MAY 2021: Can NFTs Fund the Future for Artists?
MAY 2021: Can NFTs Fund the Future for Artists? Plus free tix to WSJ’s Future Of Everything Festival View this email in your browser
Wow. What a month. It’s so much fun do be able to share with you information about events that are happening in our community — each of them in their own way about one thing…building for the future. My colleague Abran Maldonado is moderating a conversation about the fast-growing phenomenon known as NFTs. You don’t want to miss this — sign up HERE. The Media Lab is co-sponsoring the WSJ Future Of Everything Festival — and we’ve got a limited amount of free tickets to this $695 event, so grab them before they’re gone. And we announce, here for the first time — the ASCAP teams for our Immersive Music Studio Challenge. Excited to see what they invent. Plus lots more.
The NYC Media Lab is all about New York’s innovative future — and with that, we’re always excited to hear from you with ideas, connections, and questions.
See you for coffee — in person — soon!
Steve
Steven Rosenbaum
Executive Director
NYC Media Lab
steve@nycmedialab.org NEW & NOTEWORTHY Can NFTs Fund the Future for Artists?
NFTs (non-fungible tokens) have taken the Metaverse by storm and are shaping up to be the defining technology of this era. By creating artificial scarcity, NFTs have managed to turn digital art, songs, videos, and even tweets into crypto collectibles that sell for millions.
But what do NFTs mean for copyright law? And climate change? Can NFTs fund the digital future for artists? Join us on Thurs, May 13 from 12–1pm ET as we discuss what the future of NFTs means for ownership, creativity, and legacy with the following artists, innovators, and creators who are on the cutting edge of this evolving space:
- Israel Wilson, Biz Dev Professional, Futurist, & Multidisciplinary Artist
- Aaron Lazansky-Olivas aka SpazeCraft, Multimedia Artist, Muralist, & Educator
- (Moderator) Abran Maldonado, Associate Director at NYC Media Lab
Meet the ASCAP Immersive Music Studio Challenge Teams
From games, holograms, and concerts to AR-based experiences, immersive and spatial technologies are unlocking new ways we compose, experience, and interact with music. With this in mind, NYC Media Lab has once again teamed up with the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) to launch the Immersive Music Studio Challenge. After much anticipation, we’re thrilled to announce the following selected teams:
- AR Music Video: Bil & Devin (Cornell Tech)
- Boomy: Alex & Walker (boomy.com)
- DotDot Studio: Chris, Kate, & Jacques (dotdot.studio)
- Mi Synth: Senaida & Sara (NYU Clive Davis Institute)
During this 12-week challenge, teams will be encouraged to explore one of the following guiding questions: How can emerging tech such as AR, VR, spatial audio, GANs, LiDAR, and avatars help us reimagine the experience of music? What’s possible now that wasn’t before?
Teams will also have the opportunity to pitch their products to ASCAP’s artist community which includes ASCAP Lab’s Artist-in-Residence Vernon Reid (songwriter and guitarist for Living Colour). Each team will receive a grant of up to $5,000. Stay tuned for program updates!
Free Tix to The Wall Street Journal’s “Future Of Everything Festival”
NYC Media Lab is a proud media sponsor of The Wall Street Journal’s Future Of Everything Festival which will be held online from May 11–13 — and we’re giving away complimentary tickets (yes, these are $695 tickets that we’re giving away for free)!
Register now and you’ll join the most revolutionary minds in business, tech, and culture to explore the ideas forming what comes next. You’ll collaborate with entrepreneurs, artists, athletes, scientists, and thinkers for a first look at the seismic shifts happening in how we live, work, and play. Speakers include: Gabrielle Union, Dwyane Wade, Rachael Ray, Barry Jenkins, and Ray Dalio. Snag your complimentary tickets here. Check Out GRX Team’s “Arts, Beats, & Tech” App in Action
“Arts, Beats, & Tech” App in Action
Developed by Verizon Innovative Learning’s GRX Team — Alton Glass and John Junior — the “Arts, Beats, & Tech” app is a creative collaboration app for desktop and VR designed to enrich STEAM education through the production of music and spoken word. The goal of this digital audio workstation application is to heighten the student’s creative and cultural awareness, collaboration and STEAM skills, and knowledge of world music.
And you can now check out the app in action! Here, a Virginia Beach student demonstrates how he creates his own unique beats for Abran Maldonado, NYC Media Lab’s Associate Director of the Verizon 5G EdTech Program. Cue bass… 2-Year Incubator Program for Startups Changing the World
For founders looking to access the resources of a world-class university: The Data Future Lab at NYU Tandon is accepting applications for Next Round, a 2-year incubator program for Seed to Series A startups. Next Round offers NYU resources, eligibility for START-UP NY tax-free status, subsidized office space, top-tier service providers, and more among a community of driven entrepreneurs. Apply now! Apply to Consumer Reports’ Digital Lab Fellows Program
Consumers Reports is now accepting applications for the 2021–22 Digital Lab Fellows program. The deadline to apply has been extended to Friday, May 21, 2021.
The Digital Lab Fellowship is a paid, non-resident opportunity to uncover and address emerging consumer harms in the digital world. The Fellowship may be of interest to engineers, computer scientists, information security professionals, independent researchers, academics, social scientists, and others. Fellows receive a generous stipend and may leverage CR’s physical labs and testing infrastructure, work with CR reporters and advocates, and tap into the collective intelligence of the growing community of public interest technologists.
To learn more about the program, or hear from current fellows, CR is hosting an informational event online on May 18. RSVP here. VIRTUAL EVENTS MAY 18: City & State’s Digital New York Summit
On May 18, City & State’s Digital New York Summit will gather New York’s information leaders from government and industry for a dynamic program of candid discussion and thought-provoking presentations with innovative ideas being used to improve the delivery of services to both citizens and government agencies, especially amid the COVID pandemic. Free RSVP.
JUNE 7–11: Women Tech Global Conference 2021
“If you’re a woman in tech or anyone who understands the value of tapping into this talent…join, follow, support, and amplify the Women Tech network.”
This virtual conference will bring women in tech, minorities, and allies from all over the world together through an interactive platform featuring live ceremonies, keynotes, engaging panels, breakout rooms, country & chapter leader sessions, technical workshops, and networking with face-to-face sessions. Limited availability until May 16 — register now.
FROM IMMERSIVE VR TO QUANTUM COMPUTING WITH JOE ROGAN
If you’re like us, Columbia University Prof. Brian Greene made quite the impression on you as he presented “Visceral Science” — the immersive VR experience that invites students to explore inaccessible realms, including stars, planets, black holes, and galaxies.
The Verizon 5G EdTech superstar is back, this time discussing quantum computing, Stephen Hawking, and his latest book Until the End of Time with Joe Rogan. Yes, we said Joe Rogan. The full podcast episode is not to be missed.
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