Five years after IMG model Noonoouri made her Middle Eastern debut in a photoshoot set against Burj Khalifa aged 18, she has been signed by Warner Music – and she is still 18.
She released her debut single, Dominoes, and a video where she sports blue hair and wears a series of athleisure outfits, notably Kim Kardashian's Skims line.
Oh, and before we forget, Noonoouri is not a real person and, as such, has been 18 since she first appeared in February 2018.
The digital avatar, with more than 400,000 followers on Instagram, was created by CGI influencer Joerg Zuber and has been featured in campaigns for big-name brands including Balenciaga, Dior, Miu Miu, Valentino and Versace.
She also promotes veganism and cruelty-free fashion.
Now, Warner Music Central Europe has taken things up a pitch by giving Noonoouri her own singing voice, using AI-assisted technology.
Her debut track was written and recorded by "talented songwriters and musicians", the company said.
According to the Press Association, the writers and singers will receive royalties and publishing splits just like for any traditional song.
Dominoes also features German DJ and music producer Alle Farben, and is a foot-tapping track with lyrics that might well be indicative of future collaborations between the music and digital industries: "Just a little push / That's enough to start / A chain reaction."
Groom and Two Brides
Director: Elie Semaan
Starring: Abdullah Boushehri, Laila Abdallah, Lulwa Almulla
Rating: 3/5
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What are NFTs?
Are non-fungible tokens a currency, asset, or a licensing instrument? Arnab Das, global market strategist EMEA at Invesco, says they are mix of all of three.
You can buy, hold and use NFTs just like US dollars and Bitcoins. “They can appreciate in value and even produce cash flows.”
However, while money is fungible, NFTs are not. “One Bitcoin, dollar, euro or dirham is largely indistinguishable from the next. Nothing ties a dollar bill to a particular owner, for example. Nor does it tie you to to any goods, services or assets you bought with that currency. In contrast, NFTs confer specific ownership,” Mr Das says.
This makes NFTs closer to a piece of intellectual property such as a work of art or licence, as you can claim royalties or profit by exchanging it at a higher value later, Mr Das says. “They could provide a sustainable income stream.”
This income will depend on future demand and use, which makes NFTs difficult to value. “However, there is a credible use case for many forms of intellectual property, notably art, songs, videos,” Mr Das says.
The past winners
2009 - Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull)
2010 - Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull)
2011 - Lewis Hamilton (McLaren)
2012 - Kimi Raikkonen (Lotus)
2013 - Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull)
2014 - Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)
2015 - Nico Rosberg (Mercedes)
2016 - Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)
2017 - Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes)
