ASCAP Delivers Record Revenue of $1.3 Billion for 2021

Naman Ramachandran Vidya Balan (“Kahaani”) and Shefali Shah (“Delhi Crime”), two of India’s finest actors, worked together for the first time in Suresh Triveni’s Amazon Prime Video India original “Jalsa.” The result is an acting masterclass.The film is a tense social thriller where the lives of Balan’s Maya, a top journalist and her Shah’s Rukhsana, Maya’s housekeeper, become inextricably linked together after a horrific incident.Balan’s morally upright journalist wrestles with an ethical dilemma through the film. The actor initially turned down the film because she did not want to play someone who seemed morally ambiguous, but isn’t, and eventually the role’s challenges changed her decision.“Maya is successful and she’s in a position of power and there is a certain aloofness to her demeanor,” Balan tells Variety.

Jordan Moreau If it weren’t for Richard Williams’ iconic shorts in “King Richard,” Will Smith jokes he might not have landed himself piles of trophies this award season.The Oscar-nominated star gave a special shoutout to Williams’ “red, tight short shorts” during his speech at the National Board of Review gala, where he won best actor.“With Richard Williams, it was one of those ones where it was taking longer and longer, and as an actor you take a leap of faith. You say, yes, you think you can get it. For Richard Williams — this is not a joke — when I put those shorts on, those red tight short shorts, I was like ‘Ok, I think I can do this here,'” Smith said, slipping back into Williams’ Southern accent as the crowd laughed and cheered.

EXCLUSIVE: MGM has signed a first-look feature film production deal with Oscar-winning writer Akiva Goldsman and his production company, Weed Road Pictures.

This story about Zach Baylin first appeared in the Down to the Wire Issue of TheWrap’s awards magazine.The assignment was simple, according to “King Richard”producer Tim White. “It was a case,” he said, “of going to a writer and saying, ‘It has to be the one script that everyone in town is talking about.

Will Smith is soaking it all in. ET's Rachel Smith spoke to the  star at the National Board of Review Gala in New York City Tuesday about his awards season wins and what it means to him to be recognized for his work in the film.«It feels great! I was saying to someone the other night, this is what I'm always trying to do.

Will Smith, who has been promoting – and celebrating – his new movie, King Richard.MORE: Will Smith breaks silence on Rebel Wilson's joke about his marriage to Jada Pinkett SmithIn the Oscar-nominated movie, the actor plays tennis stars Venus and Serena Williams' dad, Richard Williams. It depicts his fight to make them the iconic athletes they are today.Fresh off his win for Best Actor at the 2022 Critics Choice Awards, Will Smith continued to celebrate his performance at Tuesday's National Board of Review Annual Awards Gala in New York City, where he also won the award for Best Actor.WATCH: The King Richard trailerMORE: Will Smith calls out Critics Choice Awards during Best Actor speechDuring the red carpet, he grew candid talking about his thoughts on King Richard and his career.

Matt Hancock has been accused of using the UK's refugee scheme to improve his personal image by taking in a Ukrainian family.

Matt Powell News that country music fans had long dreaded arrived this week: The Ernest Tubb Record Shop, a fixture of Nashville since 1947 and a mainstay in its current Lower Broad location since 1951, will be closing some time this spring, according to owners who purchased the iconic business and building two years ago. The store was famous not only as a very old-school physical media mecca, but for hosting performances on its rear stage for the “Midnite Jamboree” program by the likes of Loretta Lynn or even a nascent Elvis Presley.Writer Matt Powell, who began working at the store in 1999 and was its manager from 2001-2005, penned an eloquent appreciation of the shop that Variety is sharing here:  I arrived at the turn of the century, time enough to catch the falling tail of the old Nashville, with its honky-tonk music and easy charm.

Richard Keys believes that Cristiano Ronaldo's goalscoring record should not count after the Portuguese ace notched a hat-trick to inspire Manchester United to victory over Tottenham Hotspur.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorThe family of legendary singer-songwriter Nat King Cole, one of the most important and influential musicians of the 20 th century, has entered into an agreement with Irving Azoff’s Iconic Artists Group to manage and expand his legacy to new generations, the company announced today.Details of the transaction were not disclosed, beyond the fact that it “encompasses a broad range of rights from Cole’s legendary career including his recorded music, publishing, television shows, and name and likeness.”In the decades before his 1965 death from lung cancer at the age of just 45, Cole scored more than 150 singles across Billboard’s pop, R&B, and country charts and has sold an estimated 50 million-plus records worldwide. While best known as a crooner, he was a formidable jazz musician as well, and is best known for classics like “The Very Thought of You,” “Straighten Up and Fly Right,” “Unforgettable,” “Nature Boy,” “Stardust,” “When I Fall In Love,” “Mona Lisa,” “L-O-V-E,” and the holiday staple, “The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire).” As the announcement notes, Cole, who was born in Alabama in 1919, was subjected to all the barriers of the Jim Crow era, yet his success played no small role in advancing Black Americans’ presence in entertainment and public perception.

EXCLUSIVE: After directing Will Smith to a SAG Award-winning and Academy Award-nominated performance in King Richard, which has been nominated for six Oscars including Best Picture, Reinaldo Marcus Green has set up a new project with Lionsgate—an untitled dramedy that he will write, direct and produce for the studio.

Serena Williams tells you not to miss out on a movie, you make sure not to miss out on the movie. was nominated for five Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Original Screenplay. Will Smith returns to the Oscars spotlight after 15 years with a Best Actor nomination for playing the Williams sisters' father, Richard Williams. Beyoncé picked up her first Oscar nomination for Best Original Song for power ballad “Be Alive" from this compelling biopic.After over a year of delays due to the pandemic, was released on Nov. 19 and is still available to stream on HBO Max's $14.99/month Ad-Free plan and on Apple TV. The film follows the journey of Richard Williams as he raises his daughters into tennis icons.

Jazz Tangcay Artisans Editor“King Richard” editor Pamela Martin topped the dramatic feature editing category at the American Cinema Editors 72nd ACE Eddie Awards, while “Tick, Tick … Boom!’s” Myron Kerstein won the category for best edited comedic feature during Saturday’s in-person ceremony.Michelle Statter accepted the prestigious ACE Golden Eddie Award — recognizing an artist or company for distinguished achievement in film — on behalf of The Sundance Institute. Film editors Lillian E.

King Richard director Reinaldo Marcus Green, writer Zach Baylin, star Aunjanue Ellis and film editor Pamela Martin joined Warner Bros’ panel at Deadline’s Contenders Film: The Nominees event.

EXCLUSIVE: Warner Bros. is really upping the stakes to its I Am Legend franchise to a stratospheric level and bringing back for the next chapter, not just original star Will Smith, but he’ll be joined by Black Panther actor Michael B. Jordan in what will rep the duo’s first big movie together as stars and producers. Talk about two big stars getting together, between Smith and Jordan combined, their movies have grossed a massive $12.3 billion at the box office.

Clayton Davis Aunjanue Ellis was content being a journeywoman actor in the business and providing for her family — but now the acclaim is pouring in.And yes, that includes an Oscar nomination for her role as Oracene ‘Brandy’ Williams in Reinaldo Marcus Green’s “King Richard.” On the latest episode of the award-winning Variety Awards Circuit Podcast, we talk to Ellis about what it feels like to now be an Academy Award nominated actress, which she still can’t say out loud. She discusses her experience with working with double Oscar-nominee Will Smith (for best picture and actor) and the difference between his “lore” and the “good person” she was privileged to work with, in addition to her cast members.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorThe world’s largest music company, Universal Music Group, posted a record $9.4 billion in revenue for 2021, the company announced in its earnings report on Thursday. That marks a 14.4% increase over 2020, although comparisons with the pandemic year are obviously skewed.Recorded music revenues were up 14.3% to around $7.52 billion, while streaming soared nearly 17% to just under $5 billion.

EXCLUSIVE: Dean Georgaris’ agent drama Blank Slate has found its pilot director.