Universal Music Launches Def Jam Vietnam

Rebecca Davis editorUniversal Music Group on Tuesday appointed Simon Jerome Nasser as managing director for Universal Music Singapore and its Southeast Asia head of live, a newly created role.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorSony Music Group has released the first of a series of U.S. voter campaign films with a core message to motivate and inspire eligible U.S.

Ed Meza @edmezavarGermany’s Maze Pictures has boarded Moscow-based Metrafilm’s KGB comedy series “Pawns,” from writers Michael and Lily Idov, who penned the award-winning 2018 Cannes competition screener “Leto.”The company, which has offices in Munich, Berlin and Lucerne, Switzerland, is also developing a miniseries based on “Ghosts of Berlin,” a book of supernatural stories by filmmaker Rudolf Herzog (son of Werner Herzog), and the tentatively titled mystery series “Parallels.”On the film

Also Read: COVID-19 Whistleblower Says Trump's Immunity Claim Is 'Absolutely Not True' (Video)“I’m cured of the Covid. I’m totally immune.

Clayton Davis In a new cover story with Variety, director Spike Lee talked about working with Chadwick Boseman on “Da 5 Bloods.” The Vietnam war drama, which came out on Netflix over the summer, would be one of the last roles for the 43-year-old actor, who died in August from colon cancer.“I didn’t know Chad was sick,” Lee said. “He did not look well, but my mind never took that he had cancer.

Variety Staff Follow Us on TwitterUniversal Music Israel has announced the appointment of journalist and radio host Meytal Shevach to the position of A&R Manager, effective immediately.In her new role, Shevach will lead UMG’s efforts in the signing and development of new domestic Israeli musical talent for the label, which launched earlier this year.

Maren Morris shared a special message in her music video for her newest song "Better Than We Found It," which was released on Friday.

Logic has hit out at his label Def Jam for disturbing his dinner. Or at least causing his dinner to be disturbed.

Logic has publicly aired his frustration with his record label, Def Jam Recordings, over alleged unpaid fees to his collaborators.Taking to Instagram last night (October 3), the rapper shared a screenshot of a text message conversation between himself and collaborator Kevin Randolph, who appeared to claim that he hadn’t “seen a penny” from some work they had done together.“@defjam can you please pay my friends and musicians that have made my albums great this is ridiculous at this point!” Logic

Clayton Davis With awards season offering different twists and turns, some independent distributors are using this time of influx to get their films ahead of the fray. Variety has learned exclusively that Vertical Entertainment has submitted “Miss Juneteenth” — from writer and director Channing Godfrey Peoples — for Academy Awards consideration, and put it on the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences streaming platform.

Clayton Davis Sony Pictures Classics has released the first trailer for “I Carry You With Me” (“Te Llevo Conmigo”) from Heidi Ewing.After premiering at the Sundance Film Festival in January, the pic is one of Mexico’s major hopefuls for the best international feature race at this year’s Academy Awards.

Clayton Davis Variety's Awards Circuit is home to the official predictions for the upcoming Oscars from Film Awards Editor Clayton Davis. Following Academy Awards history, buzz, news, reviews and sources, the Oscar predictions are updated regularly with the current year's contenders in all categories.

Patrick Hipes Executive Managing EditorMac Davis, whose music career included recording 20 albums, writing the Elvis Presley hit “In The Ghetto” and starring in films like North Dallas Forty with Nick Nolte and on his own TV show, died Thursday in Nashville.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorLast week, Universal Music Group and its Task Force for Meaningful Change (in partnership with UMG’s °1824 and Diversity & Inclusion teams, Def Jam Forward, Interscope/Geffen/A&M and Republic Record’s Action Committee), launched a series of special programs and discussions in celebration of this year’s Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s Annual Legislative Conference.The events are free and open to the public.

New York Times investigation.The Times reported that the most successful year for Miss Universe — both for Trump and its broadcaster, NBC — was in 2013, when the global pageant was held in Moscow. That pageant has become a key event for those investigating Trump’s ties to Russia as Trump received help from Aras Agalarov — a billionaire who claims to have connections to Vladimir Putin — and his son, Emin.

Anthony D'Alessandro Editorial Director/Box Office EditorEXCLUSIVE: We hear that The Wrestler Oscar nominee Mickey Rourke has boarded the independent feature The Commando which will shoot in New Mexico next month.The pic, directed by Asif Akbar, follows a DEA agent with PTSD who returns home after a botched mission and must now protect his family from a newly released prison criminal, played by Rourke, and his henchmen who’ve come after a stash of millions inside the agent’s house.Subscribe to

Variety Staff Follow Us on TwitterDef Jam Recordings has made three moves to “strengthen and refresh” its publicity team:  Lauren Ceradini has been appointed senior vice president, media and artist relations; Renata Muniz has been promoted to vice president; and Joanne Hunter has been appointed senior director (pictured above L-R, respectively), it was announced today by Gabe Tesoriero, EVP of media and artist relations for the Universal Music Group division.Ceradini began her career in 2005