WGA and More Unions Pen Letter to Congress Demanding ‘Urgent Action’ on AI Protections for Writers and Journalists

William Earl Writers employed by “Sesame Street” producer Sesame Workshop have voted unanimously to support a strike authorization vote from the Writers Guild of America as the April 19 expiration of the current contract approaches. The 35 writers represented by the union have been in negotiations with the production company behind “Sesame Street” and other children’s programs since February.

Jazz Tangcay Artisans Editor SPOILER ALERT: This contains major spoilers for the ending of “Civil War,” now playing in theaters. “Civil War” production designer Caty Maxey was tasked with building a dystopian America that showed bombed-out buildings and abandoned cars that stretched for miles on the freeway. It was all part of her creative brief for Alex Garland’s latest film. Garland drops audiences into the middle of “Civil War.” America is no longer united and there are warring factions.

A budding chef has shared a 'wonderful' recipe for a DIY quiche that can be whipped up in minutes in the air fryer.

Brian Teta, the executive producer of The View, has signed a new contract for the show that will keep him at the often buzzy daytime talker for the next four years.

Ben Croll Questions about the free ad-supported streaming TV services (FAST) model and concerns about AI will take the foreground at the many conference panel sessions and keynotes organized for this year’s MipTV. If both are familiar subjects at the audiovisual market – as last year’s MipTV held a standing-room only FAST summit while the Mipcom “Unlocking AI” summit drew similar attention this past October – the interest they provoke reflects their topicality.

Chris Willman Senior Music Writer and Chief Music Critic Toby Keith, whose history with the CMT Music Awards goes back to having co-hosted the earliest incarnation of the show, will get his due in the wake of his recent death, as an all-star salute is planned for Keith on Sunday night’s three-hour CBS telecast. The tribute will feature performances by one of the hottest figures in country music, Lainey Wilson, along with his fellow industry veterans Brooks & Dunn, whose Ronnie Dunn is a fellow Okie.

Billie Eilish, Robert Smith, Stevie Wonder and Nicki Minaj are just a handful of artists who have signed an open letter warning against the “predatory” use of artificial intelligence (AI) in music.Yesterday (April 2), non-profit organization Artist Rights Alliance issued an open letter titled ‘Stop devaluing music’ about the rise of AI in music, signed by over 200 prominent names in the music industry. Read the full letter here.Through the letter, the artist-run nonprofit organization asks that developers, technology companies, and platforms and digital music services “pledge that they will not develop or deploy AI music-generation technology, content, or tools that undermine or replace the human artistry of songwriters and artists or deny us fair compensation for our work.”The letter states: “Make no mistake: we believe that, when used responsibly, AI has enormous potential to advance human creativity and in a manner that enables the development and growth of new and exciting experiences for music fans everywhere.”“Unfortunately, some platforms and developers are employing AI to sabotage creativity and undermine artists, songwriters, musicians and rightsholders.

Happy Gilmore star Joe Flaherty has died aged 82.

Carly Rae Jepsen, Elliot Page, Neil Young and Alanis Morissette have signed the letter, titled Artists Against Anti-Trans Legislation In Canada.Led by indie pop siblings Tegan and Sara, the letter highlighted how “far right groups are tapping into fear and pitting us against each other so they can create a Canada where we’re afraid of difference”, while using trans people as their “punching bag” and “convenient scapegoat”.The letter, published on Trans Day of Visibility, continued: “For those outside of Canada, the country is often seen as a human rights haven. However, the reality is that Canada is not immune to the global attack on the trans community and their access to inclusive spaces, healthcare and freedoms.”It went on to outline specific measures that have targeted transgender youth, including premier Danielle Smith’s proposed bans on hormonal treatment, puberty blockers and gender-confirmation surgery.Additionally, New Brunswick and Saskatchewan previously announced that parental consent will be required before schools will honour the chosen names and pronouns of children under 16.A post shared by The Tegan and Sara Foundation (@teganandsarafoundation)It continued: “The anti-trans policies taking root in Canada go beyond discrimination – they present a clear risk to the mental and physical well-being of trans individuals throughout the country.“As artists, we know the danger of a social and political environment that restricts expression, exploration, individuality and self-determination.

announced her split from husband, Ryan Scott Anderson, on her private Facebook account Thursday.Rod spoke to People in December 2023 just before Gypsy was released from prison.In 2016, she pleaded guilty to second-degree murder for her role in her mother Dee Dee Blanchard’s murder and was sentenced to 10 years in jail. Gypsy and Anderson, 37, married in July 2022 after first linking up in 2020 when she was behind bars. Their relationship blossomed when they began writing letters to each other.

J. Kim Murphy It’s only been six months since the release of Liam Neeson’s last film, which means theaters are overdue for another thriller led by the prolific star. His latest vehicle, “In the Land of Saints and Sinners,” arrives with an unusual distinction: Directed by Robert Lorenz, the film premiered in Venice a month before another Neeson movie, the maligned bomb-threat thriller “Retribution,” hit U.S.

Highlander icon Christopher Lambert has opened up on the cult movie which catapulted him to stardom and his love for Scotland, where the film was shot and set.

Steven J. Horowitz Senior Music Writer Jhené Aiko has announced her upcoming “The Magic Hour” arena tour, bringing along supporting acts including Coi Leray, Tink, Umi and Kiana Ledé. The singer will kick off the trek on June 19 at Detroit’s Little Caesars Arena.

Steve Clarke won’t throw the baby out with the bathwater after a Dutch drubbing as he looks to earn a first win in seven games when Northern Ireland visit Hampden for a friendly.

her real-life lover, rock star Tommy Lee.Anderson wrote about Lee’s jealousy in her memoir, “Love, Pamela,” and detailed more in her Netflix documentary about a dramatic incident in which Tommy trashed her “Baywatch” trailer upon finding out she had an onscreen kiss with Chokachi.“I was there when he destroyed her trailer,” Chokachi exclusively told Fox News Digital. “I literally walked by her trailer and I heard, like, demolished … things shattering, and I didn’t know what was going on.

Marc Malkin Senior Editor, Culture and Events Christine Blasey Ford received a Hollywood welcome on Sunday night when Kerry Washington, Elizabeth Banks, Busy Phillips, Marisa Tomei and more gathered to toast the release of her new memoir, “One Way Back.” “We stand with you because you have stood with us so courageously, and we honor you and we celebrate you. We lift our glasses to you tonight,” Washington said. “To your courage, to your beauty, to your generosity as you continue to do more than you have to.

Zack Sharf Digital News Director “Happy Gilmore 2″ is apparently being developed by Adam Sandler, and a script even exists. Shooter McGavin actor Christopher McDonald revealed the news during a radio interview on “Audacy’s 92.3 The Fan.” McDonald said he had a recent run-in with Sandler, who unexpectedly pulled out the first draft for a sequel to their 1996 sports comedy classic. “I saw Adam [Sandler] about two weeks ago, and he says to me, ‘McDonald, you’re gonna love this,'” McDonald said.

A Dumfries-based politician is calling for a cut on the 18 weeks waiting time for young people to receive specialist treatment for mental health services in the region.

Lele Pons and Guaynaa are a fan favorite when it comes to celebrity couples. The Venezuelan and Puerto Rican singer tied the knot last year in a stunning wedding ceremony on March 4th, 2023, in Miami.

Thania Garcia The rise of música Mexicana has been one of the more unexpected movements in the music world: While it was the fastest-growing Latin subgenre of 2023, per research data company Luminate, the genre is centuries old, and rooted in traditional guitar-based melodies that many of música Mexicana’s most promising young artists — including Peso Pluma, Eslabon Armado, Xavi, Ivan Cornejo, Yahritza Y Su Esencia and Conexión Divina — likely first heard coming out of their parents’ stereos. Except for Peso, all of those artists have something else in common, a rarity in regional Mexican music: female managers. The California-based quartet Eslabon Armado, whose smash duet with Peso Pluma, “Ella Baila Sola,” became the first song in the genre’s history to reach the Top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100 (and was Variety’s Hitmakers No.