Kehlani extends ‘Blue Water Road Trip’ world tour to Australia and New Zealand

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau ChiefProduction is underway in the lush and remote northern tip of New Zealand on “Far North,” a premium drama series for Sundance Now. The fact-based series stars local acting legend, Temuera Morrison (“Star Wars,” “Once Were Warriors”) and award-winning actress, Robyn Malcolm (“Top of the Lake”) as an everyday couple who foil an international crime ring’s largest ever deal in the Pacific.The series was researched and created and is being directed by David White (“This Town,” “Meat”).

Ed Sheeran has announced three new dates for his upcoming tour of Australia and New Zealand in 2023 – find tickets here.The new shows, which have been added “due to overwhelming demand”, will take place on February 1 at the Sky Stadium in Wellington, New Zealand; February 11 at Eden Park in Auckland, New Zealand; and February 19 at the Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.Additionally, more tickets have been released for the singer-songwriter’s concerts in Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide and Perth.Tickets to the newly announced shows will go on sale on Thursday, June 23. Tickets to several of the previously announced concerts are also currently available.

Conan Gray has shared details of a four-date Australasian tour, which is set to take place this coming November.The tour, announced today (June 16), will mark Gray’s second visit to Australia following his inaugural run of shows in February of 2020. The Auckland date will also mark Gray’s first time ever in New Zealand.The tour will be in support of ‘Superache’, Gray’s second studio album, which is set for release next Friday (June 24).

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorSony Music Entertainment has named Vanessa Picken to the role of chair and CEO of Sony Music Entertainment Australia and New Zealand. Reporting to Sony Music Group Chairman Rob Stringer, she will begin her new role in September.Based in Sydney, Picken will oversee all operations, artist signings, marketing, and business partnerships for the company, according to the announcement.

Taika Waititi came up with the perfect way to avoid being asked about Rita Ora wedding rumours. The 46-year-old actor – whose relationship with the 31-year-old pop star is surrounded by speculation they could be tying the knot – appeared on This Morning alongside Lightyear co-star Chris Evans to chat about the Toy Story spin-off.

Kate Bush has shared a new statement on ‘Running Up That Hill’ after it reached a new peak on the Official UK Singles Chart.The 1985 single has been witnessing a resurgence after it featured as a prominent part of the storyline in Stranger Things 4.Yesterday (June 11), the track landed at Number Two on the Official UK Singles Chart. It was held off the top spot only by Harry Styles’ ‘As It Was’, which has remained Number One for 10 consecutive weeks.

Taika Waititi had a grand ol’ time at the Time 100 most influential people gala, as he larked around with Zendaya. The prestigious bash was held in New York City and Taika’s appearance comes just after rumours surfaced that he is set to marry pop star girlfriend Rita Ora. Laughing off the speculation about his private life, however, the New Zealand filmmaker, 46, pulled playful expressions as he posed next to Greatest Showman star Zendaya, 25.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau ChiefWarner Bros. Discovery Thursday announced its management team for Japan, Australia New Zealand, reporting into James Gibbons, WBD’s president and managing director.The reshuffle follows similar announcements for the EMEA area under Priya Dogra and India, Southeast Asia and Korea under Clement Schwebig.In addition to the above appointments, David Macdonald is named VP Networks, Japan, based in Tokyo.

Warner Bros Discovery is wasting no time in unveiling new leadership teams across the globe with the most recent structure outlined for Japan, Australia and New Zealand under James Gibbons, President and Managing Director of the region. This follows teams in EMEA, India, Southeast Asia and Korea being confirmed in the past 36 hours.

EXCLUSIVE: Cannes Directors’ Fortnight documentary De Humani Corporis Fabrica has sold to U.S. (Grasshopper Film and Gratitude), Australia & New Zealand (Madman) and Spain (Vitrine Filmes) for Paris-based sales firm Les Films Du Losange.

Harry Styles‘ hugely successful new album ‘Harry’s House’ has garnered a series of chart accolades and broken numerous records across the world.In addition to recording 2022’s fastest selling album in the UK, Styles achieved the rare feat of simultaneously holding the number one album and number one track (‘Harry’s House’ lead single ‘As It Was’) in a number of countries.The accomplishment was made in the US, UK, Canada, Germany, Australia, Netherlands, Italy, Ireland, New Zealand, Switzerland, and Belgium. Additionally, ‘Harry’s House’ went to number one in Norway, Finland and Denmark.In the US, the album had the largest first week of 2022 for any album, and was only the fourth album in the last 18 months to earn at least 500,000 units in a single week.Styles’ third consecutive US number one, it extends his record as the first UK male artist to debut at #1 on the Billboard 200 with their first three albums, and the biggest sales week for a British male artist’s album since Nielsen Music began electronically tracking sales data in 1991.‘As It Was’ has been the US number one single for four weeks, with three additional songs also in the top 10, and every song on the album in the top 30.

Lorde has praised Kendrick Lamar‘s new album ‘Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers’, particularly noting the record’s emotional maturity and attempt to process difficult subjects through creative expression.“I’m loving Kendrick,” the singer-songwriter said in the latest instalment of her fan newsletter.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau ChiefMike Minogue, Naomi Ferry and Tim Foley have launched Frank Management, a new creative talent agency in New Zealand.Frank Management is open to representing clients across all disciplines, including acting, writing and filmmaking. The company aims to fill gaps they see across the industry, by offering an alternative for all creatives seeking representation.Minogue is best known to the public in the on-screen role of Officer Minogue in Taika Waititi and Jemaine Clement’s TV series “Wellington Paranormal.” He is also successful writer and producer, having recently produced the 2021 Sundance hit “Coming Home In The Dark.” He is designated as head of development at the new agency.

“Deadpool 2” star Julian Dennison is set to star in “One Winter,” a coming-of-age drama set in his native New Zealand during a period of racial unrest in the 1980s.Dennison will lead a cast that also includes Minnie Driver, James Rolleston and Erana James and that is directed by Paul Middleditch and Hamish Bennett. Blue Fox Entertainment is handling international sales and introducing the film in Cannes, which kicks off today.

Miranda Otto, Jesse Spence and Guy Pearce are among the high-profile stars featuring on Disney+’s debut slate in Australia and New Zealand.