Category: 5. Entertainment

For decades, print media has been transitioning to digital, with physical magazines, newspapers and newsletters declining in numbers and delivery cadence. But there are exceptions, just witness the New York Post’s forthcoming California edition.

On a smaller scale, Kevin Durant’s Boardroom plans to launch a new print magazine. Boardroom has only been a digital site, so it is moving in reverse order from the once-typical print to online migration. A trial issue is due out later in August with a cover feature on number one ranked female tennis star Aryna Sabalenka, and the plan is to print four times a year starting in 2026.

Durant and his business manager, Rich Kleiman, started Boardroom in 2019, following its sister company 35 Ventures (named after the jersey number the NBA star has worn much of his career), which houses their investment and media production arms.

The content is focused on athletes, musicians, film stars and other entertainers, so it’s not a pure sports site. A recent “cover” story is on R&B singer Giveon, with other links to stories including the FIFA World Cup, Nike FC Barcelona’s Kobe Bryant kits, and on the opening viewership for Happy Gilmore 2.

Why publish a physical magazine? Expenses are far greater than digital only, the publication has to be printed and delivered, and is typically out of date before it comes off the presses.

“There’s starting to be more and more of a value put on something in the physical because of how saturated the digital landscape is and just how much time we all spend on it,” said Kleiman, a music industry veteran before he partnered with Durant as his business manager and partner in 35 Ventures. “So it is not meant to become the main revenue generator of our business, that is built around subscription and brand integration … It’s not something that we’re seeing as a big driver in growth from a monetization standpoint, as much as a driver in marketing, and adds a level of kind of cachet and premium to our existing businesses.”

The magazine, also monikered Boardroom, will first be available later this month at the U.S. Open Tennis Championships, and also next month at the sports business conference in Los Angeles the media platform hosts annually with CNBC.

“We’re calling it a mini mag, and we’re only making a few thousand of them, but starting next year, we’ll be putting out a quarterly, more traditional print magazine,” Kleiman said. The mini mag is set to run 50 pages, with 120 targeted for the quarterly next year.

There has been a slow drip of new print publications in recent years, testing the conventional wisdom that print is dead. To name a few, trailblazing online magazine Tablet this year put out a print edition; cultural toy brand POPMART launched a youth culture magazine this year called play/Ground; and last year rock online magazine SPIN relaunched its print edition.

Boardroom occupies a hard to define space. It’s not a sports publication, or a sports business outlet, because it also covers popular culture. It was ahead of the trend of sports sweeping into popular culture, whether it’s the explosion of women’s sports or the ubiquity of the NFL, and the cross over between sports and entertainment.

In addition to a story on Sabalenka, which is a Q&A that Kleiman conducted himself, the pilot issue has other items, including a piece on Rolex’s sponsorship presence in tennis. Boardroom does not plan to hire a dedicated staff for the magazine, Kleiman said, but largely tap into its existing employees who put out the digital news, including on the main site and in newsletters.

This back to the future moment of a new print publication Kleiman likens to the uptick in sales of vinyl records. It doesn’t harbor a return to the old way of doing things, he said, but is simply one more platform among many.

Jennifer Lawrence admitted to Vogue as part of Emma Stone‘s new cover story that she originally argued against Stone shaving all her hair off for Yorgos Lanthimos’ upcoming “Bugonia,” a reimagining of the 2003 South Korean film “Save the Green Planet!” that casts Stone as a pharmaceutical CEO who gets kidnapped by a pair of conspiracy theorists (Jesse Plemons and Aidan Delbis) convinced she is an alien set on destroying Earth.

“I really didn’t want her to shave her head,” Lawrence said about her two-time Oscar-winning friend. “I had already lived through the Billie Jean King haircut.”

Lawrence is referring to the hairdo Stone rocked in “Battle of the Sexes,” in which she played the iconic tennis player Billie Jean King. For “Bugonia,” Stone channeled her inner Natalie Portman in “V for Vendetta” and shaved her hair off on camera while filming a scene for the dark comedy in the back of a Range Rover. The actor broke down in tears in her trailer before shooting the shaving scene, as it reminded her of when her mother, Krista, battled breast cancer. As Stone put it: “She actually did something brave. I’m just shaving my head.”

But Stone ended up loving it, saying, “No better feeling in the world. The first shower when you’ve shaved your head? Oh my God, it’s amazing.”

The final result also had Lawrence admitting she was wrong, too. As Lawrence told Vogue: “Honestly, she looked beautiful. She pulled it off.” Even Stone’s mom reacted by telling her daughter: “I’m so jealous. I want to shave my head again.”

“The more challenging it gets, the more I like it,” Stone added about her acting career. “If you’re not growing or pushing yourself to different places—and I feel it’s the same for most people in almost any job—you get stagnant.”

Stone won her second best actress Oscar for “Poor Things,” also directed by Lanthimos. Lawrence happened to be on stage at the time and fellow presenter Michelle Yeoh handed off the Academy Award to Lawrence so that she could bestow it to her longtime friend Stone.

“In true Emily form, as soon as we got offstage and ran into the bathroom to scream and cry,” Lawrence said about the moment, “I whispered, ‘Two-time best-actress winner,’ and she replied, ‘I feel like that’s bad, though.’”

“Bugonia” is set to world premiere in competition at the Venice Film Festival before releasing in theaters Oct. 24 from Focus Features. Head over to Vogue’s website to read Stone’s cover in its entirety.

Musexpo has announced Kirk Sommer, WME’s senior partner and global co-head of music, as their International Music Person of the Year for 2025.

Sommer will be recognized for his years-long efforts in aiding the careers of Amy Winehouse, Adele, Andrea Bocelli, Artic Monkeys, Benson Boone, Billie Eilish, the Killers and many more at a VIP Awards Gala Luncheon on March 24, 2026 in Burbank, Calif.

As part of a weeklong series of industry gatherings including the global synch and brands summit, the A&R summit, and other marquee events, Musexpo will bring together key decision-makers and innovators from around the world to examine the future of music, media and technology.

Prior to the luncheon, Musexpo will host a keynote conversation with Sommer, offering a rare, in-depth look into his professional journey — from starting in the WME mailroom in 2000 to becoming an industry leader in global music representation.

Sat Bisla, president and founder of A&R Worldwide and Musexpo, stated, “Kirk M. Sommer has not only shaped the careers of some of the world’s greatest musical voices but has also helped redefine what it means to be a leader in today’s ever-evolving music industry. His deep respect for artists, his commitment to mentorship, as well as his strong global perspective and vision make him an exceptional choice for this honor. It’s our privilege to recognize his outstanding contributions to the worldwide music ecosystem.”

+ Lo Ting-Fai, known as Lofai, has been appointed president of Warner Music APAC, at Warner Music Group. Effective Aug. 11, he will be based in Hong Kong, reporting to Robert Kyncl, CEO of WMG. All of the company’s recorded music territory heads across the Asia-Pacific region will report to Lofai.

Lofai joins WMG from telecoms giant PCCW, where he most recently served as CEO of its subsidiary MakerVille, a leading entertainment company which focuses on content creation, artist management, and live events, and COO of Viu, its regional OTT streaming platform. He has also written hit songs under the pseudonym “Yu Ri.”

Lofai said: “I’m excited to be taking up this incredible role. WMG has been rewriting the rules when it comes to how a music company works in our changing industry, and it has massive ambitions for growth in the APAC region. I look forward to collaborating with Robert and WMG’s teams around the world as we help more Asian artists hit the global stage, strengthen our incredible catalog, and find fresh, innovative ways to build passionate, loyal fanbases.”

Kyncl adds: “Lofai will oversee many of our highest priority markets both today and in the future, with culturally diverse music scenes, filled with next generation talent and iconic copyrights. He brings his creative flair, business acumen, and connections throughout the digital economy to this super important role. Together, we’re committed to finding and developing artists with massive creative and commercial impact, evolving our suite of services, and growing our market share across the region.”

+ Red Bull Records has signed country artist and award-winning songwriter Pynk Beard (Sebastian Kole) alongside the release of his new single, “Sip,” the third offering from his debut EP, “Red Dirt Diaries,” coming this fall.

On the signing, Greg Hammer, managing director of Red Bull Records states: “Pynk Beard effortlessly blends his traditional Southern roots with culturally resonant lyrics, creating a sound that is truly original. To watch him build a loyal following before releasing any music officially has been incredibly impressive and speaks to how special he is. We’re thrilled to welcome him to Red Bull Records and we’re confident he has a bright future ahead of him that we’re proud to champion.”

“I’m so grateful to be a part of the Red Bull Records family!” Pynk Beard added. “They have been nothing short of amazing in supporting me in the release of my first two singles ‘I Lived’ and ‘Mine Lord Willing’, and their genuine interest and care for me as an artist has shown in every action. The future here is bright and Pynk.”

+ Los Angeles-based lifestyle and fitness apparel brand YoungLA has tapped artist Lil Baby to star in the brand’s latest campaign drop launching online Aug. 13. “YoungLA x Lil Baby” merges streetwear with Lil Baby’s signature style and influence, and includes standout denim outerwear and bottoms, graphic tees, and a statement leather jacket featuring the Batman emblem.

+ Adidas has announced multi-platinum international DJ-producer Uncle Waffles as the latest global talent to join “Superstar: The Original” a campaign celebrating the sneaker’s long-lasting influence in sports, culture and beyond. The partnership with Uncle Waffles is adidas’ newest installment of its global campaign starring a multi-generational cast of original voices, including Samuel L. Jackson, who narrates the campaign, as well as Missy Elliott, Jennie, Anthony Edwards, Mark Gonzales, GloRilla, Teezo Touchdown and Gabbriette.

+ 5020 Records, a division of Sony Music, has signed singer-songwriter Carla Morrison to its roster.

A three-time Latin Grammy winner and two-time Grammy nominee, Morrison is widely recognized for her blend of indie pop and alternative styles. Originally from Tecate, Baja California, Morrison shared news of her signing with 5020 Records via her official social media channels, posting a welcome letter from the label thanking her for entrusting them with her music.

Launched in 2022, 5020 Records is a Sony Music imprint that represents a dynamic lineup of talent, including Residente, Beele, Ca7riel and Paco Amoroso, Christina Aguilera, Kany García, Nathy Peluso, Kenia OS, and Tini.

Jennifer Aniston just came out with an unexpected, wistful comment about her “Friends” co-star Matthew Perry’s death: Part of her, she said, thinks it might be “better” for him that he died.

“We did everything we could when we could,” the “Morning Show” star said in an interview published Monday by Vanity Fair, talking about Perry’s friends’ attempts to help him when he was struggling with addiction. “But it almost felt like we’d been mourning Matthew for a long time because his battle with that disease was a really hard one for him to fight.”

Indeed, Perry discussed his friends’ efforts to help him in his 2022 memoir, “Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing,” which recounted his decades-long struggles with substance abuse as well as his numerous recovery efforts.

“Although he asserts he was never high while filming ‘Friends,’ he’d often be sick or hungover,” former staff writer Christina Veta wrote in The Times’ review of the memoir. “Once, Perry passed out on the Central Perk couch and [co-star Matt] LeBlanc had to nudge him awake to say his line. Later, Aniston called him out for drinking again, telling him, ‘We can smell it.’”

Perry told Aniston, “I know I’m drinking too much, but I don’t exactly know what to do about it.”

“In nature, when a penguin is injured, the other penguins group around it and prop it up until it’s better,” he wrote in his memoir. “This is what my costars on Friends did for me. There were times on set when I was extremely hungover, and Jen and Courteney [Cox], being devoted to cardio as a cure-all, had a Lifecycle exercise bike installed backstage. In between rehearsals and takes, I’d head back there and ride that thing like the fires of hell were chasing me — anything to get my brain power back to normal. I was the injured penguin, but I was determined to not let these wonderful people, and this show, down.”

Aniston told Vanity Fair in the new interview, “looking solemn and out toward the ocean” as she spoke about Perry’s death, “As hard as it was for all of us and for the fans, there’s a part of me that thinks this is better. I’m glad he’s out of that pain.”

Perry said in his memoir that amid all his drinking and drug use, he was never suicidal.

“In the back of my mind I always had some semblance of hope. But, if dying was a consequence of getting to take the quantity of drugs I needed, then death was something I was going to have to accept,” he wrote about the period after “Friends” ended.

“That’s how skewed my thinking had become — I was able to hold those two things in my mind at the same time: I don’t want to die, but if I have to in order to get sufficient drugs on board, then amen to oblivion.”

Almost exactly a year after the memoir came out, on Oct. 28, 2024, at 4 in the afternoon, Perry was found dead in a hot tub at his Los Angeles home. The drug ketamine would later emerge as his official cause of death, with drowning a contributing factor.

Jennifer Aniston just opened up about the one man she sought to impress.

The 56-year-old actress, famed for her role as Rachel Green in the popular sitcom, Friends, was raised by her father John Aniston, who died in 2002 and mother Nancy Dow who passed away in 2016.

Speaking to Vanity Fair over how close she was to her dad and how much she wanted to impress him, Jennifer said that she grew up manifesting the success she has currently so that John would “love me as much as I love him.”

“It was the thing that drove me and was also my biggest heartbreak: trying to impress and prove your value to a man who’s only capable of so much,” the Murder Mystery actress said.

She admitted “always wanting to get Pop’s approval,” and said that before his demise, nearly three years ago, she was able to hear her dad say he’s proud of her.

“We had a few of those moments,” The Break-Up talent revealed.

Jennifer was also asked what inspires her “way of pushing joy and positivity,” a comment that was made about her by Sandra Bullock in 2022.

“First of all, that was the sweetest thing anyone has ever said to me,” she told Interview Magazine.

“I think that it comes from growing up in a household that was destabilized and felt unsafe, watching adults being unkind to each other,” the Emmy-winning star further answered.

She then recalled, witnessing during her childhood “certain things about human behavior that made me think: ‘I don’t want to do that. I don’t want to be that. I don’t want to experience this feeling I’m having in my body right now. I don’t want anyone else that I ever come in contact with ever to feel that.’”

“So I guess I have my parents to thank. You can either be angry or be a martyr, or you can say, ‘You’ve got lemons? Let’s make lemonade,’” Jennifer Aniston concluded. 

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have signed a fresh multi-year film and television deal with Netflix, contradicting reports this year that the streaming company would not renew its contract with them.

Harry and Meghan, who struck a five-year deal in 2020 reportedly worth $100m (£78m) after stepping back from their duties as senior royals, have collaborated with Netflix on a number of projects, most recently the duchess’s lifestyle series With Love, Meghan.

Media reports had suggested that poor viewing figures for some of the couple’s projects meant that Netflix would not extend the “first look” deal, whereby the streamer has the first option on any projects their company, Archewell Productions, generates.

With Love, Meghan – alongside which the duchess launched her brand, As Ever, in which Netflix is now a partner – failed to break into the streamer’s top 300 shows in the first half of this year, while Harry’s documentary, Polo, ranked 3,346 of 7,000 shows.

The terms of the “multi-year, first look deal for film and television projects” were not disclosed.

The duchess said: “We’re proud to extend our partnership with Netflix and expand our work together to include the As Ever brand.

“My husband and I feel inspired by our partners who work closely with us and our Archewell Productions team to create thoughtful content across genres that resonates globally, and celebrates our shared vision.”

Their new output will include a second season of With Love, Meghan later this month, as well as a Christmas special in December.

Archewell Productions is also working on Masaka Kids, A Rhythm Within, a documentary about orphaned children in the Masaka region of Uganda, where the “shadows of the HIV/Aids crisis linger”.

A boardroom dispute led to Harry stepping down in March from Sentebale, the charity he founded to help children orphaned by Aids in Lesotho. A spokesperson said at the weekend that the duke was considering setting up a new charitable organisation working “in the same space in the region”.

There is also “active development” on other Archewell projects with Netflix, which “span a variety of content genres”, including a feature adaptation of the bestselling romantic novel Meet Me At The Lake, by Carley Fortune.

Not all the couple’s forays into content creation have been commercially successful. In 2023, a $20m deal they had signed with Spotify to produce podcasts came to an end after just 12 episodes.

Spotify’s head of podcast innovation and development labelled the pair “grifters” on his own podcast after the Sussexes announced the end of the relationship.

“I wish I had been involved in the ‘Meghan and Harry leave Spotify’ negotiation,” said Bill Simmons, who sold his company to Spotify for $196m in 2020 and gained a leadership role at the company. “The Fucking Grifters. That’s the podcast we should have launched with them.”

Reports at the time said the royal couple had not met the productivity benchmark required to receive the full headline payout from the deal.

Meghan Markle has just lauded for the way she silenced her haters by walking a different path.

Former BBC Royal Correspondent Jennie Bond is the expert in question, and the commentator spoke to host Martin Daubney about this ‘victory’ as she calls it.

The chat happened on GB News and saw Ms Bond say, “There was no statement from Harry and Meghan and no indication at any point, but we all decided that the Netflix deal was dead in the water, so it’s one in the eye, actually, to all her detractors.”

“There’s one show that’s in the can already, that’s her lifestyle show, there’s a holiday special about Christmas, and then there’s the Ugandan documentary.”

“Harry was mentioned in that only as one of many producers, quite a long way down, actually, and Meghan is also mentioned there. The rest of it is all very, very vague. But the fact of the matter is, Meghan has won, and we have to eat humble pie.”

In her conversation with the host Ms Bond also highlighted why she believes the Duke took on no solo projects this time around by saying, “I think he has realised that perhaps television isn’t his forte, producing television programmes is really not as easy as he might have thought, and he’s far better not on the celebrity treadmill.”

After all “he’s much better using his name for his campaigns, and I think that he is going to be going in that direction with just a little foot in the Netflix camp from time to time.”

However she did note that Prince Harry’s passion project the Invictus Games is still a hot pocket being one “his biggest success so far.”

So “i’m sure he is obviously going to continue with that, but I think he will be treading a different path. Netflix say that they are very influential voices, Harry and Meghan, and it’s true. Whatever they do, whatever they say or whatever gesture they make, we’re all over it, aren’t we?”

On the other hand “Meghan is the celebrity, she is the LA girl, and he has a bit of a bit part here, but hopefully, that’s the way they want to work it, and he will create a different path for himself,” Ms Bond said in her concluding remarks. 

HBO Max’s “The Gilded Age” ended its third season on Sunday, with a happy ending for Peggy (Denée Benton), who — spoiler alert — was proposed to on the dance floor by William (Jordan Donica) during the Kirklands’ ball. The engagement ring presented during the scene featured pearls and diamonds in a design that experts judged ahead of its time.

Set in the late 19th century, the show has often featured jewelry styles inspired by the Victorian era. Peggy’s engagement ring took a different route. The setting of her ring falls within the cluster-style family, featuring a pearl as the center stone surrounded by diamonds set in yellow gold.

“Natural Pearls, yellow gold and clusters were popular themes during this time, so these themes in the ring match the era. However, based on the gallery and the less delicate nature of the metalwork, this ring feels a bit more 1940s to me,” Andria Rogers, founder of the New York-based vintage jewelry company Andria Barboné, told WWD.

According to Rogers, true Victorian pieces tend to lie closer to the finger, having a low profile, more tightly knit stones, cohesive designs and antique diamonds. Peggy’s ring, on the other hand, appears to be a more modern cut.

Lauren DeYoung, founder of Lauren DeYoung Jewelry, said the ring has more similarities with a classic cocktail ring from the 1950s than with pieces from the late 1800s. “It’s challenging to accurately identify the diamond cuts in this piece, but in an original Victorian ring, we would see old mine-cut or rose-cut diamonds,” DeYoung said.

If sold today, Penny’s ring would likely feature in a price range of $3,000 to $5,000, the jewelers said. “A ring from the 1880s would feature a natural pearl, as it predates the introduction of cultured pearls. While natural pearls are rare, the small size would not hold significant value,” DeYoung explained.

The style of Peggy’s engagement ring can please brides-to-be today. “We still see diamond cuts from this period that are very popular, including old mine-cut and rose-cut diamonds,” DeYoung said.

Other styles from the Victorian Era that are still en vogue are half-hoops, which feature three to five stones spanning across a thin finger, and Toi et Mois, which feature two gemstones side by side. “Toi et Mois has become popular again recently, but was a very common and romantic theme in the 1800s,” Rogers said.