot has been used to write content, conceive business plans, design new recipes, dictate code for a stock market strategy, create novels, solve math problems and provide professional advice. ChatGPT’s usefulness has prompted the rise of AI in a number of industries, including, perhaps surprisingly, politics. How AI Has Played A Role In Politics As a tech-based agency specialized in collecting data on the regulatory processes in the U.S. and abroad, FiscalNote (NYSE: NOTE) has had extensive experience integrating AI into their data intelligence solutions. FiscalNote leverages AI’s computing and locating abilities to transform a bulk of unstructured data into actionable insights. FiscalNote’s clients, for example, receive a timeline of key events relating to millions of companies, and the timeline is augmented with AI-generated scores for quick assessment. FiscalNote’s AI solutions also provide industry coverage based on billions of data points extracted from over 100 million documents, and these are updated daily with millions of data points. The breadth and timeliness of this data makes FiscalNote a unique source for actionable political and financial information. The company has also provided AI solutions better suited for specific tasks. FiscalNote’s AI capabilities, for example, extend onto Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) reporting, Earnings Call Transcripts, Market Sentiment, News Pulse and SEC filings, all of which allow clients to remain ahead of the competition. FiscalNote Leverages AI-Powered Transcription For Congressional Speeches On Nov. 29, 2022, FiscalNote announced that Fireside – its constituent relationship management (CRM) software for Federal, State and Local governments – will be upgraded with the integration of AI-powered transcripts and videos of elected officials’ floor speeches, debates and committee hearings. Fireside’s AI integration will empower communication between legislators and the general public by providing a streamlined path to important political speeches. FiscalNote’s proprietary CRM will enable direct access to these speeches, transcribing them and transporting them to the Fireside platform within an hour after the delivery of the remarks. <iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/hw4iZUte6qM" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe> This is a game-changer for press secretaries, communication directors, chiefs of staff, speechwriters and district office staff who rely on fast and secure communications to stay ahead of traditional media coverage. At the same time, this service offers some of the quickest paths to the generation of reliable, swift and actionable content for press releases, newsletters and other constituent-facing communications. “Fireside has always been the essential go-to toolkit on Capitol Hill for the management of constituent communications and engagement, and with this integration of Congressional speeches and remarks, Fireside is set to deliver even more value for our customers at a time when electoral change and redistricting has made communications and transparency even more of a critical priority for lawmakers and their staff,” said Josh Resnik, President & Chief Operating Officer, FiscalNote. This article was originally published on Benzinga here. This post contains sponsored advertising content. This content is for informational purposes only and not intended to be investing advice. Contact Details Benzinga +1 877-440-9464 info@benzinga.com Company Website http://www.benzinga.com

February 03, 2023 09:25 AM Eastern Standard Time

Comcast Hosts Community Event and Makes a $50,000 Contribution to Santa Cruz Non-Profit Organizations for Storm Relief and Recovery

Comcast California

As Santa Cruz County works to recover and rebuild from the recent historic rainstorms that caused massive flooding, downed trees, landslides and other devastation, Comcast yesterday hosted a free event to support the community and made a $50,000 donation to the United Way of Santa Cruz and Community Bridges of Santa Cruz. “The Santa Cruz area has suffered so much from the recent storms – the devastation has been heart wrenching to experience and witness,” said Ray Cancino, CEO, Community Bridges. “This partnership and financial support from Comcast is coming at the ideal time and will provide important, valuable resources as the community strives to get back on its feet.” “We appreciate Comcast hosting yesterday’s event. It was so nice to enable this hard-hit community to take a break, come together and support each other, while having some fun.” said Keisha Browden, CEO, United Way of Santa Cruz County. “Comcast’s financial contribution to our community will help us not only expand our recovery efforts but also help us rebuild from this catastrophic disaster.” A unique feature at the Scotts Valley community event was the Xfinity Experience trailer, which features a 12 foot by 18-foot LED screen on which the movies Sing 2 and Minions: Rise of Gru were screened. The trailer also enabled free WiFi access and power so attendees could get online and charge their devices. Attendees can enjoy free food and beverages from local restaurants and there will be raffles with a variety of door prizes and special giveaways. Throughout the series of dangerous and severe storms, Comcast provided a range of services to evacuation and community support centers in Northern and Central California. Comcast’s network and engineering technicians monitored the storms’ impacts and worked diligently to restore Xfinity and Comcast Business services that were impacted as quickly and safely as possible so customers could stay connected. Comcast also made available for free use by anyone its 147,000 public Xfinity WiFi hotspots throughout Northern and Central California. This helped residents and emergency personnel stay connected during the rainstorms. # # # About Comcast Corporation Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCSA) is a global media and technology company that connects people to moments that matter. We are principally focused on connectivity, aggregation, and streaming with 57 million customer relationships across the United States and Europe. We deliver broadband, wireless, and video through our Xfinity, Comcast Business, and Sky brands; create, distribute, and stream leading entertainment, sports, and news through Universal Filmed Entertainment Group, Universal Studio Group, Sky Studios, the NBC and Telemundo broadcast networks, multiple cable networks, Peacock, NBCUniversal News Group, NBC Sports, Sky News, and Sky Sports; and provide memorable experiences at Universal Parks and Resorts in the United States and Asia. Visit www.comcastcorporation.com for more information. Contact Details Adriana Arvizo +1 925-200-1919 Adriana_Arvizo@comcast.com

February 02, 2023 02:01 PM Pacific Standard Time

THE CAMP BROADWAY ENSEMBLE TO PERFORM AT THE NEW YORK POPS 40th BIRTHDAY GALA CONCERT AT CARNEGIE HALL ON MAY 1, 2023

Camp Broadway

The Broadway Education Alliance is pleased to announce that the Camp Broadway Ensemble will perform with The New York Pops at their 40 th Birthday Gala at Stern Auditorium / Perelman Stage at Carnegie Hall on Monday, May 1, 2023. The New York Pops’ acclaimed Music Director and Conductor Steven Reineke will direct this all-star concert event that features a world-renowned 78-member orchestra. The New York Pops will honor the Grammy®, Tony®, and Emmy® Award-winning icon, Barry Manilow. Camp Broadway offers aspiring tween and teen performers, ages 12-17, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to participate in a 3-day theater program taught by a team of Broadway professionals that culminates in a musical performance on stage at Carnegie Hall, New York’s most prestigious venue. Camp Broadway’s exclusive program includes classes in vocal performance, movement and acting, special guests and more. Audition tapes are being accepted now. Professional performance experience is NOT necessary. For more information about casting eligibility, audition submission guidelines, rehearsal schedule, and program attributes, visit https://campbroadway.com/new-york-pops-gala. This year’s concert marks Camp Broadway’s 15 th appearance with The New York Pops. ”We are thrilled to have Camp Broadway join us once again for our 40th Birthday Gala,” says Anne Swanson, The New York Pops Executive Director. "Together we share a commitment to bring together students from New York City, throughout the United States, and around the world to share in the joys of musical performance with our orchestra.” Camp Broadway® is an award-winning theater arts enrichment program that provides children access to exceptional performing arts instruction and performance opportunities. To learn more about this and other Camp Broadway camps, classes and events, visit www.CampBroadway.com. To learn more about The New York Pops, visit https://newyorkpops.org/40th-birthday-gala. CAMP BROADWAY® Camp Broadway is an award-winning theater arts enrichment program recognized as Broadway’s “original” summer destination for theater-loving kids. Founded in 1995, the program makes theatre arts an accessible and engaging way for creative children to build confidence, hone presentation skills and discover their unique talents on and off the stage. Owned and operated by the Broadway Education Alliance Inc. (“BEA”), a not-for-profit corporation focused on expanding arts education and enrichment programming, Camp Broadway is known as a theater industry leader in audience engagement and a trusted source for year-round experiential programs. Over 400,000 children have attended Camp Broadway camps, educational workshops, and special performance events held in New York and at partner performing arts centers around the United States. Camp Broadway ® is the recipient of a many industry recognitions including a Special Drama Desk Award for its decades long work in building theatre audiences and artists. BROADWAY EDUCATION ALLIANCE INC. Broadway Education Alliance Inc. (BEA) is a New York based 501(c)(3) organization supporting theater arts education and enrichment programs that inspire creativity, build confidence, and stimulate critical thinking in children of all ages. Founded in 2008, BEA is the international operator of Camp Broadway®. The organization developed and produced the National High School Musical Theatre Awards (aka The Jimmy Awards®) building it into the Broadway’s national education platform, and it continues to present the Greater New York regional award program, called The Roger Rees Awards for Excellence in Student Performance. BEA also serves as the fiscal sponsor and administrator for many theater arts educational programs sponsored by Broadway shows, that providing children in underserved communities access to theater artists and performance opportunities. The organization recently acquired StageNotes®, a library of theatrical study guides, and the At This Stage®, a digital workshop archive that produces and distributes author-approved, rights-cleared education materials into K-12 schools. For more information, visit www.BEAlliance.org. Contact Details Camp Broadway | Broadway Education Alliance Susan E. Lee +1 212-575-2929 slee@bealliance.org The New York Pops Stephen Furda +1 212-765-7677 stephen.furda@nypops.org Company Website https://campbroadway.com/

February 02, 2023 09:37 AM Eastern Standard Time

How Yoshitsu Co (NASDAQ: TKLF) Drove Growth Amid A Turbulent Beauty Market – 2022 In Review

Benzinga

By David Willey, Benzinga It has been a year of milestones for the Japanese beauty company Yoshitsu Co Ltd (NASDAQ: TKLF). Yoshitsu is a retailer and wholesaler of beauty and health products that saw a year of growth despite difficulties in the market. The beauty industry is growing, worth over $90 billion in China and $131 billion in Europe. Meanwhile, North America continues as its largest market at $364.8 billion. Traditional stores, especially pharmacies, still represent the largest segment of beauty and health product sales, though there is an increasing shift towards e-commerce that was partially motivated by the lockdowns of the past few years. Companies in the beauty and health space have looked to seek new solutions in 2022 to meet the changing market needs. One company that struggled was New York personal care icon Revlon (OTCMKTS: REVRQ). The company had a tough year, first filing for bankruptcy before being suspended and delisted by the New York Stock Exchange in October, 2022. Parisian personal care company L’Oreal SA (OTCPK: LRLCY) started a research and development (R&D) collaboration with Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ: GOOGL) subsidiary Verily to better understand skin health and aging processes. American company Ulta Beauty Inc. (NASDAQ: ULTA) saw a net increase of income of 17% in the first half of 2022, and also launched its Beauty& campaign to revolutionize the beauty industry and change perspectives on how to understand beauty and health wellbeing. Tokyo-based Yoshitsu Co. saw its product portfolio of cosmetics, skincare, fragrances, and cosmetic applicators expand to sauces, condiments, and various food products. Despite market challenges resulting from strict Japanese and Chinese lockdowns, Yoshitsu expanded in the past year, opened more physical locations, and saw record company growth. A Series of Successes? Opened Brick-and-mortar Locations. While some companies permanently closed their brick-and-mortar stores, Yoshitsu has been expanding. In November 2022 it opened a warehouse in London, UK, to respond to strong European demand for its products. It also added an additional store in Hong Kong, with significant interest coming from China, which reportedly made up 75% of Yoshitsu's revenue in 2021. Tourist Locations. COVID was tough for companies as Japan was closed to tourists for two years following the pandemic. But when Japan opened up its borders, Yoshitsu was there. It opened various pickup locations, offering duty-free cosmetics to entice tourists, with sites at its Urawa and KoshigayaRyutsudanchi stores in Saitama, as well as in Nagano. Wholesale Success. The company has also handled market challenges by capitalizing on its robust network of 200+ wholesale partners. 95% of its revenue came from online stores, franchised stores and wholesale operations in 2021. Credit Agreement. In November the company entered into a revolving credit facility agreement with a syndicate of national banks. The agreement - for JPY 8.15 billion (about $55.82 million) - expands the opportunity to reinvest in the company and to fulfill a balanced capital allocation. Food Products. Successes made possible by steps like the credit agreement include Yoshitsu’s addition of sauces, dressings, and condiments products to its portfolio, entering a market worth over $21 billion. It diversified this plan by later adding a host of food products, including frozen and refrigerated items, processed food, and confectionery. Record Growth. Perhaps unsurprisingly after a strong year, Yoshitsu saw record revenue growth. Reflecting on the successes, Principal Executive Officer of Yoshitsu Mei Kanayama said: “Although the global economy has been filled with uncertainties, we are satisfied with the accomplishments achieved in our key strategic initiatives, including the completion of our initial public offering in January 2022 and the expansion of our market coverage with new stores and wholesale customers.” To learn more about Yoshitsu, visit its website. This article was originally published on Benzinga here. This post contains sponsored advertising content. This content is for informational purposes only and not intended to be investing advice. Contact Details Benzinga +1 877-440-9464 info@benzinga.com Company Website http://www.benzinga.com

February 02, 2023 09:25 AM Eastern Standard Time

Drylab Media Tech takes "first step" into the Metaverse

Drylab Media Tech Group PLC

Drylab Media Tech Group PLC chief executive John Mahtani visited Proactive's London studio to talk to Thomas Warner about what he describes as the group's "first step" into the Metaverse. Drylab has signed an MOU to enter into a collaboration with Media Industry Licencing Content (MILC) that Mahtani sees as part of his wider strategy to continue forming "strong alliances". Contact Details Proactive UK Ltd +44 20 7989 0813 uk@proactiveinvestors.com

February 02, 2023 09:01 AM Eastern Standard Time

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