Spotify Acquires Bill Simmons’ The Ringer as Part of Podcast Push

The rise and fall of startup HQ Trivia will be the subject of a new podcast from Bill Simmons' The Ringer, a source familiar with the plans tells The Hollywood Reporter. Staff writer Alyssa Bereznak is reporting and will host the multipart podcast, which is expected to feature interviews with former HQ employees as well as the journalists who covered the company's short history.

A brand new image has landed from the upcoming sequel Bill & Ted Face The Music. The film finally lands in the summer near 30 years after the debut of the last film. Amongst the cast are the likes of Keanu Reeves, Alex Winter, Samara Weaving, Brigette Lundy-Paine, Scott Mescudi (Kid Cudi), Kristen Schaal, Anthony Carrigan, Erinn Hayes, Jayma Mays, Jillian Bell, Holland Taylor, Beck Bennett, William Sadler, Hal Landon Jr. and Amy Stoch.

Spotify will pay as much as $195 million to acquire Bill Simmons' The Ringer, the company disclosed Wednesday in a regulatory filing.The Stockholm-based audio streaming giant said that the price to purchase the sports and pop culture company will total between 130 million euros and 180 million euros ($141 million to $195 million, based on the current exchange rate), a portion of which will be deferred.

Spotify disclosed that it will pay upwards of $196 million for The Ringer, the podcast and media company founded by Bill Simmons.

On Saturday, Jennifer Lopez defended her recent Super Bowl halftime with Shakira, which was criticized by some as being “too sexy.”

Spotify has purchased The Ringer, Bill Simmons’ sports and culture site, the companies announced today (February 5). The move follows the streaming service’s expansion into podcasts. (The Ringer has 30 podcasts.) The Ringer, which was previously in partnership with Vox Media, also has a video network, film production division, and book imprint, as The New York Times notes.

Spotify is bulking up its podcasting business with a definitive deal to acquire Bill Simmons’ The Ringer, which will add a robust slate of sports and pop culture audio shows to its growing podcasting portfolio. Terms of the deal for the four-year-old The Ringer were not disclosed.

By Peter White

“Other people can try to build walls, keep us out or put us in cages."

Jennifer Lopez took aim at Donald Trump’s immigration policies as she shared a video of the moments before she took to the stage at the Super Bowl.

The screams echoed across Puerto Rico when Jennifer Lopez unfurled a feather cape representing the flag of the U.S. territory during the Super Bowl’s halftime show, a moment that many were still replaying and sharing on Monday.The move came at a trying time for those on the island of 3.2 million U.S.

Shakira and Jennifer Lopez have officially made history together with their jaw-dropping, energetic and Latina-powered Super Bowl halftime show. The Colombian and Puerto Rican artists spotlighted some of their biggest talents Sunday night at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, from Shakira playing various instruments to J.Lo’s impeccable dance moves.

The Super Bowl LIV Halftime Show, co-headlined by Shakira and Jennifer Lopez on Sunday night (Feb. 2), was history in the making for the Latino culture.

On Sunday, Feb. 2, Shakira and Jennifer Lopez put together one of the greatest shows in the history of the Super Bowl at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, FL.With Bad Bunny and J Balvin as special guests, as well as Emme Muñiz (JLo's daughter), the almost 15-minute halftime show at Super Bowl LIV had jaws dropping.

Jennifer Lopez stunned in multi-layered Versace costumes duringherSuper Bowl LIV halftime performance at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami on Sunday.

J Balvin and Bad Bunny brought reggaeton to the Super Bowl LIV halftime show. 

By Greg Evans