Business
Interview with Entrepreneur, Small Business Owner, & Creative Zacharij Martin-Ned
We took time to find out more about this Texas born & bred mini-mogul. Check out our conversation:
Journalist : Introduce Yourself?
A: Goodmorning. My name is Zacharij, but I tend to go by my second last name, Ned. I’m a 27 year old owner/entrepreneur based in Killeen, Texas.
Journalist: Where are you from originally?
A: I was born in Conroe Texas, but I moved around a lot due to my mom being in the US Army.
Journalist: What’s it like growing up in the military environment?
A: Being a kid, I didn’t have much choice when she (mom) would be stationed, or deployed; so it was very inconsistent; but we made the best of things. I met a lot of interesting people growing up & moving so often.
Journalist: What do you now?
A: I do a few things. I run a media-centered blog focused on the artists, news, and overall talent in the Central Texas (& surrounding) area. I also create graphics such as logos, flyers, cartoons, and custom artwork. I manage local artists, & on top of that, I work part-time at a local smoke shop. (R.I.P. Zyrie)
Journalist: What made you want to start your brand, Zipp Squad Productions/Entertainment?
A: I felt the need to give creatives like me an open space they can network, share their ideas/content, and collaborate with similar artists in the surrounding areas.
Journalist: What is there to do in Killeen, Texas?
A: Lots. Plenty of great food spots, bars, etc. We have an adult arcade you can drink at, trampoline parks, parks & rec., clubs, & more. For artists, there are a lot of recording studios, and new stores/venues popping up daily. It just takes exploring and finding what’s right for you in the city.
Journalist: What’s your favorite food spot in your city?
A: Korean Kitchen on Veterans Memorial Blvd, hands down.
Journalist: Where can people find you on social media?
A: Instagram – @zippsquadent / @zsp254 / @ned4zsp
Facebook -Zipp Squad Entertainment / Zipp Squad Productions
Journalist: Any tips to other aspiring entrepreneurs?
A: Take it one day at a time. The master only becomes so after being a student. It takes time. Don’t rush yourself, and focus.
Journalist: What’s next for the young businessman?
A: Stay tuned, and you’ll find out.
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New York, NY – With Megan 2.0 officially making its debut in theaters today, film fans are flocking to experience the next evolution of the AI thriller. But earlier this week, a select crowd got an early taste of the future; not just on screen but at the premiere event itself.
Held in NYC, the exclusive red carpet affair brought the eerie charm of Megan to life with bold visuals, immersive production and one very memorable surprise: a robotic bartender that served up custom cocktails with style and precision.
The event perfectly mirrored the film’s themes of artificial intelligence and blurred human boundaries. That connection came to life through MixMaster II, a robotic mixologist provided by TLC Creative. From the moment it powered on, the robot captivated guests with its smooth movements, expert pours and almost-human energy.
“I’ve seen robots in tech demos, but never at a movie premiere serving drinks like a pro,” said one film executive. “It felt like we stepped into the movie universe.”
Two signature cocktails were created for the occasion:
- M3GAN’s Punch – bold, flavorful and as unpredictable as the AI star of the show.
- Slaying Summer – a lighter, tropical favorite that became an instant hit among partygoers.
Guests joked that MixMaster II seemed to be enjoying the night just as much as they were and may have even wanted to join the screening. “It kept facing the theater entrance like it was hoping someone would invite it in,” one attendee laughed.
Adding to the evening’s flair was Captain Morgan, who brought their own twist with customized “Captain Megan” branding on select bottles. The clever crossover between brand and blockbuster got guests talking and sipping.
“The branded bottles were genius,” said a well-known social media personality. “I’ve already posted mine. Everyone wants one.”
“Having MixMaster II on the red carpet truly elevated the experience,” added a TLC Creative spokesperson. “The Megan franchise is known for blurring the line between humanity and robotics so it was only fitting that we brought a real robot into the celebration.”
Now that Megan 2.0 is officially released, one thing is certain: the future of storytelling isn’t just on the big screen, it’s all around us and sometimes, it’s pouring your drink.
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Billboard Top Hip-hop
Platinum Audio Engineer & Award-Winning Writer Mark “Savage” on Entering Management and Tackling Patriarchy
For years, Mark “Savage” Sanders bold, dynamic mixing style has landed him work behind the boards of major tours and hit records alike. Working with artists like Shordie Shordie, Lizzo, Coi Leray, Kevin Gates, Fetty Wap, Kelly Rowland and more, Mark sports an ever-expanding discography of cutting edge of popular music. We spoke with Mark to get insights into his career arc, workflow, and to understand how his unique sound is built upon a firm foundation of technical skill, knowledge and deep listening.
For starters, could you tell me how you got into engineering?
So at my high school they had an early college program where you could get your associates or a certificate by graduation. I wasn’t looking to be an audio engineer. I don’t even think I really knew what an audio engineer was, which makes it all the more crazy. I saw music production schools, but I went for audio engineering at Full Sail University.
What boards were you working on when you were doing live sound?
It was whatever the house had. Working on Mackie boards or Yamaha boards that only had seven inputs that worked—Avid and Midas consoles, the M32s, the Behringer X32, a lot of different stuff. Being a live sound engineer taught me so much signal flow and having to adapt to different spaces and different gear all the time. If I’m on tour and we’re generally using the same board, we’re probably never using the same monitors for front-of-house. The rooms are bigger or smaller—different places have different problem areas—being in a stadium or doing a festival where you have delays and all that stuff is just insane.
So you were ghostwriting, engineering, producing, and rapping in the beginning?
Yes I did it all except play an instrument.
Now today you’ve received a BMI Award, 2x Platinum, and over 12,000 sync placements how does it feel?
If I had to be honest I don’t care about any of it anymore. I want to see my Son win big like this. I’m more into family these days. I did everything I wanted in life and overachieved. I’m good!
We see you have Royalty ENTERTAINMENT & managing as far as entertainment goes what else can we expect?
Whatever God does. I’m not chasing anything anymore. Focused on living life, family, and wealth/health. Definitely support my DJ, DJ King, Ashley Blaire, and Pretty Liyah. Other than that I’m about to be out the way. (He laughs) I’m so burnt out. I’m chilling.
Last question, seeing that you did everything you wanted is there anything left that you haven’t 2025 going forward?
No just travel more that’s it. Like when I say I’ve given life everything I’ve had. I’ve given it everything. Plus I think most people are waiting for me to be famous or something which I’m avoiding and praying never happens.
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