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iHeartMedia, FCC Enter Consent Decree Over Payola Claims
iHeartMedia has agreed to a consent decree with the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC), bringing to a close the regulator’s investigation into so-called “payola” and “showola” practices. The FCC announced the agreement on Thursday, resolving a probe it opened last year into claims that the radio conglomerate gave artists increased airplay in exchange for their…
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Paris-based AI voice startup Gradium raises $100M seed, backed by Nvidia
Gradium, a Paris-based startup building voice AI models, has reopened its seed round to new backers including Nvidia, bringing the round’s total to $100 million. The company said on Thursday that it will use the money to open an office in the San Francisco Bay Area and compete for talent, positioning itself closer to leading…
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Banijay’s Marco Bassetti and Jeff Zucker on Officially Completing Their $8 Billion All3Media Merger
RedBird IMI and Banijay have completed their $8 billion merger, creating what the two companies describe as the largest independent production company in the world. The newly combined business, to be called Banijay Entertainment, is headquartered in London and publicly traded, and unites Banijay’s slate of shows and formats — including “Peaky Blinders” and “Big…
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iHeartMedia Settles FCC Payola Investigation, Agrees to Adopt New Reporting Measures to Ensure Legal Compliance
iHeartMedia, the largest owner of radio stations in the United States, has agreed to a consent decree with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to settle an investigation into “showola” — a form of payola in which stations allegedly pressure artists to perform at station-hosted events for free or reduced pay in exchange for more favourable…
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Match-fixing spreading to sports such as chess and darts, select committee told
A House of Lords select committee has been told that match-fixing is spreading at an “extraordinary” rate worldwide, reaching sports once thought largely immune such as chess, darts and skiing. The International Agreements Committee heard the evidence on Thursday while scrutinising the Macolin Convention, the only international treaty on the manipulation of sports competitions, which…
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Rice and Ødegaard put club union on hold in decisive duel between England and Norway
Arsenal teammates Declan Rice and Martin Ødegaard will put their club friendship aside on Saturday when England face Norway in a World Cup 2026 quarter-final in Miami, with a place in the semi-finals at stake. The Guardian frames the contest between the two Arsenal title-winners as potentially decisive, noting the pair have played together 117…
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Twisted killer offers up pathetic excuse as he desperately tries to avoid being executed after 39 years on death row
Dominick Occhicone, an 80-year-old man who has spent nearly 40 years on Florida’s death row, has filed a last-ditch legal bid to avoid execution on the grounds of his advanced age and declining health. He was sentenced to death in 1987 for the murder of his ex-fiancée’s parents, Raymond and Martha Artzner, whom he shot…
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Tyler Robinson returned home after Charlie Kirk shooting and ADMITTED to trans lover that he ‘wishes he hadn’t done it,’ court told
A pretrial hearing in Utah has heard claims that Tyler Robinson, the man accused of assassinating conservative activist Charlie Kirk, returned to his shared flat the day after the shooting, broke down in tears and admitted he “wished he hadn’t done it.” The allegation came from Lance Twiggs, 23, Robinson’s former flatmate and romantic partner,…
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Norway’s Haaland wants ‘pressure’ put on England
Norway striker Erling Haaland has insisted that all the pressure is on England ahead of the two nations’ 2026 World Cup quarter-final on Saturday, playfully urging the media to pile as much expectation as possible onto Thomas Tuchel’s side. The remarks are notable because Norway have reached the last eight for the first time and…
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Anthony Gordon: ‘I have always been very intrigued to see who I can become’
England winger Anthony Gordon has spoken about overcoming a difficult start to World Cup 2026 to become a key figure in the knockout rounds, ahead of Saturday’s quarter-final against Norway in Miami. Having recently completed a £60.7m move from Newcastle to Barcelona, the 25-year-old reflected on his relentless drive for self-improvement, insisting his strong mentality…