Songwriters Ask to Have Music Licensing Halted in Russia While War Continues

Tom Grennan has cancelled his upcoming shows in Russia and Ukraine over the ongoing conflict in the region.Posting on Twitter, Grennan made the announcement with a statement, while sharing the hashtag #StandWithUkraine. He was due to play Moscow’s Izvestia Hall on July 4 and Kyiv’s Atlas Festival on July 6.He wrote: “In light of current events, I will be cancelling my shows in Russia and Ukraine which were due to take place in Summer 2022.“My thoughts are with the brave people of Ukraine, and all those who oppose this devastating violence and seek peace.”Grennan follows a number of artists who have cancelled shows in the region in recent weeks.

Actor and former boxer Mickey Rourke is speaking out about the Russia-Ukraine war, calling it a "nightmare kind of scenario" in an exclusive interview with Fox News Digital, and noting he prays to God that Russian President Vladimir Putin puts an end to it.  "I had the time of my life," Rourke told Fox News Digital of visiting the country four years ago for a professional fight. "The people couldn't have been nicer, more polite, more respectful." While he was there, Rourke said he met with Putin. "He took us to a very famous museum in St.

Hilary Duff is laying into Vladimir Putin and slamming the Russian president for sending his troops to invade Ukraine. "GREED. F--king Putin.

"Stranger Things" actress Jennifer Marshall has a special message to share with Ukrainian citizens, including refugees in search of safety and those who have remained, determined to fight. Marshall, a fifth-generation military veteran, told Fox News Digital in an interview this week that, like most, she's been following Russia's invasion of Ukraine "with shock, disbelief, anger and tremendous sadness." "Innocent men, women and children are being killed.Their homeland is being taken from them," Marshall said.

Naman Ramachandran The Berlin Film Festival has issued a strongly worded statement that condemns Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, but has taken a stance against boycotting filmmakers based on their origin.“The Berlinale staunchly condemns Russia’s war of aggression, which violates international law, and expresses its solidarity with the people in Ukraine and all those who are campaigning against this war,” the festival said in a statement on Wednesday.“The Russian invasion and attacks on civilian targets such as hospitals, schools and homes have caused a humanitarian and human rights catastrophe in Ukraine. Our thoughts and sympathy are with the victims, the suffering population, and the millions who have fled Ukraine.” “The Berlinale has developed into a setting for intercultural encounters and a platform for critical discussion of current or historical world events.

Paramount Global is temporarily halting its operations in Russia and giving $1 million to support humanitarian relief for Ukraine.

Government leaders are being urged to act now over fears that steep gas prices could lead to some food shortages.

TikTok star Sam Ryder has been announced as the UK’s entry for the 2022 Eurovision Song Contest.

TikTok star Sam Ryder is reportedly being lined up to represent the UK at this year’s Eurovision Song Contest.According to the The Mirror, BBC bosses are preparing to reveal the viral star as this year’s entrant with his recent single ‘Space Man’.Ryder found viral acclaim after he started posting covers and at-home karaoke tracks at the beginning of lockdown in March 2020. By the end of the year, he was crowned TikTok’s most popular artist account.With 7.7million followers and a range of famous fans including Justin Bieber and Alicia Keys, Ryder recently performed for an NME Home Sessions performance.It was announced last year that TaP Music – the global music publishing and management company behind the likes of Dua Lipa and Lana Del Rey – will collaborate with the BBC to choose a track and artist to represent the UK at the Song Contest.Meanwhile, Russia was recently banned from competing in this year’s Eurovision following backlash to an earlier statement from organisers saying the country would be allowed to compete despite launching a military assault on Ukraine.Ukraine officially severed diplomatic ties with Russia, and declared martial law, after Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered an attack on the neighbouring nation last month.Ukraine’s entrant, Alina Pash, will also no longer represent her home country at this year’s event, the competition also recently announced.

Manori Ravindran International EditorDiscovery has suspended all operations in Russia amid the country’s war on Ukraine. Around 15 channels that operate through Media Alliance — a joint venture with Russia’s National Media Group — will go off air from Wednesday.The business joins a growing number of media companies that are turning their backs on Russian operations.

Russia’s war in Ukraine has sent shockwaves around the world. Amid the chaos and destruction, the international distribution community, which we record, is reacting in real time with dismay and uncertainty. The human impact is stark and overwhelming. Inevitably, there are significant consequences for local businesses.

The ’80s are back, thanks to New Kids on the Block.

Naman Ramachandran Global rights management company Eccho Rights has licensed “Servant of the People,” the 2016 series created by and starring Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky, to Channel 4 in the U.K., MBC in the Middle East, ANT 1 in Greece and PRO TV in Romania, in solidarity with Ukraine and Zelensky.Fredrik af Malmborg, managing director at Eccho Rights, said: “Eccho Rights stands in solidarity with our friends and partners in Ukraine. It is our position that the best support the global television industry can offer to Ukraine today is to share this story.”Three seasons of the series and feature film are available to license from Eccho Rights.Nicola Söderlund, managing partner at Eccho, said: “The series is a comedy but also an important document of where Zelensky comes from.

Russia-Ukraine war.The band, which consists of musicians Billie Joe Armstrong, Mike Dirnt and Tré Cool, was set to perform on May 29 at Spartak Stadium.“With heavy hearts, in light of current events we feel it is necessary to cancel our upcoming show in Moscow at Spartak Stadium,” Green Day wrote on their Instagram Story.“We are aware that this moment is not about stadium rock shows, it’s much bigger than that. But we also know that rock and roll is forever and we feel confident there will be a time and a place for us to return in the future,” the band continued.