Latest news with #A&R
News18
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- News18
Kanye West Accused Of Drugging And Sexually Assaulting Ex-Assistant In Shocking Lawsuit
Last Updated: The former assistant's original lawsuit accused West of sexual harassment, breach of contract, fraud, unpaid wages, and wrongful termination. Kanye 'Ye" West is facing serious new allegations of sexual battery and sex trafficking from his former assistant. The charges have been added as a second amended complaint to a civil lawsuit initially filed in June 2024. The woman, who worked with West from 2021 to 2024 as an A&R representative and later as his personal assistant, alleges that the rapper sexually assaulted her during a Donda album recording session co-hosted by Sean 'Diddy" Combs. According to the latest court filing, the assistant claims West orally raped her without her consent and manipulated her with false promises of career advancement to secure her compliance. The suit alleges that the assault occurred during a studio session where Combs was also present. However, Combs has not been named as a defendant in the lawsuit. The lawsuit further claims that the former assistant was drugged during the session and that West 'offered someone the opportunity" to have sex with her in exchange for allowing him to sleep with their partner. These incidents, according to the complaint, form part of the broader allegation of sex trafficking, as West allegedly 'recruited and enticed [the assistant] by making fraudulent promises of career advancement" in exchange for sexual submission. The former assistant's original lawsuit accused West of sexual harassment, breach of contract, fraud, unpaid wages, and wrongful termination, as well as emotional distress. She alleges that refusing West's demands came with consequences such as public shaming, online harassment, retaliation, and violence. In 2024, West's legal team denied the initial allegations and stated that he would be pursuing legal action against the former assistant. However, no response has been issued yet regarding the latest additions to the case. The woman, who is also known for her content on OnlyFans, remains at the centre of the legal storm surrounding the Grammy-winning artist. As of now, West has not commented publicly on the updated charges. view comments First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Yahoo
01-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Warner Music Announces Further Restructuring, $170 Million in Staff Cuts
Just hours after Warner Music announced a $1.2 billion joint venture with Bain Capital to invest in music catalogs, the company also announced what it says is the final stage of its months-long restructuring, which will eliminate an unspecified number of jobs that will number in the hundreds and total $170 million, out of around $300 million in total savings. The upshot of the announcement is that the company is doubling down on its investments in music, including A&R and M&A (such as the Bain deal), while cutting costs in other areas, including staff and administrative and real estate expenses. The company already has undergone several waves of layoffs in recent years, and this next round is expected to continue into 2026. More from Variety Read Warner Music Chief Robert Kyncl's Year-End Letter to Staff, Celebrating Success During an 'Intense' 2024 FKA Twigs Reveals She Developed Her Own Deepfake in Congressional Testimony on AI Regulation With Warner Music CEO Without Naming Spotify, Warner Music CEO Calls for Streaming Services to Raise Prices Further details were unclear at the time of this article's publication; CEO Robert Kyncl's memo to staff appears below. Hi everyone, Two years ago, we began to transform our company; not just to tinker around the edges of an old model, but to build a fast, innovative, and collaborative organization that reflects how music moves in the new world. Today, our strategy is gaining momentum. Our artists have held half of the Top Ten on the Spotify Global chart for the past ten weeks and nailed the No. 1 spot for all but four weeks of 2025. These aren't just the biggest hits in the world today; they're our evergreen catalog of the future. At the same time, we're starting to see better progress in our global recorded music market share, while hitting new highs in music publishing. These wins are powered by our ability to become simultaneously more effective and more efficient… allowing us to invest in great talent, boost our star-making expertise, and deepen our world-building capabilities. Building on this success requires us to keep evolving. Today we're announcing the remaining steps in our plan to help future-proof the company and unlock the next era of growth. Specifically, we'll be reducing our annual costs by ~$300 million as we reinvest in the business: ~$170 million through headcount rightsizing for agility and impact, and ~$130 million in administrative and real estate expenses. Many changes will be implemented in the next three months, with the remainder in fiscal 2026. I know that this news is tough and unsettling, and you will have many questions. The Executive Leadership Team has spent a lot of time thinking about our future state and how to put us on the best path forward. You'll be hearing from your local leaders as soon as possible about your area of the company and your role within it. We're communicating this now so, as we move through the process, we can be as thoughtful and open as possible with all of you. These decisions are not being made lightly, it will be difficult to say goodbye to talented people, and we're committed to acting with empathy and integrity. As we evolve, we'll be focused on these core drivers of our success: We're putting more money behind the music… via a new growth plan. • A&R: Working with the ELT, we've sharpened our investment criteria… a more holistic and targeted approach to partnering with the world's greatest musical talent, across (i) the most culturally potent and highest potential repertoire centers, (ii) globally managed off-roster catalog, and (iii) music publishing. • M&A: We also have an ambitious M&A pipeline, especially for timeless catalogs. Our acquisitions of Tempo and start-up RSDL are good signposts of how we intend on growing both our copyrights and our capabilities. And, as you've seen today, we've announced an exciting venture with Bain Capital that adds up to $1.2 billion to our catalog purchasing power across both recorded music and music publishing. We're becoming a stronger, leaner company… for greater cut-through. • TEAM: Our faster, more agile teams of local experts will be backed by a strengthened suite of services across Marketing, Distribution, Catalog, and Merchandising & Direct-to-Fan. This aligns our collective efforts with our clearest priorities, making it easier for great artistry and ideas to shine through. Our recent changes at LATAM and Atlantic Records, following the long-term rejuvenation of Warner Chappell and Warner Records, prove that teams can get leaner, deliver massive No. 1s, and win market share… all at the same time. • TECH: We'll continue to prioritize better digital tools for artists, songwriters, and employees. For example, we'll expand the rollout of the WMG Pulse app and add more features to give artists and songwriters insights, while landing the benefits of our financial transformation initiative as well as a vastly improved supply chain and data infrastructure. By simplifying how we work, our WMG One platform will enable deeper focus, stronger collaboration, and more powerful outcomes. In an ever-changing industry, we must continue to supercharge our capabilities in long-term artist, songwriter, and catalog development. That's why this company was created in the first place, it's what we've always been best at, and it's how we'll differentiate ourselves in the future. As we implement these changes, we promise to communicate with you regularly. Thank you for your patience and support for one another. We've got some remarkable music coming, and I know that whatever challenges we're navigating, your commitment to our artists and songwriters is unwavering. Thank you, Robert Best of Variety Oscars 2026: George Clooney, Jennifer Lopez, Julia Roberts, Wagner Moura and More Among Early Contenders to Watch New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week 'Harry Potter' TV Show Cast Guide: Who's Who in Hogwarts? 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See - Sada Elbalad
20-06-2025
- Entertainment
- See - Sada Elbalad
Ed Sheeran Releases New Song "Drive" from "F1" Movie Soundtrack: Stream It Now
Yara Sameh Ed Sheeran's latest song 'Drive' has arrived ahead of the opening of "F1: The Movie". The F1: The Album song, produced by John Mayer and Blake Slatkin, is now available on music streaming services. Mayer backs Sheeran on guitar on the anthemic new rock track, which also has Foo Fighters' Dave Grohl on drums, Pino Palladino on bass, Rami Jaffee on keyboards, and Slatkin on additional keyboards and drum programming to round out a notable ensemble of musicians. Sheeran previously shared that 'Drive' came together quickly in the studio with Mayer and Slatkin, recalling that 'the song fell out of us' after he'd seen some of F1. "Mayer just whacked an octave pedal on and went wild' to come up with the song's riff", he said. 'Movies are my hobby and probably the only thing other than sport that I get, like, starstruck to be part of. Not just directors or actors or whatever, but being a part of the journey of a movie is so exciting for me,' added Sheeran, who is set to release his next studio album, "Play", in September. "F1: The Album" will be released by Atlantic Records on June 27, when "F1: The Movie" theaters. Besides Sheeran, the "F1" soundtrack, led by Don Toliver feat. Doja Cat's 'Lose My Mind,' also boasts a lineup that includes Rosé, Chris Stapleton, Roddy Rich, Myke Towers, Tate McRae, Burna Boy, RAYE and more. Kevin Weaver, Atlantic's president of the West Coast and a two-time Grammy winner most recently for "Barbie: The Album", oversaw and produced "F1: The Album" with Atlantic executive vp/co-head of pop/rock A&R Brandon Davis and senior vp of A&R and marketing Joseph Khoury. read more New Tourism Route To Launch in Old Cairo Ahmed El Sakka-Led Play 'Sayidati Al Jamila' to Be Staged in KSA on Dec. 6 Mandy Moore Joins Season 2 of "Dr. Death" Anthology Series Don't Miss These Movies at 44th Cairo Int'l Film Festival Today Amr Diab to Headline KSA's MDLBEAST Soundstorm 2022 Festival Arts & Culture Mai Omar Stuns in Latest Instagram Photos Arts & Culture "The Flash" to End with Season 9 Arts & Culture Ministry of Culture Organizes four day Children's Film Festival Arts & Culture Canadian PM wishes Muslims Eid-al-Adha News China Launches Largest Ever Aircraft Carrier Sports Former Al Zamalek Player Ibrahim Shika Passes away after Long Battle with Cancer Lifestyle Get to Know 2025 Eid Al Adha Prayer Times in Egypt Business Fear & Greed Index Plummets to Lowest Level Ever Recorded amid Global Trade War Arts & Culture Zahi Hawass: Claims of Columns Beneath the Pyramid of Khafre Are Lies News Flights suspended at Port Sudan Airport after Drone Attacks Videos & Features Video: Trending Lifestyle TikToker Valeria Márquez Shot Dead during Live Stream News Shell Unveils Cost-Cutting, LNG Growth Plan Technology 50-Year Soviet Spacecraft 'Kosmos 482' Crashes into Indian Ocean News 3 Killed in Shooting Attack in Thailand
South China Morning Post
03-06-2025
- Entertainment
- South China Morning Post
Who is Chris Janson's wife Kelly Janson? The ‘Buy Me a Boat' country music star says it was love at first sight, and penned ‘Holdin' Her' as a testament to their love
American musician Chris Janson has been with his wife Kelly Lynn for nearly two decades. The pair met at a Nashville bar in 2007 and tied the knot three years later, but the 'Buy Me a Boat' singer claims that he knew the moment he saw her that he was going to marry her. Chris Janson has been married to Kelly Lynn Janson since 2010. Photo: @thekellyjanson/Instagram Advertisement Janson has said that he celebrates his wife and their marriage everyday: 'Every day that I get to wake up beside Kelly feels like a celebration. We're partners in everything, and we're in love,' he said in a 2018 interview with The Tennessean. So what do we know about Kelly Janson – the woman who inspired his 2016 single 'Holdin' Her'? She used to work at a recording label Kelly Janson was a consultant for a recording label when she met Chris Janson. Photo: @thekellyjanson/Instagram When Kelly and Janson first crossed paths at that Nashville bar, she was a single mother of two working as an A&R consultant at a recording label. It was actually under the guise of pitching songs to her that Janson first approached Kelly, inviting her to his cabin to co-write songs. Her first meeting with Janson Chris Janson and Kelly Janson dated for three years before getting married in 2010. Photo: @thekellyjanson/Instagram While the 'Drunk Girls' crooner might have immediately pinpointed his future wife when he saw Kelly, little did he know that she was equally struck by Janson at first sight.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Diddy and Ex-Girlfriend Misa Hylton's Relationship Timeline
Sean 'Diddy' Combs and Misa Hylton welcomed one child before calling it quits decades ago. Diddy connected with Hylton in the early 1990s as they were at the start of their respective careers. Diddy started off as an intern at Uptown Records while Hylton was a budding stylist. As the pair began to make a name for themselves in the industry, Hylton became pregnant with her and Diddy's first child. In 1993, they welcomed son Justin Combs. Shortly after Justin's arrival, Diddy and Hylton split. After their breakup, Diddy moved on with Kim Porter, with whom he shared son Christian Combs and twins D'Lila and Jessie. (Diddy also adopted Porter's son Quincy Taylor Brown. Porter died in 2018.) Diddy also shares daughter Chance Combs with ex Sarah Chapman and daughter Love Combs with ex Dana Tran. Diddy's Family Guide: Meet the Rapper's Children and Their Mothers Hylton, for her part, was married to JoJo Brim from 1995 to 1999. They share son Niko and daughter Madison. While Hylton and Diddy began their families with other partners, the exes remained coparented Justin for years. Keep scrolling to relive their relationship timeline: 'We were dating at the time and he had just went from intern to A&R,' Hylton told BET in March 2023. 'He had a new position at Uptown Records and he was in charge of putting together the album musically but also for their look.' Hylton shared that she worked with Diddy as his assistant after she finished her school day. Diddy returned the favor by giving Hylton her first solo project: styling Jodeci for his 'Gotta Love' music video. She opted to put the musician in streetwear and changed how R&B musicians would style their looks in the future. The twosome welcomed Justin in December 1993. During a 2017 appearance on 'The Premium Pete Show' podcast, Hylton shared that she and Diddy broke up shortly after Justin's arrival because the music mogul wasn't ready to settle down as his career was starting to take off. The exes reunited to celebrate Justin's 16th birthday. Diddy organized a star-studded bash in New York City for the occasion. The trio posed for a family picture on the red carpet. Hylton attended Diddy's 50th birthday celebration in Los Angeles. The fashion designer raised eyebrows after she posted a series of cryptic posts after Justin was arrested for a DUI. (Justin was booked with a misdemeanor and released on a $5,000 bond.) 'I'm not protecting no one anymore, just my son 💯,' she wrote via her Instagram Story at the time. 'The statement 'a fish rots from the head down' means that, in addition to being a major contributing factor in a family or organization's success, leadership is also the root cause of its failure and demise. The Truth shall set you free.' When Diddy's homes were raided by homeland security, Justin and brother Christian were present for the investigation at their family's Los Angeles home. Hylton spoke out against law enforcement and claimed they executed 'overzealous and overtly militarized force.' '[The force] used against my sons Justin and Christian is deplorable. If these were the sons of a non-Black celebrity, they would not have been handled with the same aggression,' she wrote via Instagram alongside footage from the incident. 'The attempt to humiliate and terrorize these innocent young BLACK MEN is despicable!' As Diddy's legal troubles continued, a video of Diddy assaulting then-girlfriend Casandra 'Cassie' Ventura in 2016 surfaced. Hylton voiced her support for Cassie at the time. 'I am heartbroken that Cassie must relive the horror of her abuse, and my heart goes out to her. I know exactly how she feels, and through my empathy, it has triggered my own trauma,' Hylton wrote via Instagram. 'These young people were raised by women that want the best for them — we put God and education first and have always been united in our mutual effort to support their dreams. Two of the youngest do not have their mother here and it has been our duty to support them. Their father needs help and I am praying that he truly does the personal work and receives it.' On May 12, Hylton stepped out in New York City to attend the opening day of Diddy's sex trafficking and racketeering trial. The rap mogul faced charges of sex trafficking, racketeering conspiracy and transportation to engage in prostitution. Diddy pleaded not guilty to all charges and has denied the allegations against him. Hylton — who was using a walker during her public outing — was joined by her and Diddy's son, Justin Combs, at the hearing. After appearing publicly in court, Hylton took to social media to explain and defend her appearance. 'When I suffered my injury, I had chosen to heal privately but when my son said 'Mommy I need you' I was right there for him walker and all,' Hylton wrote via Instagram on May 17. 'I'm a MOTHER FIRST, FOR REAL and I am my son's strength and thats just what it is. Plain and Simple. Whoever doesn't understand that just simply isn't in alignment with me or anything that I'm about in life.'
