Entertainment

John Jay, the Hype Stirrer in the R&B and Pop Music Sphere Making his Childhood Dream Come to Life

Published

5 years ago

July 11, 2020

Every person is born with some sort of dream to make a difference in the world using their skills or interests. For some people, the dream is to teach, some people dream of becoming a top-class sports player. Some people dream of becoming a doctor, while for some people the dream is to become musicians or singers.

Dreaming is one thing, but having the courage and motivation to take that dream to greater extents is another, and not everyone is brave enough to do so. Outshining everyone else, John Jay was a dreamer who worked hard and paved his way to the top. This rising Pop and R&B sensation is stirring hype in the musical sphere.

THE DREAM TO BE PART OF THE MUSIC INDUSTRY

John Jay was born in New York on 24^th February 1987, but shortly after opening eyes in the world, his family moved to Miami, where he grew up. Living in a state that is known for its talented music artists, and growing up in a family where every person was interested in making new sounds and music that caught everyone’s attention no matter the age difference, John found himself very interested in music. When he turned nine years old, he began producing and playing classical music. He also learned how to play the piano!

With his interest in music in full bloom, his dream to become a musical artist also started to ignite. Being influenced by his friends and family, John was sure that this was what he wanted to do for the rest of his life. John had had heavy influences in the electronic and dance music genre along with Hip-Hop and R&B scene, which is a huge part of Miami. Listening to two opposite genres, John decided to merge the two and create unique music that ould attract a large crowd of audience. His aim was to make music that people would be able to relate to.

TAKING HIS DREAM TO REACH THE TOP

After struggling and working hard to collect sources and skills to make a mark in the music industry, John founded a record label, Independent Hits. Since the record was new to the industry, nobody wanted to work under it, so John built his own platform and let all of the artists who were in need of help come to him.

For quite a long while, there were no submissions, and the years were slow and tough. Eventually, submissions started coming in, and John realized that there were so many underrated and talented artists. They had no help in promotions or gaining visibility. That is when John decided he wanted to help the underrated artists, and his label came to life. He decided to help promote music that was new and undiscovered to audiences, that those artists would have never seen or be able to get in front of. From then on, the label became one of the largest playlist networks, and he started working and getting request for more established and bigger artists.

As of today, Independent Hits is one of the largest playlist networks and labels with a growing music catalogue and has over 200+ playlists, 10+ million Spotify followers, and 6 million monthly listeners. The genres include POP, R&B, Hip hop, Electronic, Lofi and Chill.

At the same time, John also began recording songs. On October 3^rd 2019, John Jay released his first single, Best Life. The same year, he released four other singles, Lowkey, Bring That Close, Run, and So Numb. John’s songs are Sounds are recognized and influenced by The Weeknd, Benny Blanco, Hasley, H.E.R., SG Lewis, Post Malone, Drake, Zayn, Bazzi, and Khalid.

On 24^th January of the current year, John’s first album, Jaded, was released, with a total of 9 Songs. His songs reached over 10 Million streams on Spotify. The album was followed by a beautiful single, Don’t Fade Away, released on 31^st January 2020. John also released two other songs, which are a collaboration with Courtney Bennett, Lifetime, released on 24^th April 2020, and Back To You, released on 8^th May 2020.

As of today, the artist has recently worked and released music with Jean Deaux, Jahkoy, and NEVRMIND. His track, Eastside (feat. Kyan Palmer), is scheduled for release on 19^th June 2020!

John Jay’s story is a motivational narration for anyone who requires self-confidence and belief that with a little patience and a whole lot of passion, anything is possible!

Entertainment

Going Public: The Groundbreaking Series Transforming How Americans Invest

Published

2 months ago

May 16, 2025

Jonathan Grilli

In a media landscape saturated with reality TV and startup showcases, Going Public stands apart, not just as a show but as a movement. Now in its third season, the interactive series invites viewers to do more than just watch entrepreneurs chase success. It gives them the tools and the opportunity to invest in startups in real time, democratizing access to early-stage funding and reshaping how ordinary Americans engage with entrepreneurship and wealth-building.

Launched by Todd M. Goldberg, a former MedTech executive who hit a frustrating wall while preparing his company for a Nasdaq IPO, Going Public was born from a moment of personal disillusionment.

“When I brought a list of interested friends and colleagues to the Chairman of the Board,” Goldberg recalls, “he explained that all the IPO shares were reserved for institutional investors. That was my epiphany. I just knew that was wrong. Regular people should have a chance to invest in IPOs, but it needed to go even further.”

That insight became the foundation for Going Public, a hybrid of entrepreneurial storytelling and financial access that offers retail investors a seat at the table usually reserved for venture capitalists and insiders. The show brings audiences inside the capital-raising journey of startups, often before they go public, and leverages a powerful innovation: its “Click-to-Invest” feature.

“The bottom line with Click-to-Invest is that it’s seamless,” says Goldberg. “Viewers can go from watching the show to literally clicking a button. It feels more like a Shopify or Amazon checkout than a traditional investment process.”

This accessibility is central to the show’s mission: to educate, inspire, and empower everyday people to participate in early-stage investing. Unlike financial news channels that target seasoned traders, Going Public merges entertainment with financial literacy, using real startup stories to highlight the risks, rewards, and realities of entrepreneurship. It’s financial content with emotional stakes, real people, and tangible outcomes.

Season 3 reflects how far the show has come and where it’s going. With more celebrity involvement, including gaming icon Ninja backing the cashew milk startup Nutcase, and a strategic partnership with the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Going Public has widened its reach while deepening its cultural relevance.

“How do you make this mainstream?” Goldberg says. “The concept was The Apprentice meets Shark Tank meets IPO, but with a twist. Viewers aren’t just spectators, they’re stakeholders.”

The show’s selection of featured companies is another defining element. Startups are chosen not just for their growth potential but also for their mission, relatability, and cultural resonance. In Season 3, that includes everything from disruptive wellness brands to tech-enabled platforms, each paired with guidance from top-tier venture capitalists and Silicon Valley mentors.

This season also introduces a livestream finale, a format innovation designed to create a real-time, high-stakes environment where viewers can watch, decide, and invest together. It adds urgency and community to the investing experience, aligning with the show’s values of transparency and participation.

One of the most surprising and meaningful outcomes has been the personal stories from viewers who never imagined themselves as investors. “We’ve heard from teachers, nurses, and even students who said this was their first time investing and they felt confident doing it because the show made it accessible,” Goldberg shares. “It’s not just about money, it’s about empowerment.”

Looking ahead, Goldberg and his team have ambitious plans. They aim to expand the format to new platforms, explore international adaptations, and build out educational tools so viewers not only invest but understand what they’re investing in. The goal isn’t just more participation. It’s smarter participation.

In a world where capital often feels distant, technical, and exclusionary, Going Public brings the financial journey down to earth and into the hands of the people. It’s not just a show. It’s a redefinition of how business stories are told and how wealth can be created and shared.