Apple Music Launching Built-In Karaoke Feature

Apple Music users will soon be able to sing along to their favorite hits right inside the app.

On Tuesday (Dec. 6), Apple announced the launch of a built-in karaoke function on the streaming service, which will be available to all Apple Music subscribers worldwide later this month. Dubbed Apple Music Sing, the feature will be accessible on iPhone, iPad and the newest model of the Apple TV 4K, with tens of millions of songs available at launch.

Apple Music Sing is similar to a typical karaoke player, highlighting the streamer’s onscreen lyrics beat by beat. Additional functionality includes the option to adjust a song’s vocal levels; the separation of background vocals from main vocals to make the lyrics easier to follow; and a “duet view” that places lyrics from multiple vocalists on opposite sides of the screen to make multi-singer tracks easier to navigate.

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Along with the new feature, Apple Music will additionally be launching a suite of more than 50 thematic Apple Music Sing playlists grouping songs together by genre, decade and more.

“Apple Music’s lyrics experience is consistently one of the most popular features on our service,” said Oliver Schusser, vp of Apple Music and Beats, in a statement on the launch. “We already know our users all over the world love to follow along to their favorite songs, so we wanted to evolve this offering even further to enable even more engagement around music through singing. It’s really a lot of fun, our customers are going to love it.”

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MSG Entertainment’s Updates Spin-Off Plan to Create a Pure-Play Music Company

MSG Sphere, the long-awaited, globe-shaped venue under construction in Las Vegas, has been promised to revolutionize the concert-going experience. Before it even opens, however, MSG Sphere is transforming the corporate structure of its creator.

On Monday, MSG Entertainment announced new plans for an upcoming spin-off that will separate MSG Sphere, the next-generation music venue being built in Las Vegas, from the rest of its live music business.

The latest version of the proposed transaction results is a pure-play music company under the corporate name MSG Entertainment that includes venues such as Madison Madison Square Garden, Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden, Radio City Music Hall, the Beacon Theatre and The Chicago Theatre. MSG Entertainment would also include the entertainment and sports booking business, the Radio City Rockettes and the Christmas Spectacular production, and long-term arena license agreements with New York Knicks and New York Rangers, which play their home games at Madison Square Garden.

The first iteration of the spin-off paired the live music business with MSG Networks, a regional sports network that carries live games of the Knicks, Rangers, New York Giants, New Jersey Devils, New York Islanders and Buffalo Sabres. That would have put the company’s two most mature divisions under one roof, separate from MSG Sphere and Tao Group Hospitality, the operator of restaurant and nightlife properties. MSG Entertainment would, however, combine the financially risky Sphere project with the more stable revenues of MSG Networks, which generated $608.2 million of revenue and $131 million of operating profit in the year ended June 30, 2022. The new plan “is optimal for maximizing shareholder value, while providing both companies with enhanced strategic and financial flexibility to drive long-term growth,” the company said in a statement.

The new spin-off plan puts MSG Networks with MSG Sphere and Tao Group Hospitality. The spin-off company will take the name MSG Sphere Corp and “would have enhanced flexibility to execute its business strategy and pursue global growth opportunities,” executive chairman and CEO James L. Dolan said in a statement.

The proposed transaction would be structured as a tax-free spin-off to all MSGE shareholders. Owners of MSGE Class A and Class B shares would receive a pro-rata distribution expected to amount to about a two-thirds economic interest in MSG Entertainment, the live entertainment company. The parent company, MSG Sphere, would retain approximately a one-third interest in MSG Entertainment.

The $1.8 billion MSG Sphere at The Venetian is slated to open in 2023 with a U2 residency. The spherical venue will provide a multi-sensory experience of audio and visuals for 20,000 standing spectators or 17,500 seated guests. It includes 160,000 square feet of video viewing space and an exterior exosphere with programmable LED technology.

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Fans Had a Lot to Say About Taylor Swift’s New Wax Figure in Dubai

Madame Tussauds Dubai has a new “Mastermind” added to their gallery. The company revealed on Tuesday (Dec. 6) that its wax figure of Taylor Swift is the latest celebrity to join its star-studded lineup.

According to Time Out Dubai, the figure marks the first international addition to Madame Tussauds Dubai since it opened in October 2021. The handcrafted statue featured Swift in a Folklore-style low chignon bun, holding an acoustic guitar. The wax figure is dressed in a red sequined turtleneck top tucked into a pair of high waisted khaki pants.

The new Swift wax figure comes a little more than a month after the Grammy-winning superstar unveiled her 10th studio album, Midnights. The album logs a fifth week atop the Billboard 200 albums chart (dated Dec. 10). The last Swift album with more weeks at No. 1 is Folklore, which notched eight nonconsecutive weeks atop the list in 2020. Since then, she’s claimed four more chart-topping albums: Evermore (four weeks at No. 1 in 2020-21), Fearless (Taylor’s Version) (two weeks, 2021), Red (Taylor’s Version) (one week in 2021) and Midnights (five weeks so far).

And while the wax figure comes at a celebratory time in Swift’s career, fans had mixed feelings about the new installation at Madame Tussauds, unsure if the new piece bears a proper resemblance to the “Anti-Hero” singer. See some reactions below.

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Cardi B Calls Casey Anthony a ‘Disgrace of a Mother’ After Docuseries Release

Cardi B is the latest to speak out following the release of the Peacock docuseries on the Casey Anthony trial, in which the then 25-year-old pled and was determined not guilty to the first degree murder of her two-year-old daughter Caylee.

“I don’t give a deum how they flip it ,switch it, turn it, toss it Casey Anthony is a disgrace of a mother and she shouldn’t have a uterus,” the “Bodak Yellow” rapper tweeted on Monday (Dec. 5). “I don’t feel bad for her or for the daddy YALL KNOW WHAT HAPPENED to that baby !!!!”

In July 2008, three-year-old Caylee was reported missing by Casey’s mother, Cindy, who called authorities after she hadn’t seen the toddler for 31 days. Casey lied to detectives, telling them Caylee had been kidnapped by a nanny. On December 11, 2008, Caylee’s skeletal remains were found with a blanket inside a laundry bag near the Anthony family’s house.

The trial in 2011 lasted six weeks, and the jury found Casey not guilty of first-degree murder, aggravated child abuse, and aggravated manslaughter of a child. She was found guilty of four misdemeanor counts of providing false information to a law enforcement officer.

According to the Peacock docuseries’ description, “Considered one of the first “trials of the century” that polarized conversation in living rooms across America, the Casey Anthony case is one that still leaves more questions than answers. “There have been several movies and documentaries made to fill in the gaps, and yet, the woman at the center of it all remains the biggest mystery. Throughout the exclusive three-part documentary series, Casey Anthony finally tells her side of the story and addresses the public that has made so many assumptions for the past 13 years.”

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Kirstie Alley, Emmy-Winning ‘Cheers’ Star, Dies at 71

Kirstie Alley, who won an Emmy for her role on Cheers and starred in films including Look Who’s Talking, died Monday (Dec. 5). She was 71.

Alley died of cancer that was only recently discovered, her children True and Lillie Parker said in a post on Twitter. Alley’s manager Donovan Daughtry confirmed the death in an email to The Associated Press.

“As iconic as she was on screen, she was an even more amazing mother and grandmother,” her children’s statement said.

She starred opposite Ted Danson as Rebecca Howe on Cheers, the beloved NBC sitcom about a Boston bar, from 1987 to 1993. She joined the show at the height of its popularity after the departure of original star Shelley Long.

Alley would win an Emmy for best lead actress in a comedy series for the role in 1991. She would take a second Emmy for best lead actress in a miniseries or television movie in 1993 for playing the title role in the CBS TV movie David’s Mother.

She had her own sitcom on NBC, Veronica’s Closet, from 1997 to 2000.

In the 1989 comedy Look Who’s Talking, which gave her a major career boost, she played the mother of a baby whose inner thoughts were voiced by Bruce Willis. She would also appear in the 1990 sequel Look Who’s Talking Too.

John Travolta, her co-star in both films, paid her tribute in an Instagram post.

“Kirstie was one of the most special relationships I’ve ever had,” Travolta said, along with a photo of Alley. “I love you Kirstie. I know we will see each other again.”

She would play a fictionalized version of herself in the 2005 Showtime series Fat Actress, a show that drew comedy from her public and media treatment over her weight gain and loss.

And in recent years she appeared on several reality shows, including Dancing With the Stars and The Masked Singer.

A native of Wichita, Kansas, Alley attended Kansas State University before dropping out and moving to Los Angeles.

Her first television appearances were as a game show contestant, on The Match Game in 1979 and Password in 1980.

She made her film debut in 1982′s Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan.

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Here Are All the Performers & Presenters for the 2022 People’s Choice Awards

Lauren Spencer-Smith will perform her hit “Fingers Crossed” on the 2022 People’s Choice Awards, which are set to air on both NBC and E! on Tuesday, Dec. 6, at 9 p.m. ET/PT. The song reached the top 20 on the Billboard Hot 100 in January.

Shania Twain, this year’s Music Icon Award recipient, will also take the stage at Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, Calif., to perform a medley of her hits as well as her new single “Waking Up Dreaming.” The new song is from her upcoming sixth studio album, Queen of Me.

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It’s doubtless just a coincidence, but both singers are Canadian, as is actor and budding director Ryan Reynolds, who will receive the People’s Icon Award. (Spencer-Smith was born in England, but moved to Canada when she was 3.)

Lizzo is set to receive the People’s Champion Award but is not slated to perform.

Kenan Thompson will host the 2022 People’s Choice Awards. Amy Poehler, Billy Porter, David Spade, Ana Gasteyer and Michaela Jaé Rodriguez are among the presenters.

“Live From E!: The 2022 People’s Choice Awards” will air at 7 p.m. ET/PT on E!. Both shows are produced by Den of Thieves, with executive producers Jesse Ignjatovic, Evan Prager and Barb Bialkowski.

Here’s the complete list of performers and presenters:

Performers:

Lauren Spencer Smith (“Fingers Crossed”)

Shania Twain (“Waking Up Dreaming” and hits medley)

Presenters:

Amy Poehler (Baking It)

Ana Gasteyer (actress, American Auto)

Billy Porter

Colin Hanks (actor, A Friend of the Family)

David Spade (comedian, David Spade: Nothing Personal) 

Dwyane Wade (NBA champion/entrepreneur)

George Lopez (actor, Lopez vs. Lopez)

Heidi Klum (host, AGT All Stars)

Laverne Cox (host, If We’re Being Honest with Laverne Cox)

Lil Rel Howery (actor/comedian, Get Out, Free Guy and Lil Rel Howery: I Said It, Y’all Thinking It) 

Mayan Lopez (actress, Lopez vs. Lopez)

McKenna Grace (actress, A Friend of the Family)

Michaela Jaé Rodriguez (actress/musician)

Niecy Nash-Betts (actress, The Rookie Feds and Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story)

 Nikki Glaser (comedian, Nikki Glaser: Good Clean Filth and host, FBOY Island) 

 Sarah Hyland (actress, Pitch Perfect: Bumper in Berlin)

 Sarah Michelle Gellar (actress/executive producer, Wolf Pack)

 The Miz & Maryse (WWE Superstars)

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