Showbiz Sandbox

This year’s Cannes Film Festival came to an end over the weekend with the Palm d’Or being awarded to “The Square”, a comedy with socio-political overtones directed by Sweden’s Ruben Östlund. Sofia Coppola won the award for Best Director for “The Beguiled”, only the second time in the festival’s 70-year-history the prize went to a woman. Though critics found the films selected by Cannes programmers to be underwhelming this year, there was unanimous praise for a virtual reality project created by director Alejandro González Iñárritu which was installed at the festival. We’ll take you inside the unique VR experience and tell you why the fuss being made over it is legitimate. Meanwhile, this year’s upfronts were held over the past two weeks giving us a pretty good picture about the state of modern television. Here’s the question, if we are presently in the era of peak TV, how come all the new shows networks are trotting out seem so boring. Of course, we also cover the week’s top entertainment news including the controversy over a women-only screening of “Wonder Woman,” Katy Perry signs on to judge the “American Idol” reboot and Steven Soderbergh returns to the directing movies… as we predicted. comScore Announces Official Worldwide Box Office Results for Weekend of May 28, 2017 http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/comscore-announces-official-worldwide-box-office-results-for-weekend-of-may-28-2017-300464928.html ‘The Square’ Wins Top Prize at Cannes; Sofia Coppola Is Best Director https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/28/movies/cannes-film-festival-winners-the-square-sofia-coppola.html Cannes Awards: Controversial Swedish Satire ‘The Square’ Wins Palme d’Or https://variety.com/2017/film/festivals/cannes-film-festival-2017-award-winners-palme-d-or-1202446856/ Cannes 2017 : Les étoiles de la critique #10 http://www.lefilmfrancais.com/cinema/132555/cannes-2017-les-etoiles-de-la-critique-10 Could Lynne Ramsay Top ‘Loveless’ on Screen’s Cannes Jury Grid? http://www.screendaily.com/news/could-lynne-ramsay-top-loveless-on-screens-cannes-jury-grid/5118569.article?blocktitle=CANNES-JURY-GRID&contentID=43755 Critic’s Notebook: The Year Cannes Couldn’t http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/todd-mccarthy-year-cannes-couldnt-1008058 ‘The Rider’, ‘A Ciambra’ Among Cannes Directors’ Fortnight Winners http://www.screendaily.com/festivals/cannes/the-rider-a-ciambra-among-directors-fortnight-winners/5118562.article ‘A Man of Integrity,’ ‘Wind River,’ ‘Barbara’ Take Un Certain Regard Awards at Cannes https://variety.com/2017/film/festivals/a-man-of-integrity-wind-river-barbara-win-cannes-un-certain-regard-award-uma-thurman-math...

If the Cannes Film Festival’s decision to premiere two Netflix films in competition was controversial when it was announced, it was all anyone could talk about once the festival actually began. It didn’t help that this year’s jury president, director Pedro Almodovar of Spain, made headlines on the first day when he was mis-translated as saying he wouldn’t award films that won’t play in cinemas with any prizes. Just about every filmmaker and movie star attending Cannes has been asked about their opinion on the streaming versus cinema debate, though most have offered ambivalent answers, realizing that their next paycheck might be coming from Netflix or a similar service. To be sure, the discussion is far from over. Meanwhile, after recent terrorist attacks throughout Europe, including nearby Nice, security has been tighter than ever for the more than 50,000 attendees in Cannes this year. This has caused delays at festival events for the first time in recent memory, though everyone has been very understanding. Especially this week, after bomb was set off at an Ariana Grande concert in Manchester, England killing 22 people. Of course, we also cover the week’s top entertainment news including how TV networks are learning to take advantage of Ramadan to boost viewership, King Kong will try to tackle Broadway and Jimmy Kimmel will return as the host of next year’s Oscar telecast. comScore Announces Official Worldwide Box Office Results for Weekend of May 21, 2017 http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/comscore-announces-official-worldwide-box-office-results-for-weekend-of-may-21-2017-300461144.html Summer Box-Office Blues: Revenue Down 10 Percent So Far From 2016 http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/summer-box-office-2017-alien-king-arthur-blues-guardians-galaxy-revenue-down-2016-1006020 Shuffle Off, Bollywood: It’s Time for Tollywood and Kollywood http://www.economist.com/news/business/21722222-baahubali-2-conclusion-putting-film-making-southern-india-map-shuffle Ted Sarandos Says Netflix Returning to Cannes Is ‘Less Attractive’ Under New Rule https://variety.com/2017/film/news/returning-cannes-less-attractive-netflix-ted-sarandos-1202439569/ Cannes: ‘Okja’ Director Bong Joon-ho Dismisses French Controversy Over Netflix https://variety.com/2017/film/asia/cannes-okja-bong-joon-ho-french-controversy-over-netflix-1202426750/ Cannes Film Festival Jury Answers The Netflix Question https://celluloidjunkie.com/2017/05/17/cannes-film-festival-jury-answers-the-netflix-question/ Cannes Virtual Reality Review: Alejandro G. Iñárritu’s ‘Carne y Arena’ https://variety.com/2017/film/columns/carne-y-arena-review-alejandro-g-inarritu-1202438293/ “Wonderstruck” Director Todd Haynes Defends Amazon Studios at the Cannes Film Festival

All the major television networks are preparing their dog-and-pony shows for advertisers at this year’s upfront presentations as they look to sell $9 billion worth of commercial time for the upcoming season. However with viewership continuing to become more fractured, the industry has grown concerned that falling ratings over the past year will lead to lower ad sales. Which raises the question about just how accurate audience measurement is these days. Networks have begun taking measures to shore up potentially weaker ad sales by demanding harder bargains from production companies, owning more of their own series and making untold fortunes internationally with certain shows. They’re also dabbling more and more with live television specials including musicals such as “A Christmas Story”. The 70th edition of the Cannes Film Festival will also begin this week, though not without some controversy over two Netflix titles screening in competition, but not in French movie theaters. This has led Cannes to create a new rule beginning in 2018 that any film selected for the festival must have a theatrical release in France. Of course, we also cover the week’s top entertainment news including why Spotify might abandon plans for its IPO in lieu of a direct list o the stock market, Cheryl Boone Isaacs decides not to run for another term as head of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and Kelly Clarkson joins “The Voice” just as ABC announces the return of “American Idol.” comScore Announces Official Worldwide Box Office Results for Weekend of May 14, 2017 http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/comscore-announces-official-worldwide-box-office-results-for-weekend-of-may-14-2017-300457247.html Watch Renée Fleming Take Her Final Bow in ‘Der Rosenkavalier’ https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/13/arts/music/renee-fleming-final-bow-der-rosenkavalier.html?_r=0 Netflix CEO Rips Cannes Theater Policy: “Closing Ranks Against Us” http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/cannes-festival-keeps-netflix-titles-lineup-requires-theatrical-releases-all-films-future-1002103 Cannes Purists Decry Netflix Inclusion as “Dangerous” Precedent http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/cannes-purists-decry-netflix-inclusion-as-dangerous-precedent-1001663 Cannes Keeps Netflix Movies in Competition but Says Future Films Must Have Theatrical Release http://variety.com/2017/film/global/cannes-film-festival-maintains-netflixs-movies-in-competition-sets-new-rule-amid-turmoil-1202420874/ Apollo 8 by Jeffrey Kluger – BookFilter http://bookfilter.com/2016/10/11/apollo-8/ Irish Police Investigate (but Don’t Charge) Stephen Fry for Blasphemy https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/09/world/europe/irish-police-investigate-but-dont-charge-stephen-fry-for-blasphemy.html A Ripped Col. Sanders Stars in KFC’s First Romance Novel

Media company stocks took a beating last week with a one-two punch from cord-cutting and a soft ad market. The first quarter of 2017 saw pay cable subscriptions fall by over 700,000 in the United States, the largest ever such loss. This has caused some concern that cord-cutting has accelerated just as major advertisers have started to spend less on marketing. However, television networks may just be shifting where revenue comes from. Rather than huge carriage fees and ad rates tied to huge viewership, networks may now be earning money off licensing content to streaming video providers and selling ads on digital platforms. There’s just one problem; such digital platforms pay far less than networks used to getting. Warner Music Group is also suffering from shrinking revenues thanks to consumer migration to streaming online services. The company signed a new licensing agreement with YouTube, but they aren’t happy with a deal they felt forced into accepting. We’ll explain why. Of course, we also cover the week’s top entertainment news including the multiple “Game of Thrones” spin-offs planned by HBO, Harry Potter heads to Broadway and the return of “American Idol”. Movies at the Palace https://www.unitedpalace.org/programs/movies-at-the-palace comScore Announces Official Worldwide Box Office Results for Weekend of May 7, 2017 http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/comscore-announces-official-worldwide-box-office-results-for-weekend-of-may-7-2017-300452807.html Warner and YouTube Sign New Deal ‘Under Very Difficult Circumstances’ https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/warner-youtube-sign-new-deal-difficult-circumstances/ Warner Music Extends Deal With YouTube After ‘Months of Tough Negotiations’ https://variety.com/2017/biz/news/warner-music-extends-youtube-1202410931/ Dinner with DiMaggio by by Rock Positano, John Positano, Francis Ford Coppola http://bookfilter.com/2016/06/30/dinner-with-dimaggio/ Bill Clinton Teams With James Patterson to Write First Novel http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/bookmark/bill-clinton-teams-james-patterson-write-first-novel-1001013 ‘American Idol’ May Return on ABC — But Fox Still in the Mix http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/american-idol-may-return-abc-but-fox-still-mix-1000285 ‘American Idol’ Revival Poised to Move Forward at ABC http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/american-idol-revival-poised-move-forward-at-abc-1000790 Gustavo Dudamel on Repression and Violence in Venezuela: ‘Enough is Enough’ http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/arts/la-et-cm-gustavo-dudamel-venezuela-statement-20170504-story.html Gustavo Dudamel Has Tried to Stay Out of Politics. Now, He’s Demanding Action in Venezuela

Though it came down to the wire and took an all-night negotiating session, Hollywood avoided another costly writer’s strike earlier this week. The Writers Guild of America, which represents upwards of 12,000 movie and television writers, came to a tentative agreement with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, which negotiates on behalf of Hollywood studios and networks. The three year contract reportedly resolves several issues including the WGA health plan, how long a writer can be held by a television series as well as parity for online and cable residuals. In other breaking news, the nominations for this year’s Tony Awards were announced, but it is anyone’s guess which of the four productions up for Best Musical will come out on top. The same is true of the four plays, each of which is by an American playwright making their Broadway debut. The only sure thing is that Bette Midler will win the Best Leading Actress in a Musical Award for “Hello Dolly!” Meanwhile, after a 15 year decline in which global recorded music lost 40% of its value, the music industry is showing signs of life. You can thank streaming. For the second year in a row, music sales worldwide have increased – that includes physical product, digital and income from streaming. Of course, we also cover the week’s top entertainment news stories including more layoffs at ESPN, “Saturday Night Live” heads to China (sort of) and Ryan Seacrest gets a new television gig. Fyre Festival Head Billy McFarland: ‘We Were a Little Naive’ http://www.rollingstone.com/music/features/fyre-fest-head-billy-mcfarland-we-were-a-little-naive-w479502 Shake-up at the MPAA. Hollywood’s Chief Lobbyist, Chris Dodd, To Be Replaced by Charles Rivkin http://www.latimes.com/business/hollywood/la-fi-ct-dodd-mpaa-exit-20170428-story.html Why Chris Dodd Stepping Down From MPAA Should Not Have Come as a Surprise https://celluloidjunkie.com/2017/05/04/as-head-of-mpaa-chris-dodd-stumbled-upon-another-job-filled-with-difficult-politics/ comScore Announces Official Worldwide Box Office Results for Weekend of April 30, 2017 http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/comscore-announces-official-worldwide-box-office-results-for-weekend-of-april-30-2017-300448493.html India’s ‘Baahubali 2’ Takes Third Place at Global Box Office With $81 Million Debut https://variety.com/2017/film/asia/india-baahubali-2-third-place-at-global-box-office-81-million-debut-1202404515/ ‘Star Wars: Episode IX’ Gets Release Date https://variety.com/2017/film/news/star-wars-episode-ix-release-date-may-2019-1202395171/ Hollywood Lifts China 2017 Box Office Back to Growth https://variety.com/2017/film/asia/hollywood-lifts-china-four-month-box-office-1202404454/ Global Music Report Shows Biggest Annual Growth in 20 Years — But YouTube Remains a Huge Threat

After twenty years as the face of Fox News, Bill O’Reilly was responsible for nearly 20% of the network’s revenue. Even so, Fox made the decision to fire O’Reilly last week after reports that he had paid out settlements over the years to women accusing him of sexual harassment. At least, that’s how Fox spun the story, not wanting to admit the controversial news host was causing the network too look bad and lose advertisers. O’Reilly wasn’t the first on-air host Fox News has lost over the last year. A string of anchors, including the popular Megyn Kelly left for new deals at other networks. With Fox’s entire primetime lineup upended so suddenly, other media outlets are beginning to make a move to overtake the top cable news network. Meanwhile, China continues to issue release dates for big Hollywood movies at a rate that will likely surpass their own quota on imported films. One thing is for sure, none of the movies China approves will star Richard Gere. We’ll explain why. Of course, we also cover the week’s top entertainment news stories including why it doesn’t matter that Netflix didn’t meet its quarterly subscriber goals, the return of “X-Files” and Kevin Spacey gets tapped for the Tony Awards. comScore Announces Official Worldwide Box Office Results for Weekend of April 23, 2017 http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/comscore-announces-official-worldwide-box-office-results-for-weekend-of-april-23-2017-300443945.html ‘Avatar’ Sequel Release Dates Set, Starting in December, 2020 https://variety.com/2017/film/news/avatar-sequel-release-dates-2020-1202392897/ Richard Gere’s Studio Exile: Why His Hollywood Career Took an Indie Turn http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/features/richard-geres-studio-exile-why-his-hollywood-career-took-an-indie-turn-992258 Incendiary by Michael Cannell – BookFilter http://bookfilter.com/2016/09/13/incendiary/ A Single Spy by William Christie – BookFilter http://bookfilter.com/2016/04/19/single-spy-a The Golden Passport by Duff McDonald http://bookfilter.com/2016/06/22/the-golden-passport/ MTV Movie Awards Ditches Gender-specific Categories http://ew.com/tv/2017/04/07/mtv-awards-gender-specific-categories/ Court Rules Fan Subtitles on TV and Movies Are Illegal https://thenextweb.com/insider/2017/04/21/court-rules-fan-subtitles-tv-movies-illegal ‘Wheel of Time’ TV Series Lands at Sony https://variety.com/2017/tv/news/wheel-of-time-tv-series-sony-1202390897/ SAG-AFTRA Blasts Accusatory Letter as Hollywood Labor Turmoil Accelerates http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/sag-aftra-blasts-accusatory-letter-as-hollywood-labor-turmoil-accelerates-996566

This year’s Record Store Day is just days away, but what began as a way to support independent record stores has turned into a covert commercial endeavor for those reselling the event’s exclusive vinyl releases at exorbitant prices. Sal Nunziato, a former record store owner himself, joins us to discuss why he’s never been all that fond of the annual promotion. These days Nunziato is a music blogger and drummer in the band the John Sally Ride. Their new album, “A New Set of Downs” will be released later this year, but in a unique twist, is already available on platforms such as Spotify and Soundcloud. He’ll tell us all about it. Meanwhile, even though ESPN has lost 12 million subscribers in the past six years, the cable sports network is still very profitable, generating $11 billion per year for its owner, Disney. But with skinny cable bundles and online streaming eating into its subscriber base, ESPN is girding itself for an unknown future. Of course, we also cover the week’s top entertainment news stories including the launch of YouTube TV, Spotify finally signs a new deal with a major record label, and Harry Potter wins big it at this year’s Olivier Awards. Burning Wood – Sal Nunziato’s Blog http://burnwoodtonite.blogspot.com/ The John Sally Ride – A New Set of Downs https://thejohnsallyride.bandcamp.com/album/a-new-set-of-downs AM/PM Records https://www.facebook.com/groups/1505855363002504/ CBS CEO Leslie Moonves’ Pay Rises to $69.6M in 2016 http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/cbs-ceo-leslie-moonves-pay-rises-sumner-redstone-give-up-voting-role-board-991093 ‘Fate of the Furious’ Slows at Home but Roars Overseas https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/16/movies/fate-of-the-furious-slows-at-home-but-roars-overseas.html French Exhibitors Demand Netflix Release Its Cannes Movies in Theaters https://variety.com/2017/digital/global/netflix-protest-french-theatrical-exhibitors-1202030960/ The Road to Jonestown by Jeff Guinn – BookFilter http://bookfilter.com/2016/06/30/the-road-to-jonestown/ Letterman: The Last Giant of Late Night – BookFilter http://bookfilter.com/2016/06/22/letterman/ ‘Billions’ Star Challenges Emmys Male-Female Acting Categories https://variety.com/2017/tv/awards/billions-star-asia-kate-dillon-emmy-awards-gender-nonbinary-1202023724/ Advertisers Flee Fox’s Bill O’Reilly Show Amid Sexual Harassment Lawsuits http://www.nbcnews.com/business/business-news/advertisers-start-flee-bill-o-reilly-s-show-after-more-n742461 Bill O’Reilly to Take Vacation in Midst of Sexual Harassment Controversy https://variety.

Cinema operators gathered in Las Vegas last week to attend the annual CinemaCon trade show where they were able to preview upcoming film releases and learn about some of the new technology on offer for their theatres. Naturally, box office was a big topic with global ticket sales (barely) hitting a record $38.6 billion. Even with a strong U.S. dollar, international box office still made up 71% of the total. Another issue on everyone’s mind were theatrical release windows; studios want to introduce a premium video on demand offering that brings new releases to the home sooner, though exhibitors are understandably pushing back. Meanwhile, there may be no movies to show in cinemas if screenwriters goes on strike. The Writers Guild of America has been meeting with producers and studios, however the sides are far apart in their negotiations and a strike is looking more likely. Of course, we also cover the week’s top entertainment news stories including Robert Downey Jr. as Dr. Dolittle, why major advertisers are upset with YouTube and Adam Sandler reups with Netflix. Robert Iger, Disney’s C.E.O., Agrees to One-Year Extension https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/23/business/media/robert-iger-disneys-ceo-agrees-to-one-year-extension.html comScore Announces Official Worldwide Box Office Results for Weekend of April 2, 2017 http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/comscore-announces-official-worldwide-box-office-results-for-weekend-of-april-2-2017-300433124.html Global Box Office Hits Record $38.6 Billion in 2016 Even as China Slows Down https://variety.com/2017/film/news/box-office-record-china-1202013961/ International Box Office Flatlines in 2016, MPAA Report Says http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/international-box-office-flatlines-2016-mpaa-report-says-987921 Weak March Means China Box Office Recovery Is Not Yet in Sight https://variety.com/2017/film/asia/weak-march-no-sign-of-china-box-office-recovery-1202021189/ Jim Gianopulos Getting Greenlight Authority for Movies Up to $100 Million in Paramount Deal http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/jim-gianopulos-getting-greenlight-authority-movies-up-100-million-paramount-deal-987791 Weak March Means China Box Office Recovery Is Not Yet in Sight https://variety.com/2017/film/news/jim-gianopulos-named-paramount-chairman-ceo-1202017014/ Hollywood Film Revenue in India Rises 10 Percent, Boosted by Dubbed Versions http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/hollywood-film-revenue-india-rises-10-percent-boosted-by-dubbed-versions-987585 Windows, Worries and The Rock: 5 Takeaways from CinemaCon http://www.hollywoodreporter.

Even as Spotify has grown into the largest subscription streaming music service in the world, all of the company’s long-term licensing deals have expired and it has struggled to negotiate new ones that will help them lower costs and become a viable business. However new reports have emerged that Spotify may be close to reaching new licensing deals after agreeing to some strict terms from the labels. Among these are marketing guarantees, the windowing of major releases and only placing full albums on the premium paid tier of their service. Spotify may have no choice but to accept the labels’ offer otherwise their much-anticipated IPO may fall apart once and for all. Unlike Spotify, Netflix is a subscription streaming company that is at the top of its game and isn’t worried about squabbling with its content partners. Instead, the company has been busy altering its star rating system, restoring and lost Orson Welles film and bad-mouthing movie theaters. Of course, we also cover the week’s top entertainment news stories including the opening of Disney’s live-action “Beauty and the Beast” sets box office records, the head of the MPAA goes M.I.A. at CinemaCon and Saturday Night Live makes plans for prime time segments. ‘SpongeBob SquarePants’ Creator Stephen Hillenburg Reveals ALS Diagnosis https://variety.com/2017/tv/news/spongebob-squarepants-creator-stephen-hillenburg-reveals-als-diagnosis-1202007865/ Charter CEO Tom Rutledge Made $98.5 Million in 2016 http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/charter-ceo-tom-rutledge-made-985-million-2016-986820 comScore Announces Official Worldwide Box Office Results for Weekend of March 19, 2017 http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/comscore-announces-official-worldwide-box-office-results-for-weekend-of-march-19-2017-300425871.html ‘Beauty and the Beast’ Opens Strong in China With ‘Gay Moment’ Intact https://variety.com/2017/film/asia/uncensored-beauty-and-the-beast-opens-solidly-in-china-1202010786/ ‘Beauty and the Beast’ Debuts to Magical $350 Million Globally https://variety.com/2017/film/box-office/beauty-and-the-beast-box-office-records-1202011676/ ‘Beauty and the Beast’ Waltzes to Record $174.8M in U.S., $357.1M Globally http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/weekend-box-office-beauty-beast-roars-163m-thursday-986898 42nd Annual IRA Movie Awards https://popsurfing.blogspot.com/2017/03/42nd-annual-ira-movie-awards-history-is.html ‘Power Rangers’ Breaks Ground With First Queer Big-Screen Superhero http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/power-rangers-gay-character-storyline-yellow-ranger-plot-explained-987236 China’s Oriental DreamWorks Looks Set to Restructure

Trade unions and guilds are not a new concept in the entertainment industry, yet they seem to be making headlines lately as more niche craftspeople elect to join them or have them negotiate their contracts. Last week the largest employer of Spanish-language performers in the U.S. voted to join SAG-AFTRA and the United Scenic Artists, which represents set designers on Broadway, was able to sign its first contract with the League of Off-Broadway Theatres & Producers. One major reason for all this recent union activity is the growing number of entertainment industry workers whose pay falls below a living wage. When the star of a hit telenovela airing on an NBCUniversal network needs to hold a second job as an Uber driver, you know there must be a problem. Meanwhile, the influx of financing into Hollywood coming from China may be coming to an end. The Chinese government has begun to restrict the outflow of capital from the country to stem what they deem “irrational” foreign investments while at the same time stabilizing local currency. This new regulatory oversight helped kill Wanda’s $1 billion deal for Dick Clark Productions. Of course, we also cover the week’s top entertainment news stories including how a rapper made history by knocking himself off the top of the album charts with his next release, HBO heads to Latin America with original programming and why we’ll have to wait a little longer for those “Avatar” sequels. comScore Announces Official Worldwide Box Office Results for Weekend of March 12, 2017 http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/comscore-announces-official-worldwide-box-office-results-for-weekend-of-march-12-2017-300422335.html Slovak Film Breaks Opening Record in Domestic Cinemas http://www.filmneweurope.com/news/slovakia-news/item/114138-box-office-slovak-film-breaks-opening-record-in-domestic-cinemas China Box Office: ‘Dog’s Purpose’ Topples ‘Logan’ for Quiet Weekend Win https://variety.com/2017/film/asia/china-box-office-dogs-purpose-weekend-win-1202007447/ Sources: Paramount’s Chinese Partners Haven’t Paid a Penny of Promised $1 Billion http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/sources-paramounts-chinese-partners-havent-paid-a-penny-promised-1-billion-984679 The $1-Billion Deal to Sell Dick Clark Productions to China’s Wanda Group Is Dead http://www.latimes.com/business/hollywood/la-fi-ct-wanda-dick-clark-deal-20170309-story.html New York 2140 by Kim Stanley Robinson – BookFilter http://bookfilter.com/2016/07/05/new-york-2140/ Marilyn in Manhattan by Elizabeth Winder http://bookfilter.com/2016/05/03/marilyn-in-manhattan/ Riggio Reiterates B&N’s Commitment to Restoring Growth http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/trade-shows-events/article/72994-riggio-reiterates-b-n-s-commitment-to-re...

With YouTube becoming the latest player to offer an over-the-top subscription streaming service it’s safe to say the the skinny television bundle has officially arrived. For $35 per month, subscribers can now get 40 channels of live TV including major networks and ESPN. YouTube TV also has a virtual DVR with no recording limits. YouTube is entering an increasingly crowded market with competitors such as Dish Network’s Sling TV, AT&T’s DirecTV Now, Hulu and many others. But YouTube may have an advantage thanks to some powerful artificial intelligence that has helped increase worldwide viewing to over one billion hours per day, nearly as much as traditional television in the United States. Now normally, two weeks after the Academy Awards we’d already be struggling to remember who won Best Score. But thanks to the most notorious screwup in Oscar history, we’re still talking about the broadcast and its fallout. We’ll explain why. Of course, we also cover the week’s top entertainment news stories including the absurd controversy over Disney’s first gay character, Harry Potter tops the Olivier Awards with a record 11 nominations and Spotify reaches the 50 million subscriber mark. How Coachella Gained Lady Gaga After Losing Beyonce http://www.billboard.com/articles/business/7709328/how-coachella-booked-lady-gaga-beyonce-reaction-inside-story comScore Announces Official Worldwide Box Office Results for Weekend of March 5, 2017 http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/comscore-announces-official-worldwide-box-office-results-for-weekend-of-march-5-2017-300418153.html Matt Damon’s ‘The Great Wall’ to Lose $75 Million; Future U.S.-China Productions in Doubt http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/what-great-walls-box-office-flop-will-cost-studios-981602 Number of Female Film Protagonists Hits High in 2016 (Study) https://variety.com/2017/film/news/arrival-rogue-one-female-film-protagnoists-1201992678/ ‘Godzilla Resurgence’ Wins Big at 40th Japan Academy Prize Awards http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/godzilla-resurgence-wins-big-at-40th-japan-academy-prize-awards-982922 Oscars Best Picture Fiasco: What PwC and the Academy Must Do to Manage the Fallout https://variety.com/2017/film/news/oscar-best-picture-fiasco-the-academy-pricewaterhousecoopers-fallout-1201999036/ Oscars Producers, Academy Fail to Apologize to ‘La La Land’ Filmmakers for Best Picture Fiasco https://variety.com/2017/film/news/oscar-best-picture-fiasco-academy-no-apology-1201998122/ Oscars: Academy Apologizes for Using Wrong Photo During In Memoriam Segment http://variety.com/2017/film/awards/oscars-in-memoriam-jan-chapman-1202000106/ ‘La La Land’ Concert to Debut at Hollywood Bowl

In a moment that will be discussed for years to come, this year’s Academy Awards ended with the wrong film being announced as the Best Picture winner. Ultimately it wasn’t “La La Land” that took home the prize as many predicted, but rather the socially conscious, racially diverse indie film “Moonlight” that won the award. Anne Thompson, Indiewire’s editor at large, tells us that by choosing “Moonlight” for its top award the Academy was making a statement about who they want to be as an industry. Thompson also brings us backstage at this year’s Oscars, walking us through how such a huge mistake could actually happen, and what it was like in the press room when the error became apparent. Naturally, we touch on the some of this year’s Oscar winners as well. Meanwhile, the way movies get distributed continues to be a contentious topic in Hollywood, with studios and cinema owners reportedly in negotiations on an agreement that might see new releases available for home viewing in as little as two weeks. Of course, we also cover the week’s top entertainment news stories including how Netflix continues to book comedians, CBS cancels a brand new series and Beyoncé cancels her Coachella gig. 2017 Oscars: A Tale of Two Oscar Stories and One Very Big Gaffe http://www.indiewire.com/2017/02/oscar-analysis-moonlight-la-la-land-1201787380/ Beyonce Cancels Coachella, Ticket Prices Drop 12 Percent http://www.billboard.com/articles/business/7701917/beyonce-cancels-coachella-ticket-price-secondary-market Bookstores Brace for rush of Murakami’s fans on Feb. 24 http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/AJ201702230043.html comScore Announces Official Worldwide Box Office Results for Weekend of February 26, 2017 http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/comscore-announces-official-worldwide-box-office-results-for-weekend-of-february-26-2017-300413674.html Patrick Stewart Is Retiring from X-Men http://www.esquire.com/entertainment/news/a53436/patrick-stewart-x-men/ ‘Elle’ Wins Best Film, Actress for Isabelle Huppert at France’s Cesar Awards https://variety.com/2017/film/news/cesar-awards-2017-1201996053/ ‘Moonlight’ Wins Independent Spirit Award for Best Feature Film http://www.indiewire.com/2017/02/moonlight-wins-independent-spirit-awards-best-feature-1201786979/ 2017 Independent Spirit Awards: Full Winners List http://www.indiewire.com/2017/02/2017-independent-spirit-awards-winners-list-1201786911/ Academy Rescinds Oscar Nomination for Violation of Campaign Rules http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/academy-rescinds-oscar-nomination-violation-campaign-rules-979979 Oscars: Australian Producer Jan Chapman Devastated by Mistaken In-Memori...

FCC Commissioner Michael O’Rielly has a history of voting against raising the standard level of what constitutes high-speed broadband service. Now he’s publicly dismissed 4K video streaming as a figment of the future, so far off it won’t be adopted for many years. Could O’Rielly be correct in his dim forecast about the foreseeable future of Ultra HD? Short answer: no. The arguments against media technology adoption revolve around the availability of content and devices. However, neither seems to be presently lacking. More and more consumer electronics manufacturers are phasing out HD televisions in lieu of new 4K models, while the likes of Netflix and Amazon offer 4K streaming of movies and television shows. Meanwhile, we review the latest accolades handed out by the Writers Guild and the Berlin Film Festival as we gear up for next week’s Oscar ceremony by making a few haphazard predictions of our own. Of course, we also cover the week’s top entertainment news stories including why Disney is dumping a YouTube star, the New York Times is ditching one of its longtime theatre critics and the reason Playboy magazine is going all in on nudity. Lincoln In the Bardo VR Experience https://www.nytimes.com/video/magazine/100000004919906/lincoln-in-the-bardo.html comScore Announces Official Worldwide Box Office Results for Weekend of February 19, 2017 http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/comscore-announces-official-worldwide-box-office-results-for-weekend-of-february-19-2017-300409916.html Brad Grey Expected to Exit Paramount Pictures in an Overhaul of the Struggling Studio http://www.latimes.com/business/hollywood/la-fi-ct-brad-grey-paramount-exit-20170217-story.html WGA Awards: ‘Moonlight,’ ‘Arrival’ Win Big at Politically Charged Ceremony http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lists/2017-wga-winners-full-list-966482 Hollywood Chooses Protests Over Parties as the Stars Get Ready for Oscars Activism https://www.theguardian.com/film/2017/feb/19/hollywood-rallies-trump-ban-oscar-week-asghar-farhadi-the-salesman Berlin: Hungarian Love Story ‘On Body and Soul’ Wins Golden Bear Award http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/hungarian-drama-body-soul-wins-berlin-film-festival-977564 Jack Ma’s Alibaba Pictures Warns of $140M Loss in 2016 http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/jack-mas-alibaba-pictures-warns-140m-loss-2016-977626 How Old-Fashioned TV Still Drives the Music Industry https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/17/arts/grammys-television-gaga-beyonce.html Direct Action by L.A. Kauffman – BookFilter http://bookfilter.com/2016/02/08/direct-action/ The Kingdom of Happiness by Aimee Groth – BookFilter

Though Beyoncé had been predicted to walk off with this years top Grammy Awards for her critically acclaimed album “Lemonade”, she was beat out by Adele who won five top awards for “25”. Rather than being racially motivated, as some would suggest, Adele’s Grammy success was buttressed by an album that sold 20 million copies making it by far one of the biggest albums of the last decade, topped only by sales of her previous release “21”. Then there was the artist who has never sold a single record yet managed to win three Grammys this year. Chance the Rapper made history when he became the first artist to win a Grammy for a streaming-only album. “Coloring Book” won the Grammys for Best Mixtape and Best Rap Performance, while Chance the Rapper took home the prize for Best New Artist. Meanwhile, the struggling entertainment conglomerate Viacom announced how it hopes to turn the company around. The company plans to focus on “silos” of branded properties which can be exploited across multiple platforms. This is the same strategy the Walt Disney Co. has used with great success; however Viacom’s existing properties are hardly as popular as Marvel or Pixar. Of course, we also cover the week’s top entertainment news stories including plans to revive “American Idol” on television, Stephen Colbert’s “Late Show” tops Jimmy Fallon’s “The Tonight Show” for the first time and Aretha Franklin, the queen of soul music, announces her retirement. comScore Announces Official Worldwide Box Office Results for Weekend of February 12, 2017 http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/comscore-announces-official-worldwide-box-office-results-for-weekend-of-february-12-2017-300405982.html ‘LEGO Batman’ Tops ‘Fifty Shades Darker’ & ‘John Wick 2’ With $55.6 Million http://www.boxofficemojo.com/news/?id=4267&p=.htm China’s Quota on Hollywood Film Imports Set to Expand, State Media Says http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/chinas-state-media-says-quota-hollywood-film-imports-will-expand-974224 Baftas 2017: Full List of Winners https://www.theguardian.com/film/2017/feb/12/baftas-2017-film-full-list-of-winners UTA Scraps Oscar Party in Favor of Refugee Rally http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/uta-scraps-oscar-party-favor-refugee-rally-973365 WME-IMG Forming Political Action Committee for Donald Trump Era https://variety.com/2017/biz/news/ari-emanuel-wme-trump-political-action-committee-1201981545/ Hollywood Moves Forward With Oscar Parties Despite UTA Boycott http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/utas-scrapped-oscar-event-major-agencies-move-forward-parties-974165 Grammy 2017 Ratings Rise From the Last Two Years https://variety.com/2017/tv/news/tv-ratings-grammy-ratings-2017-1201986602/ BookFilter Newsletter http://bookfilter.

President Donald Trump’s selection of Ajit Pai to chair the Federal Communications Commission has moved quickly to rollback consumer protection regulations long thought to be settled; specifically net neutrality. Rules put in place to ensure an open internet allowing every company to compete on equal footing could get thrown out for ones that favor four telecom giants. That could mean record labels, movie studios, streaming music and video providers wind up paying much more to reach audiences. In addition, Pai threw out proposed rules that would have allowed cable subscribers to purchase their set top boxes. Consumers in the United States presently pay $200 or more per year to rent such equipment putting $20 billion annually into the pockets of video providers. Will legislative bodies in other countries take similar stances in the wake of such F.C.C. moves? This all comes as streaming music revenue has helped slow or reverse years of declining income sales for record companies. Nielsen music reports that streaming platforms provided 38% of total audio consumption in 2016, up from 23% in 2014. In fact, these days a glut of streaming music providers are trying just about everything to differentiate themselves in what has become a crowded marketplace. Of course, we also cover the week’s top entertainment news stories including Disney’s $100 million anti-poaching settlement with animators, Oprah Winfrey joins “60 Minutes” and which media outlets have backed out of the annual White House Correspondents Dinner. Super Bowl’s TV ratings slip for the second straight year http://www.latimes.com/business/hollywood/la-fi-ct-super-bowl-ratings-20170206-story.html comScore Announces Official Worldwide Box Office Results for Weekend of February 5, 2017 http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/comscore-announces-official-worldwide-box-office-results-for-weekend-of-february-5-2017-300402307.html Third-Party Investigation Finds No Animal Injuries, Cruelty on Set of ‘A Dog’s Purpose’ http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/third-party-investigation-finds-no-animal-injuries-cruelty-set-a-dogs-purpose-972081 DGA Awards: The Complete Winners List http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lists/dga-awards-2017-winners-list-full-966475/item/outstanding-directorial-achievement-documentary-960110 ‘Lion’ Tops ASC Cinematographer Awards http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lists/lion-tops-asc-cinematographer-awards-966477 Annies: ‘Zootopia’ Wins Big With 6 Awards Including Best Animated Feature http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lists/annie-awards-winners-2017-list-full-966476 FCC Chairman Ajit Pai Pulls Set-Top Proposal https://variety.com/2017/biz/news/fcc-chairman-ajit-pai-scraps-set-top-proposal-1201974178/ FCC Rescinds Claim that AT&T and Verizon Violated Net Neutrality