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I turned off my algorithm for 24 hours. Is this how social media used to be?
A Guardian columnist tried turning off her Instagram algorithm for 24 hours, switching to a chronological feed of only accounts she follows, after the Australian government announced “world-leading” reforms to force social media platforms to let users opt out of algorithms under a “my feed, my way” policy. The experiment was prompted by her reflecting…
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Meta’s Muse AI performs well but raises fresh privacy concerns
The Verge’s tech reporter tested Meta’s newly launched Muse, the company’s first major AI productivity assistant, designed to handle tasks such as sorting emails, online shopping and trip planning via a cloud-based virtual computer. While the tool largely performed as advertised, the reviewer found the experience unsettling because of how much personal information Muse gathered…
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Blue Fox Launches Sales On YA Rom-Com ‘Buster Brooks’ With Matt Cornett & Melissa Collazo — TIFF Market
Blue Fox Entertainment has acquired worldwide rights to the YA romantic comedy “Buster Brooks”, written and directed by Savannah Ostler, and will launch international sales on the film at this week’s TIFF market in Toronto. The film stars Matt Cornett as a small-town farm boy who moves to Hollywood chasing his acting dream, where he…
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Universal Music Group and ElevenLabs to Launch AI-Powered Music Platform in Expansive Licensing Deal
Universal Music Group has struck a wide-ranging licensing agreement with AI audio firm ElevenLabs to build a new AI-powered music platform based on UMG’s artist catalogue, marking a departure from the label’s earlier one-off licensing deals with tools such as Hook and Udio towards a jointly developed, purpose-built product. The platform will let fans remix…
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Eric Church explores touring life in new introspective piano ballad
Country star Eric Church has released a new single, “On the Road,” a piano-driven track reflecting on his life as a touring musician rather than settling for straightforward nostalgia. The song is introspective, acknowledging that his time in the spotlight will eventually pass to another performer, a sentiment that has drawn comparisons to Bob Seger’s…
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‘Chad Powers’ Star Perry Mattfeld Breaks Down Ricky and Chad’s Forbidden Romance, Gerry’s Threat and That Season 2 Cliffhanger
Actor Perry Mattfeld has discussed the season two finale of Hulu’s “Chad Powers,” exploring how her character Ricky navigates the fallout of learning that star quarterback Chad is actually disgraced footballer Russ Holliday (Glen Powell) in disguise. The interview delves into the romantic tension between Ricky and Chad, the growing threat posed by teammate Gerry,…
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Brisbane church dean steps down over non-consensual filming incident
Peter Catt, dean of St John’s Cathedral in Brisbane for 18 years, has announced his retirement after taking responsibility for the church’s appearance in the Stan documentary series Turned On: Dirty Sexy Money. The programme featured UK OnlyFans creator Lily Phillips visiting the cathedral to reconnect with her Christian faith, but footage also showed congregation…
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Mohsen Gharaei’s Iranian Drama ‘Falling House’ Sells Across Europe After Venice Festival Premiere (EXCLUSIVE)
Iranian filmmaker Mohsen Gharaei’s drama “Falling House” has secured a wave of international sales after premiering to strong reviews in the Horizons section of the Venice Film Festival. Paris-based sales agent Paradise City Sales has closed deals with Jokers Films for France, Wanted Cinema for Italy and Karma Films for Spain, with further negotiations ongoing…
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English winemakers expect ‘vintage year’ after record-breaking summer heat
English sparkling winemakers are anticipating their earliest-ever grape harvest and a potential “vintage year” after this summer’s record-breaking heat rapidly ripened crops. Nyetimber, one of England’s leading producers, will begin picking on 14 September, its earliest start since planting its first vines in 1988, as intense sunshine concentrated sugar levels in the grapes despite some…
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European cities generate revenue through nightly visitor fees
Tourist taxes are new to England but have long been standard practice across continental Europe, where they have proved a lucrative source of income for local authorities, particularly in Italy. Cities typically charge visitors a nightly per-person fee on top of accommodation costs, usually collected at checkout, with the money nominally earmarked for local services…