Music Observer

Red (Taylor’s Version) Goes Viral, Opens Conversations About Artists’ Freedom in Music Industry

Taylor Swift blew up the world with her re-recorded album Red (Taylor’s Version). The album dominated major streaming platforms, including Spotify and YouTube, garnering millions of views and streams when it hit audiences on November 12. Red (Taylor’s Version) has officially broken records, landing as one of the most-streamed albums in a day by a female artist. Spotify recently confirmed with Billboard that the Grammy-winning singer-songwriter had reached over 122.9 million streams globally, beating her own record for 2020’s Folklore at 80.6 million. 

Red (Taylor’s Version) features updated recording of all of Taylor Swift’s songs on her 2012 album called Red, including the highly-anticipated 10-minute version of her song “All Too Well,” which was released with a masterfully created short film that premiered on Friday, starring Sadie Sink, Dylan O’Brien, and the singer herself.

Similar to her re-recording of Fearless (Taylor’s Version), Taylor Swift offered fans with raw and unfiltered versions of her songs, seemingly offering fans with rediscovered renditions of some of her greatest hits. The album also featured duets from prominent artists, such as Ed Sheeran, Phoebe Bridgers, and Chris Stapleton. Furthermore, the singer-songwriter released renditions of two songs recorded in the intervening years by Little Big Town and Sugarland, “Better Man” and “Babe.”

Taylor Swift began re-recording her songs in the previous year after her early catalog was sold twice behind her back, first to celebrity talent manager Scooter Braun and then to Shamrock Capital Advisors in Los Angeles. 

“I know this will diminish the value of my old masters, but I hope you will understand that this is my only way of regaining the sense of pride I once had when hearing songs from my first six albums and also allowing my fans to listen to those albums without feelings of guilt for benefiting Scooter,” said Taylor Swift in a statement addressed to an investment firm last October. 

Beyond rediscovering her songs, Taylor Swift paved the way for conversations to take place on how artists’ freedom is often limited in the music industry. For some music experts, Red (Taylor’s Version) highlights how the music industry filters what artists are allowed to launch and which versions don’t necessarily make the cut. This is determined, of course, by what music executives think sells.

With Taylor Swift outperforming her original songs with her re-recorded versions, going viral on major social media platforms and even landing lucrative licensing deals, the artist has proactively influenced the power dynamics in the music business.

As Susan Genco, board member of artists’ rights music group Music Artists Coalition and co-president of the Azoff Company, said, “What Taylor did is a game-changer, not just for her fans but for other artists. She is inspiring artists to re-record their songs and control their music.”

From the release of Fearless (Taylor’s Version) to the launching of Red (Taylor’s Version), Taylor Swift has sparked the determination of many artists to seek ownership of their original recordings and also make them heard. The shift in power and control has empowered many music creators to take control over their music, decide how they are used, and ultimately have a say in the revenue their works generate. 

According to Angela Weiss of Getty, music artists only get 20% of their streaming revenue while 80% goes to their record label. With this, music lawyers have been emphasizing that artists who own their master recordings could keep around 80% to 95% of that revenue. Whatever the case may be, Taylor Swift’s re-recordings have definitely impacted the music industry. According to The Wall Street Journal, Universal, the largest record label in the world, has reportedly doubled the time it bars artists from re-recording their music in recent contracts. Read more about the story here.

Adele to Release Two-Hour TV Special Five Days Before Her Upcoming Album

Source: Billboard

The music scene is home to some of the world’s brightest stars and most talented individuals. With how saturated the industry is with brilliant artists and outstanding musicians, it comes as no surprise that fans from across the globe are always up on their toes with the latest news about their favorite idols. Since the release of her latest single, “Easy On Me,” last October 15, Adele has been creating a significant buzz all over the world. 

Aside from her long-awaited album 30, Adele will be presenting Adele: One Night Only, a primetime special welcoming back the industry powerhouse as she graces back into the music scene. The TV special will feature an extraordinary concert performance that includes the earliest opportunity to hear her first new material in six years. With so much to look forward to, fans worldwide could not stay still as they let out their excitement across different social media platforms. 

The TV special Adele: One Night Only will be aired by CBS on November 14, 2021, exactly five days before the release of her fourth album, 30.  It will also showcase renditions of Adele’s classics, as well as an interview conducted by Oprah Winfrey from her rose garden. It airs from 8:30-10:30 p.m. Eastern and is available for live streaming on Paramount+. To be filmed in Los Angeles, the special will include several of Adele’s hits as well as several new songs.

On top of that, Adele: One Night Only will also feature an exclusive interview with Adele by Oprah Winfrey from her rose garden. According to an announcement, the superstar’s first televised wide-ranging conversation will tackle discussions about her new album, the stories behind the songs, life after divorce, weight loss, and raising her son.

The show is produced by Fulwell 73 Productions and Onward Productions in association with Harpo Productions, whose executive producers are Late Late Show With James Corden producer Ben Winston, who also shepherded the 2021 Grammy Awards; Adele; her manager Jonathan Dickins; and Raj Kapoor.

In announcing the album last week, Adele compared the album to something like having a friend during “the most turbulent period of my life,” a time in which she married, divorced, and raised her now nine-year-old son.

“When I was writing it, it was my friend who came over with a bottle of wine and a takeaway to cheer me up,” Adele wrote. “My wise friend who always gives the best advice. Not to forget the one who’s wild and says, ‘It’s your Saturn return, babes fuck it, you only live once.’ The friend who’d stay up all night and just hold my hand while I’d sob relentlessly, not knowing why. The get-up-and-go friend who would pick me up and take me somewhere I said I didn’t want to go but just wanted to get me out the house for some vitamin D,” the singer added.

“That friend who snuck in and left a magazine with a face mask and some bath salts to make me feel loved while inadvertently reminding me not only what month it actually was but that I should probably exercise some self-care! And then that friend who, no matter what, checked in on me even though I’d stopped checking in with them because I’d become so consumed by my own grief. I’ve painstakingly rebuilt my house and my heart since then, and this album narrates it,” Adele further disclosed.

Adele’s 30 is out the Friday after the TV special and will feature unparalleled writing and production from the likes of Greg Kurstin, Inflo, Max Martin, Shellback, Ludwig Göransson, and Tobias Jesso Jr.

Billboard and Samsung Collaborates for Three Successive Days of Concert in the 2022 SXSW

Photo: SXSW

On Friday, February 18, Billboard and Samsung announced that they have partnered up for a breathtaking roster of concerts throughout 2022 SXSW.

The “Samsung + Billboard Present The Stage at SXSW” event will occur from March 17 to 19. This three-night series of headlining performances is set in Austin, Texas’ Moody Amphitheater at Waterloo Park and promises an unforgettable experience for music fans. 

This year, the venue will host a three-day music festival with some big names headlining. Gunna and Young Thug will be playing on Thursday, March 17; Palm Tree Crew brings Kygo backed by Frank Walker and Forester for their show that day too. Then, on Saturday, March 19, Shawn Mendes and Sebastian Yatra finish up what has been a fantastic weekend at this event. 

Over three nights, the audience will party with DJ Rosegold and DJ VRYWVY.

Samsung Galaxy is sponsoring the event and exclusively hosting the shows on Friday and Saturday. In addition, the SXSW Samsung | Billboard Galaxy House will provide guests the chance to encounter fascinating panel content and interconnect with Samsung products on-site. 

It features the brand-new Samsung Galaxy S22 and the brand row activation, pop-up moments, gifting artists and customer touchpoints throughout the concerts. 

The Waterloo Greenway Conservancy will receive a donation from the concert (handed by Billboard) to help develop an urban park system in collaboration with Austin city.

The first aspect (out of three) of the organization’s aim, Waterloo Park, has been established in 2021 to offer 11 acres of downtown green space, community programming and performing arts and entertainment at the Moody Amphitheater. 

With exclusive access to reserved tickets, badge holders and wristband owners can enjoy this year’s SXSW Music Festival. Unfortunately, it means that only a limited number of publicly available spots will be available beginning on Friday.

Kanye West’s Donda and the Controversies Surrounding the Music Icon’s Latest Album

Source: The Guardian

News broke out across music channels and circles about Kanye West’s latest album after Universal released the record last Sunday. But the long-anticipated release has been met with controversy and a whole pile of messy reactions, most notably some from the artist behind the album himself after West claimed that the record company launched the album without his approval.

Fans will remember that Donda was supposed to hit the market back in July 2021 but would face several delays for reasons undisclosed. So before launching the rap and hip hop icon’s latest album, organizers and promoters mounted several events to create anticipation for the new release, including a listening event that would see several stadiums booked where Donda’s songs would blare out at full volume. In addition, Kanye appeared suspended in mid-air in one venue and would get set on fire before restaging his wedding with ex-wife Kim Kardashian. The spectacle was no less than outrageous.

Donda is Kanye West’s tenth record to come to market, although the artist claims that he didn’t have a say in the recent release. Reviews have come in response to West’s latest creation, but criticism has come in surplus. One reporter writes in the Financial Times saying, “Like its maker’s ego, the album is a vast, unruly, rapacious affair.”

Some expressions of disappointment have also come from co-music creators like Soulja Boy and Chris Brown, who have expressed their dislike for the new album. The two artists disclosed that they had parts in two separate tracks axed from the final mix without communication. “If he didn’t like the verse, he should have said that don’t text me acting like u f—— wit it then secretly take it off. What kind of s—— is that I was working on my album too I don’t got time for this s——,” tweeted Deandre Cortez Way, also better known by his stage name Soulja Boy. Brown would also later take his frustrations to social media after sharing how his part in the song, “New Again,” was heard in the early release but would later be edited out and replaced with a version without him in it.

The album is named after Kanye’s late mother, Donda, who died on November 10, 2007, after undergoing extensive cosmetic surgery. Though the report was inconclusive, the family pointed at the medical professionals involved in the procedure. Kanye’s new album is one of the artist’s ways of moving forward as he seeks peace after the tragedy.

The album, Donda, features twenty-seven tracks with several collaborations, including some with controversial figures DaBaby and Marilyn Manson, among many others. During the album’s development, news had also spread about unsettled matters between Kanye and Drake, which further complicated the album’s production and promotion.

“Jesus Lord,” one of the record’s more notable tracks, links mental instability and grief he has experienced after Donda’s death with current issues around racism and gun violence that has claimed the dignity and lives of many African American men and women in the country.

Despite all the turmoil surrounding West’s tenth release, it would go on to break records, garnering over 60 million streams on its first day in Apple Music. Listen to all twenty-seven tracks on Spotify here.

New Alicia Keys Album to Feature Two Sides of Her Musical Artistry

Source: Alicia Keys’ Instagram 

New York City-born music artist Alicia Keys recently announced the details of her upcoming album titled KEYS, which is set to be released on December 10. The artists highlighted the two kinds of songs that she would be releasing. Side A will showcase her laidback piano vibes, while Side B will be unlocking her other side that is upbeat, full of drums, and level-up vibes. Knowing her brand of music, she is setting out to showcase a new set of potential hits that will continue to inspire her countless fans worldwide. 

In her recent Instagram post, Alicia called one side of her album Originals and the second one Unlocked. She describes the first version of the album as her classic side and the Alicia Keys everyone wants. It is a form of homecoming. The other version of the album is all about the new things she is exploring at the moment amidst the pandemic, and she described them as magic. 

Alicia is producing the laidback side of her upcoming album. For the upbeat side, she will be co-producing it with Mike Will Made-It. Last September, she released the single “LALA” featuring Swae Lee. If anything, the single gave music fans a peek into the newness they can expect from her new album. 

The last album that Alicia released was titled Alicia in 2020. KEYS is expected to be another awe-inspiring project that will highlight her versatility and powerful vocal range. It is worth mentioning that her song “Underdog,” which was released in January 2020, was a phenomenal hit, generating more than 47 million views on YouTube alone. Her last biggest hit was the single “Girl on Fire,” which also won the R&B Album Grammy Award in 2010. That definitive album showcased her newfound confidence as she struggled to find herself after marriage and experiencing motherhood. 

“I think it’s mostly just stepping into your womanhood,” Alicia revealed to The Times in a 2012 interview about the album. “‘Girl on Fire’ is really about finding your own passion, finding your own flow and standing in your own space. And just being fully and completely yourself,” she added. 

In 2002, Alicia Keys made a phenomenal impact in the music industry when she took home the Grammy Award for Song of the Year for the Single “Fallin.” As if she was destined to rule the industry that year, she also won the Grammy Award for Best New Artist. She also won the R&B/ Hip Hop Song for “Fallin” and the Songwriter of the Year award. The song was part of her debut album, Songs in A Minor, which topped the Billboard 200. 

In 2008, she won two Grammy Awards for the single “Empire State of Mind.” The year before that, she won the Best Female R&B Vocal Performance at the 50th Annual GrammyAwards for the song “Superwoman.”

This 2021, Alicia shared a 20th anniversary edition of her phenomenal debut album, Songs in A Minor. It featured two special previously unreleased bonus tracks that were supposed to be part of the original album: “Crazy (Mi Corazon)” and “Foolish Heart.” 

REFERENCES:

  1. https://hypebeast.com/2021/10/alicia-keys-new-double-album-info
  2. https://www.nme.com/news/music/alicia-keys-announces-details-of-new-double-album-keys-3080408
  3. https://pitchfork.com/news/alicia-keys-announces-new-album-keys-shares-new-song-best-of-me-listen/

Adele’s ‘21’: The First Record by a Woman to Linger in the Billboard 200 for 10 Years

Source: Albumism

Adele has been dominating the music world for years and she is still going strong. There is no stopping Adele from breaking yet another record and smashing gender stereotypes as her 10-year old album is still chilling in the Billboard 200. 

“21” is still rolling in the depths of the Billboard 200. The songstress is no doubt still on music bliss as her latest album “30” topped the Billboard 200 charts four weeks in a row and is now an all time favorite among fans, and yet there’s another achievement to celebrate for.

The singer’s highly-acclaimed 2011 sophomore release, “21″ has ultimately set foot on its 120th month in Billboard 200 making it 10 years since its debut.

While “21” is not the first ever to hit this hard-to-accomplish mark, Adele has made another achievement that has not yet been seen to be achieved by another female act. Presently, she has had an album persisting on the list of the most-consumed EPs and full-lengths for a whole decade. 

“21” was an undeniable hit. To name a few of its accomplishments: it is the best-selling album of 2011 and the best-selling album two years in a row. It received a lot of love from people around the globe, you can hear songs from this album all over the place. 

It is rare for a record to sell more than 4 million copies in two years in a row. The last time this happened was when Michael Jackson released his album “Thriller” which sold an estimated 860 thousand units within its first week of release and millions from 1983 to 1984. 

It isn’t hard to see why “21” is one of the best-selling albums in history and the best-selling album of the 21st century. It has sold over 31 million copies worldwide. 

The album’s success helped Adele break a male-heavy record and become a female solo artist to hold three number 1 albums on Billboard 100.

Rising Artist Jessie Berg Captivates the Audience With Her Versatility and Authentic Music

The music scene is a highly competitive and cutthroat industry. With so many individuals aspiring to make it big, it can be pretty hard to stand out. However, one gifted artist is making waves for her one-of-a-kind versatility and incredible range—Jessie Berg.

Born in Los Angeles and raised in the San Fernando Valley, the talented young woman is on a meteoric rise to stardom. Taking inspiration from her vibrant personality, she is known for her distinct vocals and for creating captivating songs.

As the musician insightfully explained, “I try to convey emotion through my voice. There are moments where I’m calm and chill, but I’m also hyperactive. There’s no in-between. I’m drastically different—either super relaxed or very energetic. Depending on the day, I’m everything.”

Jessie Berg first broke out of the music industry in 2019 with her hit debut single “Monster.” The track earned hundreds of thousands of streams and even caught the attention of The Hype Magazine, which gave nothing but praise for the artist.

The magazine said, “Jessie Berg is a true model for women to feel empowered to talk about real issues, feelings, and ideas with confidence.”

In 2021, the singer-songwriter worked with producers Jordan Omley and Mike Summers for her second single, “Faithful to Toxic.” Since its release, the song has generated over 224,000 streams on Spotify and 500,000 on YouTube.

Talking about the process of making the track and her experience with the industry professionals, the young musician shared, “We didn’t think twice about anything. The songs just came out immediately. We were all on the same page in terms of the writing and the production.”

After the resounding success of her first two projects, Jessie Berg dropped the EP Stages, which contains three tracks, “Pray,” “Safe Space,” and “Stages” in the same year. The mini-album perfectly reflects the singer’s versatility, with each song having a unique message. 

“Safe Space” features a nervous beat with sincere confessional-style lyrics exploring her past anxiety episodes. On the other hand, “Pray” is more of a warning to “be careful what you wish for.” Finally, “Stages” highlights deeply personal lyrics as she explores her tendency to retreat from others. 

Because of her passion for her craft and innate musical prowess, the artist has earned the admiration of fans and music enthusiasts. As a testament to her success, she has racked up over 2 million cumulative streams and received critical acclaim from several organizations. On top of that, she has amassed a significant following on her Instagram.

There is no doubt that Jessie Berg is on her way to becoming the music industry’s next prominent artist. But as she continues to rise to the top, she is committed to staying true to herself and her story. As the wise young musician profoundly explained, “When you hear my music, I want you to be like, ‘That was definitely Jessie.’ So it’s important for me to create a sound and vibe for myself. At the same time, I want to be a voice to make you feel.”

Singer and Songwriter Rob Morton Channels His Inspiration into Heartfelt Music

Singer and songwriter Rob Morton’s song, Just One More Day wIth You, is making its rounds in the music world. It’s one of his most emotional songs and connects with anyone who has lost a loved one. This song has touched many people worldwide, with hundreds of thousands of listens. Many artists around the world have even covered his song on Instagram, including covers from the Philippines, Denmark, Australia, Germany, and America. The music video of “Just One More Day with You,” is a true tearjerker, and has won Best Music Video award in several national shows, and the song has been played on the radio. 

Rob says that one of his greatest motivations and turning points is when one of his sons became seriously ill some years ago. 

“I’m proud to say that I am a dad of two boys. I started playing music after I became a father. In fact, the news that one of my sons got very sick was really the beginning for me.  It was heartbreaking, but the start of it all, ” Rob Morton shared in an interview. “It was a dark, dark time and the single most significant event in my life – as a parent and as an artist. I started to reassess everything in my life.”

Thankfully his son has fully recovered since then, but Rob has continued writing songs since that time.

Rob Morton’s music is getting attention.  Between Spotify, YouTube, and social media he has over a million listens.  It’s because Rob’s songs speak to the heart. For example, his song Lucky Back Then is about daily gratitude and how we don’t know what we have until it is gone. Its classic opening line, “I wish I knew I was lucky back then…” captures you and makes you want to listen to the rest.

He has released two full-length albums, Private Moon and Lucky Back Then

Rob told us, “Many other artists will say the most important part of a song is for it to be ‘catchy.’ I start with the lyrics – the words are the most important to me – and if the song happens to turn out catchy through the process, that’s just a bonus. It is more important for me to convey a concept or feeling through words.” 

Currently, Rob Morton is working on a 3rd album. For a father who started being an artist later in life, he is thrilled with his success level so far. 

“We all judge success differently. The fact that I started so late in life, yet still have some fans listening to my music and covering my songs – it’s thrilling to me.  I hope I can connect with more people in the future,” says the songwriter. Rob would love for people to listen to “Just One More Day with You.” He believes that it is a great place to start. If that song touches them, and people connect with it, Rob believes that maybe they will move on to the next song.

Rob Morton’s songs are available on Spotify, YouTube and many other popular platforms.  On Instagram, he is @robmortonmusic.

Romance Planet Drops New Video “HITTHEMALL”

In a digital era where musicians are dropping music every single day, it can be hard to find artists whose momentum has been steady and that has a high likelihood of success. That is why when I come across one of these artists I am filled with excitement. I believe that ROMANCEPLANET is going to make a massive wave in the music industry in 2022, and made it clear with the release of his new music video for “HITTHEMALL!” He is a young artist based out of Miami, Florida but that was born in Israel, who came into mainstream attention when he released his hit song “HEALTHCARE” back in April of 2021.

He has already begun developing a very loyal fanbase and has been making music for 4 years. Seeing a new release from this budding star to begin the new year is perfect, and the music video is a great way to re-emerge into the spotlight. “HITTHEMALL!” is a punk/pop masterpiece that honestly you cannot put in a box, and truly define its genre. His vocals are strong and passionate as he performs over a very electronic modern beat made by @reesoo and @andrewtheparrot. Catchy verses and even catchier choruses are his signature move, and he doesn’t fail to deliver that on this track.

Growing up ROMANCEPLANET began making music at an early age. You can see his growth by simply looking through the videos on his YouTube page. He has been at this for a long time, and is showing nothing but improve with every release. I have a lot of faith that he will continue to release high-quality music paired with exceptional videos that will propel him to stardom. We have seen very steady musical momentum turn to massive success lately with stars like YEAT, the underground is now back on the main stage, it hasn’t been this way since the peak of SoundCloud back in 2015-2016.

South Florida does have a very promising local music scene and has for some time. All genres of music have been created in Miami, and artists of all backgrounds have found success. I see ROMANCEPLANET as a leader in the new wave scene in Florida, and am excited to see what the future holds for this young creative. So much music is coming out of Miami, but this scene in specific is special.

If you are looking for a new artist to add to your playlist, or are like me and always want to be ahead of the curve when it comes to up and coming talent, go give ROMANCEPLANET a follow on social media, and go check out the “HITTHEMALL!” music video on YouTube, made by @conflicingthoughts. I am expecting to see a lot more great content coming out from this group in the coming months, and cannot wait until I get to see him perform live. From what little I have seen on social media, I can tell he comes to life on a stage.

Alcoholic Jungle Juice Company Making Waves In The Nightlife & Entertainment Industry

A new brand is taking over the nightlife and entertainment industry in New Jersey and that brand is no other than Jerzey Jungle Juice, a grain alcohol fruit punch blend all bottled up. Owner Tim Gillen describes it as a delicious party in a bottle. Advertised as The Ultimate Party Drink, the beverage sure lives up to its reputation. Currently in about 75 locations throughout the state, this company is just getting started. 

When we asked Gillen what the story was to his success of this up-and-coming alcoholic Jungle Juice empire, he said, “It’s 100% my team and how we promote and sell it.” When Gillen refers to his team, he is talking about an impressive list of Jersey Shore nightlife legends. Tim has teamed up with old friends who happen to be some of the top tier best DJs and MCs in the industry to help advertise and promote Jerzey Jungle Juice. Closing out year 1 was a huge success, and they haven’t even scratched the surface of potential. These guys fuel the drink and really bring the vibe to life. “They literally have every 21+ kid either running to the bar or liquor store to grab some and I could not have done that without these guys,” said Gillen.

Brian Unglert, also known as DJ Encore, is arguably the best DJ in New Jersey. Brian’s talent and dedication to the business since a young age is unmatched. From major tours all over the country and the world playing with some of the best artists in the industry, DJ Encore has quite the resume. He continues his career with major residencies at a lot of the top New Jersey Bars and clubs as well as New York City. Gillen and Unglert are old friends who go way back together in the entertainment business, both starting their careers in Seaside Heights NJ. “When I first threw my hat into the alcohol business Brian was the first person I thought of,” said Gillen. “He is so influential and talented and the places he plays happen to be Jerzey Jungle Juice’s ideal clientele. The crowds literally go through Jerzey Jungle Juice like water thanks to DJ Encore.”

DJ Encore isn’t the only big time DJ Gillen works with to promote the brand. DJ Dante Cioffi and DJ Mike West are 2 powerhouses that also represent Jerzey Jungle Juice. All Jersey Shore locals, this group goes way back and are all close friends. Cioffi has a very unique and wild style and is always one of Gillen’s top picks. Dante’s slogan is “Dance with the Devil,” and he isn’t kidding. This guy brings the party and always packs the house. Cioffi and Gillen have done multiple successful Jungle Juice events and parties together, including their epic Seaside beach parties where Cioffi is the resident DJ. Mike West is another heavy hitter on the Juice Squad. The owner and operator of his company DJ Experts, Mike West can DJ among the best, do professional photo/video, and is a master of trading cryptocurrency when he has some free time. He and Gillen spend endless hours bringing to life crazy ideas that crowds would love while also selling the brand. Whether it be behind the turntables or the camera, West has been an essential part to spreading brand awareness and bringing Jerzey Jungle Juice to life.

Ryan Dyer, famously known around the Jersey Shore as “DJ High Def,” is Gillen’s unofficial spokesman of the brand. “Nobody pumps up Jungle Juice on the mic like Ryan,” said Gillen. High Def is one of the best MC’s I’ve ever worked with. After doing some research the guy is an absolute party animal and is the official MC at a lot of the major bars/clubs throughout New Jersey. Sounds like the perfect guy to be representing the Jerzey Jungle Juice brand & lifestyle. When not behind the bar bartending, MC Nico Vasquez is another great guy Gillen has on the team. Nico was a huge part of selling out football Sundays teamed up with DJ Encore and Jerzey Jungle Juice for their epic football brunch parties at Asbury Ale House.

Gillen also works and collaborates with other local New Jersey artists. Good friend and business partner Tobias from Apple TV’s TobiasEats has helped Gillen get his drink in the hands of a lot of famous athletes and celebrities. For 2022 he has joined together with up-and-coming rapper Major Mack from the South Jersey/Philadelphia area. Mack is a young artist who is ready to drop his first official single “Anybody” later this month with a melodic story to tell where you can feel the words coming through the speakers. When owner Tim Gillen first came across Major Mack, he instantly said, “This kid can be the next Drake.” Gillen looks forward to working with Mack to help produce and include Jerzey Jungle Juice in his up-and-coming music video as well as use Mack’s original tracks for his legendary Jungle Juice party videos on social media. Gillen has always said the crowd that loves to drink his Jungle Juice also loves to go out to dance, party, get crazy, and have a good time. That is what this brand is all about. Entertainment, music, parties, and having fun is how they sell it. It’s a very simple method. The talk of these wild Jungle Juice parties at the NJ bar and club scene has officially spread. We really look forward to seeing what the Jerzey Jungle Juice crew has in store for the upcoming spring/summer season. I’m sure it is going to be absolutely wild. For more information check out www.jerzeyjungle.com and @jerzeyjungle on social media.