journey era

PHILIPPINES

The Philippines is one of my favorite countries in the world and you’ll see that throughout this huge archives of my favorite adventures throughout the many beautiful islands in the Philippines.

How to get from Puerto Princesa to El Nido: Complete Guide

El Nido is well known for its pristine white sand beaches, brilliant diving spots, crystal clear waters and beautiful lagoons. This is your guide from Puerto Princesa to El Nido and how you can book your ticket online

How to get from Manila to Batangas: Complete Guide

Batangas is known for being one of the most popular and famous tourist destinations located near to Manila. Situated in the Southern part of Luzon in the Philippines, Batangas hosts the smallest volcano in the world alongside some of the country’s best diving spots, as well as being filled with cultural wealth and beautiful landscapes. This is your guide from Manila to Batangas

How to get from Cebu City to Oslob: All Options

Famous for unforgettable whale shark encounters, Oslob is a beautiful place you will want to see. This is how to get from Cebu City to Oslob

Mount Baloy: The Toughest Hike in The Philippines

Mount Baloy is one of those adventures that push you to the edge of your comfort zone. It’s a steep physical challenge, but it’s the arduous conditions that make this one of the most challenging hikes in the Philippines. We were wet every single moment of the hike except when sleeping, I pulled more than …

Ultimate Coron Itinerary: Island Hopping, Beaches, Hikes

Discover the unparalleled beauty of Coron, Palawan with my ultimate itinerary tailored to showcase the best of this island paradise. Whether you’re eager to dive into pristine waters, lounge on sun-kissed beaches, or hike up to beautiful viewpoints, my guide ensures you experience it all. Dive deep into this article to uncover the best spots, …

25 Awesome Things To Do In Coron: Ultimate Travel Guide

Known for its clear lagoons, beautiful beaches incredible dive sites, Coron is one of the most spectacular destinations in the Philippines. I’ve been to Coron multiple times and the island hopping days are still some of the most memorable trips of my life. Dive into this list of 25 Awesome Things to do in Coron, …

Lusong Gunboat Shipwreck & Lusong Coral Garden In Coron

Lusong Shipwreck is a WWII vessel that is now an amazing dive site and snorkel site in the Coron region. The Lusong Coral Garden is one of the top-rated reefs in Coron that is lightly visited due to its location compared to the popular lagoons and beaches of Coron Island. Both locations were unbelievable for …

Pass Island In Coron, Palawan: Complete Guide

Pass Island is one of the hidden gems of Coron with pure white sand, coconut trees and a couple of bungalows. It is absolute paradise and an amazing place for an overnight stay in simple but comfortable accommodation. It’s one of the several stops on the Coron Island Hopping & Snorkeling Tour. I visited Pass Island …

Kayangan Lake In Coron Island: The Ultimate Guide

Kayangan Lake is by far the most popular spot on Coron Island and for good reason. You cruise into the ‘parking lot’, which in itself is an immaculate reef with crystal clear water. After parking the boat you take a short hike up the stairs to the viewpoint before clambering down the other side to …

A Guide To Trekking Mt Guiting Guiting (G2), Sibuyan Island

Mt. Guiting Guiting is one of the toughest hikes in the Philippines and is actually the training ground for Filipinos before they head to Nepal to attempt Mt. Everest! Don’t get scared off yet, although it is a big peak for the Philippines, it stands at 2048m above sea level, which isn’t a huge peak …

Skeleton Wreck in Coron, Palawan: Best Shipwreck Dive Site

Skeleton Wreck is a 25m long Japanese supply ship that was hit by an airstrike during WWII by US Airforce. The ship now rests at a depth of 5m ranging to 22m at the deepest. It is an awesome spot in Coron, Palawan for free-diving or scuba diving as well as snorkeling on the surface. …

Big Dream Boat Man Review: Coron Island Hopping Tour

Embarking on an island-hopping tour in the turquoise waters of Coron is an experience like no other, and Big Dream Boat Man (BDBM) takes the exploration to the next level. In a sea of tour options, BDBM has carved out a niche for itself, offering intimate, tailor-made adventures that resonate with travelers seeking authenticity and …

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Meet Jackson Groves the Man Behind Journey Era & the Adventure Bag

Jackson Groves is the man behind one of the most adventurous and creative travel blogs on the Internet. The Journey Era blog, in combination with the South Australian’s social media channels, inspires travellers to take raw unguided adventures all over the world in destinations such as Indonesia, Philippines and Thailand.

This awesome journey started three years ago when Jackson was finishing off his journalism degree in Oahu , Hawaii . Like many restless students who yearn to travel, he found himself disenfranchised with the monotony of traditional education. But there was a silver lining – Jackson took a class in web design and began to build a blog on the side.

I was a huge rookie with a camera and didn’t know a thing about how to make a blog or why anyone would possibly want to read mine. For three months, I spent every moment designing the blog while simultaneously building up my social media channels and learning as much as I could about blogging.

In its first month, the Journey Era blog had attracted some 12,000 views from 20 published articles. With encouraging early numbers, it was time to go all in on the dream of becoming a digital nomad . Jackson eventually graduated with his degree and set off to explore the world. First stop: Bali , Indonesia!

Hustling as a Digital Nomad in Southeast Asia

His plan was to adventure some days and work on the blog during others. A simple plan that proved to be harder than it sounds when you factor in an incredibly tight budget. After two months of blogging, Jackson Groves caught a lucky break when he and a few other seasoned bloggers were invited to tour Indonesia with the official Indonesian Tourism Board.

I was paid $1,000 USD and couldn’t believe someone was paying me to have the adventure of a lifetime and share my stories and photos with the rest of the world through my social media channels. This trip introduced me to many seasoned bloggers and creators who taught me a lot and pointed me in the right direction.

Next port of call was Thailand. At this stage, Jackson’s relationship with his girlfriend ended and he was thrusted into a life of solo travel blogging. The blog was now four months old and was receiving roughly 20,000 views per month. Things were on the up. However, the blog still hadn’t earned a cent yet.

The Aussie adventurer, who prides himself to this day on never spending more than $12 a night on accommodation, set a goal of earning $800 USD per month to fund his travels. He knew he could live off that easily in most Asian countries and to his credit he achieved that goal through various content creation gigs, which included shooting photos for bracelet companies at $8 a pop!

Jackson Groves continued on the popular tourist path in Southeast Asia to the Philippines, Cambodia, Laos , Indonesia and Vietnam. As the year came to an end he was no longer a beginner in the blogosphere and planned to tackle India, Sri Lanka and Nepal in the new year.

The Journey Era Comes to Fruition

After one year of being on the road, the Journey Era blog had gained 100,000 readers per month. Jackson described his life in this period as a “sensory overload in the best possible way”. He trekked Everest Base Camp and survived the sweltering heats of the Indian summer in Varanasi. Every day there were new sights to see and cultures to experience.

The Everest Base Camp Trek was a pretty unreal experience for me as I was battling food poisoning, altitude sickness and several obstacles to finally make it to base camp for sunrise. It was an unreal moment and I learned a lot about my own drive and perseverance.

Opportunities started to flood in for the 27-year-old as the mantra ‘build it and they will come’ started to pay off. He began to monetise and earn income from the blog, went on a one-week trip with Royal Caribbean in a paid campaign and received daily e-mails and messages from people on Instagram thanking him for inspiring them to chase their dreams or travel to new destinations.

By the end of 2017, Jackson was in a position to teach others what he had learned by running a workshop. The idea was to help aspiring creators reach their goal of becoming a digital nomad by the end of 2018. He picked seven driven, adventurous and committed people to explore the Nusa Islands in Indonesia – adventuring by day and running workshops by night.

The Journey Era adventures continued in 2018 with trips to Kauai for a month and then working on a campaign for the Tourism Board of Queensland on the Great Barrier Reef. To this day, Jackson continues to hustle incredibly hard and pour his heart and soul into this project. Ultimately, though, his core passion is for the adventure itself.

There is no feeling like reaching a summit you have never heard of or a waterfall you never knew existed and being completely blown away by it for the first time. Often the journey there is difficult, you get lost many times and it may seem as though you won’t reach your destination at some points. The adventure is the destination. A tour or destination that you know about and you know will be good and you are guided there is less of a climax when you reach the final destination.

Jackson Groves’ Newest Initiative: The Adventure Bag Movement

The Adventure Bag concept couldn’t be simpler. One Adventure = One Bag of Trash. After seeing the rubbish pile up in some of the world’s most beautiful national parks and hiking trails, the Aussie traveller and now environmental activist decided it was time to act.

I am trying to change people’s attitudes and mind-set and the Adventure Bag Movement is a vessel through which we can engage those who might not have had an interest in the topic of environment until they become involved with the adventure bag on social media.

No matter where Jackson Groves was exploring, from developed countries like his homeland in Australia to countries in Central America, one thing was a constant: the amount of trash on the trails. On a recent trip to Panama , he decided that he needed to lift his game.

After a week of exploring trails in Santa Fe, Panama by myself I had a lot of time to think. I was thinking about my character and what I stood for. I decided that I needed to lift my game. I wasn’t littering or using excessive plastic but I wasn’t helping the problem. I wasn’t being productive in saving our environment. I was inspired by many different people around me and decided that from that day onwards I would collect an Adventure Bag on every hike or adventure I went on.

Jackson will be the first to admit that collecting a bag of trash is not a new idea. But having a committed group of followers inspired to play their part just might be. Over 80,000 people tune in to the Adventure Bag channel to get inspired about living in a cleaner, greener world.

People from all walks of life, and from every country under the sun, have responded with overwhelming positivity to Jackson’s message. Now, when these adventurers go to the beach or hike a new summit they too collect a bag of trash along the way. Their photos are then re-posted on the Adventure Bag page where the likes and comments start to mount up.

It’s no wonder that Jackson’s message has been received with so much enthusiasm. There is a global understanding now that tourism is stuck in a catch-22. Travel has never been more popular and certain countries have never experienced such growth in their tourism sectors. Yet, the problems of pollution and overtourism continue to rear their heads.

However, for Jackson, this is not a time for negative thinking: “There is never time to be pessimistic. You just do your best and try and lead an example for others.” It’s this type of mind-set that has inspired travellers around the world to take his lead. It also goes to show you that one person can make a difference in the world.

In 2019 Jackson Groves continues to grow his Journey Era blog and push the Adventure Bag Movement to new heights. He will also be running Project Lombok in April – an adventure travel photography trip raising funds to rebuild an earthquake devastated school in Lombok, Indonesia. Learn more about Jackson’s incredible journey in the links below:

https://www.journeyera.com

https://www.instagram.com/jackson.groves

BY CAMERON KENNEDY

Author:  Cameron Kennedy

Cam is a New Zealander who has been traveling the world since he was young. From family trips in Egypt and Jordan as a teenager, to solo backpacking South America at 18, to currently exploring Southeast Asia with his partner Kat - Cam is a traveler through and through.

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• Live Rock Performances

Journey Through the Decades: Exploring the Legacy of the Iconic Rock Group Journey

Rock group journey: a step-by-step guide to their success.

Journey, the iconic rock group that dominated the charts in the 70s and 80s, is one of the most successful bands in music history. Known for their electrifying stage presence and memorable anthems, Journey continues to inspire new generations of fans worldwide.

In this blog post, we will take a step-by-step look at Journey’s success story and explore what made them stand out from other bands during their time.

Step 1: The Early Days Formed in San Francisco in 1973, Journey initially started as a progressive rock band with humble beginnings. The original lineup consisted of guitarist Neal Schon, keyboardist Gregg Rolie, drummer Prairie Prince, bassist Ross Valory and vocalist George Tickner. Their debut album did not achieve much commercial success, but it laid the foundation for what was to come.

Step 2: A New Sound Journey’s sound started evolving in their third album “Infinity” which marked the first time lead singer Steve Perry lent his powerhouse vocals to the mix. This partnership with Perry played a crucial role in shaping Journey’s signature sound that would cement their place in music history.

Step 3: Chart-Topping Hits With Perry onboard as their frontman, Journey’s fourth album “Escape” became an overnight success that catapulted them into superstardom. With hits like “Don’t Stop Believing,” “Open Arms,” and “Separate Ways,” Journey quickly became one of the top-selling acts of all time.

Step 4: Resilience Despite significant commercial success under their belt by the mid-80s, tensions between members led to multiple breakups and changes within the band ‘s lineup. Instead of succumbing to these challenges though—Journey persevered. They bounced back stronger than ever before each breakup preceding another chart-topping hit such as “Send Her My Love,” “Why Can’t This Night Go On Forever?” and “Be Good To Yourself.”

Step 5: Legacy Today, Journey remains one of the most heavily-lauded bands in music history. They have been honored with induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, amid countless other accolades. The band’s style and sound continue to inspire new artists that keep their music alive for future generations.

Journey is a true testament to perseverance, resilience, and dedication in pursuing one’s dreams with an unwavering spirit. Their story is proof that greatness can come through hard work, collaboration with new talent— all while staying true to oneself throughout the journey.

In conclusion, Journey remains one of the pioneering forces in rock music that has stood the test of time. Their legacy continues on through their chart-topping hits, electrifying live performances & inspiring lyrics that have inspired legions of fans worldwide. If you haven’t already, take some time today to listen to Journey’s timeless anthems and appreciate what it means to be truly great!

Your Rock Group Journey FAQs, Answered

The world of rock and roll can be both exhilarating and confusing, especially for new bands just starting out. With so many questions about the process of forming a group , touring, and finding success, it can be difficult to navigate the industry as a new band. Luckily, we’ve compiled some of the most frequently asked questions about rock group journeys and are here to provide you with some answers.

1. How do I form a successful rock band?

Forming a successful band involves several key steps. Firstly, you’ll need to gather talented musicians who share your passion for music and who work well together. Once you have your lineup sorted, it’s vital to spend time developing your sound; this means writing original material that showcases your individuality as a group .

Additionally, networking with other local bands is an excellent way to gain exposure and build connections within the music scene . Keep in mind that being professional – showing up on time for gigs, respecting venues and their staff members – can go a long way toward establishing yourselves as serious artists.

2. How do we get our music heard by more people?

Thanks to social media platforms like YouTube and Facebook, getting your music out there has never been easier! You can also gain exposure by playing live shows in different venues – put together an EPK (electronic press kit) with music recordings, photos of the band performing live etc., approach influential blogs or radio stations in order to get recognition.

Building relationships with other bands can also lead to more gig opportunities: Consider organizing joint shows or collaborating on projects together for wider audience reach.

3. What should we expect when taking our band on tour? Touring is simultaneously exciting yet grueling experience for any Rock-n-Roll outfit — from managing finances while away from home base i.e., paying gas/food bills – it’s necessary that every member pull equal weight in sharing these responsibilities if one falls ill or becomes fatigued- keeping track of equipment, navigating unfamiliar cities and venues with clear directions or GPS, promotional material distribution (to be shared among different show audiences), meeting new fans before moving on.

It can be tough to keep morale up when times are tough such as having little turnout in the audience, sleeping for days in cramped van quarters or not knowing where your next meal will come from. You might experience some transient “road life blues” but if your group manages to stay strong & motivated through rough patches – you will inevitably stick together as a tight-knit team with lasting memories that are both meaningful and epic.

4. What makes a great Rock-n-Roll group?

Great rock bands often share common traits: a powerful, entertaining live presence; a willingness to take risks with their music while staying true to their sound; and creative drive. These groups also tend to have dedicated fan bases thanks to consistent touring and promotion.. Innovation in songwriting is key as well – think about pairing lyrical relatability that resonates with listeners along with technically accomplished musicianship.

Ultimately, it takes personality and hard work too! — the perseverance required of sticking upstanding persistent dedication—all combined together make up that indefinable “X-factor” which draws fans in for an exciting journey.

These four FAQs offer just scratching the surface when it comes to the world of rock band formation, touring footwork & success factors. However, by putting these answers into practice and maintaining passion/commitment throughout the process — you’ll be well on your way towards achieving the rock star status you’ve always dreamed of!

The Top 5 Facts You Didn’t Know About Rock Group Journey

Journey is a household name for anyone who grew up in the ’80s and ’90s. Their music has stood the test of time and they continue to be one of the most beloved rock groups out there. But, did you know that there are several interesting and unknown facts about this iconic band ? Here are the top 5 surprising facts you didn’t know about Journey.

1. Steve Perry wasn’t their first lead singer When most people think of Journey, they immediately picture Steve Perry’s remarkable vocals. However, Steve Perry was not their original lead singer! In fact, Journey had three other lead singers before Perry joined the group in 1977 – Gregg Rolie (who went on to join Santana), Robert Fleischman, and George Tickner.

2. The song “Don’t Stop Believin'” almost didn’t make it onto their album “Don’t Stop Believin'” is without a doubt one of Journey’s biggest hits, but it almost didn’t make it onto their classic album Escape. The band initially left it off the album because they felt like it needed more work. It wasn’t until their producer convinced them to record it again that they finally agreed to include it on the album – and we’re so grateful they did!

3. They’ve broken up multiple times Despite being known as one of the bands that defined an era, Journey have actually broken up multiple times throughout their career. After increasing tensions within the band led to temporary break-ups in 1980 and 1983, guitarist Neal Schon was determined to keep Journey going even when others were uncertain about whether or not they should stay together as a group .

4. Their hit song “Separate Ways” has an infamous video The music video for “Separate Ways” is notorious among fans as one of the worst music videos ever made. Shot entirely in front of green screens with very basic graphics, the video features the band members awkwardly playing their instruments while poorly choreographed female models dance around them. The result is cringe-inducing, but has still managed to become a cult classic in its own right.

5. Journey was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame… without Steve Perry In 2017, Journey was finally inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame – but Steve Perry didn’t show up to perform with them. In fact, they performed with their singer at the time, Arnel Pineda, who had been discovered on YouTube by guitarist Neal Schon. While some fans were disappointed that Steve Perry didn’t make an appearance, his contributions to Journey’s legacy were not forgotten during their induction speech.

In conclusion, Journey may have been around for decades and produced timeless classics like “Don’t Stop Believin'”, but there are still plenty of lesser-known facts about this iconic band that will surprise even diehard fans! From lineup changes to notorious music videos and Hall of Fame inductions sans lead singers – these five facts just scratch the surface of what makes Journey such a fascinating group .

A Look At The Discography Of Rock Group Journey

Journey is a classic rock band that has been captivating audiences around the world for over four decades. With their powerful vocals, energetic guitar riffs, and memorable choruses, this group has left an indelible mark on the music industry. Their timeless songs have continued to inspire generations of fans and musicians alike, solidifying their place as one of the greatest rock bands in history.

Let’s take a closer look at the discography of Journey, starting with their first album “Journey” released in 1975. This album featured hits such as “Of A Lifetime,” “In My Lonely Feeling/Conversations,” and “To Play Some Music,” which showcased the band’s progressive rock sound . Although it did not achieve commercial success at the time of its release, it set the foundation for future albums to come.

Their second album, “Look Into The Future” was released in 1976 and helped to further establish Journey’s unique sound . The album featured songs such as “I’m Gonna Leave You,” “People,” “Nickel And Dime,” and more that were notable because they incorporated elements of progressive rock mixed with traditional blues-rock elements.

Their third album, titled “Next” was released just one year later in 1977. This time around Journey opted for a mainstream rock sound with songs like “Spaceman” and “Kahoutek”. Things really picked up steam for the band after lead vocalist Steve Perry joined forces with them in 1978.

With Perry onboard, Journey’s fourth studio album titled “Infinity” was released which proved to be a game changer for them on the charts. Released in 1980 it contained hits like “Feeling That Way”, “Anytime” & “Wheel In The Sky”, amongst many others – helping the album go platinum three times.

The next year brought forth another significant milestone for Journey as they released Escape (1981), an album that defined their sound in the mainstream, highlighted by tracks such as “Don’t Stop Believin’,” “Open Arms,” “Who’s Crying Now”, and “Stone In Love”. All of which helped this blockbuster album achieve the sales accolade of a diamond certification.

Their seventh studio album, Frontiers (1983), continued in the vein of Escape with anthems like “Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)” and power ballads such as “Faithfully.” They also mixed things up with a bit more synthesizer use than their previous albums, depicting a new era for Journey’s musical style.

Journey’s eighth album Raised on Radio (1986) marked another creative shift. With Perry at the helm once again on lead vocals, they moved away from their signature rock guitar sound to include funk R&B beats on songs like “Girl Can’t Help It” and “Be Good To Yourself.”

Subsequent journeys into reunited line-ups have seen continual sonic changes over time, however many fans will always identify Steve Perry as providing the trademark trademark awareness throughout much of Journey music history.

In conclusion, Journey has left a lasting impression in rock history with an impressive discography that spans several decades. From their early days as a progressive rock band to their rise to chart-topping success with hits including “Don’t Stop Believin’,” and incorporating sounds ranging through blues-rock into pop-rock throughout its careers; it’s clear that each album spotlights something unique about them. Whatever your favorite era or lineup may be — one thing is certain: Journey’s music will continue to inspire and captivate fans around the world.

Inside Story Of The Rise And Fall Of Rock Group Journey

As one of the most beloved American rock bands of all time, Journey captured the hearts and minds of fans across the globe with their soaring ballads and electrifying performances. From their humble beginnings in San Francisco to their meteoric rise to fame in the 1980s, the story of Journey is a tale of triumph and tragedy that will forever be etched into the annals of music history.

The genesis of Journey dates back to 1973 when former members of Santana, Neal Schon and Gregg Rolie, joined forces with drummer Prairie Prince, bassist Ross Valory, and guitarist George Tickner to form a new group. The band’s early sound was heavily influenced by jazz fusion and progressive rock, but as they began recording and touring extensively throughout the mid-70s, they gradually evolved into a more mainstream rock outfit.

In 1977, Journey released their fourth album “Infinity,” which marked a turning point in their career. The record was a commercial success thanks to hits like “Lights” and “Wheel In The Sky,” launching them onto arena stages across America. By 1981’s chart-topping “Escape,” which gave us epic power ballads like “Open Arms” and “Don’t Stop Believin’,” Journey had cemented themselves as one of the biggest acts on the planet.

However, behind closed doors things were far from rosy for the band . Struggling with addiction issues and personal conflicts between members led to lineup changes over the years including Steve Perry replacing Rolie on lead vocals in 1977 before himself being replaced by Arnel Pineda in 2007 amid Perry’s struggles with vocal damage.

In addition to those internal problems member infighting also led to break ups following differences over style-disconnect after Shearhart stopped writing songs when they hired Jonathan Cain causing some frictions between member.

Despite these challenges though, Journey remained an incredibly popular live act, drawing huge crowds to their shows with their catchy hooks and anthemic choruses. They continued to release albums throughout the 90s and beyond, but the magic of the peak years was never quite recaptured.

Today, many fans fondly remember Journey for their iconic hits, from “Open Arms” to “Don’t Stop Believin’,” as a testimony that despite hardships and failure one can rise back stronger than ever. Their story reminds us that success in music requires not only talent but also perseverance, grit, and resilience; journey showed strength even in moments when they had all odds against them. And though their era might have passed into history books but always an adventure continues for rock lovers as they follow other great bands hoping tales-such journeys repeat through innovation or interchanging achievements even today to lead future generations towards endless possibilities rather than repetition of same glory-days narratives.

Experience the Evolution of Music with Rock Group Journey

Journey is one of the iconic rock bands that took the world by storm in the late 70s and early 80s. The band’s distinctive blend of rock, classical, and progressive music marked them out as visionary musicians whose sound would continue to influence audiences for decades to come.

The history of Journey dates back to their founding in San Francisco in 1973. The group originally started out with the name Golden Gate Rhythm Section but quickly changed it after they recruited Neal Schon, a guitar prodigy who had played with Carlos Santana on his first three albums. Alongside keyboardist Gregg Rolie and drummer Aynsley Dunbar, Schon helped create a unique style that blended traditional rock with more experimental sounds .

Journey’s early years were characterized by a constantly changing line-up, but in 1977 things came together when Steve Perry joined as lead vocalist. With Perry’s soaring voice fronting the group, they began recording hit songs like “Wheel In The Sky,” “Lights,” and “Any Way You Want It.” These tracks helped propel Journey onto the national stage making them one of America’s most popular rock groups .

One notable example of their talent is their iconic song “Don’t Stop Believing” which has stood the test of time becoming an anthem for generations. Its catchy melody combined with meaningful lyrics made it an instant classic among fans and critics alike. In fact, this song is so widely appreciated that it even appeared in many films including “Rock of Ages”, “Family Guy: Partial Terms of Endearment” among others.

Journey continued to evolve throughout their career, experimenting with different musical styles while staying true to their core values as musicians. There is no doubt that without Journey’s contribution to rock music there wouldn’t be modern-day classics like ‘Arnel Pineda’s Faithfully’ which was released about Thirty-seven years after Arnel joined the band in 2007. Although the members have changed over time, their music remains timeless; proving that they were not just a fleeting trend, but rather one of rock music ‘s greats.

So there you have it, Journey’s musical evolution from a group of talented musicians seeking to create something original and memorable to becoming one of rock’s most influential bands. With their legacy firmly cemented in the annals of music history, Journey will continue to inspire and captivate audiences for generations to come!

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Revisiting 10 Journey Songs From The ’70s

via journey/YouTube

Best Moments

Although some of their most enduring tracks were released in the early ’80s, Journey also had several classic hits from the ’70s. They formed in 1973 but it wasn’t until they got singer Steve Perry onboard when they finally achieved massive commercial success. He made his debut with them in 1977 and it was clear from the get-go that they were a match made in music heaven.

Let’s take a look at their unforgettable hits in the 1970s.

10. Do You Recall (1979)

Talk about pure power! Steve Perry’s vocals is fire.

9. Too Late (1979)

Perry wrote it about a friend who has become a drug addict. He said, “The drugs were setting up housekeeping.”

8. Daydream (1979)

It has that dreamy feel and while the musicianship is stellar, it’s Perry’s voice that steals the spotlight.

7. When You’re Alone (It Ain’t Easy)

Neal Schon lets loose with his brilliant guitarwork.

6. Lovin,’ Touchin,’ Squeezin’ (1979)

It’s the band’s first top 40 hit in the US. Written by Perry, it was inspired by an actual event – when he saw his girlfriend get out of a car and kiss the driver.

5. Just The Same Way (1979)

The layered harmony vocals is simply exquisite. It added more depth to the song.

4. Lights (1978)

The song is about San Francisco and it’s one of the first songs Perry sang for Journey. Perry explained, “I had the song written in Los Angeles almost completely except for the bridge and it was written about Los Angeles. It was ‘when the lights go down in the city and the sun shines on LA.’ I didn’t like the way it sounded at the time. And so I just had it sitting back in the corner. Then life changed my plans once again, and I was now facing joining Journey. I love San Francisco, the bay, and the whole thing. ‘The bay’ fit so nice, ‘When the lights go down in the city and the sun shines on the bay.’ It was one of those early-morning-going-across-the-bridge things, when the sun was coming up and the lights were going down. It was perfect.”

3. Anytime (1978)

Written before Perry joined Journey, Schon recalled: “Gregg Rolie was doing Bing Crosby – you know, ‘ooh, ooh.’ And I’d listened to lots of Beatles records when I was a kid, so I just went ‘Anytime that you want me.’ It came out real easy in rehearsal.”

2. Feeling That Way (1978)

This was initially an instrumental titled “Velvet Curtain” which they later abandoned. Eventually, Rolie got back to it and added words then renamed it to “Please Let Me Stay.” It was shelved at the last minute. After Perry joined, Rolie rewrote it again and shared the lead vocal duties with Perry.

1. Wheel in the Sky (1978)

One of their finest moments, it began as a poem titled “Wheels In My Mind”. It was their first single with Perry that eventually became a staple in their live repertoire.

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The 10 best Journey songs

Let's face it, AOR just wouldn't have been the same without them – here are Journey's ten best tracks

For many, Journey are the band who define AOR better than anyone else. Their catalogue glitters with unforgettable anthems, which not only contain massive choruses, but also the sort of musicianship you might expect from a band who began life as jazz rock instrumentalists before embracing the melodic rock style for which they’re renowned. We've gone through the band's back catalogue and hand-picked their 10 finest moments.

10. Girl Can’t Help It (1986)

After taking a break from the band to work on his solo album Street Talk , vocalist Steve Perry was persuaded to return to the fold for 1986's Raised On Radio album. While the production shows a clear-cut influence of the times, Perry’s vocals shine as brightly as ever, while Jonathan Cain’s smooth keyboards complement Neal Schon ’s edgy guitar stride.

9. Faithfully (1983)

This is the way Journey explained the problems of trying to carry on a relationship while out on the road touring. One of the stand-out tracks from 1983's Frontiers , Faithfully has a soft lilt that exposes an emptiness. However, this is augmented by the lush rhythm and the way that Steve Perry croons his way through without ever wallowing in over emotional hyperbole. A power ballad in the best Journey tradition.

8. Lovin, Touchin’, Squeezin’ (1979)

Anyone who thinks that Journey aren’t capable of anything other than slushy ballads really should check out Lovin, Touchin’, Squeezin’ from 1979's Evolution album. It has a funk groove, and while the tempo is very much of the balladic kind, Neal Schon stabs through with some electrifying moments. What’s more, Steve Perry’s vocals soar impressively to ensure maximum dramatic impact. One of the highlights on Evolution .

7. Lights (1978)

The opening song from 1978's Infinity record – the album that introduced Steve Perry to the world, and also put the band’s new-found melodic style on display for the very first time. It’s easy to tell why American radio fell in love with Journey at this point in time. The music is filled with commercial astuteness, the harmonies are sublime and the whole timbre of Lights is evocative and stylish. This oozes the sort of class that would become the norm for Journey in the coming years.

6. Who’s Cryin’ Now (1981)

Who’s Cryin’ Now begins with an unvarnished piano piece from Jonathan Cain, on which Steve Perry builds his rich tone. And Ross Vallory provides some tasteful bass lines, to underline the whole feel of the song. This is the type of track that accentuates Perry’s love for great soul singers, while it also showcases the way in which Journey stood apart from all the huge selling AOR masters, and why Escape is regarded as the classic Journey album.

• Inside AOR, the most under-appreciated sub-genre of all time
• The 40 Best AOR Vocalists Of All-Time: 10-1
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5. Stone In Love (1981)

The fact this song opens up with shards of Neal Schon's guitar riffing proves that Journey were always prepared to give full weight to the heavier side of their talent. And Steve Perry also comes across with a lot more power than you might expect. This is a song where Journey never forget about the melody, but also give free rein to a rocky vibe. It also accentuates that Escape was always far more than just a collection of power ballads.

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4. Any Way You Want It (1980)

It may seem odd, but this song was actually inspired by Thin Lizzy , with whom Journey had toured a couple of years before recording the Departure album in 1980. But when you dig down and analyse the way in which the vocals are constructed, and the interchange between the instruments, then the influence becomes a lot clearer. There’s a gliding feel to the guitar parts that does feel like it is Thin Lizzy influenced, and Steve Perry adopts a storytelling style that is close to the Phil Lynott approach – and the whole feel suits Journey superbly.

3. Wheel In The Sky (1978)

Wheel In The Sky was co-written by Robert Fleischman, the band’s original choice of vocalist when they moved into a more commercial direction. However, when Fleischman didn’t work out and was replaced by Steve Perry, the song was thankfully retained. It starts with a flashing guitar groove, through which Perry cuts with a vibrant performance. In some ways, this is a basic live performance from the band, bringing a heavier dynamic to bear, but this fitted right into the whole feel of Infinity , and showed Journey could pound with the best.

2. Separate Ways (Worlds Apart) (1983)

After the enormous success of the Escape album, how did the band choose to open up their next album Frontiers ? With a powerhouse rocker than fitted right into an era where AOR was beginning to become a little less reliant on studio technology and celebrated talent. Of course, the rich production is evident here, but what makes the song work superbly is that way Jonathan Cain, Steve Perry and Neal Schon intertwine. There’s a buoyancy in Separate Ways (Worlds Apart) that tells of a band who are really playing off of each other’s strengths. The result is undeniably passionate.

1. Don’t Stop Believin’ (1981)

Is there anyone on the planet who does not know this song? It has got to be one of the most exposed tracks over the past two decades or so. And, because it’s so well known, it’s very easy to lose sight of just why this is so popular. Because Don’t Stop Believin’ is a peerless example of musical genius. Everything about it is simply perfect – the musicality, the vocals, the simple structure, the insistent melody… hell, this is not just Journey’s best song, it’s one of the truly landmark moments of the 80s.

Malcolm Dome had an illustrious and celebrated career which stretched back to working for  Record Mirror  magazine in the late 70s and  Metal Fury  in the early 80s before joining  Kerrang!  at its launch in 1981. His first book,  Encyclopedia Metallica , published in 1981, may have been the inspiration for the name of a certain band formed that same year. Dome is also credited with inventing the term "thrash metal" while writing about the  Anthrax  song  Metal Thrashing Mad  in 1984. With the launch of Classic Rock magazine in 1998 he became involved with that title, sister magazine Metal Hammer, and was a contributor to Prog magazine since its inception in 2009. He died in 2021 . 

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The Cataclysm Classic Pre-Expansion Patch Goes Live April 30

You’ve toppled the undead armies of the Lich King and ended Arthas' reign. Now, Deathwing, The Worldbreaker, bursts from the heart of the Maelstrom, unleashing his rage. All will burn beneath the shadow of his wings. Your new journey begins with the pre-expansion patch — the Shattering of Azeroth— on April 30 and continues with the launch of Cataclysm Classic on May 20, 2024 at 3:00 pm PDT worldwide.

Cataclysm Classic Pre-Expansion Patch

The Cataclysm Classic pre-expansion patch ushers in the shattering of Azeroth and the changed landscape in Kalimdor and the Eastern Kingdoms, a variety of systems changes along with new class and race combinations, and the new Worgen and Goblin races. Players can also begin learning the new Archaeology profession, use Reforging to upgrade your gear, and more.

• New Player Races: Goblin and Worgen
• New Race and Class Combinations
• Leveling Updates: Level through a changed landscape in Kalimdor and the Eastern Kingdoms from level 1 through 60.
• Class Updates: New Talents, Trees, spells and More
• New Profession: Archaeology
• New Feature: Transmog Collection
• Updated Character and Gear Stats

What’s Inside Cataclysm Classic

With the launch of Cataclysm Classic on May 20, players will begin their journey from level 80 to 85 through new zones, new dungeons and raids, engage in PvP combat in Tol Barad, and delve further into the mysteries of the Darkmoon Faire on Darkmoon Island.

• 7 New Zones: Mount Hyjal, Vash’jir, Twilight Highlands, Uldum, Deepholm, Kezan, and Gilneas.
• 9 New Dungeons : Blackrock Caverns, Throne of the Tides, Vortex Pinnacle, The Stonecore, The Lost City of Tol’vir, The Halls of Origination, Grim Batol, Deadmines, Shadowfang Keep
• Dungeon Journal Introduced
• 3 New Raid Dungeons: Throne of the Four Winds, Blackwing Descent, and Bastion of Twilight
• Boss Based Raid Lock system: Allowing players to do either the 10 or 25-player raid version of each boss in the same week. Lockouts are based on individual boss.
• Tol Barad PvP Zone
• Darkmoon Island: Discover the mysteries Silas Darkmoon has in store for you.
• Flying in Eastern Kingdoms and Kalimdor

What’s Going Away with Wrath of the Lich King

With the launch of the Cataclysm pre-expansion patch, some items and achievements will no longer be available or will be harder to obtain. It’s important to keep in mind that the game world is going through tremendous changes that will affect the availability of certain rare mounts and items.

• Swift Zulian Tiger: Zul'Gurub is changing from a raid to a leveling zone and this mount will no longer be obtainable.
• Swift Razzashi Raptor: This mount will also no longer be obtainable after the change to Zul'Gurub.
• Razzashi Hatchling : With the change to Zul'Gurub, this non-combat pet will no longer be obtainable.
• Tome of Polymorph: Turtle: This tome will continue to be available through other means.
• Crusader's White/Black Warhorse and Swift Alliance Steed/Swift Horde Wolf : As the attempt-based tribute system is being removed from Heroic Trial of the Crusader, the Argent Crusade Tribute Chest will no longer spawn, and these mounts will no longer be obtainable.
• Mimiron's Head: This mount will change to be a very low drop chance when defeating 25-player Yogg'Saron with no Keepers assisting you.
• Invincible: This mount will change to be a very low drop chance when defeating Heroic 25-player Lich King.

Quest and Loremaster Changes

The shattering of Azeroth will drastically and permanently alter the continents of Kalimdor and the Eastern Kingdoms. In the wake of Deathwing's devastation, adventurers will be summoned to embark on new quests from levels 1 to 60 in these transformed territories -- and with so much new content to be found on these original two continents, many original quests will no longer be available after the shattering occurs. These quests will automatically be removed from your quest log, while any quests you’ve accepted that still exist in Azeroth will remain in your log.

If you've already completed Loremaster of Eastern Kingdoms or Loremaster of Kalimdor, you will not lose your achievements. However, if you've made progress toward these achievements without yet completing them, be aware that any quests that are removed from the game will no longer count toward your progress, so you may see your achievement quest counter drop. If you’re close to earning either of these achievements, we strongly suggest you finish them with great haste, as Deathwing's return is imminent.

In addition, the Loremaster achievements are being redesigned slightly to make them easier to track. Rather than having players complete a huge number of quests throughout a single continent, the criteria will change so that you will instead need to complete a set number of quests in each zone. Once you've earned the achievements for each listed zone on a continent, you will then be awarded the Loremaster achievement for that continent. For those who do have Loremaster of Kalimdor or Eastern Kingdoms completed already, you can still go back and get the new achievements for questing in individual zones on those continents.

Ignite Your Cataclysm Classic Journey with Fiery Upgrades

Cataclysm Classic will require only a WoW® subscription or Game Time to play. However, these optional upgrades can heat up your experience during your adventures in Azeroth.

Blazing Heroic Pack

The Blazing Heroic Pack includes Lil’ Wrathion pet for both WoW Classic progression 2 and modern World of Warcraft characters 3 , the Avatar of Flame flying mount 2 for WoW Classic progression characters, and a Runebound Firelord flying mount for modern World of Warcraft characters 3 . WoW Classic progression characters will also enjoy Hammer Regalia Transmog Set 4 and Town-In-A-Box Starter Set toy 4 .

Blazing Epic Upgrade

The Blazing Epic Upgrade includes everything in the Blazing Heroic Pack, plus a Level 80 Character Boost and 30 days of Game Time.

Upgrade Now

Certain restrictions apply. Visit  shop.battle.net  for more information.

• 1 Available on or before August 31, 2024.
• 2 Available in WoW Classic progression realms (currently Wrath of the Lich King Classic™) immediately after the purchase.
• 3 Available after the modern WoW® realms restart with the Guardians of the Dream (10.2) update.
• 4 Available with the Cataclysm Classic pre-expansion patch.
• The toy, Transmog set, and Avatar of Flame mount only available on WoW Classic progression realms (currently Wrath of the Lich King Classic™). The Runebound Firelord mount only available on modern WoW® realms.
• Requires WoW® Subscription or Game Time.
• Boost only available on WoW Classic progression realms. and usable only on the WoW game account for which it was purchased or redeemed.

Danna Paola Is Putting Her ‘Childstar’ Past to Rest With Her Most Honest LP Yet

Danna Paola's new 'Childstar' album is an open book on the popstar's greatest pleasures and sins set to house and electronic music.

By Thania Garcia

Thania Garcia

• Peso Pluma Finally Addresses Narco Corrido Culture With Theatrical Coachella Set 2 days ago
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• Danna Paola Is Putting Her ‘Childstar’ Past to Rest With Her Most Honest LP Yet 2 days ago

Despite being only 28, Mexican singer-songwriter Danna Paola has already lived a complete life of an entertainer with a 20-plus-year career.

On “Childstar,” the Mexican singer and actor’s new LP, Danna — who recently announced she’s dropping her last name — is reclaiming the narrative of her youth when she first earned her stripes as a child star in telenovelas that constantly played on television both stateside and across Latin America. “Childstar” is Danna’s most layered project to date. House and electronic music replace the bubblegum pop Danna served fans in her early discography, and the change is drastic. Danna knows this.

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Thematically, the record is all about escapism — the partying, the sex and the thrills of chasing romance. It represents the beginning of a new artistic era that puts Danna’s past as a “Childstar” to rest.

“Somehow, hitting my darkest, lowest point — when I was so depressed — made me want to share that with the world,” she stops herself, almost acknowledging how contradictory that sounds. “This record isn’t my life story, necessarily. It’s a sign that for me, I’m moving on. It represents where I’ve been able to get to by putting myself first.”

“Childstar” has Danna singing in English and Spanish, since she “speaks and thinks in Spanglish,” but that overarching duality of pop culture is also represented in the music influences; For example, track two, “Blackout,” is a tribute to Britney Spears’ 2007 album of the same name. That record was released in a tumultuous era of Spears’ life as she battled public scrutiny to a debilitating degree. In that same lane, she cites Spears’ “Lucky” (“She’s so lucky, she’s a star / But she cry, cry, cries in her lonely heart”) and the ending of Baz Luhrmann’s “Elvis” as overall thematic touchstones for the concept of “Childstar.”

These, “remind me of my childhood in the sense that people stop viewing you as a person,” she says. “I was very alone throughout my early years in the industry. I had my family, and they supported me… but I was alone. I felt like I was at the height of my career and I just wanted it all to end.” And as the tracklist of “Childstar” unfolds, it’s clear this isn’t a sob story. “These songs are what made me,” Danna says. “You hear me discovering my sexier side, you also hear me grappling with love, my encounters.”

For the people who knew Danna in the earlier points of her career, it may be shocking to hear her be so forward in “Atari,” where she whines and growls about sex. She also sings over breezy R&B about the first time she fell for a woman in “Platonik.”

And although she’s admittedly “nervous as fuck” about how her fans will react to the experimentation and honesty — and sonic range — on this album, they have already more than shown up for her. Danna has one of the most fervent followings of Latin American superstars. When she announced that she wanted to update her social media handles to just “@Danna” — a move solidifying she’s put the past behind her — her fans bombarded the current owner of the account with requests to give up the account. Danna had to issue a public apology.

“I know they’re ready to receive — I’ve had them waiting for so long — whatever I may throw their way but this album is totally new territory for me,” she says, followed by a long pause. “If you’d like to join me, please do. And if you don’t, there’s a lot of music out in the world, I hope you find something you enjoy.”

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Prince Harry is upset for some revelations from his military service era

The media breach that shook Prince Harry's military career.

Prince Harry 's life has been a fascinating journey, from his military career to his current high-profile status. Before meeting Meghan Markle and becoming a full-time working royal, he spent 10 years in the British military, including two tours of duty in Afghanistan. It was on this day 18 years ago in 2006 that Harry officially completed officer training at the prestigious Sandhurst Military Academy.

In 2007, he was deployed to the notorious Helmand province in Afghanistan. However, just 10 weeks into the tour, he was withdrawn due to a media blackout being breached. Brigadier Andrew Mackay, the Helmand task force commander, emphasized the careful consideration that went into this decision, stating: "The decision to withdraw Harry from operations was not made lightly and was given careful consideration."

This incident left the Prince furious, and according to royal expert Duncan Larcombe, it proved to be one of the hardest points in Harry's life. Larcombe revealed that only one person - Chelsy Davy - and one place - Botswana - could calm him down during this challenging time.

Harry's dedication and service in the military were evident, and his withdrawal from Afghanistan was a difficult experience for him. Duncan Larcombe highlighted this, stating, "One of the other real lows in Harry's life was when he was dragged out of Afghanistan because his secret deployment had hit the papers."

How challenges shaped Harry's character and resolve

This period in Harry's life showcases his commitment to serving his country, as well as the challenges and sacrifices he faced during his military career. It's a reminder that even someone with royal status has experienced difficult and trying times.

Despite the hardships, Prince Harry's journey continued, leading him to where he is today - attending glitzy Hollywood events and rubbing shoulders with the stars. His experiences in the military undoubtedly shaped him and contributed to the person he is now. It's a testament to his resilience and strength that he was able to overcome such challenges and move forward in his life.

Prince Harry's story serves as an inspiration, reminding us that everyone faces obstacles, regardless of their background or status. It's how we respond to these challenges that defines us, and Prince Harry's journey is a testament to that.

Don't miss out on all sports information at www.marca.com/en .

AI + Machine Learning , Azure AI , Industry trends

Azure Maia for the era of AI: From silicon to software to systems

By Rani Borkar Corporate Vice President, Azure Hardware Systems and Infrastructure , Andrew Wall Partner Program Manager, Azure Maia , Prasanth Pulavarthi Partner Group Product Manager, AI Frameworks , and Yuan Yu Technical Fellow, Azure AI

Posted on April 3, 2024 3 min read

As the pace of AI and the transformation it enables across industries continues to accelerate, Microsoft is committed to building and enhancing our global cloud infrastructure to meet the needs from customers and developers with faster, more performant, and more efficient compute and AI solutions. Azure AI infrastructure comprises technology from industry leaders as well as Microsoft’s own innovations, including Azure Maia 100, Microsoft’s first in-house AI accelerator, announced in November . In this blog, we will dive deeper into the technology and journey of developing Azure Maia 100, the co-design of hardware and software from the ground up, built to run cloud-based AI workloads and optimized for Azure AI infrastructure.

Azure Maia 100, pushing the boundaries of semiconductor innovation

Maia 100 was designed to run cloud-based AI workloads, and the design of the chip was informed by Microsoft’s experience in running complex and large-scale AI workloads such as Microsoft Copilot. Maia 100 is one of the largest processors made on 5nm node using advanced packaging technology from TSMC.   

Through collaboration with Azure customers and leaders in the semiconductor ecosystem, such as foundry and EDA partners, we will continue to apply real-world workload requirements to our silicon design, optimizing the entire stack from silicon to service, and delivering the best technology to our customers to empower them to achieve more.

End-to-end systems optimization, designed for scalability and sustainability  

When developing the architecture for the Azure Maia AI accelerator series, Microsoft reimagined the end-to-end stack so that our systems could handle frontier models more efficiently and in less time. AI workloads demand infrastructure that is dramatically different from other cloud compute workloads, requiring increased power, cooling, and networking capability. Maia 100’s custom rack-level power distribution and management integrates with Azure infrastructure to achieve dynamic power optimization. Maia 100 servers are designed with a fully-custom, Ethernet-based network protocol with aggregate bandwidth of 4.8 terabits per accelerator to enable better scaling and end-to-end workload performance.  

When we developed Maia 100, we also built a dedicated “sidekick” to match the thermal profile of the chip and added rack-level, closed-loop liquid cooling to Maia 100 accelerators and their host CPUs to achieve higher efficiency. This architecture allows us to bring Maia 100 systems into our existing datacenter infrastructure, and to fit more servers into these facilities, all within our existing footprint. The Maia 100 sidekicks are also built and manufactured to meet our zero waste commitment. 

Co-optimizing hardware and software from the ground up with the open-source ecosystem 

From the start, transparency and collaborative advancement have been core tenets in our design philosophy as we build and develop Microsoft’s cloud infrastructure for compute and AI. Collaboration enables faster iterative development across the industry—and on the Maia 100 platform, we’ve cultivated an open community mindset from algorithmic data types to software to hardware.  

To make it easy to develop AI models on Azure AI infrastructure, Microsoft is creating the software for Maia 100 that integrates with popular open-source frameworks like PyTorch and ONNX Runtime. The software stack provides rich and comprehensive libraries, compilers, and tools to equip data scientists and developers to successfully run their models on Maia 100. 

To optimize workload performance, AI hardware typically requires development of custom kernels that are silicon-specific. We envision seamless interoperability among AI accelerators in Azure, so we have integrated Triton from OpenAI. Triton is an open-source programming language that simplifies kernel authoring by abstracting the underlying hardware. This will empower developers with complete portability and flexibility without sacrificing efficiency and the ability to target AI workloads. 

Maia 100 is also the first implementation of the Microscaling (MX) data format , an industry-standardized data format that leads to faster model training and inferencing times. Microsoft has partnered with AMD, ARM, Intel, Meta, NVIDIA, and Qualcomm to release the v1.0 MX specification through the Open Compute Project community so that the entire AI ecosystem can benefit from these algorithmic improvements. 

Azure Maia 100 is a unique innovation combining state-of-the-art silicon packaging techniques, ultra-high-bandwidth networking design, modern cooling and power management, and algorithmic co-design of hardware with software. We look forward to continuing to advance our goal of making AI real by introducing more silicon, systems, and software innovations into our datacenters globally.

Learn more 

• Read the announcement: With a systems approach to chips, Microsoft aims to tailor everything ‘from silicon to service’ to meet AI demand .
• Watch Satya Nadella’s keynote at Ignite 2023: AI Infrastructure: Satya Nadella at Microsoft Ignite 2023 .
• Watch a demo of GitHub Copilot running on Azure Maia 100: Inside Microsoft AI innovations with Mark Russinovich .
• Learn more about Azure AI Infrastructure .
• Learn more about Azure AI .

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• Microsoft 365

Enabling your AI transformation journey with Microsoft Viva 

• Jared Spataro, Corporate Vice President, AI at Work
• Microsoft Copilot for Microsoft 365
• Microsoft Teams

Microsoft Viva

• Viva Insights
• Viva Learning
• Work Trend Index

A year into working with Microsoft Copilot , we’ve learned a lot from our customers about how people are using AI at work. We’ve also learned from our own company-wide rollout to more than 200,000 employees —what’s working, where there are challenges, and what early behaviors can teach us about broader impacts to adoption and establishment of new work patterns. One of the biggest takeaways is that AI reinvention is a whole new way of working that involves both software and culture. It’s a cultural shift. Microsoft Viva empowers leaders and organizations to make that shift. We’re excited to announce new capabilities to help drive enterprise-wide adoption of Copilot, including the general availability of Microsoft Copilot Dashboard and Microsoft Copilot Academy, powered by Viva, which will be available to all Copilot for Microsoft 365 customers.

Empower and engage your workforce with next-generation AI and insights in Microsoft Viva.

Microsoft Copilot Dashboard is now generally available

The Microsoft Copilot Dashboard is an out of the box report designed for business leaders to easily understand the impact of Copilot for Microsoft 365 by providing privacy-protected insights across every stage of your AI transformation journey. Building on the initial release at Microsoft Ignite, which included readiness and usage data across Microsoft 365 apps, this release offers additional pivots that combine Copilot usage metrics with organizational context and collaboration data, enabling deeper views of adoption and impact. Copilot customers will have the flexibility to filter by attributes like department, teams, or roles, understand differences between groups, and compare those same measures between users and non-users. Viva Insights customers can use analyst workbench capabilities to dive deeper with custom reports, including incorporating data from other relevant sources. And for a limited time only , Copilot for Microsoft 365 customers will be eligible to access Viva Insights at no additional cost .  

We are also excited to announce that starting in 2024 Q3, the Copilot Dashboard will be available to all Copilot for Microsoft 365 customers at no additional cost and will not require a Viva license. You can access the dashboard in the Viva Insights app in Microsoft Teams or via the web app . Select the “Copilot Dashboard” option from the left navigation menu and start exploring results from your organization. Additionally, Copilot for Microsoft 365 customers will be eligible for a promotional offer that will provide access to all of Viva Insights , including Copilot Dashboard, as well as access to advanced insights and manager and leader insights. Contact your account team to learn more about how you can take advantage of this offer. 

In addition to having the right data-driven insights, successful AI reinvention often requires a change management strategy that includes arming employees with the right knowledge, developing clear and consistent communications, and understanding employee feedback to address any gaps or challenges. Microsoft Viva helps you develop employee skills, drive awareness, foster champions, and dig deeper into the impact of Copilot across your organization.  

Enable employees with AI knowledge and skills 

Our Work Trend Index showed that 82% of leaders said their employees will need new skills to be prepared for the growth of AI. I’m excited to announce the general availability of Microsoft Copilot Academy , where we’ve centralized those learning experiences for your organization to supercharge their Copilot skills. Copilot Academy is available in Viva Learning and starting in 2024 Q3, it will be available to all Copilot for Microsoft 365 customers at no additional cost and will not require a Viva license. 

The Copilot Academy includes curated learning paths designed by Microsoft experts to help your employees discover, learn about, and use Copilot experiences effectively. The initial release features a combination of standard generative-AI learning content (such as “Intro to prompts”) and a series of learning paths specific to Copilot for Microsoft 365 (such as “Summarize email threads with Copilot in Outlook”). We will continue to enhance Copilot Academy in the coming months, including hands-on experiences hosted by Copilot Lab in our next release.  

Copilot Academy is available in Viva Learning , your central hub for learning, so it’s easy for users to access, discover, and share within the Microsoft 365 tools they’re already using. It is preloaded and requires no admin setup or configuration, so your Microsoft 365 admins can focus on helping drive Copilot adoption. Check out our setup documentation to get started, and stay tuned for updates on content, experience, and feature enhancements coming soon. Additionally, to help our customers develop a skillset related to AI tool usage—like prompt engineering—we’ve developed a set of learning content available on Copilot Lab and Microsoft Learn that you can access today. 

Build excitement and momentum around Copilot

Getting the word out, often and early, about new technologies like AI is key to successful change management. With Viva Amplify , an internal communications platform, you can elevate your Copilot messaging and energize employees by reaching them in the channels they use most often—email, SharePoint, Microsoft Teams, and Viva Engage. And we’ve designed the new Copilot Deployment Kit in Viva Amplify specifically to help you launch Copilot campaigns with ease. Your corporate communications team, your change team, or your early champions can use pre-built campaign templates to drive awareness, and help employees learn what it can do for them. It comes with pre-drafted content, videos, guides, and publications that can easily be customized and sent to help users learn about Copilot. And in the reporting tab, you have rich campaign analytics to understand engagement and where to make improvements.  

Grow the Copilot conversation through community

Fostering leadership communications and AI champions in your organization can also help accelerate Copilot adoption. Viva Engage can enable leaders and community champions to share strategy, learnings, and experiences broadly with their organization. In the coming weeks, Viva Engage will add built-in capabilities to help you accelerate adoption, where admins can enable a new custom-made Copilot community with one click that launches an onboarding checklist, recommends pre-seeded content and conversation starters, and supports dynamic community membership based your organization’s existing Copilot licensing allotment.  

Corporate communicators or community managers can build campaigns for Copilot based on what people are talking about, so the conversation remains relevant and reaches the right people. As people post comments, Copilot can help draft responses and provide analytics around engagement, trending topics, reach, and sentiment. And people can use Answers in Viva to ask questions and find Copilot knowledge and resources around the organization. The new Intelligent Importer —now generally available—makes it easy to generate and add your own question-and-answer for this community to support commonly asked questions.  

And lastly, new network analytics include detailed engagement metrics and theme extraction to show what’s trending and what’s top of mind for employees across all communities. 

Gain a deeper understanding of AI readiness, adoption, and impact

Innovative companies and early adopters keep up with their Copilot deployment by engaging employees through the journey, that includes continuously seeking employee feedback and making the right adjustments to manage a successful rollout. In addition to using Viva to measure organizational-wide employee engagement on your AI transformation strategy, we’re introducing new research-backed Microsoft Copilot Impact survey templates in Viva Glint and Viva Pulse designed to gauge sentiment on how Copilot is impacting employees while benchmarking those insights against industry research. The survey results will integrate directly with the Copilot Dashboard so that talent and business leaders can see the data in a unified view. Questions will include:

• Quality: Copilot helps improve the quality of my work or output.
• Effort: Using Copilot helps me spend less mental effort or mundane or repetitive steps.
• Speed: Copilot allows me to complete tasks faster.
• Productivity: When using Copilot, I am more productive.

By combining workplace collaboration and behavioral insights with employee survey data, Microsoft customer, dentsu , one of the top creative media companies in the world, was able to see the direct value and productivity impact of Copilot on its workforce.

“Our recent analysis shows employees are saving at least 15 minutes, if not 30 minutes a day by using Copilot. We are seeing a noticeable shift in how they are using the technology, spending less on meetings, emails, calls, or chats, using the time they get back to focus on deep work without interruptions and to invest in their teams.” —Kate Slade, Director of Emerging Technology Enablement at dentsu

Start using Microsoft Viva to help you drive Copilot adoption today

We invite you to discover the full capabilities of Microsoft Viva and the Copilot Dashboard as we prepare for the future of work together. Reach out to your Microsoft account team to get started today. 

To learn more about Microsoft Viva and how it can help you on our AI transformation journey, download our Copilot Success Kit , which includes a detailed overview on how to use each Viva app to accelerate Copilot adoption and engagement. Also, sign up for our upcoming webinar series to hear how our customers are using Viva to drive Copilot adoption and measurement.  

For the latest research insights on the future of work and generative AI, visit  WorkLab .

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