Kid Cudi Taking Part in Amazon Prime Day Show with ‘Out of This World’ Performance

Kid Cudi is getting primed…

The annual Amazon Prime Day Show will feature a streaming music performance by the 37-year-old half-Mexican American singer/songwriter and actor, whose real name is Scott Mescudi.

Kid CudiIn addition to Kid Cudi, who appeared this March as a musical guest on Saturday Night Live, Billie Eilish and H.E.R. will also perform.

The events will be available for streaming on Amazon Prime Video for 30 days starting June 17, with Amazon Prime Days set for June 21 and 22. The streaming is available to all without a Prime subscription needed.

The special will offer performance and storytelling, inspired by Paris, the Dunbar Hotel, and outer space.

“Working with Billie Eilish, H.E.R., and Kid Cudi to bring their music to life through these imaginative experiences has been incredible,” said Ryan Redington, VP of music industry at Amazon Music. “Watching these globally renowned artists create three shows from the depths of their imagination has been unlike anything we’ve ever done before. We’re thrilled to bring fans along with us to celebrate these three remarkable artists and Prime Day.”

“These iconic artists have not only broken new ground in music but are inspired storytellers, culture creators, and visionaries,” said Jennifer Salke, head of Amazon Studios. “We’re thrilled to partner with Billie, H.E.R., and Cudi to bring these authentic and deeply personal specials to fans around the world as we celebrate Prime Day.”

Kid Cudi will depart earth to establish a new community on the moon in his performance. Featuring music from his album, Man on the Moon III, he collaborates with the International Space Orchestra, the world’s first orchestra composed of space scientists from NASA Ames Research Center, the SETI Institute, and the International Space University as his backing band.

The Prime Day Show with Kid Cudi is produced by Fremantle, Wolf + Rothstein, Mad Solar, and Amazon Studios, and is directed by Sam Wrench. Ashley Edens served as executive producer, along with Chad Wolf, Fam Rothstein and Sam Wrench as co-executive producers. Runtime is approximately 25 minutes.

Beginning today, Amazon Music subscribers and Prime members can access the official Prime Day Show playlist here or by asking, “Alexa, play the Prime Day Show playlist,” to stream Billie Eilish, H.E.R., and Kid Cudi. The Prime Day Show will also be available to stream on Twitch, IMDb TV, and on Amazon devices including Fire TV, Echo Show, and Fire tablets on Prime Video.

Francisca Valenzuela to Participate in This Year’s SXSW Virtual Event

Francisca Valenzuela is heading south (by southwest)…

SXSW has announced its first slate of artists for the popular Austin festival’s virtual event, with the 33-year-old Chilean American feminist pop powerhouse set to make an appearance during the March 16-20 digital experience.

Francisca Valenzuela

Valenzuela rose to acclaim in Chile and Latin America following the release of her debut album, Muérdete La Lengua in June 2007. Her second album, Buen Soldado, followed in March 2011. Valenzuela has earned both gold and platinum album certification in Chile.

As a virtual event, the roster of SXSW artists is especially international this year, with performances scheduled from Indonesian indie jangle-pop trio Grrrl Gang; Nigerian-born, London-raised U.K. Afrobeats singer Darkoo; rising Spanish-Cuban Latin pop sensation Samantha Sanchez; and Canadian live-electronic/dance experimentalists Holy F–k among the first round of artists.

In addition to Valenzuela and Sanchez, other Latinx artists scheduled to take part in this year’s SXSW virtual event include Alien Tango, BELAKO, Candeleros, Dayramir Gonzalez, El Shirota, Los Blenders, Luisa e os Alquimistas, Petite Amie, Ruido Rosa, Tuyo, Vaya Futuro and Vocal Vidas.

Passholders will have access to these unique artists performing from their home countries with streaming available via web, mobile, and the SXSW Online Connected TV app (Apple TV, Fire TV, Roku, Samsung TV Plus, and Android TV). Select content will be viewable in VR via SXSW Online XR. This year’s SXSW Online passes begin at $249 and will go up to $399 in March. Passholders get access to conference keynotes and featured speakers, mentor sessions and workshops, musical showcases and events, comedy showcases and podcast, online exhibitions and more.

Previously announced speakers include Queen LatifahThe ChainsmokersLL Cool J and a keynote from Willie Nelson.

Click here for a full list of artists.

Amazon to Debut Martinez’s Comedy Pilot “The Tick” This August

Yara Martinez’s career is Ticking along…

Amazon has picked its lineup for the online retailer’s 2016 comedy pilot season, with the 36-year-old Puerto Rican actress and Jane the Virgin star’s project The Tick slated to debut in the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, Austria and Japan on August 19.

Yara Martinez

In a world where superheroes have been real for decades, The Tick centers on an underdog accountant with zero powers who comes to realize his city is owned by a global super villain long-thought dead. As he struggles to uncover this conspiracy, he falls in league with a strange blue superhero.

In addition to Martinez, who stars on Hollywood Heights, The Tick also stars Peter Serafinowicz, Griffin Newman, Jackie Earle Haley, Valorie Curry and Brendan Hines.

The Tick is directed by Wally Pfister. The project is a co-production with Sony Pictures Television.

Amazon customers can stream and review the pilot to help the online retailer choose the next Amazon Original Series that’ll be available for Amazon Prime members.

The pilot will be available via the Amazon Video app for TVs, connected devices including Fire TV, and mobile devices, or online.

Martinez’s credits include appearances on True Detective, Necessary Roughness, Alpha House, The Lying Game and Nashville.

Amazon to Debut Arias’ Comedy Pilot “Jean-Claude Van Johnson” in August

Moises Arias is ready to chop and kick…

Amazon has set the lineup for its 2016 comedy pilot season, with the 22-year-old Colombian American actor and former Hannah Montana star’s project Jean-Claude Van Johnson scheduled to debut on August 19 in the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, Austria and Japan.

Moises Arias

Starring martial arts film star Jean-Claude Van Damme, the pilot centers on “Jean-Claude Van Johnson,” a global martial arts and film sensation…and, operating under the simple alias of “Johnson,” the most dangerous undercover private contractor in the world. Lucky for the world’s bad guys, he’s been retired for years…unlucky for them, a chance encounter with a lost love is about to bring him back to the game…and this time, he’ll be deadlier than ever. Probably.

In addition to Van Damme and Arias, the project also stars Kat Foster and Phylicia Rashad

From Scott Free Productions, the pilot is directed by Peter Atencio and written by Dave Callaham.

Arias credits include television appearances on Wizards of Waverly Place, Everybody Hates Chris and The Suite Life on Deck, as well as an acclaimed role in the coming of age film The Kings of Summer.

Amazon customers can stream and review the pilots to help choose the next Amazon Original Series that will be available for Amazon Prime members.

The pilots will be available via the Amazon Video app for TVs, connected devices including Fire TV, and mobile devices, or online.