Creator monetization startups are cropping up left and right as the tech world embraces the fast-growing creator economy. But Patreon, founded in 2013, has been around since before words like “influencer” were in our vocabulary — back when “Tik Tok” was a Kesha song, rather than the social platform that everyone is trying to emulate. […]
The Ten Biggest Kotaku Posts Of 2021
A year ago, many of us had never even heard of NFTs, and Alex Trebek was the only Jeopardy! host most of us had ever known. Well, a lot has changed since then. Relive a time before we knew what a disaster the remastered GTA trilogy would be. Reminisce…
K-pop Fans Want The Korean Music Industry To Fight Climate Change
Once again, K-pop fans prove themselves among the most active activists. This time, around 10,000 of them from 83 different countries are calling for Korean music companies to do their part in combating climate change. Read more…
An Extremely Goofy Performance Of ‘Simple And Clean’
You don’t have to be a Kingdom Hearts fan to experience goosebumps running up your arm when you hear the first infectious notes of Hikaru Utada’s “Simple and Clean.” From its early appearance in commercials to its continued use in the series, “Simple a…
We Are Still Living With The Revolution GTA 3 Started
Grand Theft Auto III launched 20 years ago to rave reviews and mainstream media controversy around its realistic depiction of violence and mayhem in an open-world parody of New York City. Next week Rockstar Games is bringing it back, now as a remastere…
Dr. Dre Is Making Music For An Upcoming GTA Game, Says Snoop Dogg
Rockstar Games recently revealed Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition, which launches digitally next month and hits store shelves in December. Alongside this high-profile return to the franchise’s past, though, the developer is presum…
NFT startup Dapper Labs acquires virtual influencer startup Brud
Dapper Labs, the NFT startup behind NBA Top Shot which was recently valued above $7.5 billion, made an interesting acquisition this morning, telling Decrypt that they have purchased virtual influencer startup Brud and will be bringing the entire 32-person team aboard. Brud is best known for its digitally rendered social media influencer characters, specifically one […]
Pandemic’s shift to remote wellness helps Numan raise $40M Series B led by White Star
Numan, the European subscription service covering erectile dysfunction (ED) and men’s wellness/health needs more generally, has raised $40 million in a Series B funding round led by White Star Capital, with participation from existing investors Novator, Vostok New Global, Anthemis Exponential, Colle Capital, and new investor Hanwha Group. The new round will be used to […]
Founders Fund backs Royal, a music marketplace planning to sell song rights as NFTs
Founders Fund and Paradigm are leading an investment in a platform that’s aiming to wed music rights with NFTs, allowing user to buy shares of songs through the company’s marketplace, earning royalties as the music they’ve invested in gains popularity. The venture, called Royal, is led by Justin Blau, an EDM artist who performs under […]
Fortnite’s Ariana Grande concert offers a taste of music in the metaverse
Ariana Grande strutted and soared around a candy-colored series of Fortnite sets in Epic’s latest major in-game live music event. The multi-day “tour” offered gamers and Grande fans alike plenty to enjoy while showcasing Epic’s impressively smooth and visually inventive vision for live events that millions of people can enjoy simultaneously. Fortnite players have known […]