A 30-year-old man has been arrested in connection to a crash that left a woman dead and several others injured after police say he was driving so fast on a … Click to Continue »
JPMorgan Chase CEO and Chairman Jamie Dimon came to downtown Miami Wednesday to announce the global company’s plan to hire 125 bankers by the end of the year to better … Click to Continue »
Chicago’s police oversight agency cast uncertainty Thursday on whether a man fatally shot by officers fired his weapon in what Supt. David Brown has termed an “apparent exchange of gunfire.” … Click to Continue »
The Senate now has its version of a bill that would allow Floridians to carry concealed firearms without a permit or training — but unlike the House bill, this one … Click to Continue »
Less than two months after the defense team for Dedrick Williams — one of the three suspects on trial for the murder of XXXtentacion — listed a slew of artists as potential witnesses in December, one of those artists is now being ordered to appear in court.
Due to a feud between Drake and the late rapper born Jahseh Onfroy, who was shot and killed in 2018, defense attorney Mauricio Padilla believes the Certified Lover Boy superstar is connected to XXX’s death — and in an effort to solidify that claim, he tried to subpoena the Certified Lover Boy rapper last month. But according to a court document obtained by Billboard, Drake failed to appear on his scheduled deposition date of Jan. 27 and is now being ordered to appear for a deposition on Feb. 24 via Zoom video. If he fails to appear again, he may be held in contempt.
A representative for Drake did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Drake’s alleged involvement in the murder stems from unsubstantiated rumors that swirled following XXXtentacion’s death, connected with a 2017 beef over what XXX believed to be a rip-off by Drake of his flows from breakout track “Look at Me!” on Drake’s “KMT.” A year after the drama, a story was posted to XXX’s Instagram page that read, “If anyone tries to kill me it was @champagnepapi,” tagging Drake’s Instagram handle. Afterward, XXXtentacion claimed his account was hacked; he was killed four months later in Deerfield Beach, Fla.
According to a December court filing, “Onfroy relentlessly taunted Graham on social media making statements about his mother and even posting a picture of a Drake look alike with semen on his face,” following frustrations that Drake didn’t lend him a hand during his time behind bars in 2016-17. Tensions continued to escalate, with XXX allegedly involving DJ Akademiks by asking the media personality to repost the photo. The filing went on to accuse Drake of having ties to “gang related activities” while naming Somali Canadian rapper Hassan Ali, a “suspected member of the Jungle Bloods Street Gang,” as a possible associate (Drake has publicly been connected to Ali via his own Instagram posts). In an interview, Ali also told Akademiks that he’s “Drake’s shooter.”
In the December filing, Padilla also listed Quavo, Offset, late Migos rapper Takeoff, Tekashi 6ix9ine and Joe Budden as potential witnesses, but at a subsequent hearing reported on by the Miami Herald, prosecutors called the move a stunt. “It is apparent from the deliberate, late disclosure of the defendant’s witnesses and comments made between the parties that [the] defendant intended to ‘surprise’ the state and create a trial by ambush,” wrote prosecutor Pascale Achille, as reported by the Herald. Broward Country Circuit Judge Michael Usan then demanded answers from Padilla in writing as to why the superstars were relevant to the case.
“They are high-profile people. And it’s not easy for me to subpoena,” Padilla answered. “I don’t have numbers, but it doesn’t mean I won’t be able to. Trying to subpoena Drake is not easy — you need a drone.”
Recent news — quarterly earnings releases and a major investment — had big impacts on some music companies’ stocks Thursday (Feb. 9).
Warner Music Group shares fell 4.3% to $35.09 and dropped as much as 10.5% during the day following the company’s fiscal first quarter earnings release Thursday. Warner’s revenue fell 7.8% (2.7% at constant currency) to $1.48 billion and net income fell 34% to $124 million. A relatively light release schedule, a slowdown in ad-supported revenue and a shorter quarter — the prior year period had one additional week — contributed to the decline. New CEO Robert Kyncl called it a “tough quarter” and pointed to a slate of releases in the second half of the year by Ed Sheeran, Cardi B and David Guetta.
MSG Entertainment shares ended the day up 11.7% to $59.58 and reached as high as $61.33 during the day, up 15% from the prior day’s closing price. Revenue in the quarter rose 24% to $642.2 million. The proposed spinoff is expected to be completed by the end of March and the MSG Sphere in Las Vegas is slated to open in September. Investors had other reasons to cheer, however, as MSGE announced it implemented a cost reduction program that resulted in layoffs and other non-labor savings.
In Seoul, SM Entertainment shares rose nearly 19% to 117,000 won on Friday (Feb. 10) on news that HYBE acquired a 14.8% stake to become its largest shareholder, though shares dipped to 109,800 won, up 11.5%, by mid-morning. Likewise, HYBE shares climbed as much as 10.2% to 218,500 won ($172.76) before falling to 212,500 won ($168), up 7.2% from the previous closing price.
LiveOne shares gained 2.1% to $0.97 despite climbing as high as $1.09, up 14.7% from Monday’s closing price. The company raised its guidance for full-year adjusted EBITDA from $11 million to $12 million. LiveOne’s revenue for the quarter ended Dec. 31 declined 17% to $27.3 million due to its decision not to produce “capital-intensive tentpole or pay-per-view events” until next fiscal year. That decision, along with reduced annual expenses and overhead, helped LiveOne turn adjusted EBITDA from -$4.8 million to $3 million.
The U.S. markets broadly fell on Thursday. The New York Stock Exchange dropped 0.7% and the Nasdaq fell 1%. The S&P 500 fell 0.9%. Markets in Europe fared better, however. The DAX, an index of 40 blue-chip German stocks, rose 0.7%. The FTSE 100, a measure of 100 stocks on the London Stock Exchange, rose 0.3%.
The Brit Awards are returning to London’s The O2 arena on Saturday (Feb. 11), with Mo Gilligan hosting the prestigious ceremony across the pond.
While the ceremony will air on ITV at 3 p.m. ET/12 p.m. PT, if you’re not in England and are still hoping to catch the Brit Awards live, you’re going to need access to a VPN like ExpressVPN, which you can sign up for here. A live stream will also be hosted on the BRIT Awards’ official YouTube channel.
“Hosting the BRITs last year was one of the most phenomenal moments of my life,” Mo Gilligan previously said in a press statement of his upcoming hosting gig. “I’ve been so honoured to get to know the incredible team behind the biggest night in music and so proud to bring our amazing audiences even closer to their favourite artists. I promise you, we’re going to go even bigger this year… Let’s go!”
Harry Styles and Wet Leg, who are also performing at the 2023 Brit Awards, are the leading nominees with four nods each. Other artists vying for multiple awards include Aitch, Arctic Monkeys, Beyoncé, Cat Burns, Dave, Ed Sheeran, Eliza Rose, Lizzo, Nova Twins, Sam Smith, Stormzy and Taylor Swift.
The nominees for Mastercard album of the year are The 1975’s Being Funny in a Foreign Language, Wet Leg’s Wet Leg, Styles’ Harry’s House, Stormzy’s This Is What I Mean and Fred again…’s Actual Life 3 (January 1- September 9 2022).
R&B girl group FLO have already been announced as winners of the 2023 Rising Star award. See Billboard‘s full list of Brits nominations here.
Harry Styles, Lizzo and Sam Smith & Kim Petras, who all performed on the Grammy telecast on Feb. 5 (and also all walked off with awards), are scheduled to perform again on Saturday Feb. 11 at the Brit Awards, which will be held at the O2 arena in London.
They’ll barely have time to get over their jet lag before they’re in front of another arena filled with screaming fans (in the cheap seats) and more reserved industry types (closer to the stage).
Wet Leg, which won two Grammys in the alternative music field, but did not snag a performance slot on Sunday’s telecast, will perform on the Brits.
The Brits have not revealed which songs these stars will sing. Styles performed his megahit “As It Was” on the Grammys. Lizzo sang “About Damn Time” and “Special.” Smith and Petras performed “Unholy.” Smith and Petras are expected to perform that smash again. David Guetta, Becky Hill and Ella Henderson are expected to perform “Crazy What Love Can Do.”
The final performer announced for the Brits was Lewis Capaldi – who last performed at the Brits in 2020, when he sang his breakthrough smash “Someone You Loved.” Capaldi was characteristically self-effacing in a statement: “Last time I played The BRIT Awards I was so scared that I had a panic attack before I went on, and then got hammered afterwards. Looking forward to more of the same this year x.”
Comedian Mo Gilligan will host the BRIT Awards 2023 with Mastercard – the show’s official name – for the second year in a row.
For American fans accustomed to Grammy and Oscar telecasts that often drag on past 3-1/2 hours, the Brit Awards, which stick pretty close to their two-hour scheduled runtime, may seem positively fast-paced. (It’s worth noting that the Grammys were a two-hour show until the 25th anniversary edition on Feb. 23, 1983 when it expanded to three hours for the first time. It never went back.)
Styles and Wet Leg are the leading nominees for the 2023 Brit Awards, with four nods each. Other artists vying for multiple awards include Aitch, Arctic Monkeys, Beyoncé, Cat Burns, Dave, Ed Sheeran, Eliza Rose, Lizzo, Nova Twins, Sam Smith, Stormzy and Taylor Swift.
R&B girl group FLO have already been announced as winners of the 2023 Rising Star award.
This marks the first time the Brits have aired on a Saturday. The show will be broadcast exclusively on ITV1 and ITVX from 8.30pm GMT. Outside of the U.K., it’s available globally at youtube.com/BRITs
Clara Amfo, Maya Jama and Roman Kemp will return to host the BRIT Awards 2023: Red Carpet show on ITV2 and ITVX, which begins at 7.30pm GMT.
2023 will mark 30 years of ITV as the Brits’ broadcast partner, 25 years of Mastercard as headline sponsor and 13 years with the show at The O2.
Here’s the full list of performers for the 2023 Brit Awards:
Cat Burns
David Guetta & Becky Hill & Ella Henderson
Harry Styles
Lewis Capaldi
Lizzo
Sam Smith & Kim Petras
Stormzy
Wet Leg
HYBE, the company behind K-pop groups BTS and TOMORROW X TOGETHER, has acquired a leading stake in competing K-pop company SM Entertainment, home to artists including NCT 127, Super M and Aespa. According to a regulatory filing posted Friday (Feb. 10) in Seoul, HYBE acquired shares in the company worth 422.8 billion won ($334.3 million), making it the company’s largest shareholder.
HYBE purchased 3.5 million shares from SM Entertainment founder Lee Soo-man, SM Entertainment’s largest shareholder, at 120,000 won ($94.88) per share, a 21.8% premium over the prior day’s closing price. SM Entertainment shares rose nearly 19% to 117,000 won Friday morning before falling to 109,600 by mid-morning.
The deal gives HYBE a 14.8% stake in the publicly traded music company, which has a market capitalization worth roughly $1.8 billion. HYBE’s market capitalization is worth roughly $6.5 billion.
Lee, who is currently embroiled in a power struggle with SM Entertainment’s management, had owned roughly 18.5% of SM Entertainment’s outstanding shares, according to the company’s investor relations website. Following the sale to HYBE, he is left with roughly 869,000 shares and a 3.7% stake. Lee has a put option to sell his remaining shares one year after either HYBE’s purchase or the date of the business combination, whichever comes first, according to the filing.
Korean tech company Kakao, the owner of the music streaming service Melon, announced on Tuesday it would acquire a 9.05% stake in SM Entertainment, making it the company’s second-largest shareholder. Lee opposes Kakao’s investment, however. According to a report, Lee intends to called SM Entertainment and Kakao’s plan an “act of illegality against the commercial law and article of association” in which SM Entertainment would issue new stock and convertible bonds.
Kakao’s investment would increase the number of SM Entertainment’s outstanding shares and dilute other shareholders’ stakes. On March 6, according to a Kakao regulatory filing, Kakao will be issued 1.23 million shares and bonds that can be converted in March 2024 into 1.14 million shares. The additional 2.37 million shares would increase the outstanding shares from 23.8 million to 26.2 million and reduce HYBE’s stake from 14.8% to 13.5%.
The investment in SM Entertainment is HYBE’s second major deal in as many days. On Wednesday, HYBE America announced it had purchased QC Media Holdings, the parent company of Atlanta-based hip-hop label Quality Control Music. The $300 million deal adds artists including Migos, Lil Baby, Lil Yachty and City Girls to HYBE’s roster and puts the Quality Control roster under the leadership of HYBE America CEO Scooter Braun.
Miami-Dade County could join the list of governments banning TikTok, the popular social media app owned by a Chinese company. Commissioner Danielle Cohen Higgins proposed legislation to ban the app … Click to Continue »
