Wheelhouse Entertainment Promotes Gardner Reed

WABC-TV’s entertainment reporter Sandy Kenyon is transitioning to a new role as consultant for ABC Owned Television Stations.

Callum McLennan The media and entertainment industry is forecast to surpass a $1 trillion valuation in 2024, according to Omdia’s senior research director María Rua Aguete, a speaker at Tuesday’s Future Trends Report panel at Miami’s Content Americas, which runs through Jan. 25.

EXCLUSIVE: VMI Releasing, the North American distribution arm of VMI Worldwide, has hired Dan Fisher as Executive Vice President. 

Thania Garcia Anthem Entertainment has acquired a catalog of songs written by Chantal Kreviazuk. The deal encompasses hits and collaborations recorded by Christina Aguilera, Kelly Clarkson, Drake, Avril Lavigne, Pitbull, Shakira, Britney Spears, Gwen Stefani, Carrie Underwood and more.

Fremantle has backed the new indie run by Channel 4‘s former entertainment boss Phil Harris.

EXCLUSIVE: In a competitive situation, Ketchup Entertainment acquired for mid-seven figures Goodrich, the comedy that stars Michael Keaton and Mila Kunis, directed by Hallie Meyers-Shyer from the script she wrote. C2 Motion Picture Group and Stay Gold Features controlled the rights. Ketchup has committed to a wide theatrical release with P&A.

Todd Spangler NY Digital Editor Mythical Entertainment, the digital media company founded and led by YouTube creators Rhett & Link, appointed Jacob Moncrief — who is returning to Mythical after more than two years at Westbrook Media — as chief operating officer and promoted Brian Flanagan to the role of president. In his role as COO, Moncrief (above left) will report directly to Rhett & Link alongside Flanagan and chief creative officer Stevie Wynne Levine.

K-pop boyband TWS – an abbreviation of “Twenty Four Seven With Us” – have made their debut with their first mini-album ‘Sparkling Blue’.Today (January 22), the new Pledis Entertainment group – comprising members Shinyu, Doyoon, Youngjae, Hanjin, Jihoon and Kyungmin – made their debut with a music video for their first single ‘Plot Twist’. The song is part of TWS’ new mini-album ‘Sparkling Blue’, which arrived at the same time.The video follows the boyband on their first day in a new school and the awkward moments they face as newcomers. “First encounters are always so hard / ‘Cause nothing goes to plan / First encounters are always so hard / My name is,” they sing on the chorus.Ahead of their official debut, TWS also dropped their pre-release single ‘OH MYMY: 7S’ earlier this month.

Nikki Reed is on TikTok and her first video is a hit!

EXCLUSIVE: Scott Weintrob, who created Peacock’s upcoming adventure series Orlando Bloom: To The Edge, has lept into business with Steve Michaels’ Asylum Entertainment Group.

Diego Ramos Bechara editor Radio Silence Productions and Project X Entertainment, both behind the relaunch of the “Scream” franchise, are forming a joint financing pact with studio MRC to fund and produce horror and thriller features. The partnership, announced Wednesday morning, aims to produce two to three features annually.

EXCLUSIVE: Emmy-nominated Yellowjackets executive producer Drew Comins has signed a first-look deal with film and TV studio Fifth Season for his Creative Engine Entertainment production company. Under the pact with the indie studio, run by co-CEOs Graham Taylor and Chris Rice, Creative Engine will continue to develop talent-driven original series for streaming platforms and premium cable outlets, which Comins will be executive producing.

Albert Einstein had his theory of relativity, and Breaking Baz has his theory of party lift-off.

Ian Somerhalder and Nikki Reed are speaking out about their decision to ditch acting, and how they’ve fared since.

EXCLUSIVE: Wayfarer Studios, Meralta Films and Inked Entertainment are teaming on Errands & Espionage, a feature adaptation of the forthcoming action comedy novel by Sam Tschida, after prevailing in a bidding war for rights to the book.

Valerie Wu Intern Entertainment industry employees are now more aware of what defines power abuse in the workplace, but aren’t seeing substantial changes addressing misconduct, the Hollywood Commission, headed by Anita Hill, reported Thursday. For the 2022-2023 Entertainment Industry Survey report, the Hollywood Commission surveyed over 5,000 anonymous industry workers to analyze perceptions of workplace harassment and abuse. They found that there has overall been an increase in workers’ awareness of workplace misconduct among respondents.

EXCLUSIVE: 3 Arts veteran Josh Lieberman is leaving the management and production company to join Brillstein Entertainment Partners. Also joining Brillstein is Allie Veneris of Authentic Talent & Literary Management.

EXCLUSIVE: SMAC Entertainment has signed Grammy, Emmy and Academy Award-winning musical artist, actor, author, and activist Common for management.

Jennifer Maas TV Business Writer Sony Pictures Entertainment general counsel Leah Weil is exiting her role after almost three decades with the company. The longtime senior executive vice president is the studio’s most senior legal advisor with oversight across film and TV production, acquisition and distribution, media networks, digital content creation and distribution, operation of studio facilities and development of new entertainment offerings.

Jazz Tangcay Artisans Editor Sony Pictures Entertainment is set to announce its latest advanced visualization facility, Torchlight, at CES this evening. Located at Sony’s Culver City studios, Torchlight is already operational and being used by filmmakers. The facility will allow filmmakers to create digital scenes as part of their pre-visualization process.