business
Taylor Swift’s Accusers Say She Must Face ‘Shake It Off’ Trial, Even If She’s ‘Unhappy’
A pair of songwriters who say Taylor Swift stole the lyrics to “Shake It Off” have fired back at the superstar’s renewed efforts to escape the case, saying she’s not entitled to “rehash” old arguments simply because she’s “unhappy” that a judge sent the case to trial. Explore See latest videos, charts and news After a federal judge ruled in December that Swift would have to stand trial over claims that she lifted lyrics from the 2001 song “Playas Gon’ Play,” her attorneys quickly asked the judge to reconsider his own decision – a rare step that judges take only if they’ve clearly gotten something wrong. Swift’s attorneys say the ruling was “unprecedented” and potentially harmful to other artists, but in a response filed Friday (Jan. 14), attorneys for “Playas” songwriters Sean Hall and Nat...
Tiffany Haddish Charged With DUI in Georgia
Tiffany Haddish was arrested Friday (Jan. 14) and charged with driving under the influence, authorities said. The actor and comedian was detained after Peachtree City Police got a call about 2:30 a.m. regarding a driver asleep at the wheel on a highway, Assistant Police Chief Matt Myers said in a news release. An officer saw a vehicle matching the caller’s description and stopped Haddish as she pulled into the yard of a residence, Myers said. Haddish later posted $1,666 bond and was released from the Fayette County Jail, Myers said. He did not release any information about a possible court date. Explore See latest videos, charts and news A spokesman for Haddish did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment. Haddish was the breakout star of the smash comedy Girls Trip and ha...
Going meta: Disney, Second Life and K-pop
Following the announcement that Facebook’s parent company would be rebranding in a shift towards the Metaverse, many projects have started similar initiatives entering the virtual space, from buying property to testing the limits of what this universe has to offer. Visit Disneyland… in the Metaverse? The entertainment company behind some of the most popular theme parks in the world recently had a patent approved for a “virtual-world simulator in a real-world venue.” Though the Los Angeles Times reported that Disney had “no current plans” to use the simulator in the near future, the application does suggest Disneyland and Disney World guests may eventually see Metaverse attractions at one or more of the parks in the United States, Hong Kong, China, France and Japan. Disney World in Or...
Bitfinex advises Ontario-based users to close accounts before March 1
In a Friday announcement, Bitfinex said it would be immediately closing the accounts for Ontario-based customers who have no balances on the platform. In addition, it planned to restrict access to those who do not have open positions in the exchange’s peer-to-peer financing market or open margin positions. Users who have balances or open positions on Bitfinex and are one of the roughly 15 million residents of Ontario — which includes Toronto and the nation’s capital city of Ottawa — “will no longer have access to any services” starting on March 1. The exchange advised customers to withdraw funds before the effective date. Though Bitfinex did not mention the Ontario Securities Commission, or OSC, the region’s financial watchdog has been responsible for cracking down on crypto exchange...
Executive Turntable: Merlin Conjures New Board; WMUK Label Vet Promoted to SVP, Commercial
Merlin announced its newly-elected board, which includes representatives from 12 countries across Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, North America and Oceania. The Merlin board includes equal representation from the organization’s three regional blocs: North America, Europe and All Other Countries, according to a press release. Nine of this year’s board members were elected or appointed for their first term, while 11 members are returning for another term. Newly elected to the 2022 board are: Pascal Bittard, owner of IDOL (France); Tom Deakin, head, EMEA at AudioSalad (U.K.); Sandra Ortega, director, global partnerships at Altafonte (Mexico); Louis Posen, president & executive director at Hopeless Records (U.S.); Jason Taylor, director, sales & label relations at Redeye (U.S.); a...
Round Hill Music Acquires David Coverdale Catalog
The Round Hill Music Royalty Fund has acquired a bundle of music rights from David Coverdale, the Whitesnake frontman and former lead singer of Deep Purple. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. According to the announcement, the acquisition includes his music publishing and master recording royalties and from his three-album stint in the mid-1970s with Deep Purple — Burn, Come Taste The Band, and Stormbringer — and from his entire Whitesnake catalog including the band’s multi-platinum 1987 self-titled album. Also, as part of the deal Round Hill apparently has acquired some Whitesnake master recordings that Coverdale owned. In addition, the deal includes a neighboring rights administration agreement for both his Whitesnake’s catalog and his share of the Deep Purple albums he performed on. ...
Japan-based crypto exchange DeCurret plans to sell to HK’s Amber Group: report
The holding company behind DeCurret, the Japan-based company offering trading and exchanges of digital assets, reportedly plans to sell its crypto business to investment platform Amber Group. According to a Wednesday report from the Nikkei newspaper, DeCurret Holdings intends to sell the crypto branch of its business to the Hong Kong-based company Amber Group in February. Though the details of the acquisition are unclear, the news outlet reported that the sale price would be in the millions of dollars. DeCurret established a new business structure in December 2021, launching a holding company, DeCurret Holdings, and separating its digital currency and crypto business into separate subsidiaries. Under the proposed arrangement, DeCurret Inc. will represent the company’s crypto exchange busin...
‘Nevermind’ Baby Revives Child Porn Lawsuit Against Nirvana
The man who appeared as a nude baby on the cover of Nirvana’s album Nevermind has refiled his lawsuit claiming that the iconic image violated child pornography laws, less than two weeks after it was dismissed by a federal judge. Citing a blown deadline, the judge dismissed the case last week, but he gave Spencer Elden – the now-30-year-old man featured on the 1991 album cover – “one last opportunity” to refile his lawsuit “if plaintiff still wishes to pursue this action.” On Wednesday, attorneys for Elden did so, once again accusing the band of breaching federal child pornography laws by using “a lascivious exhibition of Spencer’s genitals” for commercial gain. “The focal point of the Nevermind album cover is Spencer’s genitals and pubic area,” Elden’s attorneys wrote in the new complaint,...
Northwest Arkansas offering $10K in Bitcoin to attract remote workers
The Northwest Arkansas Council, consisting of business leaders aimed at promoting development in the region, has announced a crypto incentive program to bring in tech professionals and entrepreneurs willing to work remotely. In a Wednesday announcement, council president and CEO Nelson Peacock said the area would be looking to expand its range of talent in the tech industry by offering $10,000 in Bitcoin (BTC) — roughly 0.23 BTC at the current price of $43,610 — in addition to a bicycle or membership to arts and cultural facilities. The “Bitcoin and a Bike” program, the next stage of the area’s Life Works Here initiative, is specifically aimed at embracing professionals in blockchain-related fields. The program will offer the crypto incentive to qualifying individuals willing to live for a...
Seattle’s Bumbershoot Festival Secures New Local Producer
Seattle’s beloved Bumbershoot Arts & Culture festival has secured a new producer. Seattle Center – part of the Uptown Arts & Cultural District and home to Climate Pledge Arena – has selected the New Rising Sun coalition as its production partner to reimagine the local event. New Rising Sun is a coalition of Seattle-based arts, entertainment and cultural leaders. The group was founded by Neumos co-owner Steven Severin, Museums of Museums founder Greg Lundgren and McCaw Hall general manager Joe Paganelli. The founders will be supported by a team of Seattle’s business and community leaders, activists, artists and entrepreneurs in their work to develop a reimagined Bumbershoot. “Seattle arts are kick-ass, and we’re so excited to be partnering with Seattle Center to re-imagine...
Tupac’s Sister Says Trustee ‘Embezzled Millions’ From Mother’s Estate
Tupac Shakur’s sister is suing the executor of their late mother’s estate, accusing him of having “embezzled millions” and refusing to hand over personal items with “tremendous sentimental value” that belonged to the hip-hop legend, including gold records. Explore See latest videos, charts and news In a lawsuit filed Monday (Jan 10) in Los Angeles court, Sekyiwa Shakur and The Tupac Shakur Foundation accused Tom Whalley of “blatant violations” of his duties as the executor of Afeni Shakur-Davis’s estate, including allegedly installing himself in a key management role despite a conflict of interest. “He has effectively embezzled millions of dollars for his own benefit,” Sekyiwa wrote. “Whalley has unreasonably enriched himself at the expense of the beneficiaries and in bad faith by taking e...
Capitol U.K. Co-President Nick Raphael Exits Company
Nick Raphael, the co-president of Capitol Records U.K., has exited the company, sources confirmed to Billboard. No reason was given for the exec’s departure, which was said to be amicable, in news that was first reported by Record of the Day. Raphael was named president of Capitol’s British outpost upon its launch in April 2013, when he moved from London Records to take over the newly-standalone frontline, shortly after Steve Barnett took the reins at Capitol Music Group. His exit comes weeks after Michelle Jubelirer was named the new chairman/CEO of CMG globally. Co-president Jo Charrington will continue to lead the label as its sole president moving forward, sources tell Billboard. Charrington has a long history alongside Raphael, having moved from London Records to Capitol U.K. in 2013 ...
