Month: June 2020

Topic, the US streaming service of First Look Media, has acquired a pair of high-profile Nordic series, “Peacemaker” and “Sex” for North America. Both premium series are represented in international markets by Copenhagen-based REInvent Studios, the outfit launched by Rikke Ennis, the former CEO of TrustNordisk. “Sex,” which had its international at the Berlinale Series,
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Grammy Awards are great, but the Recording Academy’s greatest contribution to the music industry is arguably MusiCares — its charitable foundation to support music industry workers in need. In simpler times, it helps people with everything from emergency health care to substance-abuse treatment, but in recent months much of its focus has been on helping all music people
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Former “SpongeBob SquarePants” storyboard artist John Trabbic III had just gotten a greenlight from Nickelodeon for his own animated series, “Middlemost Post,” about a rain cloud that just wants to make everyone happy, when the coronavirus pandemic hit, forcing Nick to close the studio’s doors and send all its artists home.  But instead of putting
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Spanish-language broadcaster Univision plans to offer live sports and scripted series in coming months, as the network’s company strives to woo ad dollars from English competitors while being sold to a new company in the not-too-distant future. Univision plans to unveil 11 new scripted series, the result of a long production pipeline that readies series
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A tribute album to Adam Schlesinger being released today on Bandcamp includes cover songs by two actors who collaborated with the late songwriter on projects, Rachel Bloom and Sarah Silverman, as well as contemporaries of Schlesinger’s from the rock world like Kay Hanley, Nada Surf and Tanya Donnelly. “Saving for a Custom Van,” which takes
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The European Union has ratcheted up its scrutiny of Apple’s business practices. The EU announced Tuesday that it has formally launched investigations into whether Apple’s rules for app developers covering distribution of apps via the App Store violate EU competition rules. In addition, European regulators opened an antitrust investigation into the tech company’s Apple Pay
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Nick Cannon knew exactly where he wanted to be. On Feb. 19, the multi-hyphenate comedian, TV and radio host, rapper, producer, entrepreneur and activist gathered with a small group of Debmar-Mercury executives in New York to discuss plans for the daytime syndicated talk show that Cannon will launch in September with the Lionsgate-owned distributor. The
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Marc Antoine d’Halluin in December was appointed CEO of leading Middle Eastern free-to-air satellite network MBC Group, which also operates the region’s top SVOD service. Its recently rebranded and reconceived Shahid VIP platform since January has seen its subscriber growth skyrocket. A combination of the coronavirus pandemic, Ramadan, and MBC’s stepped-up efforts to produce high-end
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Katy Perry, Adam Lambert, Big Freedia, Billy Porter, Kim Petras, Melissa Etheridge, Sia and Ricky Martin are among the stars on deck for “Can’t Cancel Pride,” a COVID-19 relief benefit for the LGBTQ+ Community. The virtual relief benefit produced by iHeartMedia and Procter & Gamble is designed to help raise visibility and funds for LGBTQ+
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MusiCares, the Recording Academy’s charitable wing, has appointed Laura Segura to the organization’s newly created role of executive director. “On behalf of everyone at the Recording Academy, we are so excited and proud that Laura Segura is moving up to lead MusiCares,” said Academy Chair and Interim President/CEO Harvey Mason jr. “Laura’s incredible work here over
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Chile’s animation industry has gone from nearly non-existent to one of the most highly regarded and best exported in Latin America in just two decades. For the third consecutive year, a Chilean feature is in competition at Annecy (“Nahuel and the Magic Book” 2020, “Homeless” 2019, “The Wolf House” 2018), and in 2016 “Bear Story”
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Universal Music Group (UMG) has expanded its Middle East and North Africa operations by launching new divisions in Morocco and Israel. Universal Music Morocco will operate from Casablanca, led by business development executive Serena Safieddine, who will work alongside UMG’s regional headquarters in Dubai, and report into Patrick Boulos, CEO of Universal Music MENA. The
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French distributor ARP has acquired “Supernova,” a romantic drama starring Colin Firth and Stanley Tucci as a longtime couple on a road trip. The film, represented by The Bureau Sales, has now inked distribution deals in almost all territories worldwide. The deal was signed by Bureau Sales’ Clémentine Hugot and ARP’s Michele Halberstadt. Other European
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With “The Summit of the Gods” shaping up as one of the major draws of this year’s online Annecy Work in Progress section, Didier and Damien Brunner’s Paris-based Folivari is teaming with France’s Gaumont on a second signature animated feature, “The Nazis, My Father and Me.” Putting its large weight behind the title, Gaumont will
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North Korea has blown up the liaison office between the two Koreas, following days of tension between the neighbors. South Korea’s Unification Ministry sent out a one-line message on Tuesday afternoon: “North Korea blows up Kaesong Liaison Office at 14:49.” North Korea was angered by the floating of anti-regime leaflets from the South by former
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