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20 articles
What Jay Z's Tidal Means for the Freemium vs. Premium Debate
2 hours ago
Jay Z’s Tidal is a lot of things: a star-studded streaming service with 17 of music’s biggest names as key stakeholders; an ambitious new player in a still-nascent but increasingly competitive marketplace that includes iTunes, Beats, Spotify, Pandora, Rdio and Deezer; and a $56.2 million bet on the future of high-definition “lossless” audio, a technology in which fellow musician Neil Young is also heavily invested. But it’s also the latest step in moving the music industry toward its “Netflix” inflection point: converting consumers who are used to streaming content for free to pay a monthly fee.
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- Andrew Hampp, Billboard
'Jurassic World' Director Colin Trevorrow Tackling 'Book of Henry'
2 hours ago
Colin Trevorrow, who is prepping for the June 12 release of Jurassic World, has signed on to direct Book of Henry for Sidney Kimmel Entertainment. Ske will independently finance and co-produce the film with Double Nickel Entertainment. Plot details are being kept on the shelf, but the script is an original work by Gregg Hurwitz, the author behind such books as Tell No Lies, You’re Next and Don’t Look Back. He also has written comics for Marvel and DC. Sidney Kimmel will produce, along with Double Nickel’s Jenette Kahn and Adam Richman. Ske’s Carla Hacken and Jim Tauber are executive producers.
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- Borys Kit
Jay Z Likely Headed to Trial in 'Big Pimpin' Sampling Lawsuit
5 hours ago
Now in its eighth year, the long-running litigation over whether Jay Z rightfully sampled an Egyptian tune in his hit single "Big Pimpin'" is getting closer to resolution. With the trial scheduled for Oct. 13, the judge on Monday indicated she’d likely deny Osama Ahmed Fahmy's motion for summary judgment against the rapper. Fahmy’s lawsuit centers on the composition "Khosara, Khosara" from the 1960 Egyptian film Fata ahlami, which Jay Z and Timbaland (who is a co-defendant) turned into the unmistakable hook of the rapper’s 2000 single. Fahmy claims he's an heir of “Khosara Khosara” composer Baligh Hamdy
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- Austin Siegemund-Broka
'The Wiz' Set as NBC's Next Live Musical
5 hours ago
NBC is upping its live musical game. The network on Monday announced that The Wiz will be its next live musical performance — with Cirque du Soleil boarding the project with plans to bring the show to Broadway in 2016. NBC's The Wiz, set for Thursday, Dec. 3, will again be executive produced by Sound of Music and Peter Pan duo Craig Zadan and Neil Meron, with Tony-winning director Kenny Leon attached to direct both the live event as well as the Broadway revival in 2016-17. Tony winner and Broadway icon Harvey Fierstein will contribute new material to
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- Lesley Goldberg
Google Gets Key Ruling in Battle With Mississippi Ag
5 hours ago
Has "Operation Goliath" backfired for the MPAA? On Friday, a Mississippi federal judge handed Google some good news by not only granting the web giant's motion for a preliminary injunction against Jim Hood, the state attorney general, but also finding that it is likely that "editorial judgment as to [Google's] search results is constitutionally protected." As revealed by the Sony hack, the MPAA worked with leading law enforcement officials like Hood to get tough on Google, often blamed by the film studios for contributing to copyright infringement by allowing links to pirate sites or not adopting stronger filters for
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- Eriq Gardner
What Trevor Noah's 'Daily Show' Hiring Means for Late-Night TV
6 hours ago
In the spirit of the channel, a satirical congratulations to Comedy Central for bungling an opportunity to not only put a second African-American into a late night chair, but also a female, when it ill-advisedly passed over the wonderfully talented Aisha Tyler. It’s another exasperating whiff for Comedy Central which, in a half-step forward for change, hired young, biracial South African comic Trevor Noah to replace Jon Stewart as host of The Daily Show. The move comes only (mumble, mumble) years after Comedy Central had hired Stephen Colbert, who is even whiter than Stewart, to host The
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- Tim Goodman
'Mortal Instruments' Drama 'Shadowhunters' Goes Straight to Series at ABC Family
7 hours ago
ABC Family is getting into The Mortal Instruments business. The youth-skewing cable network has handed out a straight-to-series order for Shadowhunters, a drama based on author Cassandra Clare's The Mortal Instruments book series, The Hollywood Reporter has learned. Read more 'The Mortal Instruments' to Return as TV Series Constantin Film will produce, and Ed Decter (Helix, Unforgettable, The Client List) is on board to serve as showrunner and executive producer. The drama is being eyed as a 13 episode drama with a premiere date not yet determined; casting is expected to be announced at a later date.
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- Lesley Goldberg
Harvey Weinstein Accused of Groping Woman at Tribeca Film Center
7 hours ago
A 22-year-old woman has filed a police report against Harvey Weinstein, claiming he groped her at the Tribeca Film Center in New York on Friday, and Weinstein was questioned by the police on Saturday. The matter is still under investigation, and no charges have been filed. A spokesperson for the NYPD confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter that the woman, whose identity hasn't been released, filed the report around 8:30 p.m. Friday, roughly two hours after the alleged incident. According to police, the woman alleged that Weinstein had groped her breast. An account of the incident by The New York Times, citing
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- THR Staff
'Walking Dead's' Andrew Lincoln: There's a "Storm Brewing"
7 hours ago
[Warning: This story contains spoilers from "Conquer," the season-five finale of AMC's The Walking Dead.] The Ricktatorship is back. AMC's The Walking Dead wrapped its fifth season in somewhat lackluster fashion with the expected return of a fan favorite and two character deaths that set the stage for a new world order within the walls of Alexandria. Sunday's finale also formally introduced a new human threat in the form of the Wolves, a group whose booby trap nearly claimed the lives of Daryl (Norman Reedus) and Aaron (Ross Marquand). The duo cheated death, however, when Morgan (Lennie James)
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- Lesley Goldberg
Robin Williams Restricted Exploitation of His Image for 25 Years After Death
8 hours ago
On Monday, the family of Robin Williams gathers in a San Francisco courtroom in a quarrel over how to divide personal property such as jewelry and memorabilia. Unfortunately, the dispute overshadows one of the more innovative aspects of Robin Williams' estate planning, which just might become a model for other celebrities preparing for their demise. After all, one thing his wife Susan and children Zachary, Zelda and Cody won't be discussing in court is intangible property like the late actor's right of publicity. According to a review of the Robin Williams Trust — filed as an exhibit last Wednesday —
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- Eriq Gardner
Comedy Central's President on Why Trevor Noah Was Chosen as the Next 'Daily Show' Host (Q&A)
8 hours ago
Comedy Central on Monday announced that 31-year-old South African comedian Trevor Noah would take over The Daily Show from Jon Stewart. Comedy Central president Michele Ganeless discussed the rationale behind the decision, the skill set the young performer brings to the job, how his global perspective will help and and how Noah and Larry Wilmore fit together. How did you come to your decision on Jon's replacement? What was the process? It's a very specific job, and you need a very specific skill set. And when you start to think about who have all the right qualities to host
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- Georg Szalai
Howard T. Owens Launches A+E-Backed Company; David McKillop Becomes Partner
8 hours ago
Howard T. Owens has found his next act. The former National Geographic Channels president has launched Propagate, a content company with the financial backing of A+E Networks. Owens suggests his decision to return to the production end of the business came after several conversations with confidants including A+E chief executive Nancy Dubuc, and a realization that he was happiest in his career when he launched production company Reveille with fellow William Morris vet Ben Silverman in 2002. In the new endeavor, Owens will be paired with former A&E general manager David McKillop, who will join him in segueing back to the seller side as a partner
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- Lacey Rose
'Walking Dead' Ep: Rick and Morgan's Roles Have Reversed
9 hours ago
[Warning: This story contains spoilers from "Conquer," the season five finale of AMC's The Walking Dead.] AMC's The Walking Dead closed the book on season five with a 90-minute episode that kicked off a new era at Alexandria as a fan favorite made his triumphant return. Sunday's finale also formally introduced the Wolves, the potential new villain of the previously announced sixth season who, via a trap, nearly claimed Daryl (Norman Reedus) and Aaron's (Ross Marquand) lives. The duo cheated death, however, when Morgan (Lennie James) saved the day. The trio then officially arrived in Alexandria to see Morgan's
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- Lesley Goldberg
Fox Searchlight Acquires Malala Yousafzai Doc
10 hours ago
Davis Guggenheim's documentary about the renowned Pakistani child activist Malala Yousafzai has found a home. Fox Searchlight Pictures announced Monday it had acquired worldwide rights – with the exception of France which StudioCanal is looking after – to He Named Me Malala. The doc, produced by Walter Parkes and Laurie MacDonald under their long-term production partnership with Image Nation Abu Dhabi and co-financed by Participant Media, offers an "intimate portrait" of 17-year-old Yousafzai, who since being shot and wounded by the Taliban in 2012 has become a leading campaigner for children’s rights and women's education. Last
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- Alex Ritman
DreamWorks Animation Stock Rises as 'Home' Opening Exceeds Expectations
11 hours ago
DreamWorks Animation shares rose nearly 7 percent Monday after the better-than-expected opening weekend for Home. Analysts said the first-weekend performance reduces the risk of a write-down on the movie for the studio led by CEO Jeffrey Katzenberg. The stock ended $1.49 higher on Monday to $24.17. B. Riley & Co. analyst Eric Wold wrote: "Opening weekend box office for Home exceeds expectations," adding that the "write-off risk [is] reduced, but not eliminated." Some were even more optimistic: "The surprisingly strong results eliminate risk of another impairment and should build confidence in
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- Georg Szalai
4 Surprises From One Direction's First Concert Without Zayn Malik
12 hours ago
At Johannesburg's massive Fnb Stadium, 95,000 ecstatic fans Saturday night (March 28) showed One Direction's remaining four members — Harry Styles, Liam Payne, Louis Tomlinson and Niall Horan — that broken hearts should go to South Africa. Because South Africans know how to host a party, crisis or no crisis. The perimeter of the calabash-shaped arena — known as "Soccer City" — began to fill from 12 p.m., suggesting that One Direction without Zayn Malik had not dampened the city's enthusiasm. As queues of preteens, teens and tolerant parents ate farm sausage rolls, their custom T-shirts and signs reflected 1D
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- Tiffany Markman, Billboard
Watch New 'Daily Show' Host Trevor Noah Joke About Learning to Speak "Black-American"
12 hours ago
Trevor Noah, the comedian just named Jon Stewart's successor on The Daily Show, has a history of balancing poignant topics with honest humor. In one of his standup routines, Noah spoke about growing up in a mixed race family in South Africa during apartheid. Noah talked about how his Xhosa mom was arrested for being with his Swiss father. "Well, you know how the Swiss love chocolate," he said. "I was born a crime," added Noah, explaining that his family couldn't be seen together in the streets. His mother would have to drop his hand whenever police came by.
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- Lorena O'Neil
'Walking Dead's' Norman Reedus: The Wolves Are a "Bunch of Daryls Gone South"
20 hours ago
[Warning: This story contains spoilers from "Conquer," the season-five finale of AMC's The Walking Dead.] AMC's The Walking Dead closed out its fifth season Sunday with a 90-minute episode that nearly featured the deaths of two beloved series regulars — Steven Yeun's Glenn and Norman Reedus' Daryl — while also seeing the return of another fan favorite. Read more 'Walking Dead' Ends Season With Bloodshed, Long-Awaited Return, New Threat While searching for survivors to help bolster the ranks at Alexandria, Daryl and Aaron (Ross Marquand) run into a trap set by a group known as the
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- Lesley Goldberg
Watch the New 'Jurassic World' TV Spot (Video)
23 hours ago
Universal aired a new trailer for Jurassic World during the Walking Dead finale on Sunday, and as we edge closer to June 12, audiences were given a bit of a larger peek at the dinosaur that's sure to be the star of the film. Chris Pratt's laconic game-keeper (or should that be dino-keeper?) is perturbed by the seemingly blase attitude of his boss, played by Bryce Dallas Howard, toward creating killer dinosaurs. It's no surprise then when one of the dinosaurs, a female, escapes and goes on a rampage, leading to Pratt stating rather wistfully in admiration, "She's
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- Abid Rahman
'Walking Dead' Ends Season With Bloodshed and Long-Awaited Reunion
29 March 2015 5:50 PM, PDT
[Warning: This story contains spoilers from "Conquer," the season-five finale of AMC's The Walking Dead.] AMC's The Walking Dead ended its fifth season with a bloody finale that was capped by a long-awaited reunion as a new group of villains were officially introduced. The zombie drama, based on Robert Kirkman's best-selling comics, started season five with its largest cast to date and featured the loss of four series regulars (Emily Kinney's Beth, Andrew J. West's Gareth, Larry Gilliard Jr.'s Bob and Chad Coleman's Tyreese as well as recurring player Tyler James Williams' Noah) as
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- Lesley Goldberg
20 articles