Live Nation employee mocks customers as 'so stupid' in internal messages released in court case
NEW YORK (AP) — Newly revealed incendiary messages in which a Live Nation employee mocks customers as “so stupid” and says the company is “robbing them blind, baby” are gaining public attention during an ongoing antitrust trial. The messages were highlighted Wednesday in a filing by government lawyers insisting that the messages should be evidence in the week-old Manhattan federal court trial. Live Nation, parent of Ticketmaster, wants them disqualified from the trial, saying they reflect “off-the-cuff banter, not policy” between two personal friends who don't work together. The trial's status is uncertain after the federal government announced this week it is settling though many states are not.
After years of growth, Georgia’s film industry hits a painful reset
ATLANTA (AP) — Georgia’s film industry is struggling. The state’s generous tax credits once turned Atlanta into the Hollywood of the South, drawing hundreds of productions and transforming the local economy. But spending has tumbled from a peak of $4.4 billion in 2022 to just $2.3 billion the last fiscal year. The 2023 writers and actors strikes accelerated the decline, and Marvel has since shifted its productions to the United Kingdom. Many crew members say they’ve struggled to find film work, forcing some to get second jobs or leave the industry entirely. State officials say things are improving and that tax incentives were recently widened to cover newer types of content.
Oscars presenters add a former host, three nominees and a famous father-son duo
The Oscars producers are rounding out their army of starry presenters. On Wednesday producers of the show say Bill Pullman, Lewis Pullman, Rose Byrne, Wagner Moura, Delroy Lindo, Jimmy Kimmel, Pedro Pascal, Channing Tatum and Sigourney Weaver will take the stage Sunday. The show will feature two major performances of Oscar-nominated songs. Those are “Golden” from “KPop Demon Hunters” and “I Lied to You” from “Sinners.” Miles Caton and Raphael Saadiq will be on hand for the “Sinners” moment, as will Misty Copeland, Eric Gales, Buddy Guy, Brittany Howard and Christone “Kingfish” Ingram. Conan O'Brien is returning to host the live broadcast Sunday.
Trump administration denounces CNN for airing messages from Iranian leaders
The Trump administration is denouncing CNN for airing a portion of the new Iranian supreme leader's first public statement since he got the job. It was the second time in three days that the administration specifically singled out the network for trying to find out what the leaders of the country the United States is bombing are thinking. The attack is another illustration of the care that news outlets must take in reporting during wartime, and the responsibilities of journalists to get multiple perspectives in a conflict. It also exposed the uncomfortable spotlight on one outlet, since the message of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei was widely available elsewhere.
Minimalist horror 'Undertone' uses audio and soundscapes to scare you
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Horror filmmaker Ian Tuason is making his feature debut with “Undertone.” The minimalist, auditory horror film about a paranormal podcaster haunted by audio recordings opens in theaters Friday. Tuason made his name in virtual reality horror shorts before tackling a feature. The film was inspired by both his keen understanding of soundscapes and a particularly difficult time when he served as a caregiver to both his parents who died from cancer. Hollywood has taken notice of Tuason, who will direct a new “Paranormal Activity” movie.
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Morrissey calls off concert in Spain after local festivities deprived him of sleep
BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — British rock star Morrissey won’t perform a concert in Valencia after festivities in the Spanish city kept him from getting a proper night’s rest. A statement posted on Morrissey’s website several hours before the concert was supposed to be held on Thursday said that it the former singer of The Smiths was suffering from “sleep deprivation.” It said that he was disturbed during the night by loud music and megaphone announcements that were audible from inside his hotel room. The statement made it unclear if the concert will be rescheduled or if ticket holders can request a refund.
A wooden holztrompete joins the Met’s new 'Tristan und Isolde' production
NEW YORK (AP) — A new Met Opera production of “Tristan und Isolde” uses Wagner’s rare wooden horn, the holztrompete, for a key offstage moment. Audiences hear its joyous call as the ship carrying Isolde and King Marke arrives to a dying Tristan. Met principal trumpet Billy R. Hunter Jr. says it sounds nothing like the usual substitute. Wagner wanted a loud, natural sound, but his directions for the instrument were vague. Over time, houses used other instruments, including the tárogató. Hunter plays the new holztrompete built in Germany. The specially constructed horn is nearly Hunter’s height.
Celebrity chef René Redzepi resigns from iconic Danish restaurant Noma after abuse allegations
COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) — René Redzepi has stepped down from his post at the iconic Danish restaurant Noma following allegations of abuse and assault at the Copenhagen landmark. The restaurant founder and celebrity chef has been dogged for years by reports of staff mistreatment and yearslong use of unpaid interns to fuel the pricy restaurant. Noma has been ranked first on the World’s 50 Best Restaurants List five times. The criticism came to a head recently on social media and in the New York Times. Sponsors have pulled funding for the Southern California residency. The chef did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
A new exhibit shows plaster casts of Pompeii victims frozen at the time of death
POMPEII, Italy (AP) — A new permanent exhibition has opened in Pompeii that shows plaster casts of people killed in the Mount Vesuvius eruption, frozen in their final moments. On Thursday, curators put 22 casts on public display for the first time. Experts call them “imprints of pain.” They were created by pouring plaster into spaces left in hardened ash. Director Gabriel Zuchtriegel says the goal is dignity and understanding. Archaeologist Silvia Martina Bertesago says modern tests reveal age, sex, disease, and diet.
Q&A: Shakira says she feels like she's just getting started. A Rock Hall nomination begs to differ
NEW YORK (AP) — Shakira says her new world tour is turning lifelong dreams into reality as she sets attendance records and earns major recognition. The boundary-breaking Colombian performer told The Associated Press she feels like she is experiencing “a new beginning” in her career after more than three decades in music. She described a “magical” return to Mexico City’s Zócalo, the main square where 400,000 fans showed up to her concert. She also says her 2026 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame nomination is “surreal,” as rock music has shaped her from the start. She's happy to represent her Latino community with the nomination.
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