THE CHAINSMOKERS RAISE $35 MILLION FOR MANTIS VENTURE CAPITAL FUND: Alex Pall and Drew Taggart of The Chainsmokers have raised $35 million in commitments for their early-stage venture capital firm, Mantis. Alex and Drew have started a venture capital fund called Mantis, and has raised $35 million in commitments from investors like billionaire Mark Cuban. So far, Mantis has already invested in several start-ups, including the fitness app Fiton, and a mortgage-lending startup called LoanSnap. Drew and Alex say they’ve been inspired by veteran musician Jimmy Buffett, whose numerous side businesses include branded restaurants, casinos, hotels, stores and, recently, retirement communities. In addition to Mantis, The Chainsmokers also run a TV and movie production studio, are stakeholders in a brand of spirits called JaJa Tequila and co-founded a ticketing platform called Yellowheart.
LIL NAS X TO RELEASE ‘C IS FOR COUNTRY’ CHILDREN’S BOOK: Lil Nas X will release his first children’s book, C is for Country, in 2021. He said in an Instagram post that he will release the new picture book January 5th. Random House Kids is publishing the book, which features illustrations by Theodore Taylor III. C is for Country follows Lil Nas X and Panini the pony “on a joyous journey through the alphabet from sunup to sundown,” according to Random House. Random House said “C is for Country” is intended for children ages 3 to 7. The book celebrates song and “the power inside us all,” and features “hidden surprises” for fans of Lil Nas X.
PENTATONIX COVERS ‘MAD WORLD’: After dropping their At Home EP and an original song, “Happy Now,” Pentatonix has released their version of “Mad World,” which originally appeared on the 1983 Tears for Fears album The Hurting. The group’s arrangement is based on the slower, haunting version of “Mad World” recorded by Gary Jules and Michael Andrews for the 2001 Donnie Darko” soundtrack.
