Robert Downey Jr. has expressed interest in reprising his role as Iron Man in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Which presents a problem, since he died at the end of Avengers: Endgame.
10.04.2024 - 07:59 / variety.com
Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief TF Entertainment, the company behind Chinese pop sensations TFBoys and Teens in Times (aka TNT), has struck a strategic alliance with Universal Music Greater China.
The deal includes global digital distribution for TF Entertainment’s roster of talent and the targeting of markets outside Mainland China. The objective is to leverage parent group Universal Music Group’s global distribution capabilities and marketing network to elevate Chinese pop’s global prominence.
TF Entertainment was founded in 2009 and developed a trainee system to cultivate idol groups within Chinese pop.
That led to the establishment of the TF Family, under which various groups have flourished. TFBoys, a teen idol group launched in 2013, is its most notable success.
Comprising Karry Wang, Roy Wang and Jackson Yee, the group rapidly became a sensation in China’s music scene, on TV and social media.
TFBoys performed for four consecutive years at the CCTV New Year’s Gala, often the most-watched TV program of the year, and the three members have a combined following exceeding 250 million on Weibo, a Twitter-like Chinese social media platform.
Yee, who studied drama, has developed a substantial body of film and TV acting work. He starred in Oscar-nominated “Better Days” in 2019, featured in patriotic war films “The Battle at Lake Changjin” and “Water Gate Bridge” and starred in the biggest Asian movie of 2023, the Zhang Yimou-directed “Full River Red.”
TNT has had major hits including “Ne Zha,” “Wiggle” “I Like You” “NAN ER GE” and “1440.” The band also won the Tencent Music Entertainment Awards “Top 10 Songs of the Year” prize in both 2021 and 2022, and The Group of the Year, and Most Influential Music Group prizes at
Robert Downey Jr. has expressed interest in reprising his role as Iron Man in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Which presents a problem, since he died at the end of Avengers: Endgame.
are understandably concerned. So much so that Google searches for “can you get bird flu from eggs and milk?” have spiked since the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) shared an update regarding avian influenza.If you're not yet caught up, the FDA on the bird flu—or Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI)—on April 25, revealing that one in five of retail samples, which means approximately 20% of of milk samples available at places like grocery stores, have tested positive for HPAI “viral fragments.”Seeing as we're barely out of the woods of our , this information can seem quite troubling, to say the least.
Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief Asian TV channels operator Celestial Tiger Entertainment and myTV SUPER, the OTT platform of Hong Kong’s Television Broadcasts Limited (TVB) are to launch PopC, a movie channel dedicated to Chinese online films, with content supplied by mainland China streamer iQiyi. It launches in Hong Kong from May 1. “The idea of PopC first came about when we saw the amount of great, high quality movies that were being produced for the online space in China.
Hair colour trends seem to spring up daily, but one we predict is set to stay around all summer long is 'Bambi brown'. Modelled this week by Chloe Lewis, the pretty brunette tone that combines espresso tones with bronde highlights is the flattering, multi-tonal shade that promises to give those with mousy tones a complete refresh ahead of summer.
Tutti frutti nail art is set to be the biggest nail trend this summer and you can get the look from just £4. We all love a beauty trend switch-up, whether it's a bold new lipstick shade or a dramatic hair colour transformation. But if you're looking for a quick, easy, and temporary way to experiment with trends there's one great place to start - your nails.
Get it in writing, Alabama Hannah! Always get it in writing!
Thousands of households are overpaying their energy bills each month, with many that pay through a direct debit not realising that they could be sat on a large pile of cash that is rightfully theirs. One savvy Money Saving Expert reader even managed to get £1000 back from his energy supplier after realising he was being overcharged.
Bargain Hunt's beloved auctioneer, Philip Serrell, recently shared a chilling incident involving his daughter Clementine, who found herself in a harrowing ordeal with car thieves.The Worcestershire-based auctioneer shared details of the incident on social media. According to Philip, Clementine caught two individuals attempting to steal her car after they had stolen her car keys. Despite the alarming situation, Clementine remained composed, prompting her father to joke about the thieves' reaction to being confronted by his petite daughter.
EXCLUSIVE: Following his acclaimed role in the Showtime series Fellow Travelers, Jonathan Bailey may have found his follow-up, and it’s a big splash. Sources tell Deadline that he is in early talks to star in Universal and Amblin Entertainment’s new Jurassic World movie. Scarlett Johansson is also in talks to star. Gareth Edwards will direct.
Taylor Swift’s music has returned to TikTok, after her label Universal withdrew all of their artists from the platform earlier this year.In January, Universal Music Group (UMG) announced that it would withdraw its artists’ songs from the platform, citing unfair compensation for the artists and the harmful effects of AI.But now, as reported by Variety, Swift’s catalogue has returned to the site, which may be a consequence of the fact that the singer now owns the masters to her recordings.Other artists signed to the label continue to be absent from TikTok, including Bad Bunny, The Weeknd, Drake, Billie Eilish, Justin Bieber, Adele, Coldplay, J Balvin, Post Malone and Sophie Ellis-Bextor.The timing is opportune, as Swift’s latest album ‘The Tortured Poets Department’ is released next Friday (April 19).At the time, UMG explained that its licensing agreement with TikTok expired on January 31, and that negotiations to renew the contract had fallen short.“In our contract renewal discussions, we have been pressing [TikTok] on three critical issues—appropriate compensation for our artists and songwriters, protecting human artists from the harmful effects of AI, and online safety for TikTok’s users.”“TikTok proposed paying our artists and songwriters at a rate that is a fraction of the rate that similarly situated major social platforms pay”, which it says accounts for one per cent of its revenue.
Cyriel Dessers is convinced Rangers can end their wait for a win at Celtic Park when the Premiership title thriller reaches fever pitch after the split.
Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief “Snow in Midsummer,” which quietly probes the 1969 massacre of Malaysian Chinese during post-election turmoil, was named the winner of the best film for young cinema competition (Chinese-language) at the Hong Kong International Film Festival. Liang Ming was named best director for “Carefree Days,” while the film’s female lead Lyu Xingchen collected the best actress award.
People across England and Wales will receive an extra £737 from today if they are eligible for Personal Independence Payments (PIP). The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has raised the amount paid to claimants in line with inflation.
Silver Lake’s plan to take Endeavor private includes an investment of $250 million of seed equity “into a new business to be founded, managed and controlled” by executive chairman Patrick Whitesell.
Jem Aswad Executive Editor, Music Lou Reed was indisputably one of the most provocative musicians the rock world has known, releasing songs about heroin abuse and sadomasochism on his very first album (“The Velvet Underground and Nico”), utilizing piercing guitar feedback on many of his songs, and scoring a global hit single in 1973 that referenced oral sex (“Walk on the Wild Side”). But arguably his single most provocative musical move was “Metal Machine Music,” a double-LP filled with nothing but deafening guitar feedback and effects that was released in 1975, at the peak of his commercial success.
Gisele Bündchen appears to have taken a big step in her relationship with Joaquim Valente!
As its public dispute with TikTok continues, Universal Music Group has set an expanded strategic relationship with Spotify.
Jem Aswad Executive Editor, Music Universal Music Group and Spotify — the world’s largest music company and the world’s largest paid music-subscription service — have unveiled an expansion of their “strategic relationship” in an announcement that has very few details but is likely the opening of a new maneuver in UMG’s ongoing battle with TikTok. UMG and the China-based platform, which has been the leading source of music discovery for the past five years, have been in a standoff over multiple issues, primarily the platform’s low royalty payments and AI policies, since their licensing agreement expired earlier this year.
Michael Jackson have attended the premiere of the West End production MJ The Musical.The musical has transferred to the UK following its success in the US – where it was made in collaboration with the Jackson estate and has gone on to earn 10 Tony award nominations.Like the American performance, the UK edition stars the same actors – including Myles Frost as MJ, Ashley Zhanghaza as his father Joseph Jackson, and Mitchell Zhangaza as Michael.The premiere of the London show took place at the Prince Edward Theatre in the West End on Wednesday night (27 March), and saw the late musician’s children in attendance.27-year-old Prince, 25-year-old Paris, and 22-year-old Blanket were seen together on the night – marking one of their first appearances all together having kept relatively low-key profiles.Prince and Paris were born to the world-famous singer and his ex-wife Debbie Rowe, who were married from 1996 to 2000. Blanket – whose real name is Bigi – was born with the help of an unidentified surrogate.As highlighted by The Independent, other famous faces at the premiere last night included iconic composer Hans Zimmer, Strictly Come Dancing stars Arlene Phillips and Darcey Bussell, and television presenter Jeremy Vine.For Bigi, the appearance at the event comes just days after it was reported that he had taken his grandmother to court in an attempt to prevent her from using funds from his father’s estate as part of a legal battle.The news broke after reports emerged that the late pop legend’s son was filing a legal injunction against his grandmother.
Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief Veteran Chinese director Zhang Yimou will be presented with a lifetime achievement award at the upcoming edition of the Festival of Far East Film in Italy’s Udine (April 24 – May 2). The lineup will include three films by Zhang: his 2023 political thriller “Under the Light” in its competition section; as well as “To Live” and “Raise the Red Lantern” in its restored classics section. The festival’s total lineup includes 74 films in total – 47 in competition and 28 out of competition) from 11 countries.