AP Entertainment SummaryBrief at 2:01 p.m. EDT

Justice Department and Live Nation reach settlement over illegal monopoly case

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Justice Department says it's reached a settlement in its antitrust lawsuit against Ticketmaster and its parent company, California-based Live Nation Entertainment that will benefit consumers by letting competitors play a role in ticket sales and force Live Nation to sell 13 amphitheaters. Some states, though, are not joining the deal and say they'll continue a trial in New York federal court. The case alleged there was an illegal monopoly over live events in America. The announcement angered a judge who said he was kept out of the loop. The government has said Live Nation's monopoly costs consumers. Live Nation has maintained that artists and teams set prices and decide how tickets are sold.

Simon & Schuster names former Amazon executive Greg Greeley as CEO, succeeding Jonathan Karp

NEW YORK (AP) — Simon & Schuster has named a former Amazon.com executive, Greg Greeley, as its new CEO. The publisher announced Monday that Greeley’s appointment is effectively immediately. The 62-year-old Greeley succeeds Jonathan Karp, who announced last year that he was stepping down. Greeley has a background in business and investment. He spent nearly 20 years at Amazon, where his positions included vice president of Amazon Prime. Greeley will be running Simon & Schuster at a time of rapid change in the industry, with publishers, authors and agents debating the role of AI in the future of books.

Q&A: Activists, 'sister-friends' Gloria Steinem and Leymah Gbowee channel their bond into a new book

They call themselves “sister-friends.” Now, two celebrated women’s rights activists from different parts of the globe, Gloria Steinem and Nobel laureate Leymah Gbowee, have turned their unique bond into a children's book. “Rise, Girl, Rise: Our Sister-Friend Journey. Together for All” is a joint biography and a call to action for a new generation. Illustrated by Kah Yangni, the colorful book draws upon a friendship of over 20 years between Steinem and Gbowee, the Nobel Peace Prize winner from Liberia. It traces their childhoods on separate continents, and their paths to activism as adults. In interviews, the authors say that despite the title, the book is for boys, too.

Paris Hilton launches recovery fund for women business owners after disasters

Paris Hilton has launched a new national fund to help women-owned small businesses recover after disasters. On Monday, she donated $350,000 to start the Back in Business Recovery Fund. GoFundMe.org added $100,000 at the launch. Hilton says she expanded her effort after supporting women entrepreneurs hit by the 2025 Los Angeles fires. Those grants helped many owners reopen and keep paying staff. A women’s business center says most of those businesses still operate. The new fund plans to give flexible grants through local women’s business centers. Hilton also released a YouTube series to spotlight survivors.

Celebrity birthdays for the week of March 15-21 includes Queen Latifah and Matthew Broderick

Celebrities having birthdays during the week of March 15-21 include rapper-actor Queen Latifah, actor-director Eva Longoria and TV personality Rob Kardashian. Singer Bret Michaels of Poison turns 63, rapper Flavor Flav of Public Enemy hits 67 and singer Hozier welcomes 36. Other celebrities with big days include actor Sutton Foster, singer Adam Levine of Maroon 5 and singer Ruth Pointer of the Pointer Sisters. Actor Glenn Close turns 79, director Spike Lee reaches 69 and actor Theresa Russell also hits 69. Others celebrating are actor Holly Hunter, actor Gary Oldman and actor-comedian Rosie O’Donnell.

Pixar’s ‘Hoppers’ bounds to No. 1 as Warner Bros.' ‘The Bride!’ is on life support

Disney and Pixar’s new film “Hoppers” is leading the North American box office with a strong debut, while Warner Bros.’ “The Bride!” is stumbling. Studio estimates on Sunday show “Hoppers” made $46 million in its first weekend domestically and $88 million globally after adding in international receipts. In the same weekend, “The Bride!” opened with about $7.3 million in North America and a total of $13.6 million globally, despite a big production budget. “Hoppers” is a boost for original Pixar movies after “Elio” failed to connect with audiences. Reviews and audience scores also favor “Hoppers.” Meanwhile “The Bride!” is collecting mixed reactions from audiences and critics.

Director Mendonça Filho of 'The Secret Agent' reflects on memory and success of Brazilian cinema

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Brazilian thriller “The Secret Agent” has grabbed Oscars attention with nominations for best international film and best picture. On Sunday, it will compete at the Academy Awards in Los Angeles, one year after another Brazilian film won the same international prize. Director Kleber Mendonça Filho links this moment to public funding that supports diverse Brazilian filmmaking. The story is set in Recife in 1977 under military rule. Wagner Moura plays a man who hides under a false identity. He searches records for his mother and fears fading from his son’s memory. The film mixes danger, humor, and deep nostalgia.

Stars hit Paris runways, but fall’s real trend was dressing for hard times — and real life

PARIS (AP) — Paris Fashion Week shows designers resetting big brands with clothes that match a tense, noisy world. On Wednesday, the front rows still draw stars across Balenciaga, Givenchy, Celine, Westwood, and McQueen. But the runways focus on three clear ideas. Designers build “armor” with high collars, wrapped coats, and strong tailoring. They sharpen silhouettes and move away from years of oversized volume. They also push a rougher glamour, with messy hair, smudged makeup, and darker moods. Balenciaga and Givenchy lean into protection and strength. Celine leads the return to a cleaner shape. Westwood embraces beauty with visible cracks.

'Country' Joe McDonald, '60s rock star, proud protest counterculture icon, dies at 84

NEW YORK (AP) — “Country” Joe McDonald, a hippie rock star of the 1960s whose “I-Feel-Like-I’m-Fixin’-To-Die Rag” was a four-lettered rebuke to the Vietnam War that became an anthem for protesters and a highlight of the Woodstock music festival, died Sunday at 84. His death from complications of Parkinson’s disease was reported by his wife of 43 years, Kathy McDonald. The performer was a longtime presence in the Bay Area music scene, where peers included the Grateful Dead, the Jefferson Airplane and his onetime girlfriend, Janis Joplin. He wrote or co-wrote hundreds of songs, from psychedelic jams to soul-influenced rockers, and released dozens of albums.