FIFTY FIFTY partner with Warner Records, tease “more great music”

Mike Wass Until now, global success for K-pop acts has mostly come through massive conglomerates like YG Entertainment and HYBE. That all changed when indie label Attrakt (stylized as ATTRAKT) rolled out an innovative campaign for their nascent girl group Fifty Fifty (stylized FIFTY FIFTY) centered on highlighting the members’ individual talents and reaching as many fans as possible by releasing multiple versions of their new single “Cupid.”  An English language version of the song — dubbed the “Twin Version” — went nuclear on TikTok and Fifty Fifty found themselves with a global hit. This week, “Cupid” surges to No. 19 on the Billboard Hot 100, making them only the second K-pop girl group to crack the top 20 after Blackpink.

Sophia Scorziello editor A new production company is on the mission to bring weird science to life through story. Neuroscientist and Stanford professor Dr. David Eagleman has teamed up with producers Matt Tauber and Adam Fratto to launch Cognito Entertainment, an independent production company centered around science programming and films. The Los Angeles and Palo Alto-based company has already begun working on scripted television series, documentaries and literary adaptation. “We are living in an unparalleled moment of scientific advancement,” said Eagleman. “From brains to space to genetics, there are endless mind-blowing stories to share. In a world that sometimes seems upside-down, science can be a source of great inspiration, wonder, and belief.”

Private Division has announced a new partnership with Pokémon developer Game Freak for “a brand-new action-adventure IP.”Codenamed Project Bloom, the title is an “ambitious” title and is in early development but is expected to launch during Take-Two‘s fiscal year 2026.Not much has been shared about the upcoming game, but the publisher and developer revealed the first piece of concept art showing a character carrying katana in a lush forest. You can take a look at the artwork in the Tweet below.We’re thrilled to announce we're partnering with Game Freak on an upcoming action-adventure game, codenamed #ProjectBloom.We can't reveal too much yet… But for now, we're excited to share the first piece of concept art for the game: pic.twitter.com/LarOpBXdsy— Private Division (@PrivateDivision) May 9, 2023“We’re thrilled to have the opportunity to create new IP that is bold and tonally different from our prior work,” said Kota Furushima, director at Game Freak.

Dolly Parton has often been described as a rock star, but now she’s making that designation a literal one with the upcoming release of her first album of rock music.

Naman Ramachandran Stephen Graham’s Matriarch Productions has set a development and production partnership with Warp Films. Graham (“The Virtues,” “Boiling Point,” “Time,” “Help”) previously collaborated with Warp on his breakout role of Andrew “Combo” Gascoigne in award-winning film and series “This is England.” Matriarch, co-founded by Graham and his actor-producer wife Hannah Walters (“Time,” “Boiling Point,” “Malpractice,” “This is England”), is working on several development projects with Warp, whose credits also include “Submarine,” “Four Lions” and “Tyrannosaur.” Hayley Squires (“I, Daniel Blake,” “Adult Material”) is working on a development script, with more names to be announced imminently. Projects developed through the new partnership will be co-produced by the two companies.

Mike Wass “Cupid” by Fifty Fifty (stylized as FIFTY FIFTY) has become the little K-pop song that could. Released by independent label Attrakt (stylized as ATTRAKT), the irresistibly bouncy lament on modern love has grown into a crossover phenomenon on the back of organic social media virality, clever marketing and a “Twin Version” in English. So far, “Cupid” has peaked at No. 4 on Spotify’s Global 200 and on YouTube’s Global Top Songs chart, and No. 41 on the Billboard Hot 100. And that’s before Warner Records, who recently picked up the banger for North America, takes it to radio. So where did Fifty Fifty and their seemingly unstoppable hit come from? In order to compete with major power players like HYBE and YG Entertainment, Attrakt — under the guidance of K-pop svengali Sung-Il Ahn (known as SIAHN) — tore up the rulebook. Realizing they lacked the financial resources and corporate infrastructure of their competitors, the indie label opted for innovation. 

Celebrity moms including Miranda Kerr, Ciara and Rachel Zoe linked up with Baby2Baby to participate in their Mother’s Day Celebration on Friday (May 5) in Beverly Hills, Calif.

FIFTY FIFTY claim a huge feat today, as Cupid becomes the first-ever song by a K-pop girl group to reach the Official Singles Chart Top 10.

Jennie linked up with Calvin Klein for a fashionable collaboration!

Anna Tingley If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, Variety may receive an affiliate commission. The Weeknd is connecting with his Ethiopian roots in a new partnership with Blue Bottle Coffee, which released a product line today called Samra Origins, named after the artist’s mother Samra. “Ethiopian culture is an important part of my identity and I’m proud to work alongside the Blue Bottle Coffee team to shine a light on Ethiopian traditions, values, and of course, coffee,” said The Weeknd in a press release. “Growing up, I watched my mother perform Buna Tetu, a traditional Ethiopian coffee ceremony. This sensory experience helped shape my understanding of community and taught me to always honor my roots.” Read More: The Best Coffee Subscriptions to Gift in 2023

Music Venue Trust and The National Lottery have joined forces to host a one-off free gig at the Eurovision Village in Liverpool, which is set to take place later this month.Scheduled for next Wednesday (May 10), the show is the latest instalment to the ongoing ‘United By Music Tour’ which features over 20 gigs at 20 music venues across the city.This marks the third time that the two organisations have joined forces, and follows a previously-announced series of shows taking place in Liverpool between May 8 and May 12, which all sold out within four minutes.Designed to both celebrate the city’s iconic music scene and support grassroots venues throughout the UK, the acts performing at Wednesday’s show include The Lightning Seeds, Girls Don’t Sync, Michael Aldag, and Miles Kane.The event will be hosted at the Eurovision Village at Liverpool’s Pier Head. However, the tickets will not be sold in advance, so those wanting to attend are advised to head down quickly on the day, as all 15,000 spaces will be given out for free on a first-come-first-served basis.

Lauren Sanchez and Jeff Bezos enjoyed a night out alongside some of the most notorious A-listers in the country. The couple was photographed attending a party in Beverly Hills, with a guest list that included Oprah Winfrey, Kaia Gerber and Austin Butler, Chris Pine, and more.

Roku is expanding its 2023-2024 slate with new series from Charlie Puth, Reese Witherspoon, Zoe Saldana, Juanpa Zurita and more, the streamer announced during its IAB NewFront presentation in NYC Tuesday.

Thania Garcia Anitta anticipates her next album will encourage its listeners to get “very cultured” about her native Brazil. The Latin music star teased the project on the Met Gala carpet saying the collection will be a bilingual mix of English and Spanish that pays homage to the early beginnings of Brazillian music. The follow-up to her 2022 smash, “Versions of Me,” will arrive via Republic Records as her debut on the label. Variety broke the news of Anitta’s deal with Republic less than a month after she announced her split from longtime label Warner Music. “I think Brazillian funk is opening its room right now and I want to show more about where this was born and it’s my culture, my community, my place so I feel happy to have this in hands with Republic,” she said. Anitta also mentioned the record will include a “couple” of special guests that she says fans will definitely be happy with.

Rebecca Rubin Film and Media Reporter Streaming services were once the enemy of cinema chains such as AMC Theatres, mostly because companies like Netflix didn’t believe in the value of the big screen. But for whatever reason (perhaps a desire to turn a profit), the attitude toward multiplexes has changed and tech giants like Apple and Amazon have committed to spending billions on theatrical movies. It’s a move that’s been widely embraced by exhibitors, who desperately need more films to fill their marquees. “We certainly welcome their movies with open arms,” says Adam Aron, the CEO of AMC, the world’s largest movie theater circuit. “We will happily show anything they want to take to theaters.”

So many celebs were in attendance at The Prince’s Trust Global Gala just days ahead of the 2023 Met Gala.

Music has helped Carly Waddell heal following her divorce from Evan Bass in more ways than one.

James Corden‘s The Late Late Show is wrapping up is ending tonight after 8 years on the air.

Imax and Evo Entertainment announced today during their presentation at CinemaCon that they have entered into a partnership to open eight new Imax locations throughout Florida and Texas, including ones in Houston and Austin, marking the largest agreement for new Imax locations in a decade.“As we continue to expand, we remain committed to being at the forefront of cutting-edge spaces,” said Mitch Roberts, CEO of Evo Entertainment Group in a statement. “This partnership with Imax allows us to further enhance our state-of-the-art facilities and provide our guests with the ultimate movie-going experience.

Jennifer Lopez, Jaime Camil, and Juanpa Zurita are partnering up with Roku. The company is expanding its original content and has reached out to Latino stars to get the job done.Jennifer Lopez celebrates Easter after saying goodbye to Ben Affleck at the HamptonsJennifer Lopez opens up about her fitness journey: How she prepares for new albumA post shared by Jennifer Lopez (@jlo)Deadline reports that Lopez, Camil, and Zurita will be providing different types of content to Roku Originals.