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Infantino abandons private investment proposal for Fifa tournaments
Fifa president Gianni Infantino has abandoned plans to bring private investors into a company controlling major Fifa tournaments, including the men’s and women’s World Cups, after strong opposition from football bodies worldwide. The withdrawal averts a potential boycott by Uefa and leaves Infantino under significant pressure ahead of his expected attempt to secure a fourth…
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Nightclub industry chiefs furious after it emerges they WON’T be included in Burnham’s business rates tax cut – as they accuse PM of not understanding his own flagship policy
The article reports that nightclub industry leaders are angry after learning that nightclubs will not be included in Andy Burnham’s proposed business-rates tax cut. They argue that the exclusion is unfair and say the Prime Minister does not understand the policy’s effects on the sector. The dispute centres on which businesses qualify for the rates…
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25 Years Ago Today, Blake Shelton Released His Platinum Debut Album Featuring the Answering Machine Love Song That Made Him a Star
Blake Shelton released his self-titled debut album on 31 July 2001, beginning a country music career that later made him a major television and recording star. The album’s success was driven by “Austin”, an answering-machine-themed ballad that established Shelton as a hitmaker despite uncertainty caused by his record label closing during the single’s rise. The…
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BE:FIRST Is Ready for the World: Inside the J-Pop Superstars’ Long-Planned U.S. Breakthrough
J-pop group BE:FIRST has announced a coordinated push into the US market, beginning with its single “BRUCE WAYNE” and a set of new industry partnerships. The move matters because the group, already highly successful in Japan, is seeking to turn its domestic momentum into a sustained international presence through distribution, touring, marketing and English-language preparation.…
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The 1983 album Black Sabbath never wanted to release: “We weren’t happy”
Black Sabbath’s 1983 album *Born Again* was released despite the band’s dissatisfaction with its sound, particularly its production and notoriously criticised cover artwork. The record matters as a turbulent but distinctive chapter in the band’s history, marking former Deep Purple singer Ian Gillan’s only studio album with the group. The album followed the departure of…
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‘KPop Demon Hunters’ Continues Blind Box Trend With New Phone Huggers
Netflix’s KPop Demon Hunters has added a new collectible: blind boxes containing miniature silicone “phone huggers” based on the animated musical’s characters. The launch reflects the continued expansion of merchandise around the film, whose popularity has also been driven by its soundtrack and growing fan culture. Each $11.99 CultureFly blind box contains one of nine…
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Karol G Invites ‘Everyone To Be A Little More Dramatic, A Little More Extra’ With New Album ‘No Me Arrepiento de Sentir Tanto’
Karol G has announced that her sixth studio album, No Me Arrepiento de Sentir Tanto, will be released on 7 August. She says the record will reveal a more intimate, alternative and emotionally vulnerable side of herself, marking a shift from the bright, celebratory Tropicoqueta era and inviting listeners to embrace intense feelings rather than…
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3 Times Mainstream Rockers Colored Outside the Lines and Made Odd Music
Three mainstream rock artists are highlighted for making albums that departed sharply from their established sounds, risking commercial and critical backlash in favour of experimentation. – Neil Young’s 1982 album ‘Trans’ used synthesizers and electronic instruments, partly inspired by attempts to communicate with his non-verbal son; it was controversial and prompted a lawsuit from his…
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SB19 Talks Performing ‘Lawless’ At Lollapalooza For the First Time & Being the First Filipino Group to Perform At the Festival | Billboard News
Filipino pop group SB19 performed their new single ‘Lawless’ live for the first time at Lollapalooza, shortly after releasing it. The appearance was notable because the group said they were the first Filipino act to perform at the Chicago festival, marking a high-profile international moment for the band. Members described the performance as exciting and…
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Tom Corson Promoted at Warner Music After Latest C-Suite Shake Up
Warner Music Group’s chief operating and financial officer, Armin Zerza, is leaving for personal reasons after little more than a year at the company. Warner Records COO Tom Corson will succeed him as COO, while WMG searches for a permanent CFO, marking another senior-management change during a period of corporate transformation. Zerza joined WMG in…