— A music platform based in Madison called LUM has launched a new service for artists aimed at giving fans exclusive access to a wide range of content.
The new Creator Clubs service is a monetization and engagement tool for musicians on the LUM platform, meant to provide a more personal experience for fans. LUM, which stands for Live Undiscovered Music, was founded in 2018 and now has more than 200,000 registered musicians on its platform.
“It’s a way, in such a busy world, to allow artists to more easily and effectively engage fans that want closer access to them,” said Max Fergus, the company’s CEO. “For a fan, it’s almost like getting to be a part of your closest artist’s friend group.”
Through the new Creator Clubs service, fans pay a monthly subscription fee to be part of an artist’s club, while artists can message their fans directly through texting, email or in-app messaging.
“They can send their fans music videos, photos, media, links, early releases on track drops — almost anything and everything you could ever imagine,” Fergus told WisBusiness.com in a recent interview.
He explained the company aims to “put more money in the pockets” of music creators, giving both established artists and up-and-coming talent more control over their income and online presence.
LUM has also launched a number of other services over the past 18 months including a virtual gifting service and a music marketplace called The Exchange, where musicians can connect to one another to buy and sell music services.
See more on the company: https://lum.fm/
Listen to an earlier podcast with one of the company’s co-founders, Derek Zenger: https://www.wisbusiness.com/2018/wisbusiness-the-podcast-with-derek-zenger-co-founder-for-live-undiscovered-music/
— The Wisconsin LGBT Chamber of Commerce is presenting its 2021 Business Awards at a ceremony in Milwaukee this evening.
“These award recipients truly represent the best of Wisconsin,” said Jason Rae, president and CEO of the chamber, in a statement. “We are thrilled to be able to turn the spotlight on these deserving companies and individuals and showcase the amazing work they are doing to support LGBTQ and allied businesses in Wisconsin.”
The chamber’s Corporate Partner of the Year is the Milwaukee Bucks, which launched an LGBTQ business resource group this year for its employees. A release shows the team has been an “active participant” in the chamber’s LGBT Workplace Alliance.
Other businesses receiving awards include Swaye’ Tea of West Allis, Mayana Chocolate of Spooner and manufacturing company Kohler Co., which is being recognized for its Kohler PROUD business resource groups. Other awards are going to the nonprofit Community Living Connections and individuals including Gov. Tony Evers, who has been named the chamber’s 2021 Advocate of the Year.
The Wisconsin LGBT Chamber of Commerce has nearly 700 members around the state.
Tonight’s awards ceremony is being held at the Bradley Symphony Center in downtown Milwaukee.
See more on this year’s awardees: https://wislgbtchamber.com/releases/wisconsin-lgbt-chamber-announces-winners-of-2021-business-awards/
— Gov. Tony Evers is allocating $58.4 million in ARPA funds to local and tribal health departments in Wisconsin for pandemic response measures.
“We’ve worked hard this past year to put our state in the best position to recover from this pandemic, and this funding will help support our local partners in this effort to help build a robust and equitable state and ensure our continued economic recovery,” Evers said in a statement.
These funds are in addition to the $106.5 million in funding already allocated to local and tribal health departments for COVID-19 response efforts so far this year, a release shows. The new funding will be applicable to qualifying expenses incurred between March 3 and Dec. 31, 2024.
The funds are meant to address issues that were exacerbated or caused by the pandemic. Recipients can use the funds for staffing, COVID-19 testing, contact tracing, vaccination programs, enhancing public health programs, addressing health disparities and more.
See the release: https://www.wisbusiness.com/2021/gov-evers-announces-58-4-million-investment-in-local-covid-19-pandemic-response-and-recovery/
— The state has received a grant of about $250,000 for Lake Michigan coastal communities to address environmental and economic challenges.
The Project of Special Merit grant from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is meant to help communities in Wisconsin’s 11 coastal counties improve coastal hazard resilience, a release shows.
A new effort beginning in October will expand coordination between state agencies, local governments and other groups as the state’s coastal communities explore ways to deal with high water levels in Lake Michigan. The DOA release shows that environmental factors are “exacerbating hazards for coastal communities, leading to millions of dollars of damage and necessitating the installation of emergency shore protection structures” along the state’s eastern shoreline.
Along with the grant funding, Gov. Tony Evers has proclaimed September as Coastal Awareness Month in Wisconsin, drawing attention to the role the Great Lakes play in the state’s economy and identity.
“As chair of the Great Lakes Governors and Premiers, I am committed to protecting our shoreline infrastructure, addressing climate change challenges, and growing our regional economy, not just during September’s Coastal Awareness Month, but year-round,” Ever said in the release.
— A recent USDA report shows precipitation remaining below normal last week, with a hailstorm damaging some farm fields between the Fox Valley and the Illinois border.
The crop progress report, from the agency’s National Agricultural Statistics Service, also shows crop growth for corn and soybeans is proceeding ahead of the five-year average.
Meanwhile, harvesting has begun for cranberries and kidney beans, and hay cutting and winter wheat planting are also continuing ahead of the average pace.
See the report: https://www.nass.usda.gov/Statistics_by_State/Wisconsin/Publications/Crop_Progress_&_Condition/2021/WI-Crop-Progress-09-13-21.pdf
— A virtual luncheon next week will highlight how infrastructure legislation might impact Wisconsin’s “green economy.”
The Tuesday event is being held by WisPolitics.com and WisBusiness.com from noon to 1 p.m., featuring remarks by a number of experts.
David Kieve, director of public engagement for the White House Council on Environmental Quality, will outline the major goals for the Biden administration. And veteran journalist Lou Jacobson will provide an overview of where some of the infrastructure bills currently stand.
Two state lawmakers will also discuss how federal money could boost state efforts: Sen. Robert Cowles, R-Green Bay, and Rep. Greta Neubauer, D-Racine.
See event details and register here: https://www.wispolitics.com/2021/september-21-wispolitics-com-wisbusiness-com-virtual-luncheon-on-the-green-economy-2/
#TOP STORIES#
# Many long-term care staff in Wisconsin reject vaccine, despite risks
# Q&A: UW-Madison’s Paige Glotzer sees legacy of redlining policies in Madison
# GE Healthcare aims for early 2022 start on part of $50 million West Milwaukee expansion
#TOPICS#
# AGRIBUSINESS
– Wisconsin farmers expecting lower harvest in ’21
# ECONOMY
– What’s actually in our landfills? Lots of wasted food, study shows
# EDUCATION
– AgrAbility holding national training workshop in Madison in 2022
– U.S. News & World Report: UW-L at the top among UW System peers
# HEALTH CARE
– Cap Times Idea Fest: Health experts urge vaccines to protect vulnerable, kids
# LABOR
– Fond Du Lac program offers workers up to $15,000 to relocate
# MANUFACTURING
– Rev Group plants in the South temporarily idled by Hurricane Ida, supply issues; Delta variant boosts absenteeism
– Rexnord, Regal Beloit set closing date for $3.7 billion spinoff
# REAL ESTATE
– Funeral planning office proposed at Cobalt Partners’ Loomis Crossing development in Greenfield
# REGULATION
– Dane County health board opposes supervisor’s resolution to ‘pull back’ mask mandate
– Vaccine mandate: Wisconsin businesses weigh in
# RETAIL
– Kohl’s hiring to fill 1,000 open positions in Milwaukee area
# TECHNOLOGY
– Internet funding rule could favor rural areas over cities
# PRESS RELEASES
<i>See these and other press releases:
https://www.wisbusiness.com/press-releases/ </i>
Gov. Evers: Announces $58.4 million investment in local COVID-19 pandemic response and recovery
