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☆ WWE sells itself to UFC
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-03 | by ( Jordan Valinsky | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

The deal values the newly combined company at over $21 billion: UFC is worth $12.1 billion and WWE is valued at $9.3 billion. Endeavor shareholders will own 51% of the newly combined company, while WWE shareholders are getting 49%. Endeavor, which also owns Hollywood’s biggest talent agency William Morris Endeavor, became the outright owner of the UFC in 2021. Following his departure, WWE disclosed multiple expenses that Vince McMahon hadn’t previously reported, totaling $19.6 million. The WWE made more than $1.29 billion in revenue in 2022 and its shares up more than 30% for the year.

☆ Saudi money is flowing to US media and entertainment, from Live Nation to LIV Golf, 5 years after Jamal Khashoggi's murder: 'The ice has thawed'
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-03 | by ( Claire Atkinson | Lucia Moses | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +20 min

Sovereign funds and other entities in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE are pouring millions into US media and entertainment. Insider identified some key people connecting Middle East investors with American companies. Saudi Arabia is trying to pitch itself to the world as a cultural and economic reformer and spur tourism. Vince McMahon's WWE has a long-term partnership with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, with a major live WWE event there slated for May. Vince McMahon's WWE was one of the first US companies to create unique events in Saudi Arabia.

☆ WWE is combining with Endeavor Group's UFC to form a new company
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-03 | by ( Jordan Valinsky | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

New York CNN —World Wrestling Entertainment is merging with Endeavor Group, the parent company of competitor UFC, to form a new publicly traded company. The deal values the newly combined company at over $21 billion: UFC is worth $12.1 billion and WWE is valued at $9.3 billion. Endeavor shareholders will own 51% of the newly combined company, while WWE shareholders are getting 49%. Vince McMahon will retain his current WWE title of executive chairman at the new company, which doesn’t yet have name. Endeavor, which also owns Hollywood’s biggest talent agency William Morris Endeavor, became the outright owner of the UFC in 2021.

☆ Samsung wins jury trial in 'S10' trademark lawsuit
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-20 | by ( Blake Brittain | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

FILE PHOTO: A Samsung employee poses with the new Samsung Galaxy S10 5G smartphone at a press event in London, Britain February 20, 2019. REUTERS/Henry Nicholls(Reuters) - Samsung Electronics Co Ltd convinced a Los Angeles federal jury on Friday that its Galaxy S10 phones do not violate the trademark rights of a talent-management agency that also uses the “S10” name. S10 Entertainment, which manages the pop singers Anitta and Normani, said it began using the S10 name in 2017. “As a result of confusion between Samsung’s S10 phone line and S10 Entertainment’s S10 mark, the value and goodwill of S10 Entertainment’s Instagram and social media footprint has been severely diminished,” the lawsuit said. The case is S10 Entertainment & Media LLC v. Samsung Electronics Co, U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, No.

BOSTON, March 1 (Reuters) - Massachusetts U.S. Attorney Rachael Rollins has hired a former Justice Department inspector general to defend her in a widening ethics investigation into her appearance at a political fundraiser and her travel. The controversy has threatened to undermine Attorney General Merrick Garland’s vow to protect the Justice Department from partisan influence and efforts to extend progressive criminal justice policies championed by Rollins to the federal level. It is unclear what the inspector general's probe will find or when it will be completed. James Borghesani, a spokesman for Hayden, said they have received no inquiries from the inspector general's office. Investigators are also looking at Rollins' use of a personal cellphone, rather than her government-issued one, for Justice Department business, said two other people familiar with the matter.

Several of this year's Grammy nominees, including "abcdefu" singer Gayle and R&B artist Muni Long, rose in popularity after influencers and everyday users posted TikTok videos with their music. Even as the music industry gathers in Los Angeles to celebrate artists and their songs at Sunday's Grammy awards, the relationship between hitmaker TikTok and music labels is showing signs of strain. As deals with the major music companies expire, the labels are looking to receive some of TikTok's ad revenue, according to Tatiana Cirisano, music industry analyst for Midia Research. One music industry insider, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said "it’s open to interpretation" why this is happening now. "TikTok has become really integral to the way that younger people relate to music, discover music and consume it,” Cirisano said.

☆ I lasted as a Hollywood assistant for less than a year. Being a constant target for terrible behavior simply wasn't worth $15 an hour.
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-12 | by ( Eboni Boykin-Patterson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

In 2019, I was an assistant at a major Hollywood talent agency, ICM, for eight months. I'd pretty much always wanted to work in the entertainment industry as a screenwriter — I wanted to tell diverse stories. We all had the same plan: Do a year or two, make some connections, and then leave to one of the coveted creative jobs that only former Hollywood agent assistants have access to. This Hollywood assistant lifestyle just isn't conducive to any of that. If you work in Hollywood and would like to share your story, email Eboni Boykin-Patterson at eboykinpatterson@insider.com.

☆ Vince McMahon is back at WWE to ensure a smooth sale process. Here's who might want to buy it
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-07 | by ( Alex Sherman | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

WWE has hired JPMorgan to help the company advise on a potential sale, according to people familiar with the matter. But it remains unclear what type of role, if any, McMahon would want at WWE if he sold the company. WWE has a market capitalization of more than $6 billion after rising nearly 17% percent on Friday, buoyed by heightened sale speculation. McMahon's company already has an exclusive streaming deal with Comcast's streaming service, Peacock, and a cable TV deal with NBCUniversal's USA Network. Fox sold off most of its entertainment assets in its $71 billion sale to Disney in 2019, but WWE fits with the smaller company's sports and live events focus.

☆ Attention laid-off tech workers: Non-tech companies are hiring. Here's how recruiters and career coaches recommend pitching yourself.
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-05 | by ( Rebecca Knight | Diamond Naga Siu | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Research shows most of the well-paying tech jobs on offer today are in non-tech industries. And yet research suggests that well-paying tech jobs are abundant — they're just not in the tech industry. Around 60% of the top 100 employers of tech talent were from sectors like healthcare, consulting, defense, and banking. Another pro-tip: Using the language of the industry you're targeting. "Exceeding in the softer skills is something that will set aside most of the tech talent from each other honestly."

☆ Endeavor shares fall after video shows UFC boss Dana White hitting wife on New Year's Eve
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-03 | by ( Lillian Rizzo | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Dana White appears at the UFC 282 post-fight press conference on December 10, 2022, at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, NV. Media and entertainment company Endeavor saw its shares fall on Tuesday after a video showing Dana White, the president of its Ultimate Fighting Championship business, slapping his wife. Endeavor shares were down more than 7% on Tuesday afternoon. In the video, it appears the two are arguing before Anne White slaps Dana White. Anne White also issued a separate statement to TMZ, calling it isolated incident.

☆ How an Instagram influencer earned $1 million from brand deals in her first year as a full-time creator
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-28 | by ( Sydney Bradley | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

2022 was her first full calendar year working as a full-time influencer. She broke down for Insider how much she earned in brand deals each month. Now, Agutu is wrapping up her first year as a full-time influencer with about about 488,000 Instagram followers, and 730,000 total followers across Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube. Repped by Digital Brand Architects, a talent agency under the UTA umbrella, Agutu is closing 2022 with more than $1 million in revenue from brand deals on social media. Here's a full breakdown for Agutu's earnings from brand deals in 2022:Month (2022) Earnings from Brand Deals January $84,000.00 February $110,500.00 March $30,500.00 April $81,000.00 May $212,848.53 June $127,250.00 July $36,000.00 August $58,500.00 September $76,073.00 October $8,000.00 November $65,000.00 December $77,500.00Agutu is still waiting on about $76,000 from brand deals to be paid out, according to DBA.

CNN —Lawyers for Amber Heard officially appealed her loss in a defamation case brought by Johnny Depp, arguing there were several errors in the trial, according to reporting from the Los Angeles Times. The case will now go to a three-judge court of appeals panel for a decision, according the LA Times. CNN has reached out to attorneys representing Heard and Depp for comment and to obtain a copy of the appeals. The jury awarded Depp $10 million in compensatory damages and $5 million dollars in punitive damages. Heard filed the appeal with the Court of Appeals in Virginia on November 23, according to the LA Times.

☆ Biden condemns antisemitism as Ye praises Hitler days after dinner with Trump, white nationalist Fuentes
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-02 | by ( Emma Kinery | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

President Joe Biden denounced antisemitism and took a veiled jab at Donald Trump days after the former president dined with rapper Ye, who has made a string of recent antisemitic comments, and white nationalist Nick Fuentes. Trump, the presumptive frontrunner for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination, had dinner last week with Ye and Fuentes at his Mar-a-Lago club, sparking widespread condemnation. "I love Jewish people, but I also love Nazis," Ye told Jones on the show, also praising what he considered Hitler's contributions to society. Trump has not yet condemned the men he had dinner with at Mar-a-Lago, and he claimed not to know who the white nationalist Fuentes was. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., told Politico he hopes Trump will condemn Fuentes "because I know [Trump's] not an antisemite.

☆ Ben Affleck and Matt Damon just scored $100 million from RedBird Capital. Check out 15 more private equity players making big bets on Hollywood.
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-28 | by ( Elaine Low | Claire Atkinson | Madeline Berg | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Private equity firms are investing heavily in film and TV companies, even amid a possible recession. Private equity accounted for 42% of deals over the last year vs. 24% in 2018, according to PwC. RedBird Capital just invested $100 million in Ben Affeck and Matt Damon's new production company, Artists Equity. And earlier that month, Swedish firm EQT invested in UTA, which makes the private equity player the largest outside shareholder of the talent agency. Insider's second annual list of the top private equity players in Hollywood highlights 16 firms, based on our reporting and conversations with investors and insiders.

☆ Adidas launches investigation into misconduct allegations against Kanye West
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-25 | by ( Chantal Da Silva | Chantal Da Silva Is A Breaking News Editor For Nbc News Digital Based In London. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +2 min

Adidas has launched an investigation into allegations of inappropriate behavior against Ye, the rapper formerly known as Kanye West, the German athletic brand announced Thursday. Adidas, which was one of several companies to cut ties with Ye after the artist made a string of anti-Semitic comments, said it launched the probe after reviewing an anonymous letter making allegations against him. "It is currently not clear whether the accusations made in an anonymous letter are true," Adidas said in a statement. In its statement, Adidas also noted its decision last month to cut ties with Ye after his anti-Semitic remarks. “Adidas does not tolerate hate speech and offensive behavior and therefore has terminated the adidas Yeezy partnership," it said.

☆ How radio DJs are using TikTok to find new listeners as the app takes over music discovery
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-23 | by ( Dan Whateley | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

"If you can incorporate a TikTok Live while you're actually live on the air broadcasting, there's something really cool about it," he said. She added: "I noticed a huge spike in the people that were listening to my radio station or that just knew of the radio station. Like other incumbents in the music world, radio companies are now determining the best way to use TikTok to grow their businesses. Meanwhile, SiriusXM, which streams over satellite, digital, and via partnerships with auto manufacturers, launched last year a dedicated TikTok radio channel in partnership with the short-video app. As for the radio talent themselves, they're well aware of the impact that TikTok can have on their careers.

☆ Kanye West returns to Twitter after ban over anti-Semitic remarks
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-21 | by ( Chantal Da Silva | Chantal Da Silva Is A Breaking News Editor For Nbc News Digital Based In London. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +1 min

Ye, the rapper formerly known as Kanye West, returned to Twitter over the weekend, writing "shalom" in one of his first posts since appearing to take a break from the platform after his account was restricted over anti-Semitic remarks. The exchange came as Ye continues to face backlash after making a string of anti-Semitic remarks, which saw both his Twitter and Instagram accounts restricted in October. Musk said last month that Ye's account had been restored by Twitter before he took ownership. However, Ye's last post on Twitter was on Nov. 4, a day after the rapper said he was taking a "verbal fast." Ye's Sunday tweets came as former President Donald Trump's Twitter account was also reinstated over the weekend after being blocked for nearly two years.

☆ Bob Iger moves fast to dismantle Chapek’s reorganization of Disney
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-21 | by ( Oliver Darcy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Disney’s shares ended Monday up more than 6% on a day that the Dow Jones was slightly down. Second, Iger is moving fast — not even waiting a full 24 hours to announce sweeping changes — to dismantle Chapek’s reorganization of the company. The speed at which Iger is hurtling is especially remarkable given that Disney’s board only made its overture for Iger to return to the embattled company on Friday. “Over the coming weeks, we will begin implementing organizational and operating changes within the company,” Iger wrote to employees. Looking further into the future, bigger questions abound: What will Disney look like when Iger’s two-year deal is up?

☆ Adidas' break-up with Kanye West has halved its earnings forecast for 2022
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-09 | by ( Pete Syme | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Adidas had forecast net income of 500 million euros five days before cutting ties with Kanye West. After ending the deal with the rapper the figure has been cut to just 250 million euros. Adidas said the reduction was "due to negative tax implications in the third quarter related to the company's decision to terminate the adidas Yeezy partnership" and reflected the "high seasonality of the adidas Yeezy business geared towards the fourth quarter." As part of his Yeezy deal with Adidas, West also demanded that a facility be set up in Wyoming, Bloomberg reported. Adidas executives took just two minutes to cut ties in an "undramatic" phone call, having initially delayed a decision to get legal opinions from US law firms, per Bloomberg.

☆ Read the pitch decks that helped 16 creator economy startups raise millions of dollars
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-09 | by ( Sydney Bradley | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Here are the pitch decks that 16 startups used in Series A, Seed, and pre-Seed rounds. So, how do creator economy startups land those investments? Skye, a career-coaching startup, had different decks depending on the type of investor or fund they were pitching to. They broke down the pitch decks they used to secure millions of dollars in funding. Read the pitch decks that helped 16 creator-focused startups to fundraise millions of dollars:

☆ Kyrie Irving, Brooklyn Nets each to donate $500,000 to anti-hate organizations; NBA star takes ‘responsibility’ for negative impact of tweets
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-03 | by ( Ben Morse | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —Kyrie Irving and the Brooklyn Nets announced on Wednesday that they will both donate $500,000 towards anti-hate organizations after the point guard tweeted a documentary deemed to be antisemitic last week. “I oppose all forms of hatred and oppression and stand strong with communities that are marginalized and impacted every day,” Irving said. “I am aware of the negative impact of my post towards the Jewish community and I take responsibility. “With this partnership, ADL will work with the Nets and Kyrie to open dialogue and increase understanding. Irving talks with now-former head coach Steve Nash during a game against the San Antonio Spurs on Friday, January 21, 2022.

Ye, the artist formerly known as Kanye West, said late Sunday that he was suspended from Instagram for 30 days. Ye posted a screenshot of an Instagram notification about the suspension on Parler, the conservative “free speech” social media platform, which recently announced Ye would acquire it. According to Ye’s posts on Parler, he attempted to post a screenshot of a text message exchange on Instagram. Ye also posted a screenshot of a notification he appears to have received from Instagram. Anti-hate groups like the American Jewish Committee have referred to Ye’s posts about Jewish people as “dangerous” and relying on antisemitic stereotypes about Jewish people.

☆ Patriots owner Robert Kraft urges people to 'stand up to Jewish hate' with ad during NFL games
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-31 | by ( Chantal Da Silva | Chantal Da Silva Is A Breaking News Editor For Nbc News Digital Based In London. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +5 min

New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft sponsored an ad that ran during broadcasts of NFL games on Sunday calling on viewers to "stand up against Jewish hate." “Antisemitism is hate. For being Jewish,” the 30-second ad released by the Foundation to Combat Antisemitism and the Robert K. Kraft Family Foundation said. "My hope is this commercial will continue to enhance the national conversation about the need to speak out against hatred of all types, and particularly to stand up to Jewish hate," he said. "Those who spread messages of hate, racism and antisemitism will not be able to change the heart of this city or her people.

☆ Officials condemn 'cowardly' and 'despicable' antisemitic messages displayed at University of Florida-Georgia football game supporting Ye
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-30 | by ( Julianne Mcshane | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +4 min

The same antisemitic message appears to have flashed across at least one other nearby building soon after appearing at the stadium, another video shows. An antisemitic message referencing Kanye West was projected on a building in Jacksonville, Fla. He was also locked out of his Twitter account and restricted from posting on Instagram earlier this month after he posted antisemitic messages on the platform. As of Sunday afternoon, he had not made any public comments on the antisemitic message that appeared at the game. Jacksonville City Council President Terrance Freeman and state Rep. Angie Nixon (D) also denounced Saturday's message in statements they posted on Twitter.

☆ Elon Musk says he was not involved in Twitter lifting restriction on Ye's account following antisemitic post
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-29 | by ( Minyvonne Burke | Minyvonne Burke Is A Senior Breaking News Reporter For Nbc News. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +2 min

One user, however, questioned why Ye's account — which was temporarily restricted over an "anti-Jewish" comment — was "already restored." The Tesla CEO said in response that "Ye's account was restored by Twitter before the acquisition" and that he was not consulted about it. The tweet is no longer on Ye’s account, which has more than 31 million followers. Edward Berthelot / GC Images fileThe comment led to Instagram also restricting Ye's account. Ye's Twitter account was placed in a "read-only mode," which limits the user's ability to post tweets, re-tweets or like content.

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