LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--On Wednesday, April 24th, a historic global online listening party will occur to celebrate the release of Bob Marley’s Kaya: 35th Anniversary Deluxe Edition CD. Following the listening party will be a live broadcast of an intimate performance by the 5 time Grammy® Award winning reggae artist Ziggy Marley. The concert will be broadcast from the world famous Roxy Theatre in Hollywood, on the very same stage where his father, Bob Marley performed in the 1970’s.
Both the listening party and concert will be broadcast live on Facebook to over 1 billion Facebook users. Viewers can watch, listen and interact together on the Bob Marley, Ziggy Marley, and Legends in the Cloud Facebook pages, as well as http://bobmarley.com, http://ziggymarley.com starting at 7:00pm (PDT) with the streaming of the entire 2-CD set Kaya: 35th Anniversary Deluxe Edition. Immediately after, starting at 9:00 pm (PDT) they can watch a FREE concert by Ziggy Marley where online viewers can watch him perform many of his classics, plus some surprises.
Bob Marley remains one of the most important and influential artists of the 20th century. His lifestyle and music continues to inspire new generations as his legacy lives on through his music. In the digital era, Marley has the second-highest social media following of any posthumous celebrity, with the official Bob Marley Facebook page having over 42 million fans, ranking it among the Top 25 of all Facebook pages and Top 10 among celebrity pages. His music catalog has sold more than 50 million albums worldwide since 1992 and his accolades continue including an induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (1994), a GRAMMY® Lifetime Achievement Award (2001), multiple entries in the GRAMMY® Hall Of Fame and the Hollywood Walk of Fame (2001).
This year marks the 35th anniversary of Bob Marley & The Wailers’ now classic 1978 release Kaya. To celebrate, on April 23, 2013, Universal Music Enterprises (UMe) will release Kaya: 35th Anniversary Deluxe Edition (Island/Tuff Gong/UMe), an expanded, two-CD collection featuring 24 tracks, all completely remastered to the highest modern standards. In addition to the original 10-song release is the b-side “Smile Jamaica,” plus a second disc featuring the highly sought-after, unreleased live show, “Live at Ahoy Hallen,” recorded in Rotterdam, Netherlands on July 7, 1978.
A five-time Grammy winner, humanitarian, singer, songwriter, producer and Reggae icon, Ziggy Marley has released fifteen albums to much critical acclaim. His early immersion in music came at age ten when he sat in on recording sessions with his father, Bob Marley. Ziggy Marley and The Melody Makers, which also featured his siblings Sharon Marley, Cedella Marley and Stephen Marley, released eight best-selling albums that garnered three Grammys, with such chart-topping hits as "Look Who’s Dancing," "Tomorrow People" and "Tumbling Down." Ziggy's first solo album, Dragonfly (RCA Records), was released in 2003. His second solo release, Love is My Religion (Tuff Gong Worldwide), won a Grammy in 2006 for Best Reggae Album. His third solo album, Family Time (Tuff Gong Worldwide), scored him a 5th Grammy award for Best Children’s Album. In 2011, Ziggy released his critically acclaimed 4th studio album Wild And Free, which earned him a Grammy nomination, as well as his first ever comic book entitled MARIJUANAMAN. Recently Ziggy started Ziggy Marley Organics, a GMO-free product line including flavored coconut oils and hemp seed snacks. The products are distributed throughout the US and are available in over 1,000 stores nationwide.
This special online broadcast is part of Milyoni’s Legends in the Cloud series, which allows Facebook users to stream a variety of concerts on a pay-per-view basis as well as purchase music and merchandise. John Corpus, CEO of Milyoni says, “Our Social Video Platform metrics really prove that the platform works. Users engage, on average, 3 to 4 times per viewing, far outperforming typical on-line video performance. We are proud that UMe and Tuff Gong Worldwide have recognized the success we’ve had and selected us for these events.”
Using Milyoni’s Social Video Platform, music enthusiasts will enjoy a unique and socially interactive experience with millions of Bob Marley’s best fans. The platform features time-released Social Widgets, such as images, trivia, polls, and video clips, that can be shared with friends on Facebook and to other social networks. Users will be able to live chat and connect with other viewers on every destination where the stream will be playing. Serving as an online destination for mobile, social and Web-seekers, Milyoni’s Social Video Platform will, for the first time, enable Bob Marley enthusiasts to gather together and enjoy this beloved artist.
Milyoni and UMe are continuing their ongoing partnership with an array of documentaries, films and concerts from renowned UMe artists to be streamed online as part of the “Legends in the Cloud” series.
About Universal Music Enterprises
Universal Music Enterprises (UMe), a division of Universal Music Group, is the centralized U.S. catalog and special markets entity for the company. Working closely with all of UMG’s record labels, UMe provides a frontline approach to catalog management, a concentration of resources, a greater emphasis on strategic marketing initiatives and opportunities in new technologies. Outside North America, the Universal Strategic Marketing division of Universal Music Group International works to maximize the profile and value of UMG’s catalogue in international markets. It acts as a service center adding value through marketing initiatives and coordination of commercial issues through local and international markets.
ABOUT TUFF GONG WORLDWIDE
The Tuff Gong label was founded in 1965 by Bob Marley, with the vision of producing, distributing and promoting his music free from the constraints of corporate label politics. In a time decades before artist-owned record labels were commonplace, the legendary Bob Marley's vision was characteristically well ahead of its time. Now, nearly a half-century later, his dream is being realized. With Tuff Gong Worldwide, Ziggy Marley continues a dream of his father to own and manage not only his own music, but nearly every aspect of his career. Since its inception in 2005, Tuff Gong Worldwide has established itself as a leader in the reggae community and has become a sought-after expert in tapping into reggae culture. For more information, visit www.tuffgongworldwide.com.
About Milyoni
Milyoni, Inc. (pronounced “million-eye”), the leader in social entertainment, offers content providers the unique opportunity to amplify their message and harness the power of social. The Milyoni platform inspires viewers to engage through a shared, digital experience and become viral promoters in the process as they share content across their social networks. Milyoni has powered many social entertainment firsts, including the first PPV movie, live concert, socially interactive film, day-and-date release, and exclusive global music video releases, all on Facebook. Milyoni is currently partners with many leading entertainment companies, including Universal Music Group, Columbia Records, Universal Pictures, Lionsgate, Paramount Studios, and Shangri-La. For more information, visit www.milyoni.com. Follow us @milyoni.
