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☆ Vince McMahon plans to sell a big chunk of his shares in WWE parent TKO
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-09 | by ( Mike Calia | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

World Wrestling Entertainment Inc. Chairman Vince McMahon appears in the ring during the WWE Monday Night Raw show at the Thomas & Mack Center August 24, 2009 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Vince McMahon plans to sell a substantial chunk of his stake in TKO , the parent company of WWE, the wrestling empire founded by his father, TKO said in a release ThursdayTKO's stock fell 5% after the closing bell Thursday. McMahon intends to sell 8.4 million of his shares, worth about $700 million. He owned more than 28 million shares as of August, according to a regulatory filing. The company said it and several executives are looking to buy shares from McMahon.

Persons: Vince McMahon, TKO, McMahon, honcho, Dwayne, Johnson, John Cena, Ari Emanuel, hasn't Organizations: Entertainment Inc, WWE, Thomas &, Forbes, UFC, Endeavor Group, Endeavor, Endeavor's Locations: Las Vegas , Nevada, McMahon, Silver

☆ Stocks making the biggest moves before the bell: Hasbro, Southwest, Hershey, Royal Caribbean and more
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-26 | by ( Alex Harring | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Hasbro earned $1.64 per share excluding items on $1.5 billion in revenue, while analysts polled by LSEG had anticipated $1.70 per share in earnings and revenue at $1.64 billion. Southwest posted $6.53 billion in revenue, while analysts surveyed by LSEG expected $6.57 billion. Bristol-Myers topped earnings expectations and posted revenue that was in line with expectations. ServiceNow — The software stock rose more than 3% after posting stronger-than-expected quarterly results and sharing solid subscription revenue expectations for the current period. UPS – The shipping company saw shares decline 3% premarket following its third quarter earnings report.

Persons: LSEG, Revlimid, Myers, Overstock.com, Hershey, overshadowing, Mattel —, ServiceNow, it's, Silver Lake, —, Sarah Min, Tanaya Macheel, Samantha Subin, Lisa Kailai Han, David Paul Morris Organizations: Hasbro, Southwest —, Southwest, Myers, Bristol, Overstock.com, FactSet, Royal Caribbean, Mattel, Wednesday, UPS, Endeavor Group Holdings, Endeavor, Holdings, WWE, UFC, Barclays —, Bank of America, Barclays, underperform, Hasbro Inc, Target Corp, Bloomberg, Getty Locations: Bristol, Nextracker, FactSet, Thursday's premarket, Emeryville , California, U.S

☆ Silver Lake working to take entertainment giant Endeavor private
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-25 | by ( Dawn Chmielewski | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Trading information and logo for Endeavor Group Holdings, Inc. is displayed on a screen on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York City, U.S., May 10, 2023. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid/File photo Acquire Licensing RightsOct 25 (Reuters) - Private equity firm Silver Lake said on Wednesday it was working on a proposal to take talent and media company Endeavor Group Holdings (EDR.N) private, after Endeavor announced it had begun a review to explore alternatives that better value the company. "Silver Lake is currently working toward making a proposal to take Endeavor private," it said. Endeavor Group, which has diversified holdings in talent-management, live sports and festivals, is valued at around $8.4 billion. The private equity firm acquired a minority stake in the William Morris Endeavor talent agency in 2012, and Silver Lake Co-CEO Egon Durban and managing partner Stephen Evans serve on Endeavor's board of directors.

Persons: Brendan McDermid, Silver Lake, Francois, Henri Pinault, Ari Emanuel, Emanuel, William Morris, Egon Durban, Stephen Evans, Jaspreet Singh, Dawn Chmielewski, Devika Syamnath, Shailesh Kuber, Rod Nickel, Tom Hogue, David Gregorio Our Organizations: Endeavor Group Holdings, Inc, New York Stock Exchange, REUTERS, Silver, Endeavor, Creative Artists Agency, Endeavor Group, Boston Red Sox, Fenway Sports Group, PGA, Reuters, William, William Morris Endeavor, Thomson Locations: New York City, U.S, Bengaluru, Dawn, Los Angeles

☆ Ari Emanuel's Endeavor says it will explore strategic alternatives, sending stock higher
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-25 | by ( Mike Calia | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Endeavor Group Holdings , the talent agency and sports company run by Ari Emanuel, said Wednesday it would start exploring strategic alternatives for the company, which could mean a potential sale. The move comes weeks after French billionaire Francois-Henry Pinault agreed to buy a majority stake in Endeavor rival Creative Artists Agency. Endeavor's market value, likewise, was $7.79 billion as of Wednesday's market close, having declined 21% so far this year. Notably, Endeavor said it wouldn't consider ditching its interest in TKO Group Holdings , the newly formed combat sports company that includes Vince McMahon's WWE and Dana White's UFC. Endeavor owns 51% of TKO, which began trading on the New York Stock Exchange last month.

Persons: Ari Emanuel, Mark Bradford, George Lucas, Gucci, Emanuel, Francois, Henry Pinault, Vince McMahon's, Dana White's, – CNBC's Alex Sherman Organizations: Endeavor Group Holdings, Endeavor, Creative Artists Agency, Holdings, Vince McMahon's WWE, Dana White's UFC, New York Stock Exchange Locations: LACMA, Los Angeles , California

☆ Stocks making the biggest moves after hours: Meta, Whirlpool, Mattel, Endeavor and more
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-25 | by ( Pia Singh | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Meta posted revenue of $34.15 billion and earnings of $4.39 per share. Analysts polled by LSEG called for $33.56 billion in revenue and $3.63 in earnings per share. Align posted $2.14 in adjusted earnings per share and revenue of $960 million, missing estimates from analysts polled by LSEG. Mattel posted $1.08 per share in adjusted earnings, while analysts polled by LSEG called for 86 cents in earnings per share. Whirlpool — The home appliance company dropped 5% after Whirlpool trimmed its earnings guidance for the full year.

Persons: ServiceNow, LSEG, Joe Hogan, Mattel, Ari Emanuel, —, Darla Mercado, Mike Calia Organizations: LSEG, IBM, Revenue, Facebook, Meta, Mattel, Whirlpool, Endeavor Group Holdings, Endeavor, Holdings, WWE, UFC Locations: LSEG

☆ Ari Emanuel’s Endeavor is considering the sale of some of its assets
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-25 | by ( Samantha Delouya | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

New York CNN —Endeavor Group Holdings, led by the high-power agent to the stars, Ari Emanuel, said that it is considering a sale of some of its assets. Earlier this year, Endeavor, which owns mixed martial arts company UFC, merged with World Wrestling Entertainment to create TKO Holdings. Shares of TKO Holdings, which is a separate publicly traded company apart from Endeavor, climbed nearly 2% in after-hours trading Wednesday. Correction: A previous version of this story incorrectly identified the assets Endeavor is considering selling as well as IMG's function. Endeavor is considering strategic options for its companies but did not identify any particular asset for sale.

Persons: Ari Emanuel, ” “, ”, Ariel Emanuel, Endeavor’s, Dwayne “, ” Johnson, Matt Damon, Emanuel, Francois, Henri Pinault Organizations: New, New York CNN — Endeavor Group Holdings, Wednesday, Endeavor, Company, IMG, Holdings, UFC, World Wrestling Entertainment, CAA Locations: New York

☆ Why Carlyle is making big private credit investments in Hollywood companies like New Regency and 'South Park' creators' Park County
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-19 | by ( Reed Alexander | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

The investment speaks to Carlyle's underlying thesis in this space, said the managing director, Ben Fund, who sits on the Carlyle Credit Opportunities team. "It is amazing how much people love some of this high-quality content," Fund told Insider, speaking about famous sitcoms or films from recent decades. Streamers also need unique original titles to lure subscribers, but "it's a lot more expensive and risky to create new content than it is to license content," Fund said. Finding strategies to support Hollywood through volatile timesCarlyle's big moves come as private asset managers step up their lending game in Hollywood. For Carlyle, Fund said, this creates opportunity — and he added that such companies often have "real pride" and a "real legacy" to uphold.

Persons: Carlyle, Smith, Ben Fund, Trey Parker, Matt Stone, Arnon Milchan, Yariv, Austin Butler, Jodie Comer, Michael Shannon, it's, we're, hasn't Organizations: Washington DC, New Regency, New, Carlyle Credit, Bloomberg, Hollywood, Fund, Netflix, Content Partners, ICM Partners, CAA Locations: New, Carlyle, Park County, California, Hollywood

☆ Esports made their 'tense and exciting' debut at this year's Asian Games
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-15 | by ( Polly Thompson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Esports, or professional video gaming, were an official sport at the Asian Games for the first time. AdvertisementAdvertisementEsports, or competitive video gaming, debuted as an official event at this year's Asian Games in Hangzhou, China that concluded earlier this month. Due to the event's popularity, esports tickets were sold on a lottery basis, with more than five million entering the ballot, according to Hangzhou Asian Games data. We're excited to see the landscape of esports events around the world expand," said John Robinson, president of US esport organization 100 Thieves. The Olympic Esports Series is "a global virtual and simulated sports competition created by the IOC, and in collaboration with International Federations and game publishers."

Persons: —, esports, Chris Liu, Liu, Esports, JADE GAO, John Robinson, Kim Gwanwoo, WANG ZHAO, Matt Woods, AFK, Grant Rousseau, " Rousseau Organizations: Asian Games, of, EA Sports FC Online, Singapore, Service, Professional, EA Sports FC, South Korea, Team Malaysia, China, Xinhua News Agency, South, Associated Press, Fighter, Getty, Olympic, IOC, International Federations, Guardian, Team Falcons Locations: Hangzhou, China, Thailand, Wuxi, esports, Asia, Pacific, US, South Korea, AFP, Los Angeles

☆ Julia Ormond sues Harvey Weinstein for battery along with Disney, CAA and Miramax as enablers
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-04 | by ( Dan Heching | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —Actress Julia Ormond is suing disgraced former film producer Harvey Weinstein for battery and sexual assault she says occurred in 1995, according to a copy of the complaint obtained by CNN. Ormond is also suing the once Weinstein-owned Miramax as well the Walt Disney Company, which purchased Miramax in 1993, for negligence and Hollywood talent agency CAA (Creative Artists Agency), who represented the actress, for negligence and breach of fiduciary trust. (A majority stake of CAA was recently purchased by the Artémis investment firm.) In the complaint, first reported by Variety, Ormond alleges that in December 1995, she and Weinstein were supposed to have a business dinner to discuss a project. Weinstein, 71, was at the center of allegations that fueled the global #MeToo movement in 2017.

Persons: Julia Ormond, Harvey Weinstein, Ormond, Weinstein, Weinstein “, ” “ Harvey Weinstein, ”, Ormond’s, ” Ormond, Bryan Lourd, Kevin Huvane, “, Sabrina ”, Grandin, Ormond Douglas H, Wigdor, Effie Blassberger, Rosenberg Kirshner, Linder, he’d Organizations: CNN, Miramax, Walt Disney Company, Hollywood, CAA, Creative Artists Agency, Variety, Mr, Disney, ” CNN, Warner Brothers Discovery, AMC, Wigdor LLP, Linder LLP Locations: “, Clayman, Los Angeles, New York

☆ At Rosemead High, generations of students were harassed or groomed for sex as they tried to get an education
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-03 | by ( Matt Drange | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +87 min

Students were regularly subjected to sexual harassment by Hall, two former students told me. “I feel like so many of us were victims to the culture,” one former Rosemead student told Insider. Manipulation by a trusted adult has been passed like a virus to generations of Rosemead students. AdvertisementThe Shops at Santa Anita in Arcadia have long been a local haunt for Rosemead High students. We wondered aloud whether Masiello had harassed our mother the same way he'd done to generations of Rosemead students.

Persons: Clara didn't, She'd, Alex Rai, Eric Burgess, Burgess, Rai, Clara, they'd, Rai texted, she'd, who'd, Mark Abramson, Rai didn't, Leonard Levine, — I'm, Alex Rai wasn't, wouldn't, Rosemead, RubyAnna Sare, Sare, Harlan Mayne, Mayne, Dwain Crum, he'd, colluded, Crum, Robin Torres, Torres, Edward Zuniga, Zuniga, Paul Arevalo, Kristy, Jim Hall, Hall, groped, Angela, Diane Bladen, Bladen, Michael Sullivan, Sullivan, Denton Todd, Todd, Barbara, Arevalo, Barbara said, Matt Drange, Andrew Dalton, Dalton, ” Mark Abramson, I've, Will, Suzy, Carly Sanchez, Sanchez, aren't, —, David Pitts —, Pitts, Cindy, Scriabin, David Pitts, couldn't, That's, G, You'd, It's, Wing Chan, Chan, Louis Vuitton, Justin Rosien, Rosien, Rosien texted, cringed, Jim Hall's, Don Masiello, Paul Arevalo's, Sergio Caveyo, Caveyo, Brian Day, Alex, messaged, Brian Aliff, Aliff, Nichole, I'd, scoot, Michelle, Michelle's, Michelle didn't, Sarah, Brian Bristol, didn't, Nichole's, Weeks, Herbert Ortiz, Jaime, Ortiz, Richard Daniels, Daniels, Fidel Dominguez, Rosemead High's, Larry Callaham, Masiello, Jan Herzog, Herzog, Justin Fregoso, James Eder, Fregoso, me Eder, Eder, they've, Anne Bazile, Bazile, Unbeknownst, Arevalo —, Jonathan Howard, Credentialing, Howard, Elaine Rose, Rose, El Monte Union High School District Arevalo, he's, José Gallegos, Gallegos, Billie, Jo Grant, Grant, Michael Cohen, Cohen, Santa Claus, Oz, California's, haven't, Lupe Nieves, Nieves, reenacted, faxed, Harold Greenberg, Dan Morris, Morris, Alex Valdez, J, Valdez, alums, Heidi, Guillermo, she's, Clara wasn't, Mark Matthews, Matthews, Rai groped, Janine Salanitro, Zuniga hasn't, Felipe Salazar, Salazar, Andrew Dalton's, Matt Drange’s Organizations: Business, Rosemead High School, Rosemead High, Rosemead, El Monte Union High School District, Sheriff's Department, TA, El Monte Union High School, X's, Ford, Business Insider, Casa del Rey, Nissan, Nike, Bristol, Arroyo High School, High School, Los, Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, Perris High School, of Education, Angeles County Sheriff's Department, California, California Department of Education, Monte Union High School, Valdez, Gabrielino, Rai, Los Angeles County Sheriff's, Temple City Locations: Southern California, Rosemead, San Gabriel Valley, San Gabriel, Los Angeles, Huntington Beach, Pasadena, Bladen, California, Arevalo, Utah, Santa, Arcadia, Beverly Hills, Burgess, Bristol, Arroyo, Perris, California's, Angeles, Cindy's, Los Angeles County, Temple

☆ Russell Brand can no longer make money on YouTube following sexual assault accusations from 4 women
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-19 | by ( Associated Press | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

British comedian Russell Brand can no longer make money on YouTube following "serious allegations." Brand was recently accused of sexual assault by four women in reports published by British media. "This decision applies to all channels that may be owned or operated by Russell Brand," the Google-owned video service said. Brand, 48, denies allegations of sexual assault made by four women in a Channel 4 television documentary and The Times and Sunday Times newspapers. London's Metropolitan Police Force said that since those claims were made public, it has received a report of a separate sexual assault dating from 2003.

Persons: Russell Brand, Brand, Russell, Katy Perry, Tucker Carlson, Joe Rogan, Ellie Tomsett, … Organizations: YouTube, Service, BBC, Google, Brand's, Football, Twitter, The Times, Sunday Times, London's Metropolitan Police Force, Birmingham City University Locations: British, Wall, Silicon, Hawaii, Los Angeles, U.K, London, Windsor

☆ BBC is 'urgently looking' into issues raised by Brand report
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LONDON, Sept 17 (Reuters) - Britain's BBC said on Sunday it was "urgently looking into the issues" raised by allegations of sexual assault made against the broadcaster's former employee, British comedian and actor Russell Brand, who denies the accusations. Brand, 48, the former husband of U.S. singer Katy Perry, worked on BBC radio programmes between 2006 and 2008. A BBC spokesperson said in a statement: "The documentary and associated reports contained serious allegations, spanning a number of years. Russell Brand worked on BBC radio programmes between 2006 and 2008 and we are urgently looking into the issues raised." "Russell Brand categorically and vehemently denied the allegation made in 2020, but we now believe we were horribly misled by him," it said.

Persons: Russell Brand, Brand, Katy Perry, Tavistock Wood, Elizabeth Piper, Louise Heavens Organizations: BBC, Sunday Times, The Times, Trevi, Brand, London's Metropolitan Police, Thomson Locations: British, Los Angeles, London's

☆ TKO, the newly merged UFC-WWE, aspires to grow beyond fighting
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-12 | by ( Alex Sherman | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Ultimate Fighting Championship and World Wrestling Entertainment executives decided to name their new publicly traded company TKO to honor the companies' expertise in fighting, but they have broader aspirations than just owning combat sports. That includes eventually going to market together for international media rights and bringing together the company's production efforts and back offices, Shapiro said. After that, TKO plans to swing into acquisition mode to grow the company, he said. Endeavor also owns Professional Bull Riders and two tennis tournaments — the Mutua Madrid Open and the Miami Open. In the coming months, TKO executives will also negotiate new media deals for WWE "Raw" and "SmackDown" on traditional pay TV.

Persons: WME, Mark Shapiro, Shapiro Organizations: Wrestling Entertainment, New York Stock Exchange, Endeavor Group Holdings, UFC, Hollywood, WWE, CNBC, Endeavor, Professional Bull Riders, Madrid, Miami, WME, Fox

Putting a price on celebrityIn buying a majority stake in the powerhouse Hollywood talent agency Creative Artists Agency, François-Henri Pinault showed that high-ticket M.&A. is a game that more than one French luxury billionaire can play. Acquiring CAA — which represents stars including Tom Hanks, Margot Robbie and Pinault’s wife, Salma Hayek Pinault — underscores Pinault’s ambitions, and reinforces the growing importance of celebrity in the luxury sector. Like his archrival, Bernard Arnault of LVMH, Pinault used a series of acquisitions to assemble the luxury empire now known as Kering, starting with Gucci and later adding Saint Laurent, Bottega Veneta, Alexander McQueen and more. The agency will be run separately from Kering; Bryan Lourd, the superagent who represents Scarlett Johansson and Brad Pitt, will become C.E.O.

Persons: Henri Pinault, Tom Hanks, Margot Robbie, Pinault’s, Salma Hayek Pinault, Bernard Arnault, Pinault, Saint, Bottega, Alexander McQueen, —, Bryan Lourd, Scarlett Johansson, Brad Pitt Organizations: Hollywood, Creative Artists Agency, CAA, Gucci, Puma Locations: Bottega Veneta, Kering

☆ How Parrot Analytics shook up Hollywood by picking streaming hits
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-08 | by ( Lucia Moses | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

The Hollywood strikes thrust Parrot Analytics, which measures film and TV demand, into the spotlight. Parrot Analytics, a decade-old research firm, has in recent years built a complicated reputation in Hollywood with its proprietary system for measuring audience interest in films and TV shows. As streaming consumption skyrocketed and companies like Netflix kept audience data under wraps, Parrot offered one of the few apples-to-apples measurements across different series and films. Some producers and agents say Parrot has brought much-needed transparency to content measurement. "Parrot Analytics would reward quite a few shows that weren't the most viewed shows in America," he wrote.

Persons: Wared Seger, Seger, Parrot, he's, Seger's, Nielsen, Discovery's Max, Julia Alexander —, —, It's, HBO's Casey Bloys, Avalon, Jon Thoday, Matthew Ball, shouldn't, Guy, aren't, it's Organizations: Hollywood, Netflix, SAG, Alliance, Producers, ABC, Nielsen, Disney, CAA, Amazon's, Writers Guild of America, Warner Bros, Amazon Studios Locations: Hollywood, LA, Seger, New Zealand, Boston, America

☆ Pinault’s Hollywood foray is untimely distraction
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-08 | by ( Pierre Briancon | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

REUTERS/Charles Platiau Acquire Licensing RightsLONDON, Sept 8 (Reuters Breakingviews) - The story of European business trying to mingle with Hollywood has often led to unhappy endings. The Pinault family, which controls $61 billion luxury group Kering (PRTP.PA), thinks it can buck the trend. Pinault may have overpaid for CAA, especially in the middle of a major strike of Hollywood writers and actors. The transaction, through holding company Artemis, adds Hollywood's premiere talent agency to Pinault’s family empire which spans fashion, wine and contemporary art. CAA was valued at $1.1 billion when TPG acquired a majority stake in 2014, four years after having originally invested in the talent agency.

Persons: Francois, Henri Pinault, Kering, Charles Platiau, Tom Hanks, Steven Spielberg, François, Ari Emanuel’s, Artemis ’, Gucci, Alessandro Michele, Pinault, Jean, Kering’s, Valentino, Brad Pitt, Salma Hayek, Lisa Jucca, Streisand Neto Organizations: REUTERS, Reuters, Hollywood, Universal Studios, Creative Artists Agency, CAA, Gucci, TPG, Endeavor, Thomson Locations: Paris, France, bask

Fujishima said the alleged sex abuse had really happened and that she would stay on the company’s board to see through a victim compensation program. A group of men who accused Kitagawa of raping them as children said they were pleased the company apologized, but some had reservations. The three-month probe concluded that Johnny Kitagawa sexually assaulted and abused boys as far back as the 1950s and targeted at least several hundred people. The men who have come forward say Kitagawa raped, fondled and abused them while they were working for his company as dancers and singers. One man who came forward recently said he was routinely molested when Kitagawa had yet to found his company.

Persons: Julie Keiko Fujishima, Johnny Kitagawa, ” Fujishima, Fujishima, Kitagawa, Yukihiro Oshima, Noriyuki Higashiyama, “, ” Higashiyama, ”, Higashiyama, ” ___ Yuri Kageyama Organizations: TOKYO, Johnny & Associates, BBC Locations: Tokyo

[1/2] Cars are shown lined up at the valet parking area outside the Creative Artists Agency building in Los Angeles, California, September 24, 2012. REUTERS/Jonathan Alcorn Acquire Licensing RightsPARIS, Sept 7 (Reuters) - French luxury goods billionaire Francois-Henri Pinault has reached an agreement for a majority stake in Creative Artists Agency (CAA), adding Hollywood's premiere talent agency to his family empire which spans fashion, wine and contemporary art, parties involved said on Tuesday. The presence of stars like Beyonce, Zendaya and Rihanna have become key to drawing the spotlight to fashion shows, and Kering's larger rival LVMH(LVMH.PA) recruited Pharrell Williams to head menswear designs for Louis Vuitton. TPG first invested in CAA in 2010 and, in 2014, increased its stake to 53% in a deal valuing the agency at $1.1 billion. Global investment firm Temasek will remain a minority investor in the agency while CMC Capital will remain a "strategic partner", according to a statement.

Persons: Jonathan Alcorn, Francois, Henri Pinault, Pinault, Gucci, Beyonce, Zendaya, Rihanna, Pharrell Williams, Louis Vuitton, Pinault's, Salma Hayek, Valentino, perfumer, Bryan Lourd, Kevin Huvane, Richard Lovett, Lourd, Sudip Kar, Mimosa Spencer, Dawn Chmielewski, Jonathan Oatis, Tomasz Janowski, Timothy Gardner Organizations: Creative Artists Agency, REUTERS, Rights, CAA, Artemis, TPG, Global, CMC Capital, Thomson Locations: Los Angeles , California, Los Angeles, Hollywood, Temasek, Paris

The president of one of Japan’s most influential entertainment agencies resigned after an independent investigation confirmed the company’s founder, Johnny Kitagawa, had sexually abused young men in his care since the 1970s. His reputation as a hitmaker associated with some of Japan’s most popular boy bands protected Mr. Kitagawa from scandal, even after his death in 2019 at age 87. Under immense scrutiny, Johnny & Associates announced in May that it was forming an internal investigative panel to “prevent the recurrence” of future abuse. At a news conference on Thursday, Julie Keiko Fujishima, Mr. Kitagawa’s niece, acknowledged the results of the investigation and apologized on behalf of herself and the company. She also announced she had resigned as the company’s president on Wednesday.

Persons: Johnny Kitagawa, Kitagawa, Julie Keiko Fujishima, Kitagawa’s Organizations: Johnny & Associates Locations: Japan

☆ Japan's Johnny Kitagawa sex abuse scandal forces shake-up at J-pop agency
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-07 | by ( Francis Tang | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

TOKYO, Sept 7 (Reuters) - The niece of Johnny Kitagawa, the late J-pop magnate at the centre of a sexual abuse scandal that has shocked Japan, said on Thursday that she had stepped down as the head of the talent agency her uncle had founded. As more Japanese media took up the story, lawmakers voiced outrage, while the United Nations' human rights experts also criticised the talent agency for its handling of the allegations. At a press conference televised live by most broadcasters, Kitagawa's niece Julie K. Fujishima said she had stepped down as president on Tuesday. Noriyuki Higashiyama, a former member of the popular 1980s boy-band Shonentai, was the new head of the agency, Fujishima said. But the scandal blew up this year as more victims came forward after the BBC's report, leading to demands for stricter laws to prevent child abuse and a formal apology from the agency.

Persons: Johnny Kitagawa, Kitagawa, Kitagawa's, Julie K, Fujishima, Noriyuki, Higashiyama, Francis Tang, Kantaro Komiya, Kiyoshi Takenaka, Chang, Ran Kim, Simon Cameron, Moore Organizations: BBC, United Nations, Johnny, Associates, Johnny's Juniors, Thomson Locations: TOKYO, Japan, East Asia

☆ Head of Japan's top pop agency resigns after admitting founder Johnny Kitagawa sexually abused minors
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-07 | by ( Jessie Yeung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —The head of Japan’s top pop agency Johnny & Associates stepped down Thursday after admitting that her uncle, the company’s late founder, had sexually abused minors for years, following months of international scrutiny and an independent investigation. Julie K Fujishima, the niece of Johnny Kitagawa, announced her resignation in a news conference Thursday, saying the company would compensate the victims of her uncle’s abuse, according to public broadcaster NHK. It was the first time the agency has addressed the media about the scandal, according to NHK. He alleged that over the course of four years, beginning in 2012 when he was 15, he was repeatedly sexually assaulted by Kitagawa. In 1999, a Japanese magazine published accounts of other young men and boys who claimed they were sexually abused by Kitagawa.

Persons: Julie K Fujishima, Johnny Kitagawa, Kitagawa, Noriyuki Higashiyama, Higashiyama, “, Jae, Mary Kitagawa, Fujishima, Kauan Okamoto Organizations: CNN, Johnny, NHK, BBC, Johnny & Associates, Associates Locations: Tokyo

In a deal that shows the ever-growing convergence of fashion and fame, François-Henri Pinault, the French billionaire and chief executive of the luxury goods company Kering, said on Thursday that his family office had bought a majority stake in one of Hollywood’s biggest talent agencies, Creative Artists Agency. Mr. Pinault’s family office, Artémis, already has investments that include the auction house Christie’s and a stake in Puma, and like them, CAA will be managed separately from Kering, which owns such brands as Gucci, Saint Laurent and Balenciaga. The announcement comes as talent — actors, singers, filmmakers — has become a uniquely powerful tool in selling products. There is now a growing race among fashion brands to lock in relationships with the next big name. “There’s no separation between fashion and entertainment any more,” said Robert Burke, the eponymous founder of a luxury consultancy, calling the deal a “natural, if unprecedented, evolution.”

Persons: Henri Pinault, Pinault’s, Saint Laurent, Balenciaga, —, “, ”, Robert Burke Organizations: Creative Artists Agency, Mr, Puma, CAA, Gucci Locations: Kering

☆ Japan's Hamaguchi revives himself with dark nature film
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-04 | by ( Hanna Rantala | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/4] The 80th Venice Film Festival - Premiere for the film "Evil Does Not Exist" in competition - Red Carpet - Venice, Italy, September 4, 2023 - Satoshi Takata, Ryuji Kosaka, Hitoshi Omika, Ayaka Shibutani, Ryo Nishikawa, Eiko Ishibashi, Ryusuke Hamaguchi and Yoshio Kitagawa pose. Hamaguchi won an Oscar for best international film with "Drive My Car" in 2022 and took the Grand Jury Prize at the 2021 Berlin Film Festival with his romantic drama "Wheel of Fortune and Fantasy", significantly boosting his international profile. I think that's why I made this film," Hamaguchi told Reuters ahead of the screening of "Evil Does Not Exist". "Where the title came from is really me watching and observing nature," said Hamaguchi. But that's not really the message of the film and I don't think anyone watching the film will think that evil does not exist," he said.

Persons: Satoshi Takata, Ryuji Kosaka, Hitoshi Omika, Ayaka Shibutani, Ryo Nishikawa, Eiko, Ryusuke Hamaguchi, Yoshio Kitagawa, Yara, Hamaguchi, that's, Crispian Balmer, Nick Macfie Organizations: REUTERS, Thomson Locations: Venice, Italy, Tokyo

Insider is recognizing the most influential talent agents and managers for TikTok creators in 2023. In a rush, he asked a friend for talent manager recommendations; Prasuna Cheruku was the answer he got. Talent agents and managers play a critical role in helping creators turn social-media success into sustainable careers in entertainment. For the fourth year, Insider is recognizing the most influential managers and agents who are helping TikTokers build their careers. Here are the 20 most influential TikTok talent-management firms and agencies in North America, listed in alphabetical order:

Persons: Drew, Jeeezy, Jackson, Lil Uzi, Prasuna Cheruku, Cheruku, she's, that's, Danielle Pistotnik, TikTok, Brendan Nahmias, they've, Alix Earle, Mylen Yamamoto Tansingco's, Kensington Organizations: Puma, Talent, WGA, SAG, Management, Hollywood, CAA, United Talent Agency Locations: Jackson, North America

☆ I'm a 23-year-old entrepreneur who made $120,000 last year. Here's how I built multiple income streams.
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-27 | by ( Ella Hopkins | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

I started my blog, "I'm Sweaty And I Know It," where I wrote about exercise, health, recipes, and mental health. One of my first viral TikTok workouts was called "Not in the mood to workout, try this workout for unmotivated days." I made money through YouTube adsWhen I reached 1,000 subscribers on YouTube, I started making money from AdSense. Launching a paid-for app was dauntingI felt that too many YouTube workouts had clickbait headlines about losing weight. I was terrified that no one would subscribe because they'd been used to my free workout classes.

Persons: Callie Jardine, Jardine, I've, who'd, they'd Organizations: YouTube, Free Locations: Palm Beach , Florida, Barre, Canada, AdSense

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