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Quest to Build First Industry-Supported Digital Bridge between Web2 and the Web3 Blockchain: Dot Hip Hop, LLC Partners with The Cortex Network

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The Hip Hop community may soon unlock new avenues for ownership, monetization, and control by connecting their .HipHop websites to Blockchain domains.

POMPANO BEACH, Fla., Aug. 28, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — Dot Hip Hop, LLC, the domain name registry that operates the Top-Level Domain (“TLD”) extension .HipHop, has partnered with Web3 content network, The Cortex Network (“Cortex”), to develop a watershed integration between traditional Web2 domain names and Web3 blockchain domain names. Once completed and launched, this solution will afford creators, for the first time ever, opportunities for connection with users and additional revenue streams through new kinds of digital objects enabled by a registry.

The Dot Hip Hop/Cortex partnership was first announced on July 19 at a private rooftop party in NYC hosted by Nolcha Shows and attended by top Web3 movers and shakers. The project has since made tremendous strides, kicking off Hip Hop’s 50th Anniversary with elements of its planned integration of Web2 with the Ethereum Name Service (ENS) marked completed. Through this partnership, .HipHop domain owners will be able to register a Web3 domain that would ultimately work as a digital wallet address for blockchain transactions, giving .HipHop registrants the ability to seamlessly register a ‘like named’ Web3 domain name that is integrated with the Ethereum Name Service (ENS).

Additionally, through the minting of full non-fungible token (NFT) subdomains, domain owners can create an NFT namespace that will allow them to create new kinds of digital objects like music, concert tickets, merchandise and more. Finally, these integrated domains will enable publishing on the user-controlled Web3 Cortex Network with content hosted on IPFS (InterPlanetary File System), a decentralized peer-to-peer file system for managing data.

On these integrated Web3 blockchain domains, users will be able to publish just about anything they’d typically publish on a traditional Web2 website or social media platform, but within the blockchain framework, granting new opportunities for monetization, ownership, and community-building. By tying physical real-world experiences to digital environments and assets, creatives from all trades can provide unique and engaging experiences for fans.

Let’s say that two iconic artists announce that they’re performing a one-night show. They can sell NFT tickets as subdomains to the concert that unlock exclusive merchandise and other perks just for the superfans in attendance, stirring up unmatched levels of hype. This idea translates to other trades too. For instance, a fashion designer or painter can embed a digital identity into each of their works–kind of like a link that can only be accessed through a QR code on the artwork itself.  Each person who comes in contact with it can add their signature and a note to the link, documenting their part in the piece’s journey. This creates a provable history of the piece that anyone can access, creating buzz and turning the otherwise static work into an interactive experience for fans of the creator and their art.

“We are thrilled to be teaming up with Dot Hip Hop to provide a scalable foundation for user-owned content,” says Leonard Kish, Co-founder of The Cortex Network. “Both of our teams value ownership in the hands of the creator, and we look forward to seeing the collaboration and creativity that the online Hip Hop community unlocks with access to Web3.”

“There is a clear need for a solid community-owned home for Hip Hop culture. As my partner Monte Cahn will often stress, .HipHop Websites, .HipHop email addresses and now other types of .HipHop digital assets in Web3, offer creators more control and full ownership over content, user data, and fan interaction,” explains Ajene Watson, Managing Director of Dot Hip Hop, LLC.  “The .HipHop domain extension is an immediate identifier that a platform and its creator are part of the community and global multinational culture of Hip Hop. The web3 layer would provide users of the .HipHop extension with an additional financial tool to generate, collect and protect the money earned from their talents.  Web3 tools like this further support artist independence while advancing the community’s effort to reclaim Hip Hop as its birthright.”

Cortex estimates the launch of this digital bridge to occur before or during October 2023.

About DotHipHop, LLC
Dot Hip Hop, LLC was founded in 2021 to serve as the exclusive ICANN Accredited domain name registry for the .HipHop top-level domain. Its mission is to give artists, entertainers, musicians, athletes, brands, the culture and community of Hip Hop, the ability to further brand their identity with domain names that fully represent and encapsulate who they are. Hip Hop is, and has always been, more than music. Hip Hop represents an eclectic culture, which has defined several generations around the world for nearly 50 years, and will continue to do so for many years to come.

About Cortex
The Cortex Network, a project of YouBase, Inc., takes on a multifaceted mission, pioneering the way Web3 content is published and distributed. Cortex is focused on addressing privacy concerns, enabling ease of use for Web3 tools, facilitating individuals and businesses in their adoption of Web3 technologies, creating provable history/record for data, and resolving existing architecture challenges in the transition from Web2 to Web3. As a critical feature of a digital identity stack, Cortex proves to be the underlying safety/validation layer to authenticate and identify a living history.

CONTACT: Scott Pruitt, scott@get.hiphop

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SOURCE Dot Hip Hop, LLC

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NRJ Media Group Launches “Energis Podcast” May 4th with Purpose-Driven Stories

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New series kicks off with bold conversations, a special Star Wars Day premiere, and a mission to inspire impact.

SAN FRANCISCO, May 1, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — NRJ Media Group, a storytelling-driven media company rooted in purpose and innovation, will debut the “Energis Podcast” on May 4th with a two-part interview featuring Pablo Hidalgo, creative executive at Lucasfilm and one of the leading voices behind the “Star Wars” galaxy.

“Energis Podcast is a space where real stories meet real purpose.” – Norma Garcia, CEO & Co-Founder of NRJ Media Group

Hosted by award-winning entertainment executive Norma Garcia and tech entrepreneur and nonprofit advocate Rich J. Reid, Energis Podcast is a platform for bold, values-driven conversations with changemakers from across industries.

“Energis Podcast is a space where real stories meet real purpose,” said co-host Norma Garcia, CEO and Co-Founder of NRJ Media Group. “We sit down with pioneers—entrepreneurs, athletes, creatives—to uncover not just how they made it, but the deeper mindset shifts and values that fuel their journey. Launching with Pablo Hidalgo is especially meaningful for me, given my ‘Star Wars’ roots. This series is about legacy, resilience, and impact.”

Rich J. Reid, COO and Co-Founder of NRJ Media Group, added, “Energis Podcast is more than just a show—it’s a platform for transformation. Our guests challenge the status quo and model what it means to lead with purpose in today’s world. We highlight the ways they’re sparking change—whether through innovation, mentorship, or social impact—and invite listeners to take action. Every episode is a call to rethink what success looks like and how we each contribute to something bigger.”

The premiere coincides with “Star Wars” Day and celebrates a new initiative between NRJ Media Group and Lucasfilm to help promote a series of historical documentaries originally produced by the latter company in 2007. The half-hour films covering a wide variety of topics have been re-released on Lucasfilm’s YouTube channel, with direct links now available on the NRJ Media Group website. Series producer and veteran television journalist David Schneider will appear in an upcoming Energis Podcast episode.

Following Hidalgo’s episode, upcoming guests include:

Ricky Blair – Entrepreneur and mentor known for empowering the next generation of founders and business leadersShelton Benjamin – Former WWE Superstar and elite athlete with a story of discipline, longevity, and reinventionKwame Patterson – Acclaimed actor (“The Wire”, “Snowfall”) sharing his journey through transformation and perseveranceDavid Schneider – Series producer of Lucasfilm’s historical documentaries, shining a light on a lesser-known George Lucas project and a lifetime of storytelling.
…and more.

New episodes launch every Tuesday and run approximately one hour. Energis Podcast will be available on major platforms including Apple PodcastsSpotify, Amazon Music, and YouTube.

Future guests include Paul Farberman, a renowned voice in entertainment law and deal-making, and JB Kaufman, Didier Ghez, and Ted Thomas, celebrated historians and authors of “Walt Disney & El Grupo in Latin America” — with additional surprise guests to be announced.

From legacy-building to bold reinvention, Energis Podcast invites listeners to engage with stories that move, challenge, and activate.

Please follow us on: Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, LinkedIn

About NRJ Media Group (www.nrjmediagroup.com)
NRJ Media Group is a multimedia entertainment company rooted in storytelling, purpose, and innovation. As a bridge between entertainment and technology, NRJ develops and produces films, television, and podcasts that elevate voices and amplify impact. With a deep commitment to community and collaboration, NRJ Media Group brings together bold ideas, emerging technologies, and diverse talent to create meaningful content that inspires and empowers audiences worldwide.

Media Contact: press@nrjmediagroup.com

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SOURCE NRJ Media Group

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Washington Research Foundation opens application for WRF Postdoctoral Fellowships

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Up to 12 three-year fellowships will be awarded to support early-career scientists working on projects with high potential for real-world impact

SEATTLE, May 1, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Washington Research Foundation (WRF) is currently accepting applications for up to 12 three-year WRF Postdoctoral Fellowships at nonprofit research institutions in Washington state. Fellowships will begin in 2026 and support early-career scientists in carrying out projects with high potential for real-world impact in natural sciences and related engineering fields.

WRF has awarded 90 fellowships since starting the program in 2018, with Fellows receiving salary, benefits and expenses support while conducting research projects of their own design. Fellows participate in networking and professional development events, along with an annual symposium at which they present their work and learn from their WRF-funded peers.

The Foundation’s ultimate goal for the program is for the Fellows’ research to benefit the public through enabling innovative discoveries that eventually lead to the creation of new products, services or practices.

Clarisse Benson, WRF’s manager of student and postdoctoral programs, said, “As funding for early-career scientists becomes increasingly difficult to secure, the WRF Postdoctoral Fellowships play a crucial role in supporting bold, independent research here in Washington state. We’re proud to invest in emerging scientists whose ideas have the potential to create real, lasting impact.”

Melanie Anderson began her WRF Postdoctoral Fellowship at the University of Washington in 2023. In Professor Jeff Riffell’s lab in the Department of Biology, Anderson is developing biological sensors from Manduca sexta hawkmoth antennae that integrate with robotic platforms such as drones. The technology has enormous potential for situations that are inaccessible or hazardous to humans, including search and rescue missions and detection of toxic chemicals.

“The WRF Postdoctoral Fellowship has been instrumental in advancing my translational research, helping bring innovative biohybrid technologies from the lab closer to real-world application. I’m deeply grateful to the WRF staff and community for their unwavering support throughout my research journey,” Anderson said.

Holders of a doctorate in a STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) field are eligible to apply, as are Ph.D. candidates who will complete their program in time to begin the fellowship on January, April, July or October 1, 2026.

Applications and letters of recommendation are due by June 26, 2025. Fellows will be chosen by a national selection committee from academia and industry with diverse backgrounds and expertise across multiple scientific fields.

Further details on eligibility and the application process are available at https://www.wrfseattle.org/grants/wrf-postdoctoral-fellowships/.

About Washington Research Foundation:

Washington Research Foundation (WRF) supports research and scholarship in Washington state, with a focus on life sciences and enabling technologies.

WRF was founded in 1981 to assist universities and other nonprofit research institutions in Washington with the commercialization and licensing of their technologies. WRF became one of the foremost technology transfer organizations in the nation, earning more than $445 million in licensing revenue for the University of Washington. To date, WRF has provided over $170 million in grants to the state’s research institutions.

WRF Capital, the investment vehicle for Washington Research Foundation, has backed 132 local startups since 1996. Returns support the Foundation’s grantmaking and investment programs.

For additional information, please visit wrfseattle.org.

Media contact:

Dale Wadman
Email: dale@wrfseattle.org
Phone: (206) 336-5600

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SOURCE WASHINGTON RESEARCH FOUNDATION

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Pager Health(SM) Appoints Chief Growth Officer to Drive Next Phase of Company Expansion

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The addition of Tom Pelegrin to Pager Health’s executive leadership team helps propel the company’s revenue expansion, growth and development.

NEW YORK, May 1, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Pager Health SM, a connected health platform company serving more than 26 million members, today announced that Tom Pelegrin, a seasoned healthcare executive with a proven track record of delivering multimillion-dollar revenue increases, has joined Pager Health as Chief Growth Officer. Pelegrin is charged with leading the company’s revenue expansion, growth strategies, business development and commercialization activities.

Pelegrin brings deep expertise in scaling healthcare technology solutions across the payer market and developing highly effective growth strategies that achieve market penetration. Before joining Pager Health, Pelegrin served as Chief Revenue Officer at Convey Health Solutions, where he built and led the company’s sales and marketing organization, driving significant top-line growth that resulted in Convey becoming a market leader in Medicare Advantage tech-enabled services. Pelegrin also served as head of payer sales at BenefitFocus, which he helped build into a market leader in software solutions for healthcare and benefits administration, contributing to the company’s successful IPO. 

“This position is critical as we move into our next phase of expansion, and Tom’s remarkable achievements as an agent of accelerated revenue growth make him the ideal leader for the role,” said Walter Jin, Chairman and CEO of Pager Health. “The addition of a Chief Growth Officer completes an extensive multi-year recruitment project in which we considered hundreds of qualified executives in product development, technology, operations, marketing, and revenue growth to form our executive senior leadership team. We’re confident that Tom’s competitive drive to win, hands-on ownership approach, and critical strategic thinking will be a valuable asset to our team.”

“This is a defining moment for healthcare, particularly for health insurers looking to transform how they engage with and deliver value to their members,” said Pelegrin. “The rapid innovation in digital technology, including AI, is revolutionizing member engagement, turning the health plan experience into a dynamic, data-driven ongoing relationship that anticipates needs, personalizes care and fosters wellbeing. In a sea of solutions, Pager Health’s next-generation connected health and wellbeing platform is enabling payers the opportunity to leapfrog the fragmented manual legacy tools in place today and deliver high-engagement, intelligent health experiences to members.”

For more information about Pager Health, please visit pager.com.

About Pager Health
Pager Health is a connected health platform company that enables healthcare enterprises to deliver high-engagement, intelligent health experiences for their patients, members and teams through integrated technology, AI and concierge services. Our solutions help people get the right care at the right time in the right place and stay healthy, while simultaneously reducing system friction and fragmentation, powering engagement, and orchestrating the enterprise. Pager Health partners with leading payers, providers and employers representing more than 26 million individuals across the United States and Latin America.

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SOURCE Pager Health

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