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☆ Sam Altman is leaving a key OpenAI board. His departure should satisfy some big critics.
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-17 | by ( Shubhangi Goel | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Read previewOpenAI just announced the members of its revamped Safety and Security Committee, and CEO Sam Altman is not on the list. When the group was announced, Altman, Taylor, and five OpenAI technical and policy experts were named to the committee, alongside the independent board members. AdvertisementThe safety committee will "exercise oversight over model launches, including having the authority to delay a release until safety concerns are addressed," the blog post said. OpenAI's troublesLast month, the company battled to stop an AI safety bill in California, saying it would stifle progress and drive companies out of the state. Weeks before that, nine current and former OpenAI employees signed an open letter pointing out the risks of generative AI.

Persons: —, Sam Altman, Bret Taylor, OpenAI's, Altman, Taylor, Zico Kolter, Adam D'Angelo, Paul Nakasone, Nicole Seligman, William Saunders, Daniel Kokotajlo, Weeks Organizations: Service, Security Committee, Business, Carnegie Mellon University, US Army, Sony Corporation, o1, OpenAI, Securities and Exchange Commission Locations: California, NDAs

☆ OpenAI announces new independent board oversight committee focused on safety
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-16 | by ( Hayden Field | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

OpenAI on Monday said its Safety and Security Committee, which the company introduced in May as it dealt with controversy over security processes, will become an independent board oversight committee. Other members include Adam D'Angelo, an OpenAI board member and co-founder of Quora, former NSA chief and board member Paul Nakasone, and Nicole Seligman, former executive vice president at Sony. The committee will oversee "the safety and security processes guiding OpenAI's model deployment and development," the company said. The company said the committee "reviewed the safety and security criteria that OpenAI used to assess OpenAI o1's fitness for launch," as well as safety evaluation results. Leike wrote in a post on X that OpenAI's "safety culture and processes have taken a backseat to shiny products."

Persons: Sam Altman, OpenAI, Zico Kolter, Adam D'Angelo, Quora, Paul Nakasone, Nicole Seligman, it's, Ilya Sutskever, Jan Leike, Leike Organizations: Microsoft, Security Committee, Carnegie Mellon University's, NSA, Sony, Tiger Global, Nvidia, Apple, OpenAI o1, Democratic Locations: Redmond , Washington, OpenAI

☆ Why Elon Musk Is Really Taking Twitter Out of San Francisco
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-12 | by ( Adam Rogers | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +13 min

From the front door of X, which is closing up shop in San Francisco on Friday, Market Street runs straight through downtown to the bay. Now, as X leaves its spot, Market Street is still suffering from all the same problems it had before Twitter. After handing over millions of dollars in tax breaks to one of the world's wealthiest corporations, San Francisco has nothing to show for it. AdvertisementI keep remembering a work trip I took to San Francisco in 1999, a few years before I moved here. "Our focus remains on working with and supporting the many businesses that call San Francisco home," the statement reads.

Persons: Daniel Burnham, Elon Musk, Twitter, Ted Egan, Bon Marché, Paula Smith Arrigoni, restaurateurs, Dolby, Twitter didn't, Egan, Uber decamped, Musk, San Francisco, Adam Rogers Organizations: Twitter, Central Market, Anadolu, Getty, AQ, Area, Coalition, Apple, New York Times, San, Sony, Microsoft, Ikea, London Breed, Business Locations: San Francisco, Austin, South Park, California, Brisbane, Texas, scuzzy, gentrify, Alta, Oro, Bon, Kaya, Bay, Oakland

☆ Microsoft to cut 650 jobs at its Xbox gaming unit — read the full memo from top exec Phil Spencer
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-12 | by ( Ryan Browne | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Patrick T. Fallon | Bloomberg | Getty ImagesMicrosoft on Thursday said that it is cutting 650 roles at its Xbox gaming division, in the latest major round of layoffs to hit the video game industry. It marks the third series of redundancies in Microsoft's video game unit since the company's blockbuster acquisition of Activision Blizzard, the publisher behind the Call of Duty franchise, for $69 billion in cash. In a memo obtained by CNBC, Phil Spencer, CEO of Microsoft Gaming, told employees that the firm had taken this "difficult" decision to align its post-acquisition team structure and "organize our business for long term success." Bethesda publishes major gaming titles, such as the Fallout and The Elder Scrolls series. Major gaming studios have cut thousands of jobs around the world, beginning in 2023 and continuing into 2024.

Persons: Phil Spencer, Patrick T, Spencer, Japan's, Playtika Organizations: Microsoft, Fallon, Bloomberg, Getty, Activision Blizzard, Duty, CNBC, Microsoft Gaming, Xbox, Activision, ZeniMax Media, Bethesda Softworks, Bethesda, Japan's Sony, PlayStation, Gaming Locations: Los Angeles, U.S

☆ An ex-Sony exec said laid-off employees should 'go to the beach for a year' or 'drive an Uber'
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-11 | by ( Lian Kit Wee | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Read previewFormer Sony Computer Entertainment Europe president Chris Deering has a blunt message for recently laid-off game developers: They should "go to the beach for a year" or "drive an Uber" until the job market improves. "You're going to have to figure out how to get through it, drive an Uber, or whatever. His remarks come at a time when layoffs have hit the gaming industry hard. AdvertisementOther game developers, including Microsoft and Unity, have similarly downsized their studios this year, cutting over 3,000 jobs at the start of the year, BI reported in February. This series of layoffs in the game industry stemmed from slumping game sales and a shrinking gaming demographic, BI previously reported.

Persons: —, Chris Deering, Deering, Simon Parkin's, Uber, Parkin Organizations: Service, Sony Computer Entertainment, European PlayStation, PlayStation, Business, PlayStation Studios, Microsoft, Unity, Cudo Ventures, Sony Interactive Entertainment, BI Locations: European, Deering

☆ PS5 Pro: Sony unveils faster, more powerful PlayStation console, pre-orders to begin September 26
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-11 | by ( Kathleen Magramo | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

The PS5 Pro will go on sale on November 7 at $700, about 40% more expensive than the PS 5 when it launched in 2020, Sony said on Tuesday. The newest console will have much more powerful computing power, allowing up to 45% faster rendering for game play, Mark Cerny, lead architect for PS5 Pro revealed in a video presentation. “Simply put, it’s the most powerful console we’ve ever built,” he said. Sales of the PS5 have lagged behind its predecessor, the PS4, of which more than 114 million units had been sold since its launch in 2013. The PS4 had dominated the gaming world and far outpaced its rival Xbox One developed by Microsoft Gaming.

Persons: Mark Cerny, ” Organizations: CNN, Sony, Reuters, Xbox, Microsoft Gaming

☆ Who is Chappell Roan: Timeline of the singer’s rise to fame
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-11 | by ( Scottie Andrew | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +12 min

CNN —Chappell Roan is having the year of her life. The rise of Chappell Roan, 2014 — 2015Chappell Roan hails from Willard, Missouri. This is when she adopts the stage name Chappell Roan — her late grandpa’s name was Chappell. “It’s been very freeing to be like, ‘Oh, Chappell Roan is my drag project.’”September 22, 2023: “The Rise and Fall of a Midwestern Princess” debuts, exactly six years after she put out her first EP as Chappell Roan. Chappell Roan at the Governors Ball in June in Queens, New York.

Persons: CNN — Chappell Roan, she’s, Roan, —, Britney Spears, Beyoncé, Chappell Roan, “ I’ve, It’s, ”, Roan’s, Kayleigh Rose, Troye Sivan, “, ” “ i’ve, ” Sivan, Chappell Roan —, Chappell, Jim Bennett, ” Chappell, Vance Joy, Declan McKenna, ” Roan, Tom Power, it’s, Dan Nigro, Olivia Rodrigo, Stone, TikTok, Fletcher, ” Crayola, “ It’s, Oh, ’, ” “, Jimmy Fallon, Astrida Valigorsky, Babe, Kate Bush, Lady, She’s, Marie Antoinette, Governors Ball, Nina Westervelt, Babe ! ”, Fallon, Sasha Colby, who’ve, “ I’m, Gaga’s Organizations: CNN, MTV, YouTube, Atlantic Records, Getty, Roan, Pony, ”, Sony, Amusement Records, Records, Boston, NPR, “, Lady Liberty, New, Governors, Spotify Locations: Missouri, Willard , Missouri, Seattle, Los Angeles, Manhattan, Los Angeles and New York, North America, London, Roan, Queens , New York, Chicago

☆ High price of Sony's new PlayStation 5 Pro could make it a 'difficult sell,' says Jefferies
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-11 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

In this videoShare Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailHigh price of Sony's new PlayStation 5 Pro could make it a 'difficult sell,' says JefferiesAtul Goyal, managing director at Jefferies, discusses the high price of Sony's new PlayStation 5 Pro.

Persons: Jefferies Atul Goyal Organizations: Jefferies

☆ Sony unveils upgraded PlayStation 5 Pro to boost slowing console business
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-10 | by ( Ryan Browne | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Sony on Tuesday announced the PlayStation 5 Pro, an upgraded version of its gaming console that will launch on Nov. 7 for $700. The arrival of Sony's refreshed PS5 console comes amid a global decline in console sales. The PS5 Pro features "advanced" ray tracing, a technique in computer graphics that simulates how light bounces off reflective surfaces. Sony said the PS5 Pro features a 2-terabyte solid-state drive, larger than the custom-built 825 GB solid-state drive featured in the PS5. Sony said several games will have "PS5 Pro Enhanced" designation with features that work on the new console.

Persons: Alan Wake Organizations: Sony, Tuesday, PlayStation, Wireless, Turismo

☆ Summer box office bounced back thanks to 'Inside Out 2,' 'Deadpool & Wolverine'
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-04 | by ( Sarah Whitten | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Thanks to some anthropomorphic emotions and a bad-mouthed, fourth-wall breaking antihero, the domestic summer box office scraped together $3.6 billion in ticket sales. Box office analysts and cinema owners braced themselves a few months ago for the possibility that the summer movie season could be the worst showing in a decade. But it wasn't until mid-June that the box office got a proper surge of moviegoers. Through Labor Day, the film was the highest-grossing summer movie with $650 million in box office receipts. Box office analysts foresee the summer's momentum carrying over into the fall, ultimately bolstering the overall third-quarter box office results.

Persons: Paul Dergarabedian, it's, Guy, George Miller's, Max, Disney's, Dergarabedian, Romulus, Eric Handler, Roth MKM, Shawn Robbins Organizations: Comscore, Labor, Marvel, Disney, Marvel Studios, Warner Bros, Deadpool, Universal, Fathom, Comcast, CNBC Locations: Kingdom, NBCUniversal

☆ A look at the behind-the-scenes business of Hollywood studio lot tours
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-31 | by ( Sarah Whitten | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +12 min

Hosted by Universal , Warner Bros. , Sony and Paramount , studio lot tours showcase the movie-making process from set design and sound recording to costumes and props. Building facades at the Warner Bros. studio lot. Floor to ceiling shelves filled with marble and faux marble busts at Warner Bros.' studio tour prop house. Studio Tour Hollywood Grand Re-Opening at Warner Bros. Studios on June 24, 2021 in Burbank, California. For the first six months of their employment with the studio, these pages serve as studio tour guides.

Persons: Tama, Robert Thompson, Adam Burke, Burke, Thompson, Mayer, Sarah Whitten, Tony Tasset, Oz, bauer, Foley, Gilmore, Harry Potter, Matt Winkelmeyer, Paul Dergarabedian, Alfred Hitchcock's, Truman, Benjamin Button, Steven Spielberg, Gabriel Bouys, King Kong, Allen J Organizations: Getty, Hollywood, Syracuse University, Universal, Warner Bros, Sony, Paramount, Los Angeles Tourism Board, Los Angeles Department of Public Works, Sony Pictures, Metro, Goldwyn, CNBC, Social, Sony Pictures Entertainment, CNBC Warner Bros, Warner Bros ., Fantastic, Studios, Turner, Paramount Studios, Bloomberg, Universal Studios, Afp, Universal Studios Hollywood, York, Los Angeles Times Locations: New York City, Los Angeles, Culver City, Central, Burbank , California, Los Angeles , California, York, Hollywood, New York

How to stream NFL games without cableBelow, we'll dive deeper into all your NFL streaming options. We'll show you how to watch Thursday Night Football, Monday Night Football, Sunday Night Football, and more, whether you want an all-inclusive streaming service or cheaper monthly subscriptions. What you get:Local games on FoxLocal games on CBSSunday Night Football on NBCMonday Night Football on ESPNNFL Network gamesWhat you don't get:Thursday Night Football gamesOut-of-market games**Out-of-market games are available with the NFL Sunday Ticket package. What you get:Thursday Night Football gamesExclusive Wild Card game in January 2025What you don't get:Local games on CBSLocal games on FoxMonday Night Football on ESPNSunday Night Football games on NBCNFL Network gamesOut-of-market Sunday afternoon gamesNFL+NFL+ Subscription NFL Plus lets you stream live games to your phone or mobile device, and watch on-demand content from NFL Films and the NFL Network. The platform will let you watch local and primetime broadcast games (regular and postseason), NFL Network games, and out-of-market preseason games.

Persons: we've, Hulu's, Peacock, Al Michaels, Kirk Herbstreit, Kaylee, There's, DAZN, Flatenna, ExpressVPN, you'll Organizations: Business, NFL, Super, Football, TV, NFL Network, Fox, NBC, ESPN, CBS, Sling, ESPN NFL Network, Fubo, Hulu, Fox Local, Disney Plus, Disney, YouTube, NFL Redzone, Sports, NFL Sunday, Sunday, CBS Local, Fox Monday, Paramount, Nickelodeon, Comedy Central, BET, MTV, Showtime, Fox Sunday, Amazon, Amazon Prime, Thursday, ESPN Sunday Night, NBC NFL Network, NFL Films, NFL RedZone, MLB, NHL, UFC, ESPN ESPN, Jets, 49ers, Bengals, Seahawks, Lions, Ravens, Buccaneers, Chargers, Cardinals, Giants, Steelers, Cowboys, Bears, Apple, Android, Smart, Sony, LG, Panasonic, PlayStation, Xbox, Night Football NFL Network, Twitch Locations: United States, China, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, AWST

☆ 3 reasons 'It Ends With Us' became a box office hit despite Blake Lively's controversy
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-23 | by ( Jason Guerrasio | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Read previewOne of the biggest surprises of the summer movie season is the amazing box office performance by the Sony romantic drama "It Ends With Us." "It Ends With Us" has become a box office hit for three reasons. But it was attention to the behind-the-scenes drama that gave it box office legs. Advertisement"History has taught us controversy often serves to enhance awareness and interest and thus can have a positive effect on the box office," Comscore senior media analyst Paul Dergarabedian told Business Insider. CHARLY TRIBALLEAU/GettyAn early August release can lead to box office glory if you have a title different from the usual blockbusters of the season.

Persons: —, Colleen Hoover's, Blake Lively, Lily Bloom, Ryle Kincaid, Justin Baldoni, Atlas Corrigan, Brandon Sklenar, Lively, Colleen Hoover, Denny Directo, Eric Charbonneau, Getty Lively, Hoover, Sklenar, Nicole Rivelli, Ryan Reynolds, Baldoni, Paul Dergarabedian, James Cameron's, Blake Lively's, CHARLY TRIBALLEAU, Getty, Reynolds, wouldn't Organizations: Service, Sony, Business, Café, Sony Pictures Locations: Grapevine , Texas

☆ Blake Lively and her 'It Ends With Us' director Justin Baldoni are rumored to have fallen out — and fans can't stop talking about it
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-14 | by ( Eve Crosbie | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +11 min

Here's everything we know about the rumored falling out between Baldoni and Lively — and how Ryan Reynolds might factor in. Blake Lively with Hugh Jackman, Ryan Reynolds, Tammy Reynolds, and Brandon Sklenar at the New York premiere of"It Ends With Us." While speaking to Entertainment Tonight on the carpet at the New York premiere, Baldoni explained why he was stepping back from the limelight. Lively and Baldoni clashed during filming, according to sources close to productionBlake Lively and Justin Baldoni filming a scene from "It Ends With Us" in May 2023. Representatives for Baldoni, Lively, Reynolds, and Hoover did not respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.

Persons: —, Blake Lively, Lively, Justin Baldoni, Ryan Reynolds, Baldoni, Jane, Virgin, Hugh Jackman, Tammy Reynolds, Brandon Sklenar, John, costars Brandon Sklenar, Isabela Ferrer, Colleen Hoover, Hoover, Reynolds, Jackman, Liz Plank, John Nacion, Blake, Colleen, I'm, subreddit, Jenny Slate, Jojo Whilden, It's, us, justin, ake, ona, laherty, ade, romo Organizations: Service, Business, New York, John Nacion, Variety, New, Vogue, Entertainment, London, Getty, Sony Pictures, obb Locations: Baldoni, New York, Instagram, York

☆ Reliance, Disney offer concessions to win antitrust nod for India media merger, Reuters reports
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-14 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Reliance and Walt Disney have offered to sell some channels to win faster antitrust approval for their $8.5 billion India media assets merger, but are resisting changes to cricket broadcast rights they own, two sources familiar with the matter said. Antitrust experts have warned that the Reliance-Disney merger, announced in February, could face intense scrutiny as it will create India's biggest entertainment player which will compete with Sony , Zee Entertainment , Netflix and Amazon with a combined 120 TV channels and two streaming services. The sources said some of the concessions being offered relate to regional Indian language channels where the two companies may have a dominant market share. Zee and Sony planned to create a $10 billion TV behemoth in India and in 2022 offered concessions by selling three TV channels. That helped them win CCI approval, but the merger eventually collapsed.

Persons: Walt Disney, Mukesh Ambani's Organizations: Walt, Antitrust, Disney, Sony, Zee Entertainment, Netflix, Competition Commission of India, Reliance, Zee Locations: India

☆ Podcast: Japan's quest for the most powerful microchip leads semiconductor revival
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-13 | by ( Arjun Kharpal | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +25 min

At the end of [the] 1980s, Japanese companies accounted for like 51% of the global semiconductor market. So by doing this ... one thing undercut Japanese semiconductor chip makers' competitiveness in the global market. Another thing [is] that [it] forced open [the] Japanese semiconductor market to foreign players, and this creates opportunity for the U.S., South Korea and Taiwan. And Japanese companies are trying to both develop their own capacity but also attract phone companies to establish fabs there. So by collaborating with international companies, Japanese companies can leverage their existing technology and manufacturing techniques to expand their global share as well.

Persons: Tom Chitty, Fei Xue, Tom Chitty Well, Arjun, Kharpal Fei, Reagan, Arjun Kharpal, Fei, it's, TSMC, Fei Xue Yes, Rapidus, Arjun Kharpal Fei, they're, there's, ASML, you've, He'd, Tom Chitty Fei, Arjun Arjun Kharpal, Tom, Tom Chitty We'll Organizations: TSMC, Rapidus Corporation, Samsung, Economist Intelligence Unit, Economist Intelligence, The Economist, Economist, East, International Relations, U.S, U.S ., Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing, IBM, Apple, EV, Japan, Nvidia, Micron, Sony, Nintendo, Canon, South, Samsung Electronics, Tokyo, Screen Holdings Locations: Japan, Taiwan, U.S, Netherlands, Tokyo, beyondthevalley@cnbc.com, East Asia, Fei Xue Japan, South Korea, Japan's, Kyushu, Kumamoto Prefecture, TSMC, That's, China, Kumamoto

NEW YORK — In the Ryan Reynolds-Blake Lively box-office showdown, both husband and wife came out winners. Reynolds’ Marvel Studios smash “Deadpool & Wolverine” remained the top movie in North American theaters for the third straight week with $54.2 million in ticket sales according to studio estimates Sunday. “Deadpool & Wolverine,” though, was closely followed by “It Ends With Us,” the romance drama starring Lively, which surpassed expectations with a stellar $50 million debut. In 1990, Bruce Willis’ “Die Hard 2” led the box office while Demi Moore’s “Ghost” came in second. Meanwhile, “Deadpool & Wolverine,” which co-stars Hugh Jackman, continued its march through box-office records.

Persons: Ryan Reynolds, Blake Lively, Reynolds, Wolverine ”, it’s, Deadpool, Lively, “, Bruce Willis ’, ”, Demi Moore’s, Eli Roth, Cate Blanchett, Kevin Hart, Jack Black, “ Deadpool, Hugh Jackman, Shawn Levy, Colleen Hoover, Lily Bloom, Justin Baldoni, Brandon Sklenar, Tilman Singer, Hunter Schafer, Dan Stevens Organizations: Reynolds ’ Marvel Studios, Lionsgate, Rotten, Marvel, Columbia Pictures, Wayfarer Studios, Sony, Audiences Locations: Boston

☆ Celine Dion criticizes Trump campaign for unauthorized use of her music in cheeky statement
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-11 | by ( Alayna Treene | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Singer Celine Dion on Saturday issued a statement that both criticized former President Donald Trump’s campaign for the “unauthorized” use of her music at a recent campaign rally and poked fun at the campaign’s song choice. “Today, Celine Dion’s management team and her record label, Sony Music Entertainment Canada Inc., became aware of the unauthorized usage of the video, recording, musical performance, and likeness of Celine Dion singing ‘My Heart Will Go On’ at a Donald Trump / JD Vance campaign rally in Montana,” Dion said in a statement posted to her X and Instagram accounts. “In no way is this use authorized, and Celine Dion does not endorse this or any similar use. CNN has reached out to the Trump campaign regarding whether they will cease playing the song at future events. Dion made headlines last month after returning to the stage in grand fashion with a performance of Edith Piaf’s “L’Hymne à l’amour” at the Olympics opening ceremony.

Persons: CNN — Singer Celine Dion, Donald Trump’s, Trump, Celine Dion’s, Celine Dion, Donald Trump, JD Vance, ” Dion, James Cameron’s, Ozzy Osbourne, George Harrison, Dion, Edith Piaf’s “, ” Organizations: CNN, “, Sony Music Entertainment Canada Inc, National Institute of Neurological Disorders Locations: Bozeman , Montana, Montana

☆ ‘It Ends With Us,’ a Romance Based on a Best Seller, Soars at the Box Office
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-11 | by ( Nicole Sperling | More About Nicole Sperling | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Colleen Hoover’s book “It Ends With Us” has been a fixture on the best-seller list for years. And now, the movie adaptation has become a smash at the box office. The $25 million film from Sony Pictures is on track to earn at least $45 million in the United States and Canada, box office analysts say. Starring Blake Lively, the romance is based on Ms. Hoover’s most popular book — one that was initially released in 2016 but reappeared on the best-seller list in the midst of the pandemic in 2021 and has since spent some 140 weeks there. Buoyed by TikTok, the book, about a complicated love triangle with undertones of domestic violence, has sold 8 million copies and found fans worldwide.

Persons: Colleen Hoover’s, Blake Lively, TikTok, “ Barbie ”, Lively, Ryan Reynolds, Taylor Swift, ”, Justin Baldoni Organizations: Sony Pictures, Sony Locations: United States, Canada

☆ Celine Dion's team says use of 'My Heart Will Go On' at Trump rally was 'unauthorized'
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-10 | by ( Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms Mirna-Alsharif-Byline-Jm.Jpg | Mirna Alsharif | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +1 min

Céline Dion’s management team and record label, Sony Music Canada, said the use of her world-renowned hit “My Heart Will Go On” at a Donald Trump campaign rally in Montana on Friday was “unauthorized.”A video of Dion performing the 1997 song was broadcast at the Trump and JD Vance rally in Bozeman, Montana, on Friday evening. In a statement on X, the Canadian musician’s team said Saturday they became aware of the Republican campaign’s use of the “video, recording, musical performance, and likeness of Celine Dion” singing the song. “In no way is this use authorized, and Celine Dion does not endorse this or any similar use,” the statement read. Dion isn’t the first artist to reject the Trump campaign’s use of their music. “Me nor my people would ever be at or around one of those tragic rallies,” the musician said at the time.

Persons: Céline, Donald Trump, Dion, JD Vance, Celine Dion ”, Celine Dion, Dion isn’t, ” Rihanna, ”, Neil Young, Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler, Everlast, Adele, Trump Organizations: Sony Music Canada, Trump, Canadian, Republican, Pain Locations: Montana, Bozeman , Montana, British

☆ Celine Dion slams Trump campaign for ‘unauthorized usage’ of ‘Titanic’ song 'My Heart Will Go On'
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-10 | by ( Rebecca Picciotto | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

File photo: Celine Dion performs at the Palais Omnisports de Bercy on December 5, 2013 in Paris, France. Canadian singer Celine Dion on Saturday bashed former President Donald Trump for using her song "My Heart Will Go On" at his Montana campaign rally without her permission or endorsement. Dion's management team quipped, spurring mocking social media posts about the Trump campaign using music from a movie about a sinking ship. The Trump campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Harris has been using Beyoncé's song "Freedom" during her campaign rallies, which the pop star reportedly gave the vice president permission to use.

Persons: Celine Dion, Donald Trump, Trump, Kamala Harris, Harris Organizations: Palais, Bercy, Saturday, Trump, Sony Music Entertainment Canada Inc, Democratic Locations: Paris, France, Canadian, Montana, Bozeman , Montana

☆ 'It Ends With Us' screenwriter on the potential for a sequel to the new Blake Lively movie
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-10 | by ( Eve Crosbie | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Read previewDespite what the title may suggest, "It Ends With Us" is just the first chapter in Colleen Hoover's viral BookTok series. "I think there are better people for that one," Baldoni told Entertainment Tonight at the film's New York premiere when asked about the potential for a sequel. AdvertisementBlake Lively as Lily Bloom and Justin Baldoni as Ryle Kincaid in "It Ends With Us." On the prospect of a sequel, Christy Hall, who adapted the novel for the big screen, told Business Insider that the movie rights may have already been snapped up — by someone else. The book sequel picks up immediately after the end of 'It Ends With Us'The sequel, which was published in 2022, picks up immediately after the final scene from "It Ends With Us."

Persons: —, Colleen Hoover's, Blake Lively, Justin Baldoni, Baldoni, Blake Lively's, Lily Bloom, Ryle Kincaid, Lively, Christy Hall, Colleen Hoover, Brandon Sklenar, Atlas Corrigan, Jojo Whilden, Colleen, she's, Hall, I'd, Hoover, Lily, Josh, Verity Organizations: Service, Business, Entertainment, Sony Pictures, Rotten, Hollywood, Variety, Amazon MGM Studios Locations: York, Hollywood

Colleen Hoover’s bestselling novel-turned-film adaptation “It Ends With Us” is stirring controversy ahead of its opening weekend, with online sleuths speculating over alleged behind-the-scenes drama between cast members. Baldoni optioned the film in 2019 with Wayfarer Studios, and later signed on to direct and star in it. Representatives for Baldoni, Lively and Hoover did not immediately respond to requests for comment. “The iconic rooftop scene, my husband actually wrote it,” Lively told E! When asked about whether he'd be interested in directing a sequel, Baldoni told "Entertainment Tonight," “I think that there are better people for that one."

Persons: Colleen Hoover’s, Hoover, Lily Bloom, Blake Lively, Ryle Kincaid, Justin Baldoni, Baldoni, Lively, Brandon Sklenar, Atlas Corrigan, Lily’s, Ryle, Hoover’s, ”, Harry Styles, Jenny Slate, Here’s, —, Ryan Reynolds, Emily Baldoni, Slate, Allysa, “, ’, Slate's, Reynolds, Deadpool, ” Lively, ” Christy Hall, ” Hall, ‘, Ryan, “ Ryan, he'd, Blake Lively's Organizations: Wayfarer Studios, Variety, Baldoni, Sony Pictures, New, New York City, People, Entertainment Locations: Lively, New York, Baldoni

☆ Three Disney films could top $1 billion this year after box office rut
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-08 | by ( Sarah Whitten | Whitten Is A Social Media Writer For Cnbc. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +8 min

After years of starts and stops at the box office, Disney appears to have hit a groove in 2024. Its latest Pixar film, “Inside Out 2,” is now the highest-grossing animated film of all time, topping $1.5 billion at the global box office. And the box office hits aren’t expected to stop there. Disney has long been a box office champion, driving significant ticket sales domestically and globally. In the year before the pandemic, Disney had seven theatrical releases top $1 billion at the box office.

Persons: Disney, ” —, ”, Paul Dergarabedian, bemoaned, Shawn Robbins, We’re, Bob Iger, Covid lockdowns, Iger, Disney’s, Riley, ” Iger, Wednesday’s, ‘, ’, America, we’re, Romulus ” “, King, Moana, Robbins, “ Organizations: Pixar, Disney, Comscore, Star, Marvel, Century Fox, Sony, Star Wars, Lucasfilm Locations: ”, Comscore, Anaheim , California

☆ Beyonce, PlayStation games help Sony post a 10% jump in profits
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-07 | by ( Ryan Browne | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Here's how Sony did in the June quarter, versus LSEG consensus estimates:Revenue: 3.01 trillion Japanese yen ($20.5 billion), versus 2.8 trillion yen expected. Operating profit: 279.11 billion yen ($1.9 billion), versus 275.35 billion yen expected. Gaming, for which Sony is well-known thanks to its popular PlayStation consoles, banked revenues of 864.9 billion yen in the quarter, up 12% from 771.9 billion yen a year ago. For full-year 2024, Sony revised its forecast upward saying it now expects to hit 12.6 billion yen of sales. Sony also upped its operating profit forecast by 3%, noting it expects to reach 1.3 trillion yen in consolidated operating profit for the full year.

Persons: Carter Organizations: Sony, PlayStation

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