#Indy Mogul

[satrnz]

* 𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐧 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐫 ,

𝙛𝙚𝙢𝙖𝙡𝙚 . ♡

“ you’d rather somethin’ toxic , so i poison myself again . . . again . ”

[malikat24601]

Errrbody out there with their cool title art and brilliant ideas for the BB... and then there's me <insert hehehe raccoon gif here> Presenting Team 043 with @ghostdeb bringing you: Glory Days A Steddie Alpha/Baseball/Omega fic for the Steddie Big Bang 24! Excerpt: The sun was high in the sky, blindingly bright, and Eddie shielded his eyes as he wandered through the stands, looking for his seat. Nancy’s expectations of him rang loud and clear in the excellent spot she had reserved for him, field level near the dugout, overlooking home plate. Money wasted, he thought saltily to himself, since he wouldn’t be able to see anything past the fucking glare. 

There was a gift bag waiting for him, a welcome package from the team — a bottle of water, a box of honest-to-god Cracker Jack, a little baseball bat keychain with Harrington’s jersey number on it, and a cap with the team logo embroidered across the center in bright reds and golds — the Indiana Mindflayers. Eddie pouted to himself, hemmed and hawed until finally, with a loud groan, he pulled the cap on over his frizzy curls and… damn. Even he had to admit that it brought instant relief to his eyes, shading them and bringing the field into perfect clarity. He sniffed, the smell of the turf bright and green in his nose. I’ll have to start doubling up on the Claritin, he thought, determined not to enjoy it one bit. 

Eddie pulled out his notepad and shuffled through his notes. Steve Harrington was the second baseman; smart, fast, with good reflexes and running speed. By all accounts, he was the favorite to break the base-stealing record last set in 1982, garnering respect for the up-and-coming new team. He was a powerful hitter, an even better baseman, a fan favorite, and, as far as Eddie could tell, a squeaky-clean, all-American golden boy. 

And while Eddie had done the requisite reading on the sport, more of his time had been spent delving into the lore that had built up around the man. The only son of a notorious business mogul, Steve Harrington had led a charmed life. Trust fund baby, sports phenom, the pinnacle of what a good son and alpha should be — right up until he had defied expectations and joined an unknown, fledgling team and been cut off by his family. 

Lucky for him, Steve was handsome, charming, and known almost as well for his prowess off the field as he was on it. He was never seen with the same woman more than twice, never tied down, never mated. Rumors swirled that he had almost been married once, but had his heart broken by some mysterious figure, the identity of whom he protected at all costs. Other than that, it would appear that all there was to know about Steve Harrington was how he played that day and who the new celebrity on his arm was that week. How boring, Eddie couldn’t think of anything worse.

Still, he was a reporter, and there was a lot of buzz around the guy. If there was a story there, he would find it, and then he would go back to Indy and beg on hands and knees for his old job back.

Eddie sat through the first half of the inning before the Mindflayers were up to bat. He waited with as much enthusiasm as he could muster to get his eyes on the man himself. Finally, the familiar sound of Andre 3000 started up, Harrington’s song of choice to play him in, as he jogged out onto the batting mound. 

Don’t want to meet your daddy, just want you in my caddy Don’t want to meet your momma, just want to make you come-a

Eddie rolled his eyes. A little on the nose, he thought, we get it, you’re a playboy who knots ‘em and walks ‘em. And I heard you were actually smooth…

Steve Harrington came up to bat with the bases loaded. It wouldn’t have been hard for anyone to look impressive after the lackluster performance of Tommy Hagan before him, but Steve sauntered out to home plate swinging his bat with the kind of easy confidence that made you just know he was about to do something special. His very first swing connected with the ball with a satisfying crack, sending it sailing deep into the stands.

Steve tossed his bat and ran, a home run. The crowd roared, jumping to their feet; the energy was infectious, and look, Eddie had eyes, he wasn’t immune to those tight little pants, or the sight of dirt on his knees as Steve pulled himself up with a bright, crooked grin and a little wave. The man was hot, he could admit it.

A faint scent of something wafted up from the field, spicy sweet and undeniable, calling to him so strongly that Eddie felt lightheaded. But almost as soon as he had locked onto it, it was gone; the wind changed and with it came the smell of incoming rain. He sank back in his seat, a little worse for wear, looking dubiously up at the sky and the gray clouds rolling in. A shiver ran through him and Eddie was forced to buy a hoodie to go with his new cap as light sprinkles fell over the stadium. He charged that shit on the company card.

The game played on, dauntless of the rain, and Eddie was cold, wet, way too sober, and bored. He tried to get into it, but catching the Cracker Jack he was tossing into the air with his mouth was just so much more interesting. 

After an eternity, finally they were in the last inning, and just as he was silently thanking the gods of sportsball that he’d soon be released from his purgatory, a palpable energy began to grow all around him. People were sitting up, watching a little closer. Eddie sat up, too, unceremoniously dropping the Cracker Jack to the ground.

The field was still wet from the earlier rain, grass glistening under the lights that had come up as the sun went down. It was the bottom of the 9th, the Mindflayers were down by one, and Steve was up to bat again. 

The first pitch was thrown wildly out of the strike zone, a ball. Steve let slip a flash of annoyance, which made Eddie smile to himself. Careful, big boy, that halo is slipping. On his second swing, he hit a double and made it to second base.

Then, before the next batter for the Mindflayers could take his place, the opposing team made a switch, bringing Jason Carver onto the field, their notoriously lethal left-handed pitcher. Steve seemed keenly interested in the goings on, so much so that Eddie found himself watching him more so than the player at bat. 

“Only one out left,” muttered the man sitting behind Eddie, so he wrote it down in his notepad. He could look up the exact rules of the game again later, after he had dried off, warmed up, and eaten something other than stale, too-sweet popcorn.

Lucas Sinclair stepped up to the plate, and while he and Carver sized each other up, Steve took the opportunity to run, racing to steal third base. The crowd cheered and Carver cursed, shouting something and… did Steve wink at him? Carver cursed again, but it didn’t matter, Steve was already safe. Sinclair was laughing; if he could get a good play, Steve would have a chance to run for home, tying the game. Carver spit and turned back to the plate, winding up. 

Sinclair was ready, but Carver’s signature fastball got past him. Eddie’s eyes were still on Harrington, who looked tense and twitchy as he and Sinclair made eye contact across the diamond. Carver smirked; another deadly pitch, another strike. Behind Carver’s shoulder, Steve had crouched low, watching things play out intently. The final swing connected, ball sent flying deep into the outfield and Steve ran. The crowd was on their feet, screaming as Steve slid home, his hat coming off and hair flying. He’d tied the game, standing up with a grin, clay caked down the front of his uniform as he shouted at Sinclair to run. The opposing team’s outfield threw the ball, but it went wide, missing their baseman. Sinclair kept running, past third, and when he touched home, he leapt onto Steve, the two of them laughing and shouting, because they’d done it. The Mindflayers had won by a single point in the final inning of the game.

Eddie found himself standing, too, his hands in the air and his jaw on the floor. He was absolutely helpless to the energy of the crowd. The team poured out onto the field, hoisting Steve and Lucas up onto their shoulders, and Steve threw his head back and laughed. Eddie laughed with him, couldn’t help it, overwhelmed by the magic of the moment. Somewhere on the breeze, he caught the smallest taste of that scent again, hot baked bread and spices, warmth and comfort, and then it was gone. When he looked back out to the field, Steve had disappeared into the dugout. That was Eddie’s cue to make his way down.

He wedged himself into the throng of reporters at the press conference, all trying to get the attention of Steve Harrington, who was clearly preoccupied with teasing his coach, renowned humorless hardass Jim Hopper, while managing to answer a slew of questions seemingly on autopilot without looking up once. “It’s all about teamwork, no one player wins the game,” rolled off his tongue, and then, “everything I learned, I learned from this man here,” as Hopper snorted gruffly. Eddie pushed through to the front and raised his voice. 

“That was a pretty neat trick you pulled there, but couldn’t you have done it sooner in the game so we could have had a bit more action in the middle bit? Or do they just trot you out at the very end to make it seem more interesting?”

An uncomfortable silence fell over the small space, save for a few awkward coughs as Harrington turned to stare directly at Eddie, his dark eyes narrowing. 

“Never seen this scrawny little guy before,” he quipped, leaning back lazily as though Eddie had bored him. “And who are you?” 

“Eddie Munson, with The P—”

“The Pace. I know you. You’re Wheeler’s new boy. Of course you are.” Steve said it like it left a bad taste in his mouth and Eddie gritted his teeth.

“If you could just answer the ques—”

“The reason, Mr. Munson,” Steve interrupted him again, “is that there’s more to the game than just hitting balls and running. Stealing bases requires thought, and it requires the right set of circumstances to pull it off. As soon as I realized they were bringing Carver out onto the field, I knew that I’d have a chance to take third, because as a left-handed pitcher, he’d have his back to me. It’s called game strategy. You may think I’m just a dumb jock, but I do actually have a brain. Next question.”

Eddie was dismissed, clearly. He frowned, staring down at his notepad. Strategy? You didn’t get to be the scariest dungeon master in Indy without knowing game strategy. Eddie twitched with annoyance.

He sulked through the rest of the questions, saying nothing, before making his way down to the locker rooms with the select few VIP reporters allowed in for the meet-n-greet. Eddie milled about, feeling every bit as uncomfortable as he had in high school gym, sweaty ball players shoving past him with towels thrown over their shoulders. Someone knocked into him from behind, and Eddie jumped aside, immediately apologizing.

It was Harrington, of course it was. Up close, Eddie could see that his brown eyes were more a warm hazel flecked with gold, downturned and sleepy-looking, but beautifully expressive. His lips were bowed and pink, far lovelier than a testosterone-ridden alpha male should possess, and cheeks kissed with tiny moles. He froze in place, apology dropping off, entirely unprepared for the reality of Steve. 

The man smirked at him, clearly amused. Steve reached forward and pinched the fabric of Eddie’s Mindflayers hoodie, rubbing it between his fingers. Then he ran his thumb along the bill of Eddie’s cap, almost teasingly. “Love the ‘fit,” he purred, in a wry, gravelly voice, and Eddie shivered. 

Steve was standing so close, sneering down at the gaping idiot that Eddie had become, and for a second he thought he caught that scent again, rising dough, nutmeg. His attention snapped elsewhere as he subconsciously lifted his nose to the air and sniffed. An omega was near, their scent curious and seeking, interested, sending a pulse of want all through him. Steve’s eyes shuttered off, and he looked uncomfortable, taking a step back and rubbing at his neck. Then, with an awkward smile that held none of the fire it possessed earlier, Steve whispered, “see ya around, Munson,” as he turned tail towards the showers, leaving Eddie staring after him. 

[redwoodrecords]

— redwood. —

DEMO. ❀

MASTERLIST. PLAYLISTS. BUY ME A COFFEE.

━ introduction. ━

Congratulations! You have just received an acceptance letter from Redwood University.

A highly selective institution with alumni ranging from Nobel Peace Prize winners, Film Directors, Diplomats and other internationally renowned individuals. You are the first in your small town to make it to the 'big leagues'. With the weight of their expectations, your desire to make it somehow, your college fund suddenly emptied and the academic pressure placed on your shoulders, everything was already shaping up to be a stressful time. But now, there are letters, weird circumstances, a dead body, and suddenly, you're thrown into a game that you never knew was playing.

Everything powerful harbours secrets. Are you willing to uncover them?

redwood is rated 16+ for sexual content, violence, substance abuse, and more. everything will be tagged accordingly before the chapter containing it.

━ the game ━

You play as ‘the pledge’, a new recruit to the universities’ houses, of which there are five. You have to impress the house’s inhabitants and compete against the others who are fighting for the same spot that you are.

You can choose your approach to the game and how you treat your competitors. Every gameplay is unique, as most choices leave an impact.

While your character competes for their spot in a ‘House’, they will also be attempting to uncover the secrets that are buried within. Make sure to balance school, pledging and mystery hunting! It’s harder than you’d think.

━ genre(s) ━

mystery. coming of age. romance.

━ features. ━

a fully customisable MC, including choice of gender, name, sexual orientation, dietary requirements, house, pronouns, race, appearance and personality.

choose your relationship with your family members, friends, competitors and romantic interests!

a story that relies heavily on your choices, every playthrough is different.

GoC love interests that are optional, play with an option of romance or without!

build relationships with others and create enemies or allies.

get to the bottom of your family’s history, and how it intertwines with redwood.

━ romance options. ━

not only are there four main romance options, but you also have the ability to have romantic/sexual encounters with others.

⇢ max bennett

Max Bennett was born with a silver spoon in their mouth but never learnt how to use it, raised by their quirky auntie in upstate New York. With a tall stature and thick black hair, they are the epitome of a dream indie movie star. They applied to Redwood because of its prestige and their desire to follow in their parents footsteps. They never expected to meet you, especially considering their history with the Houses.

Maximilian Bennett is 6’4, with messy black hair, pale skin, green eyes and a beauty mark on his left cheek.

Maxine Bennett is 5’11, with her black hair cut into a bob, a beauty mark above her right eyebrow, and a slim build.

⇢ sam washington

Sam Washington is always looking for the next scoop and they think they’ll find it in you. Born to a family of media moguls, Sam is wishing to find their independence at Redwood. They’ve been given the scoop on the Houses and they could be a good ally to have due to their connections and charisma, although they would not blame you if you want to be something more.

Samson Washington is 6’2, with short curly brown hair, hazel eyes, a broad build, glasses (although he prefers contacts) and a beauty mark under his right eye.

Samantha Washington is 5’7, with long curly lighter brown hair, a single beauty mark under her left eye, a curvier build, glasses (because she hates contacts) and full lips.

⇢ frankie blake

Frankie Blake is the child of a major fashion designer and your also new roommate, although their family is known for being extravagant and ostentatious, they are the complete opposite. An art enthusiast who is looking for their next muse, and the quirk of your smile is enough to inspire a thousand drawings. They are a Redwood legacy and they’re willing to show you around, for a price of course. Nothing comes for free. Frankie has dark brown skin that is covered in freckles, with kinky hair and the prettiest smile you’ve ever seen.

Francis Blake is 5’10 with short twist outs, a toned build, freckles and a wardrobe filled with shorts.

Frances Blake is 5’4 with long, back length braids that are decorated with gold accessories, a slim build and freckles.

⇢ ali nakamura

Ali Nakamura is the only child of their politician mother and is already well-established at Redwood. They seem perfectly pleasant in public, however it is your first day at Redwood and you have already presented yourself as a rival. Through no fault of your own, that’s what you insist anyways. They have silky, dyed blond hair, well-groomed black eyebrows and an affinity for neutral tones. Although they insist on their aloof demeanour, you occasionally catch them looking at you with a look you can’t decipher.

Alistair Nakamura is 6’0, with an average build, tan skin, short honey blond hair with dark eyes.

Alison Nakamura is 5’5, with an average build, tan skin, shoulder-length sunflower blonde hair and dark eyes.

[lurkingintheback]

So I was trying something for the Tabletop Game Jam going on, but this is way over 200 words. Still liked the concept, so here's this one while I work on another!

Lemonade Mogul: The Corporate Warfare Card Game

A competitive game for three to five players. Might be able to play it with two, but you're probably going to have more fun flipping the table if there are more people on the other side of it. When a group of kids get the exact same get-rich-quick scheme idea to get them through the summer, tensions get high. There isn't enough room in this town for three, let alone six competing lemonade businesses, and you little Timmy/Suzy/Brook, are not going to be the one getting your hopes and dreams bought out or destroyed.

Materials Needed

Three to Five Players!

One deck of Lemonade Mogul themed cards! (Roughly about thirty cards divided into ten Location, Benefit, and Hazard cards)

Play Money! (Real Money not recommended for games with strangers, exes, or any small lemonade stand owning urchins with a mischievous glint in their eyes and nothing to lose.)

A notepad to keep track of winning bids.

Lemonade! (Optional, but who wouldn't want a refreshing glass?)

Playing the Game!

Lemonade Mogul starts with each player being given an equal small amount of play money, hazard cards, and benefit cards, along with one location card at random while the remaining stacks of location cards, benefit cards, and hazard cards each lie face down on the table. Each player is given some time to look over their cards before the first location card is turned over; revealing one of the places you can sell lemonade at!

Or rather, could sell lemonade at. The first thing you have to deal with is the Bidding Phase.

Bidding Phase: Each location card has their own perks and drawbacks; and each one gets you just a little more money each turn, depending on how much the card states. However, locations can be bought by other players if they have the same amount of money as the winning bid. Though players don't get additional money from new location cards on their first turn, each location provides passive benefits; or passive drawbacks. Maybe that country club provides you with a lot of money, but you're having to spend more time there and can't draw other locations. Maybe that graveyard doesn't provide you with much money, but the local necromancer's a big fan of your lemonade, and he'll sic zombies on one of your competitors every three turns to keep them busy. Maybe the church protects you from THE BOGEYMAN.

Development Phase: Now for the fun part. This is where you slam down your benefit cards or toss a hazard card at someone else. Maybe you trash a player's location, preventing them from getting money from it for another turn. Maybe you get a big sale from a wealthy eccentric old lady covered in cats who thinks your small business is the bee's knees. Maybe you commit insurance fraud; discarding a location for a big sum.

Some benefit cards exist only as counters to specific hazards or benefits (siccing the cops on a fraudster and forcing them to drop the location without a cash boost, exorcising the ghost in your refrigerator sent to stall you from getting your money, ensuring your lemonade stand has a clean bill of health), while other benefit cards specifically just benefit you or another player.

Despite the fact that there can be only one Lemonade Mogul, you're free to use your benefit cards on another player's behalf; or work with them! The competition is as friendly or as unfriendly as you make it.

Hazard cards meanwhile, are legitimately just hazards you're throwing at one player for a turn. Though you can only toss one (usually, unless the card has different rules) at another player, you're free to gang up with other players on someone. Maybe you're summoning a spooky ghost to haunt a competitor's fridge to halve their income via taking up their time, or you've tricked a gang of angry punk rock fans into thinking that your opponent hates the indie band they like, and they're trashing the location. Some hazards only last for one turn, while others are perpetual until they've been handled.

Finally, there's the Buying Phase; the point where players can look over previously bid locations and buy them out; putting their play money back in the pile and swiping the location card. It doesn't matter how much money the player has; as long as it's at least a dollar more than the winning bid, it's their own! The objective is to buy out every location the other players have; if a player runs out of locations and can't bid for any more, they're out of luck and on the buying player's team; though they can still play hazards or use benefits, any money they've made is funneled directly towards the player who bought them out.

All you've got to do is buy out everyone else; then you'll take the coveted title of Lemonade Mogul!

[weneverlearn]

Happy Birthday Long Gone John!

This week contained a load of election gloom. One way to beat it is by spinning one of the records that came out on the great Sympathy for the Record Industry label, headed by Birthday boy, Long Gone John Mermis! (November 13, to be exact.)

Long Gone was one of the first indie imprint moguls that offered New Bomb Turks a hoot, and he ended up releasing three 7" singles and included us on everyone's favorite trashy Xmas compilation, Happy Birthday, Baby Jesus (1993).

It was an honor to be on a label that has released a mountain of wild, weird, wacky, and wonderful trash-rock since 1988, and sorta kinda still does sometimes...

I did a lengthy interview with Long Gone in my book, We Never Learn, as his import to the 1990s underground R'n'R milieu cannot be overstated. But I recently stumbled on this quickie article I did about him for the April, 2007 issue of CMJ New Music Monthly, when John was on the precipice of finally moving out of his beloved L.A., back in 2007.

I was Associate Editor at CMJ (College Music Journal) at the time, and this was for the monthly mag we were still producing. Since the whole company went kaput in 2017 and the website disappeared, you'll have to scroll down to page 9 here to see the story. But it's also kinda interesting to see what was going on in the indie world around then while scrolling through the whole issue. (My 2006 Best Of list is in there somewhere…).

Happy Birthday, Long Gone, and thanks!!

[odditycircus-2002]

When you first Met Jimmy Crystal

Next

(I don't own these images, they belong to their respective owners)

I know that I'm a bit late to the party, but last weekend while surfing Netflix, I came across this charming little movie. Given what I've seen about Jimmy Crystal and not hearing anyone saying this is a god-awful movie, I thought, "Why not" and put it on. It was alright and cute for what it was, yet my writer's brain decided to create an entire story with Jimmy Crystal and his ex-wife (You, the reader). I just had to get it down, given I don't see much Jimmy Crystal X Reader Crystal content. The reader insert in question is an Iberian Wolf, but you're free to imagine any other animal that comes to mind.😁 In this, I'm going more headcanon bullet point. Hope you enjoy it!

You were in a band you started with some close friends and fellow bohemians, known as "Taking Back Spring", indie soft pop rock with you as one of the lead singers and tambourine player.

While your legal name is Y/N L/N, you prefer your dream-vision name of Sunflower or Sunny for short. Because you feel Sunflower reflects your love and connection to mother nature. It's a name that also happened to make a neat stage name.

Jimmy Crystal wasn't the major business mogul he is now when you first met. In fact, he was a talent scout for another company with big ambitions. A job he was doing when he first saw you and your band at a music festival. Up until your band's act, Jimmy was just about ready to leave, finding the rest of the festival's bands to be mediocre and unoriginal. Yet, when you took to the stage with a tambourine in hand and started to croon out the first few notes, followed by your band upping the tempo and you doing the same as an explosion of flower petals and environmentally friendly glitter, Jimmy Crystal was compelled to stay and watch the rest of your performance.

To this day, he's glad he did stay in his seat. Jimmy found that while Taking Back Spring creatively used different instruments and sounds to make a memorable upbeat melody, you were the showstopper. He couldn't quite take his eyes off you danced across the stage, not quite a performance as you do what comes naturally from the music. The one with an infectious energy and charismatic charm that got both the band and the crowd even more pumped up.

He knew he had to tell his boss about you and your band.

After your band’s set, you and the entire group went back to the Winnebago all of you were traveling in to celebrate another successful performance. At that time, all of you started a campfire, started making s’mores broke out the cooler of drinks, started singing and harmonizing just for the pleasure of it.

That’s when you met him. A young, confident and (dare you say) handsome arctic wolf in a crisp shirt and vest, with a lollipop in one hand to occasionally lick at. He introduced himself as Mr. Crystal, a scouting agent for a prominent talent agency. An agency he believes that your band may have a shot at, complimenting on how entertaining and well put together it was as a spectacle. When he mentioned you and your fellow lead singer’s performance in particular, he would glance towards you with a suave smile on his lips; leaving you to glance away quickly when your gazes meet.

You could feel your cheeks heat up and your tail start to wag for whatever reason. While you may or may not immediately recognize what’s gotten into you, the rest of your band give each other knowing smiles and looks between you and Mr. Crystal

Initially, when Mr. Crystal offered for your band to audition for his boss, assuring all of you may have a good chance; you and half of your band members were hesitant to possibly work for an agency, an corporation. You didn't want to have most of your band's artistic integrity or freedom taken and molded into something it isn't for the sole purpose of profit.

However, it's thanks to your fellow lead singer/guitarist that you changed your vote to take the audition opportunity. Your fellow band member pointed out how winning the audition could really help elevate your shows to new heights, making them truly spectacles beyond their wildest dreams. That and he may or may not had have some help with Jimmy Crystal's magnetic aura in persuading you.

"I look forward to working with you, really. I love to see you and your band more often, cause you're on to something big here, big!" Jimmy told you before departing from your camp with a sly wink in your direction. Your bandmates would not let you live down how your tail started wagging like crazy when Mr. Crystal left.

It wouldn't be the last time you saw him at the festival, as Jimmy Crystal stuck around for a while afterward, to watch a few more of your band's shows. Just to make sure you have what it takes, he claimed.

Before he left, Jimmy went to see you one last time with the excuse of returning your headband, which flew off you during a performance. You thanked him, physically holding back your tail from wagging up a storm again. He gave you a smile and chuckled in amusement at your embarrassment, calling it cute. Wanting to change the subject, you offered to exchange numbers with Jimmy.

"For professional reasons of course! I-in case you have any more business to discuss..."

You quickly affirmed, maybe a bit too fast. Jimmy just continued to smile at you and agreed to your offer, giving his personal number.

You had a feeling, as you watched Jimmy drive off to his next scouting job, you were going to go far with him. In what way, only the stars you looked to would know.

This, however, is MY art. A concept I had of the reader insert during their early music career.

[grievedifferent]

basing directly off sam raimi for a) the fact that he's primarily known as a horror director, b) is a huge name in the industry, and c) is likely on the level of josh's dad, here is roughly the "net worth" of the washington family.

by 2015, his dad is worth $45,000,000 USD if you liquidate all assets entirely down to what they're directly worth.

why this number? sam raimi is worth $40 mil. robert (bob) washington is described so heavily as this movie mogul in hollywood and this huge hotshot producer / director figure who has all these awards, has a significant sized family (it's not cheap raising three kids), and literally bought a mountain (ie enouigh property of the mountain for the peak to be considered "mount washington" after razing an entire hotel to build a lodge atop it, among other little things to keep everything operational (including lighting, sheds, electrical gates, etc) among other things.

which, just really fast, what is the cost of buying a mountain? or buying a mountain that way josh's dad did? there's a couple of answers:

a) it was likely cheap. it doesn't have a functioning ski lodge, it's not farmable, it's not commercial use, none of that. bob had to put the work in making the land "viable" or even usable to his family. it was also bought for personal use. this wasn't a lodge to rent out, this was another home. anyways. b) it's "cursed". which comes with cheap. there's been a ton of history about this, which likely drove away other sales, and allowed him to negotiate. c) he didn't actually buy the whole mountain, just enough of it to really claim "social full ownership" (if that even makes sense? he owns a bunch of it, just not all of it).

cost: roughly anywhere from $2mil USD (least) to maybe $10mil USD (most). likely between $4-6mil USD with a promise to raze the hotel for him. also, my cost-estimates are actually going off of the modern market, not in the late 1990s when he purchased it, so it was probably even cheaper tbh.

"After a successful career in Hollywood netted movie mogul Bob Washington fame and fortune, he purchased an extensive amount of land atop Blackwood Mountain to serve as the idyllic vacation retreat for his family in 1997. The manor house he built there functioned as an ideal getaway and a testament to his wealth and prosperity, and thus the Washington Estate was created. However, the site would prove to be anything but relaxing. Trespassers, protestors, and an enigmatic figure seen on the property would unnerve Bob's wife Melinda. The ultimate tragedy came in the form of the mysterious disappearance of his children." - source

so, bob was likely always in the industry in an "indie" way, then really popped off in probably 1994-1996. more money, more movies, more prestige, more connections, more everything. it happened somewhat fast, though he had always lived comfortably. this would make sense, as i have josh being born in 1994 just based off of his age and the timeline of UD.

so ... josh is a nepo baby, that's just how it is. he was born into wealth that just continued amassing before he can even fully remember being alive. he has a trust fund. he's always going to be taken care of. any kids he has will be taken care of even if he decides to never work again or expand the empire.

i've called him that from the start. he's definitely not in the 1%, but he's definitely likely one of the wealthiest (and most famous / famously connected) people his friends know currently (and might ever know tbh, he's such an exception to the rule in a way which is why we find his friends also being generally in the upper class).

also, just being real, josh is this way strictly so he can do this entire prank for the story of the game. he has to be that rich and also connected in the way of hollywood to pull this off, it just makes sense. otherwise, it's a lot of explaining when it's just much easier to say "he's rich, he's connected, his dad is in the industry, and he wants to be, too" than going "well, he got this x way and this y way and did this z way". until dawn was never meant to get that deep for the length of game, we see these constrictions all over the game because it was originally made to be a "couple's game" where couples passed the controller and played together.

however, he's very interesting as a character when "wielding his wealth". he can't help but "be rich". by this, i sort of mean like ... being invited over means seeing that wealth on open display, but it's not exactly his display so much as his parents. we can argue josh's aesthetic style later, but he definitely is rich in blood. he likes the nicer things, but he's super simplistic at the same time? he's fine to hang out in a house that isn't a mansion, he doesn't think he's "slumming it" by hanging out with anyone that isn't a millionaire, but he is used to that lifestyle. he has this sort of balance he's found, which is a good thing about josh, he does have good traits.

it's like this: josh both does and does not "fit" into the world he was born into. he's likely known by others in his sphere as a sort of eccentric, maybe a bit aloof or weird, and definitely as a creative type. but he doesn't always "get" this stuffy vibe, this sort of facade, and he likes to think of himself as "real" by comparison.

but we see in his choice of friends that they're still pretty wealthy, so there's a comfort there. we could argue that maybe chris? potentially ashley? are more "middle class" (still doing well), and i see matt as coming from the sort of family where he's the first that's "born into" some sort of wealth (from his parents), but it's made to be clear that most of these kids are basically rich kids, such as sam, mike, em, jess (her parents bought her FOUR PHONES in ONE YEAR, that is EXPENSIVE).

chris's general personality but comfortability with the washington family's wealth tells me he could be kind of either? hard to really say unless i was writing him myself, but this is the general vibe i follow and thus otter follows. chris and ash are middle class by comparison. it goes up from there.

josh follows a very personal motif of "if i say we're eating, i didn't ask for money, i asked for your order" or "if i'm eating, you're eating" which extends into a "if i'm smiling, you're going to be smiling" or "if you're not smiling, then i'm not smiling".

[writingsofwesteros]

King's Landing Daily- Targaryens take the Silver Screen

pictured above, stills of Baela Targaryen staring in her film debut in a film adaptation about the Targaryen family, called 'Fall of Valyria'.

It seems that these days, the Targaryens are in the press solely because of the legal proceedings surrounding either Daella Targaryen or Stevonna Baratheon-Hightower. In a change of news, however, King's Landing Daily has the exclusive stills of the highly anticipated film 'Fall of Valyria'. The film is set hundreds of years ago, and tells the story of the fall of the Valyrian empire and the escape of three minor Valyrian houses to Westeros- House Targaryen, House Velyaron, and House Celtigar. Baela Targayren stars as an unnamed character said to be of House Velaryon- a lineage she actually does have, being the daughter of the late Laena Velaryon and granddaughter of shipping company mogul Corlys Velaryon. Bearing the Targaryen name from her father the infamous Daemon Targaryen, Baela attended a prestigious performing arts school in King's Landing and took roles mostly in stage productions and indie films, but after being reached out to by the producers for a role in this film, the young actress accepted.

Though many history buffs know well the story of Aegon's Conquest, there is little widely known about the Valyrian empire and its fall, merely speculation. Though the film has yet to release several are speculating that this film will set up the premise for a film about Aegon's Conquest to be made, or even talk of film/TV adaptations about other periods of the Targaryen family's long, illustrious history, whether it be Maegor's messy rule as king, or much later when the Targaryen monarchy ended in Westeros, and the royal family became no longer Westeros's rulers on a throne, but from their boardrooms in skyscrapers, instead. In the midst of all the ongoing drama, fans are eager to know how the family feels about their own history being made into film. Most haven't directly commented about it, though some of the younger Targaryens such as Daenora, Helaena, Rhaena, Jaceaerys and Aegon have reposted the trailer in support of Baela's blockbuster film debut. More older members of the family haven't had much to say, though Daemon Targaryen said in passing when asked by fans after leaving a restaurant with his wives, that he's "Glad that if they're making it into a movie, at least a real Targaryen's on the set, to make sure they don't butcher it."

There are rumours that there are certain cuts and edits being made for fear of legal action from Aemond Targaryen for anything that can be perceived as defamation of the Targaryen name.

It's anticipated that several members of the family will attend the premiere in support of Baela, though don't expect to see young Daella Targaryen, who's been more reclusive than ever since recent events.

All the coverage of all things Targaryen are always right here, at King's Landing Daily.

OMG!! YES !!

Go Baela, she's the SWEETEST!! LOOK AT HER GO

Can't wait for the premiere now ;)

[beaxtifxldirtyrich]

OLD HOLLYWOOD GLAMOUR || MUSES

“Hollywood amuses me. Holier-than-thou for the public and unholier-than-the-devil in reality.” - Grace Kelly

INTRODUCING HOLLYWOOD’S DARLING ‘IT’ GIRL

AVA BAKER || FC: BLAKE LIVELY || AGE: 32 || OCCUPATION: ACTRESS CONNECTIONS: ASSISTANT, BEST FRIEND, RIVAL, HUSBAND, ROMANTIC PARTNER, , ETC             _____________________________________________________________________

INTRODUCING HOLLYWOOD’S RISING GIRL GROUP ICON (1/3)

SAMANTHA RICHARDS || FC: RYAN DESTINY || AGE: 27 || OCCUPATION: CHOREOGRAPHER, SONG WRITER, 1/3 OF A GIRL GROUP CONNECTIONS: BANDMATES, BEST FRIEND, ROMANTIC PARTNER, EX, ETC

_____________________________________________________________________

INTRODUCING HOLLYWOOD’S WORLD RENOWNED SONGSTRESS

SIENNA LIN || FC: MINT RANCHRAWEE || AGE: 26 || OCCUPATION: SINGER/ACTRESS/MOGUL  CONNECTIONS: BEST FRIEND, ROMANTIC PARTNER, EX, ASSISTANT, SISTER,ETC

_____________________________________________________________________

INTRODUCING HOLLYWOOD’S TROUBLEMAKER

DAISY ALLRIGHT || FC: EMILY ALYN LIND || AGE: 26 || OCCUPATION: ACTRESS CONNECTIONS: BEST FRIEND, ROMANTIC PARTNER, ASSISTANT, SISTER,ETC

_____________________________________________________________________

INTRODUCING HOLLYWOOD’S TRENDSETTER

CLARA ADDISU || FC: GUGU MBATHA-RAW|| AGE: 37 || OCCUPATION: EDITER-IN-CHEIF @ VOGUE CONNECTIONS: BEST FRIEND, ROMANTIC PARTNER, ASSISTANT, SISTER,ETC

_____________________________________________________________________

INTRODUCING HOLLYWOOD’S HOTTEST NEW DIRECTOR 

HANLEY CALDWELL || FC: ALEX FITZALAN || AGE: 29 || OCCUPATION: INDIE DIRECTOR/SCREENWRITER CONNECTIONS: BEST FRIEND, ROMANTIC PARTNER, ASSISTANT, SISTER,ETC

_____________________________________________________________________

INTRODUCING HOLLYWOOD’S INFAMOUS TALENT DIRECTOR 

STEVEN PARK || FC: HWANG MINHYUN || AGE: 30 || OCCUPATION: TALENT ACQUISITION DIRECTION @ CAA CONNECTIONS: BROTHER, BEST FRIEND, ROMANTIC PARTNER, ASSISTANT,ETC

_____________________________________________________________________

INTRODUCING HOLLYWOOD’S HOTTEST RISING STAR

VICTORIA ZHANG || FC: ZHAO LUSI || AGE: 25 || OCCUPATION: MODEL/ACTRESS CONNECTIONS: BROTHER, BEST FRIEND, ROMANTIC PARTNER, ASSISTANT,ETC

_____________________________________________________________________

INTRODUCING HOLLYWOOD’S RESIDENT GINGER

OHELIA "POPPY" BRANSON || FC: MADELAINE PETSCH || AGE: 28 || OCCUPATION: ACTRESS CONNECTIONS: SISTER, BEST FRIEND, ROMANTIC PARTNER, ASSISTANT, PR MANAGER, ETC

_____________________________________________________________________

INTRODUCING HOLLYWOOD’S BRILLANT ANIMATOR

JAMIE CHO || FC: KIM HYUN-JIN || AGE: 28 || OCCUPATION: DIRECTOR @ PIXAR CONNECTIONS: SISTER, BEST FRIEND, ROMANTIC PARTNER, ASSISTANT, PR MANAGER, ETC

[silentinfamies]

lee   hoseok.     he/they/them.     demi   man.      ›      spotted   at   the   met   steps   ,   jae   kwon   ,   most   likely   listening   to   la   modelo   by   ozuna   with   their   airpods   pro   .   the   twenty   eight   year   old   gained   quite   a   reputation   ,   known   to   be   -resentful   yet   +sensitive   to   anyone   who   knows   them   .   you'll   easily   spot   them   when   you   hear   about   the   sound   of   heavy   gym   weights   hitting   the   ground   ,   the   sound   of   loud,   boisterous   laughter   ,   big   ears   and   an   even   bigger   smile   ,   followed   by   eau   sauvage   eau   de   toilette   by   dior  .   latest   nepoupdates   article   talks   about  youngest   son   to   business   mogul   spotted   at   a   romantic   dinner   with   a   well   known   celebrity’s   wife   ,   but   i   guess   any   reputation   is   good   reputation   .   (   reece   ,   25   ,   they / them   ,   est   .   )

B A S I C S 

full name: jae kwon. nicknames: tbd. gender:  demi man. pronouns:  he/him, they/them. sexuality:  pansexual. age:  28. date of birth:  june 4th. zodiac sign:  gemini. birthplace: new york city, new york. current location: new york city, new york. residence: penthouse. occupation:  aspiring actor, semi professional fitness trainer. languages spoken: english, korean, french, spanish, mandarin.

A P P E A R A N C E

faceclaim:  lee hoseok. height:  5’11. eyes:  brown. hair:  naturally dark brown, dyed black. piercings:  standard earlobe piercings.  tattoos:  none.

P E R S O N A L I T Y

traits:  (+) sensitive, confident, affectionate, charming , humorous. (-) resentful, possessive, clingy, people pleaser , fickle.  mental health:  healthy.  physical health:  very healthy physically. likes:  fitness, food, acting, the beach, vacations, art.  dislikes: being ignored, too hot weather, his surroundings being too quiet, being by himself.  fears:  disappointing his family.  phobias:  none. hobbies:  working out, sketching, drawing, painting, hiking, swimming. skills: acting, art. quirks:  going quiet when upset, crinkling eyes when smiling or laughing, blushing when experiencing intense emotions ( anger, embarrassment, being flustered, laughing a lot, etc ).

F A V O R I T E S

ice cream flavour:  chocolate.  time of the day / night:  early morning.  weather:  autumbn weather.  colours:  colors on the blue spectrum.  music: indie, r&b, pop, rap. 

M I S C E L A N E O U S

a cherished item:  a family photo of one of their vacations from his childhood. first love ( celeb crush ):  lucy liu. usual mood:  happy / upbeat.  character inspo: hercules ( disney's hercules ), kristoff ( frozen ), seth clearwater ( twilight ).

B A C K G R O U N D

jae suffers from what is commonly known as 'middle child syndrome'. he was never neglected by his parents growing up, but he didn't get as much attention as his older and younger siblings; especially from their father. he had learned from a young age what his father's order of preference was when it came to his children - and jae always came at the bottom of the list. it seemed as though no matter what he did, or how hard he tried, he could never really impress his father. while his mother was more affectionate towards him and at least tried to acknowledge his obvious vies for attention, trying to get through to his father was like trying to chip away at a cement wall with a plastic knife.

he went above and beyond during his childhood and teen years to impress his father. getting high marks in school, joining sports teams, learning languages and instruments - the whole nine yards. but he still couldn't seem to get into his good graces with the older man. it was a topic he tried to breach with his father many times, only to be shut down or even full out ignored and brushed off by him. it had gotten to the point where jae gave up even trying to relate and connect with him. it was useless. nothing he did was worthy of his father's praise, and as much as that hurt him, he came to terms with that finally when he reached his mid twenties, with the help of therapy and a healthy friend group.

however, by his mid twenties, he had no idea who he was as a person. he had spent his entire life trying to impress his parents that he had ignored who he was and what he wanted to do. what did he enjoy? what was his calling? he had spent time dabbling in different things; business, fitness, fashion - all things that were easily accessible to him due to the lifestyle he had grown up in. but none of them quite hit the spot for him. fitness was the one he enjoyed the most, but there was still something missing that caused a yearning in his chest.

jae eventually came to the conclusion that acting was his calling. it was a throwback to his school years; when he would perform in school plays. he remembered loving the feeling of stepping into a character, becoming someone new for a short period of time, and he wanted to experience that feeling again. with an endless amount of connections developed in multiple industries due to his wealth and family name, it didn't take much for him to get involved in the acting industry.

he's done a few cameo appearances here and there, as well as a recurring role in a popular netflix show, however he hasn't had a big breakthrough role yet because he's trying to find the perfect role to select to really cement his title as a serious actor. and maybe there's a part of him that hopes that it will be enough to finally impress his father and gain his approval.

[xnaderblog]

timeline —

jw: “fallen kingdom” — it will be named something else cause nublar doesn’t fall but also it didn’t really matter that much in this movie anyways right,, anyways what if the main focus was of lockwood and his granddaughter, but scrapping the bad plotline of “oh she’s a cLoNe-“ cause it wasn’t good and it never went anywhere, but lockwood being hammond’s partner during the development of ingen and jp? that’s so interesting and needs more development. also masrani would be a bigger character in this series but he wouldn’t have an enormous role in this film. and, you guessed it, claire would be introduced in this film as a business mogul with an ulterior motive aka The Villain

jurassic world — yep the actual movie abt the new park is the second film, though there will probably be a “short” in between the two, just for some setup, cause in this we’re not gonna see the thriving park as much as the first one,, more of claire being a double agent and actually being the one who asked for the indominus to be constructed, with a few tweaks to enable claire to control indy. instead of the “unstoppable force” that the indominus is in the first film, she’s now just another weapon being controlled and used for a greater evil. see now claire obsessed with trying to get maisie with the indominus and owen coming to her aid. also a better control dynamic with the raptor squad so maybe they don’t just betray and die at the end

jw … Not Dominion: haven’t gotten this far yet, but dominion was such a shitshow to begin with that really having nothing is just as good in comparison

oh yeah also fun fact i’m gonna expand on this with my boy lyle cause he’s my world and i need more of him in everything. so !! maisie now has a brother >:))

[destinyc1020]

Timothy is not a movie star. Bones & All proved that after his fans were making fun of Tom's Uncharted movie on twitter. Bones & All even had the benefit of Thanksgiving weekend & still flopped. I think there is some truth to what Rachel Green said about the era of the movie star being dead. But unlike Tarantino, it isn't the fault of Marvel. This problem predates the MCU. I could go back to the YA era in Hollywood. Except for Jennifer Lawrence, most of the leads in those movies were never able to have a box office smash on their own. People saw Twilight for the books that were already popular. I also get the feeling that the audience wants escapist movies more than boring Oscar baits. We just came out of a pandemic and the last thing people need is to watch some pretentious stuff. You see how all the blockbusters walked away with atleast one Oscar this year while stuff like Tar went home empty handed?

Hmmm....Idk Anon.... Are we really using B&A (an indie movie about cannibalism trying to disguise itself as a "love story") as the barometer for Timmy's star status and ability to put butts in seats?? 🥴

Idk Anon.... I'm not too sure any actor would have been able to have a large opening for a film like that lol. It's just the nature of the film. 🤷🏾‍♀️ Plus, I honestly didn't see much hype for it. I also don't think it was a film that was expecting a huge box-office in the first place. Some films (believe it or not lol) are NOT made for box-office "numbers" or to "break records". SOME films really are just made to tell a story, or to get a director's creativity out there. I think way too many people put way too much emphasis on the box office numbers or how "successful" a film is monetarily-speaking, when the reality is, maybe Timmy did this film simply because he wanted to challenge himself or do something different for a change? 🤷🏾‍♀️

RE: Jennifer Lawrence, et al.... I think at the end of the day we have to realize that some people just have that "it factor" or "star quality", and others don't? Sometimes it could just be how their managers are handling their career, and other times it's more so the projects they're choosing, etc. Not every actor is going to be a "box office buster" and that's OKAY! Not every actor out here can be a Tom Cruise, or a Will Smith, and that's okay! It would be boring actually if EVERY single actor out here were a box-office mogul. 😅🤣

RE: Twilight... I do feel that anyone in those roles would have become popular simply because the BOOKS were so popular among the masses. But I say that about "Harry Potter", and the Marvel films as well. Those projects go beyond the actor because those stories alone are so popular already among the masses, so you're already going to have a massive following just for that reason alone.

RE: The Pandemic.... I agree, a lot of people are just looking for "FUN" these days since the pandemic. I think that's why "Top Gun: Maverick", "Elvis", "Dr. Strange: MOM" and "Jurassic World Dominion" did so well last summer. But if some enjoy more "serious" films, then that's okay too?? 🤷🏾‍♀️ I will say, "Tar" had to be one of the most PRETENTIOUS films I've seen in a while lol.... 😅🤣 (so I agree w/you there lol) But, it was still an interesting movie for me to watch, and you're kinda wondering the whole entire movie if she really did it. 👀 But boy was I lost with some of the lingo my gosh lol. Cate's acting was decent, but very methodical and robotic, but maybe that's how her character was supposed to be?? Idk... Either way, it wasn't a boring film at all to me. It was quite enjoyable actually. It was just very pretentious and seemed to be made for a certain "crowd" lol. 😅

[blackcardz]

 park  hyunwoo,  is  the  only  son  of  a  wealthy  family,  born  into  a  life  of  luxury  and  privilege  in  gangnam,  seoul's  most  affluent  district.  his  father  is  a  successful  real  estate  mogul,  and  his  mother  is  a  former  model  turned  fashion  designer.  hyunwoo  grew  up  in  a  world  where  money  was  never  an  issue,  attending  prestigious  private  schools  and  traveling  the  world.  despite  his  privileged  background,  hyunwoo  has  always  been  aware  of  the  pressure  that  comes  with  his  family  name.  expectations  are  high  for  him  to  follow  in  his  father's  footsteps  and  eventually  take  over  the  family  business.

 froggy,  she  /  they.  selective,  private  indie  rp  blog.

 notice  :  static  icons  in  use.  face  claim  :  sunghoon  of  enhypen.

 selective  single  muse,  original  character  and  multi  ship.

 muse  with  quirks  that  can  be  rather  provoking  whatever  my  muse  does  and  says  has  nothing  to  do  with  me  and  most  of  the  time  i  will  not  be  holding  my  muse  back  so  keep  that  in  mind.  this  is  only  writing  and  not  real  life.

 ethnicity  /  sexuality  and  gender  on  the  face  claim  you  are  using  doesn’t  matter  to  me  as  long  as  they  are  not  problematic,  dead  or  someone  who  wishes  not  to  be  roleplayed.

 i  prefer  f/m  ships  over  everything  ;  i  love  female  muses  to  death.  (  i  do  write  m/m  ships.  )

 adult  themes  may  appear.  i  will  only  write  smut  with  people  i'm  close  with.

 everything  will  be  in  lowercase.

 chemistry  needed  when  shipping,  platonic  ships  are  also  totally  fine  with  me.

 keep  in  mind  i'm  someone  who  lives  in  europe  and  18  is  legal  age  here  and  19  is  legal  in  korea.  i'm  someone  who  is  21  +  and  i  do  wish  for  you  to  be  18 +  at  least.

 ps  ;  i  won't  be  writing  against  minji  and  hanni  of  newjeans  as  these  are  given  to  me  by  vi  and  bun. (  lucidrims  and  charmfox  )  !!

[mybookplacenet]

Featured Post: The Teleporter by Lee Hall

About The Teleporter: Just when you thought there were enough super hero stories in this world, we made another one… A lab accident leaves Kurt Wiseman with the ability to teleport. But in order to harness his powers for good, he’ll have to overcome his demons and get to the bottom of an American business mogul’s dirty scheme! The Teleporter is an Amazon Best Selling Super Hero Comedy by Lee Hall. Targeted Age Group: 15+ Written by: Lee Hall Buy the ebook: Buy the Book On Amazon Buy the Print Book: Buy the Book On Amazon Author Bio: Lee Hall is a Best Selling Indie Author from the UK. He has spent many years reading, writing, blogging and performing. The fruits of such are multiple indie published books crossing several genres and of course a loyal following. From occult thrillers with monsters, witches and vampires that eventually became known as the ‘Order of the Following Series’ to paranormal romance and even the tale of a drunken superhero looking for justice. All of his works carry a deeper meaning that tribute the events from real life, because all good fiction is rooted in some level of truth. Most days you can find Lee on Twitter trying to be witty and supporting fellow creatives. Follow the author on social media: Learn more about the writer. Visit the Author's Website Facebook Fan Page Twitter YouTube Read the full article

[highaltitudedude]

Beyond the Lyrics: The Music Industry's Role in Advocating for Social Change

The powerful waves of socially-conscious music have echoed through generations, bringing urgent matters to the forefront. But beyond the lyrics and melodies, there's an often-overlooked player in this narrative: the music industry itself. From major record labels to streaming platforms, the industry's machinery has, at times, been both a conduit and a barrier to the dissemination of socially-charged content. Let's explore how.

1. Labels: Gatekeepers or Amplifiers?

Historically, major record labels were seen as gatekeepers, deciding which voices deserved mass exposure. Their influence could make or break an artist's career. Over time, some took the high road:

- Advocacy: Labels like Motown not only gave African American artists a platform but played a pivotal role during the Civil Rights Movement, subtly championing social change through music.

- Resistance: Conversely, some labels hesitated to promote overtly political or controversial songs, fearing backlash or loss of revenue.

2. Streaming Platforms: Curators of Consciousness

Platforms like Spotify and Apple Music have revolutionized how we access music. Their reach is undeniable, and with it comes responsibility:

- Playlists for Change: Curated playlists can bring attention to pressing issues. For instance, during Pride Month, many platforms curate LGBTQ+ themed playlists, promoting acceptance and understanding.

- Algorithmic Ambiguity: However, these platforms also rely on algorithms which, if not carefully managed, could potentially sideline certain voices in favor of mainstream, commercial hits.

3. Industry Moguls: Influence Beyond Music

Powerful figures in the music industry, from Jay-Z to Taylor Swift, have used their platforms to address social issues:

- Ventures & Initiatives: Many artists launch non-profit organizations, host benefit concerts, or partner with social movements. Their reach can mobilize their fanbase and attract media attention to causes.

- Navigating Controversy: On the flip side, taking a stand can be a double-edged sword. Artists face criticism, backlash, or even boycotts when they raise their voice, making it a complex decision.

4. Independent Artists & Grassroots Movements

Away from the commercial limelight, independent artists and labels have often been at the forefront of social activism:

- Freedom of Expression: Without the pressure of commercial success, indie artists often have more freedom to express their views candidly.

- Collaborative Initiatives: Grassroots movements in music have successfully raised awareness on issues, from climate change to women's rights, often using the power of the internet and social media for traction.

While the music itself remains a potent tool for social change, the industry's structure plays a vital role in determining which voices get amplified. It’s essential to recognize and challenge the dynamics that might hinder socially-conscious music while applauding and supporting those that champion it.

In the rhythm of reform,

Gary Dranow.