R. Kelly and Universal Music Must Pay Over Half-Million Dollars in Music Royalties to Victims, Judge Rules

California Governor Gavin Newsom said that plans are still in the works for a debate with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, but he told Meet the Press moderator Chuck Todd that arrangements hit a snag over a “venue issue.”

The western genre has been so pervasive throughout the entire history of the movies, and it is hard to imagine doing anything in it that hasn’t already been done. Viggo Mortensen, in writing, directing, producing, and co-starring in only his second film behind the camera (after 2020’s Falling) finds a moving, if tragic, love story to play against the stunning landscape of the circa 1860’s west, and somehow it all feels new. John Ford and Howard Hawks would love this movie.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief “No More Bets,” the smash hit Chinese crime thriller that has earned more than half a billion dollars in its home market, is hurriedly adding new territories to release. It will release in the U.K. and Ireland from Friday through distributor Trinity Cine Asia.

In the latest update about Kevin Costner and Christine Baumgartner‘s divorce, she has reportedly been ordered to pay his legal fees.

Thania Garcia Universal Music Greater China (UMGC) has appointed Timothy Xu as its new chairman and CEO of the Greater China division. He will be responsible for the music company’s operations across mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan, effective immediately.

Queen now. Royally grooving the night away, Meghan Markle was spotted snapping flicks with Hollywood hotshots Kelly Rowland, 42, and Kerry Washington, 46, at Beyoncé’s third Renaissance World Tour stop in Los Angeles on Monday — Queen Bey’s 42nd birthday.

Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex, proved what a Beyonce fan she is as she attended another one of the superstar's concerts this week.The 42 year old wife of Prince Harry mingled with some of the huge celebrities that attended the last concert of the LA leg of Beyoncé's Renaissance world tour. Mum of two, Meghan, posed alongside Kelly Rowland – Beyonce's old Destiny's Child bandmate – and actress Kerry Washington as they all attended the show on Monday, September 4.

Todd Spangler NY Digital Editor A federal judge threw out the conviction of Hernan Lopez, former head of Fox International Channels, who had been found guilty of bribing FIFA soccer officials in exchange for a broadcasting-rights deal. “We are obviously pleased with Judge Chen’s thorough and correct decision,” David Sarratt, a lawyer for Lopez, said in a statement to the AP. “We have never stopped believing in our client’s innocence.” Lopez, who after leaving Fox founded podcast network Wondery, was convicted in March 2023 by a jury on charges that he participated in a scheme to bribe South American soccer officials in order to secure exclusive broadcasting rights for 21st Century Fox.

Thousands of vulnerable people in Greater Manchester are set to be affected by strikes as Ring and Ride drivers threaten industrial action. Around 7,000 disabled or older people use the service which offers a low-cost door-to-door accessible transport option on demand for residents with walking difficulties.

Thania Garcia The iHeartRadio Music Festival just got a whole lot cozier. iHeartMedia has announced the 2023 iteration of their festival will include immersive fan activations dubbed the “House of Music” inspired by the artists set to take over the main stage in Las Vegas later this fall. Fans will be able to step into the “Homes” of headlining artists to experience multisensory, mixed-reality installations.

Kelly Rowland is very proud of Beyonce and Jay-Z‘s eldest daughter Blue Ivy Carter!

Energy regulator Ofgem has announced the new price cap will be reduced to £1,923 from October 1.

his conviction in the New York courts back in 2021, where the former musician was found guilty of running of a criminal enterprise in order to sexually and physically abuse women and teenagers.Responding to this week’s court order, Kelly’s current legal rep, Jennifer Bonjean, stressed that her client is appealing this conviction – and another one that resulted from a separate trial in Chicago – and that when the appeals courts “reverse Mr Kelly’s convictions, we will seek the return of every cent that has been wrongfully taken from him”.Prosecutors began legal action last year to seize funds from Kelly in order to pay off fines that were part of the sentence in the New York case. They initially went after monies that were sitting in Kelly’s prison inmate account.

A judge has ruled that more than $500,000 of R. Kelly’s music royalties held by UMG (Universal Music Group) must be given out to Brooklyn federal prosecutors to help pay his victims.

R. Kelly owes big-time money to his victims — and it’s time he pays up.

John Carney is a very specific filmmaker. Without knowing a premise to a new John Carney film, you can almost predict what it’s going to be about.

Sophia Scorziello editor The first single has been released from the soundtrack of Apple’s musical drama “Flora and Son,” starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Eve Hewson. Titled “High Life,” the single is an emotional yet optimistic track about a motherhood, performed by Hewson and her co-star Orén Kinlan. While she might be the daughter of Irish rockstar Bono, Hewson said she did not enlist her U2 frontman father for help on the project.

With artificial intelligence currently front and center across the creative community, YouTube has published a set of AI music principles and launched something it’s calling the YouTube Music AI Incubator with a group of artists, songwriters and producers from Universal Music Group.

Jem Aswad Executive Editor, Music Grammy-winning singer, songwriter and producer Jack Antonoff has announced an extensive new partnership with Dirty Hit Records founder Jamie Oborne, alongside a new exclusive agreement with leading global publisher Universal Music Publishing Group. The multifaceted deal will see Antonoff (pictured above, top) and his band Bleachers being managed by Oborne, with Antonoff and Oborne also launching a new joint venture; in addition, Antonoff’s band Bleachers have signed with Dirty Hit, Oborne’s independent label, which is also home to the 1975, Rina Sawayama, Wolf Alice, Beabadoobee and others.

Youths in Scotland have been urged to speak up over violence after a teen killer who stabbed a schoolboy in the heart was jailed for life.