Latest news with #BlackEyedPeas
Business Insider
13 hours ago
- Business
- Business Insider
A music startup raised $5 million to connect artists and fans using their mobile wallets. Read its pitch deck.
Music startup Sesh began with a question: How do we help artists connect with fans outside social media? While some musicians are natural influencers, others are bad at TikTok, or just don't want to spend time there. "Artists are not content creators," Sesh's CEO Pepe del Río told Business Insider. "They create music and they like to perform." At its core, Sesh is a platform for artists to stay in touch with fans and manage data about their audiences. When users sign up to follow an artist on Sesh, they provide information like their age, location, and email. In exchange, they get notifications about album releases and other drops, the ability to chat with an artist or other fans during live sessions in the Sesh app, and an official "fan card" for that artist that lives in their mobile wallet (on iOS or Android), among other features. Sesh's artist roster includes pop stars like Anitta, Sofia Reyes, and the Black Eyed Peas. The company makes money by charging artists and their teams a monthly fee to use the platform. In the future, Sesh also plans to take a cut of fan transactions it helps facilitate. The company closed a $5 million seed round inSeptember led by investment firm Miura Global. It's raised $7 million to date, including pre-seed funding from angel investors. Del Río's cofounders include Iñigo-Hubertus Bunzl Pelayo (COO), María José Guzman (CMO), and Andrés Fajardo (CPTO). Sesh is positioning itself as a superfan platform, tapping into a buzzy area of the music business and broader creator economy. The company is playing in a crowded marketplace of fandom startups, including text-marketing tools like Community, membership apps like Patreon, and music album drop platforms like Laylo. So, how did Sesh differentiate itself to investors in its most recent fundraise? It uses mobile wallet "fan cards" Ultimately, the company wants its users not to feel tethered to a particular app, but instead follow an artist no matter where they are posting content. That's where the mobile wallet "fan card" comes in. "When you talk about a community app, normally an investor will look at you and say, 'Who the f—k is going to download a community app,'" del Río said. The wallet card, by contrast, is simple to download and a useful tool for artists to send push notifications to fans, he said. Music fans are already accustomed to keeping concert tickets in their mobile wallets, so why not get artist updates there, too? Investors often bet on startups with a smart data story, and Sesh is positioning itself as a data company that allows artists to track fan analytics and spot trends that can help them make money from their audiences. At a moment when Big Tech executives are weighing whether to use AI to reduce their company's head count, new startups can make bets from the start on how automation will impact their team's size. Del Río said he doesn't want to grow his team any bigger than it needs to be, and that AI is already helping the company work more efficiently (which investors appreciate) in areas like coding and marketing. Note: Two slides were removed that contained information about the company's clients in order to share the deck publicly. The superfan opportunity Sesh combined data from Nielsen, Live Nation Entertainment, and the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry, among other sources, to provide some top-level estimates of the market opportunity. This slide reads: Artists struggle to manage and monetize their fan communities, while fans crave deeper connections $14.6BN unrealized fans higher spending $15.4BN wasted chasing fans the old way There are millions of artists to recruit Sesh estimated that music industry fan communities are a $34.5 billion market opportunity. It wrote that 15% of the population are superfans, and that there are 25 million music artists (250,000 full-time music artists). This slide reads: A large, underserved market of artists and fans without a space to connect Weverse, the K-pop-focused fan platform, has demonstrated the power and profitability of fan-driven ecosystems in music. By applying a similar model to the vastly larger Latin and U.S. markets, we see a clear path to building a $1B+ business. Why it's the right time for a fan community startup Sesh. This slide says: Disrupting this space was once impossible — why is now the time to build fan communities? AI Technology Historically, building artist communities has been constrained by three core challenges: Artist Burnout: Consistent engagement is time-consuming and unsustainable. Unclear ROI: Measuring the true impact of fan communities has been difficult, making it hard to justify the effort. Fragmented Fan Expectations: Fans crave different types of connection, making scalable monetization complex. With AI, we solve this by automating personalized engagement, measuring community value in real time, and building self-sustaining fan ecosystems. The tech finally enables what wasn't possible before. Industry recognition The industry now recognizes a fundamental shift: over 80% of revenue comes from superfans, not casual listeners. This is driving a strategic pivot — from chasing viral reach to building strong, high-value fan communities. Leaders from Universal, Sony, Warner, Spotify, and YouTube are making superfan engagement a core strategic priority, investing in platforms that drive loyalty, recurring revenue, and long-term artist growth. This shift creates a massive opportunity: the platforms that best serve superfans will shape the future of music. The entire music ecosystem is shifting toward fan communities. Monopoly potential The competitive landscape is still in its infancy, with only a handful of early entrants beginning to explore the space. Meanwhile, the runaway success of Weverse validates the immense potential of fan community monetization at scale. This presents a rare first-mover advantage: the opportunity to define the category, set the standard, and build the dominant platform for the next generation of music creators and their fans. How an artist can sign up fans How an artist can message to fans A customer-relationship management tool for artists Sesh. The business model Sesh makes money from monthly fees collected from artists and their teams, and plans to take a cut of the fan spend it helps facilitate. The company estimates it could generate $200 million annually if it had 10,000 active artist communities. The Sesh growth playbook This slide highlights how Sesh plans to expand its customer set, and how different aspects of its business help other areas grow, generally referred to as a business flywheel. It reads: Partnerships: Partner with key industry players (e.g. labels) that work alongside artists Ambassadors: Target recognized artists as advocators to foster virality A new artist creates a community on Sesh. The community is shared on social media by both the artist and their fans. This drives organic growth — more fans join communities, and more artists join Sesh. Sesh's founding team The broader opportunity beyond music This slide reads: "At Sesh, we're building the infrastructure powering next-gen fan communities. An ecosystem where people don't just follow what they love — they belong to it. Where connection runs deeper than content, and identity is shaped by shared passion. Music is our entry point — the heartbeat of culture — but the opportunity is much bigger: to build a global infrastructure for belonging. One that spans sports, lifestyle, creators, brands — anything people want to belong to. We're building the connective tissue of the next cultural era." The closing slide calls the company the 'best kept secret for fan communities' Sesh.
Scottish Sun
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Fergie stuns on London Bridge as she reshoots classic video for secret Netflix project
Our exclusive pictures show Fergie dressed in a huge furry coat and pink and green tartan alongside Megan Stalter FUR-GIE IS BACK Fergie stuns on London Bridge as she reshoots classic video for secret Netflix project EARLY risers walking across London Bridge would have got the shock of their life — after Fergie rocked up to film a video. The former Black Eyed Peas singer is reworking her 2006 hit London Bridge, which peaked at No3 in the charts, as part of a new project with Netflix. Advertisement 5 Fergie was snapped filming a video on London Bridge Credit: CLICK NEWS - SPLASH 5 The former Black Eyed Peas singer is reworking her 2006 hit London Bridge, as part of a new project with Netflix Credit: CLICK NEWS - SPLASH 5 The star was joined in the capital at 4am yesterday by American actress Megan Stalter Credit: CLICK NEWS - SPLASH She was joined in the capital at 4am yesterday by American actress Megan Stalter, along with a load of dancers, to start filming. The track will form the soundtrack to a new ten-part romcom called Too Much, which has been created by Girls writer Lena Dunham and is coming to the streamer next month. White Lotus actor Will Sharpe and Emily Ratajkowski also star in the drama, about New Yorker Jessica, who takes a job in London after a break-up. My exclusive pictures show Fergie dressed in a huge furry coat and pink and green tartan alongside Megan, who looked like she had wandered straight out of a jumble sale in Camden, having a laugh between takes. Advertisement My insider said: 'London Bridge is usually pretty quiet at 4am but yesterday it was a hive of activity. Fergie, Megan and loads of dancers took over the road to film the new music video for the soundtrack. "They want all out with the costumes and the production will look absolutely amazing in the end as it was recorded, in part, when the sun was rising over London. 'Fergie and Megan got on like a house on fire and were laughing and joking around between takes. 'It was a full-on shoot, with costume changes and dancers running around everywhere. Advertisement 'Beautiful surprise' 'The final video is going to be incredible.' Fergie, who had five Top Ten hits including Big Girls Don't Cry and Glamorous after quitting the Black Eyed Peas in 2018, turned 50 earlier this year. Fergie fans in shock as she performs live at MTV VMAs for first time since star was ripped for National Anthem scandal Her milestone birthday coincided with being named one of Billboard's Top Women Artists of the 21st Century. Fergie said at the time: 'It was a beautiful surprise and really made me feel like my music means something.' Advertisement Jamie in Radio 1 baby club CONGRATULATIONS are in order for the lovely Jamie Laing, who has announced he is expecting his first child with wife Sophie Habboo. But I think there must be something in the water at Radio 1 because right now the Drivetime show is having a bit of a baby boom. Jamie's Going Home co-host Katie Thistleton, who is off on maternity leave, gave birth to her first child in March. And Vick Hope, who hosts the drivetime show with them, went off work last week as she prepares tohave her first baby with Calvin Harris. Advertisement Radio 1 boss Aled Haydn Jones may want to consider putting some contraceptives by the coffee machine, or he'll soon be out of DJs. Drake deal FANS have more chances to see Drake this summer. As well as headlining all three nights of London's Wireless Festival, the rapper has announ-ced four $ome $pecial $hows in the UK. He will play Birmingham's Utilita Arena on July 20 and 21 and Manchester's Co-op Live on July 25 and 26. Tickets go on sale Friday on Run, don't walk. Are Pulp Fiction or fact? WITH JUST 21 days to go until Glastonbury, talk about this year's secret sets has already started. The Churnups last year turned out to be the Foo Fighters, and now all eyes are on 'Patchwork' who are to play the Pyramid Stage just before Raye and Neil Young on Saturday night. A number of 'TBA' appearances are also dotted around the set times, including a Friday morning slot on the Woodsies stage, which Kasabian played last year, and a Saturday evening slot on Park. Advertisement Haim and Pulp are said to be making appearances, to coincide with their new albums. Bookies are also tipping Mumford & Sons to rock up at Worthy Farm. All would be great additions to the line-up, and Bizarre will be at the stages for each secret set. We'll let you know who they are as soon as we find out. Advertisement Bryan joins the party ROCKERS Bryan Adams and Def Leppard will headline Radio 2 In The Park. The three-day event, which starts on September 5, takes place in Hylands Park in Chelmsford, Essex. 5 Rockers Bryan Adams and Def Leppard, pictured, will headline Radio 2 In The Park Credit: Rex Features 5 Summer Of '69 singer Bryan, above, plays on the Saturday Credit: Getty Advertisement Summer Of '69 singer Bryan plays on the Saturday, with acts including Jessie J, Stereophonics and Ronan Keating. Def Leppard, fronted by Joe Elliott, will be on the Sunday, with Sophie Ellis-Bextor, David Gray, Louise, Suede and Soul II Soul. Moliy on her Max potential AFRO-pop singer Moliy is on top of the world. The singer's latest track Shake It To The Max has topped charts around the world, and passed 100million streams on Spotify and YouTube. Advertisement And after popping into Bizarre HQ on a whistlestop trip to London, Moliy promised us this is just the beginning for her. She said: 'It's amazing what's happened with Shake It To The Max. I'm just trying to be present and absorb it all. Momentum is still going, which is super exciting. 'I really want the song to reach the world. I love how it's bringing people together with different remixes.' During her trip to the UK Moliy hit the studio to work on new tracks.
The Sun
a day ago
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Fergie stuns on London Bridge as she reshoots classic video for secret Netflix project
EARLY risers walking across London Bridge would have got the shock of their life — after Fergie rocked up to film a video. The former Black Eyed Peas singer is reworking her 2006 hit London Bridge, which peaked at No3 in the charts, as part of a new project with Netflix. 5 5 She was joined in the capital at 4am yesterday by American actress Megan Stalter, along with a load of dancers, to start filming. The track will form the soundtrack to a new ten-part romcom called Too Much, which has been created by Girls writer Lena Dunham and is coming to the streamer next month. White Lotus actor Will Sharpe and Emily Ratajkowski also star in the drama, about New Yorker Jessica, who takes a job in London after a break-up. My exclusive pictures show Fergie dressed in a huge furry coat and pink and green tartan alongside Megan, who looked like she had wandered straight out of a jumble sale in Camden, having a laugh between takes. My insider said: 'London Bridge is usually pretty quiet at 4am but yesterday it was a hive of activity. Fergie, Megan and loads of dancers took over the road to film the new music video for the soundtrack. "They want all out with the costumes and the production will look absolutely amazing in the end as it was recorded, in part, when the sun was rising over London. 'Fergie and Megan got on like a house on fire and were laughing and joking around between takes. 'It was a full-on shoot, with costume changes and dancers running around everywhere. 'Beautiful surprise' 'The final video is going to be incredible.' Fergie, who had five Top Ten hits including Big Girls Don't Cry and Glamorous after quitting the Black Eyed Peas in 2018, turned 50 earlier this year. Fergie fans in shock as she performs live at MTV VMAs for first time since star was ripped for National Anthem scandal Her milestone birthday coincided with being named one of Billboard's Top Women Artists of the 21st Century. Fergie said at the time: 'It was a beautiful surprise and really made me feel like my music means something.' Jamie in Radio 1 baby club CONGRATULATIONS are in order for the lovely Jamie Laing, who has announced he is expecting his first child with wife Sophie Habboo. But I think there must be something in the water at Radio 1 because right now the Drivetime show is having a bit of a baby boom. Jamie's Going Home co-host Katie Thistleton, who is off on maternity leave, gave birth to her first child in March. And Vick Hope, who hosts the drivetime show with them, went off work last week as she prepares tohave her first baby with Calvin Harris. Radio 1 boss Aled Haydn Jones may want to consider putting some contraceptives by the coffee machine, or he'll soon be out of DJs. Drake deal FANS have more chances to see Drake this summer. As well as headlining all three nights of London's Wireless Festival, the rapper has announ-ced four $ome $pecial $hows in the UK. He will play Birmingham's Utilita Arena on July 20 and 21 and Manchester's Co-op Live on July 25 and 26. Tickets go on sale Friday on Run, don't walk. Are Pulp Fiction or fact? WITH JUST 21 days to go until Glastonbury, talk about this year's secret sets has already started. The Churnups last year turned out to be the Foo Fighters, and now all eyes are on 'Patchwork' who are to play the Pyramid Stage just before Raye and Neil Young on Saturday night. A number of 'TBA' appearances are also dotted around the set times, including a Friday morning slot on the Woodsies stage, which Kasabian played last year, and a Saturday evening slot on Park. Haim and Pulp are said to be making appearances, to coincide with their new albums. Bookies are also tipping Mumford & Sons to rock up at Worthy Farm. All would be great additions to the line-up, and Bizarre will be at the stages for each secret set. We'll let you know who they are as soon as we find out. Bryan joins the party ROCKERS Bryan Adams and Def Leppard will headline Radio 2 In The Park. The three-day event, which starts on September 5, takes place in Hylands Park in Chelmsford, Essex. 5 Summer Of '69 singer Bryan plays on the Saturday, with acts including Jessie J, Stereophonics and Ronan Keating. Def Leppard, fronted by Joe Elliott, will be on the Sunday, with Sophie Ellis-Bextor, David Gray, Louise, Suede and Soul II Soul. Moliy on her Max potential AFRO-pop singer Moliy is on top of the world. The singer's latest track Shake It To The Max has topped charts around the world, and passed 100million streams on Spotify and YouTube. And after popping into Bizarre HQ on a whistlestop trip to London, Moliy promised us this is just the beginning for her. She said: 'It's amazing what's happened with Shake It To The Max. I'm just trying to be present and absorb it all. Momentum is still going, which is super exciting. 'I really want the song to reach the world. I love how it's bringing people together with different remixes.' During her trip to the UK Moliy hit the studio to work on new tracks.
The Irish Sun
a day ago
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Fergie stuns on London Bridge as she reshoots classic video for secret Netflix project
EARLY risers walking across London Bridge would have got the shock of their life — after Fergie rocked up to film a video. The former Black Eyed Peas singer is reworking her 2006 hit London Bridge, which peaked at No3 in the charts, as part of a new project with Netflix. 5 Fergie was snapped filming a video on London Bridge Credit: CLICK NEWS - SPLASH 5 The former Black Eyed Peas singer is reworking her 2006 hit London Bridge, as part of a new project with Netflix Credit: CLICK NEWS - SPLASH 5 The star was joined in the capital at 4am yesterday by American actress Megan Stalter Credit: CLICK NEWS - SPLASH She was joined in the capital at 4am yesterday by American actress Megan Stalter, along with a load of dancers, to start filming. The track will form the soundtrack to a new ten-part romcom called Too Much, which has been created by Girls writer White Lotus actor Will Sharpe and Emily Ratajkowski also star in the drama, about New Yorker Jessica, who takes a job in London after a break-up. My exclusive pictures show Fergie dressed in a huge furry coat and pink and green tartan alongside Megan, who looked like she had wandered straight out of a jumble sale in Camden, having a laugh between takes. READ MORE ON CELEBS My insider said: 'London Bridge is usually pretty quiet at 4am but yesterday it was a hive of activity. Fergie, Megan and loads of dancers took over the road to film the new music video for the soundtrack. "They want all out with the costumes and the production will look absolutely amazing in the end as it was recorded, in part, when the sun was rising over London. 'Fergie and Megan got on like a house on fire and were laughing and joking around between takes. 'It was a full-on shoot, with costume changes and dancers running around everywhere. Most read in Bizarre 'Beautiful surprise' 'The final video is going to be incredible.' Fergie, who had five Top Ten hits including Big Girls Don't Cry and Glamorous after quitting the Black Eyed Peas in 2018, turned 50 earlier this year. Fergie fans in shock as she performs live at MTV VMAs for first time since star was ripped for National Anthem scandal Her milestone birthday coincided with being named one of Billboard's Top Women Artists of the 21st Century. Fergie said at the time: 'It was a beautiful surprise and really made me feel like my music means something.' Jamie in Radio 1 baby club CONGRATULATIONS are in order for the lovely Jamie Laing, who has announced But I think there must be something in the water at Radio 1 because right now the Drivetime show is having a bit of a baby boom. Jamie's Going Home co-host Katie Thistleton, who is off on maternity leave, gave birth to her first child in March. And Vick Hope, who hosts the drivetime show with them, went off work last week as she prepares tohave her first baby with Radio 1 boss Aled Haydn Jones may want to consider putting some contraceptives by the coffee machine, or he'll soon be out of DJs. Drake deal FANS have more chances to see Drake this summer. As well as headlining all three nights of London's Wireless Festival, the rapper has announ-ced four $ome $pecial $hows in the UK. He will play Birmingham's Utilita Arena on July 20 and 21 and Manchester's Co-op Live on July 25 and 26. Tickets go on sale Friday on Run, don't walk. Are Pulp Fiction or fact? WITH JUST 21 days to go until Glastonbury, talk about this year's secret sets has already started. The Churnups last year turned out to be the Foo Fighters, and now all eyes are on 'Patchwork' who are to play the Pyramid Stage just before A number of 'TBA' appearances are also dotted around the set times, including a Friday morning slot on the Woodsies stage, which Haim and Pulp are said to be making appearances, to coincide with their new albums. Bookies are also tipping Mumford & Sons to rock up at Worthy Farm. All would be great additions to the line-up, and Bizarre will be at the stages for each secret set. We'll let you know who they are as soon as we find out. Bryan joins the party ROCKERS Bryan Adams and Def Leppard will headline Radio 2 In The Park. The three-day event, which starts on September 5, takes place in Hylands Park in Chelmsford, Essex. 5 Rockers Bryan Adams and Def Leppard, pictured, will headline Radio 2 In The Park Credit: Rex Features 5 Summer Of '69 singer Bryan, above, plays on the Saturday Credit: Getty Summer Of '69 singer Bryan plays on the Saturday, with acts including Jessie J, Stereophonics and Ronan Keating. Def Leppard, fronted by Joe Elliott, will be on the Sunday, with Moliy on her Max potential AFRO-pop singer Moliy is on top of the world. The singer's latest track Shake It To The Max has topped charts around the world, and passed 100million streams on Spotify and YouTube. And after popping into Bizarre HQ on a whistlestop trip to London, Moliy promised us this is just the beginning for her. She said: 'It's amazing what's happened with Shake It To The Max. I'm just trying to be present and absorb it all. Momentum is still going, which is super exciting. 'I really want the song to reach the world. I love how it's bringing people together with different remixes.' During her trip to the UK Moliy hit the studio to work on new tracks.
Daily Mail
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Ransom Canyon star Josh Duhamel, 52, addresses 21-year age gap with wife
Josh Duhamel is explaining how he ended up married to a woman 21 years his junior. While appearing on Amanda Hirsch's Not Skinny But Not Fat podcast recently, the 52-year-old actor — who was previously married to Fergie — said he initially hesitated to get romantically involved with his wife Audra Mari, 31. 'It was truly platonic for years,' the father-of-two said, sharing that he thought 'I'm not even going to go there' when he first met the former pageant queen. The two bonded over both being from North Dakota and he eventually invited her to a barbecue, 'still thinking it was totally platonic, just as a friend from NoDak.' 'There aren't many people from there,' he noted about their home state connection. Duhamel told Hirsch they started dating when he realized 'she's more mature than I am.' Now the two lovebirds are parents to 16-month-old son Shepherd. Josh also shares 11-year-old son Axl with 50-year-old pop star Fergie, to whom he was married from 2009 until their separation in 2017. The music artist filed for divorce in May 2019, two years after their separation was announced. The divorce was finalized on November 22, 2019. When he and new wife Audra announced that they were expecting their first child back in September 2023, the Black Eyed Peas singer was quick to show support. Commenting on Audra's Instagram post at the time, she wrote, 'I am truly happy for you guys. Axl can't wait to be a big brother.' Duhamel and Mari tied the knot in September 2022 in Fargo, North Dakota. They had gotten engaged months earlier in January, with the actor sharing the news on social media. 'It's on!! She found a message in a bottle that washed ashore and said YES!! @audramari,' he wrote at the time. Inside the bottle was a handwritten letter that read: 'Audra Diane Mari Will You Marry Me?' They were first seen together in October 2019 when they were spotted kissing in Toronto. Josh opened up in an In Depth With Graham Bensinger interview in October 2023 and explained why things didn't work out with his ex-wife Fergie. He said he and the singer simply grew apart: 'I think we kind of outgrew each other and had very different interests.' The actor added in the sit-down conversation, 'I made peace with that part of my life. She and I have a great relationship, both raising that boy together. There wasn't anything wrong with [the marriage]. We had a great time.' The Shotgun Wedding star detailed further: 'The older I got, the more I wanted to come out [to North Dakota]. This is not for her. But I've got no hard feelings…I'm very lucky that she's a kind human. I really am.' Bringing up his wife, he said, 'That's why Audra's so great for me. We're both hardcore North Dakotans…We both love lake life. We both love family. We both love kids.'
