Billboard has revised its rules for removing songs from the Hot 100 chart to address the issue of songs staying on the chart for excessively long periods due to streaming algorithms. The new rules set stricter thresholds for how long songs can remain based on their chart position and weeks on the chart, leading to the removal of many long-standing hits like Teddy Swims' 'Lose Control,' which spent over two years on the chart. The changes aim to make the chart more reflective of current hits and prevent outdated songs from lingering indefinitely.
Tiny Vinyl is a new 4-inch vinyl record format designed to be portable and align with modern streaming music consumption, aiming to serve as a collectible item for fans and artists, with initial launches through Target and support from major labels, while facing manufacturing and playback challenges.
Originally Published 6 months ago — by Rolling Stone
The 'Star Trek' franchise is facing uncertainty with its upcoming limited seasons and a shift towards nostalgia-driven content, as newer series struggle to expand beyond familiar characters and settings, and the future of the franchise on both TV and film remains uncertain amid corporate changes and waning innovation.
The recent Emmy Awards marked the end of an era for the so-called Peak TV, with many nominated shows having farewell seasons. The ceremony felt like a bookend to the streaming era, as the number of TV programs in the U.S. has declined after years of growth. Studios and networks have slowed down on ordering new series due to concerns about profitability, streaming service expenses, cord-cutting, and a soft advertising market.
Disney's animated film "Wish" had a lackluster start at the box office, earning $8.3 million on Wednesday, despite its $200 million production cost. Apple's "Napoleon" also debuted with $7.7 million, but both films are expected to improve their earnings over the five-day Thanksgiving period. The movie industry is still struggling to adapt to the streaming era, with studios like Apple viewing these expenditures as marketing costs for their streaming services. "The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes" and "Trolls Band Together" also performed well, while "The Marvels" had a disappointing box office run. Overall, the Thanksgiving holiday is projected to generate nearly $190 million in revenues, but it still has a long way to go to match pre-pandemic figures.
Top studio executives, including Ted Sarandos of Netflix, David Zaslav of Warner Bros. Discovery, Donna Langley of Universal Pictures, and Robert A. Iger of Disney, joined negotiations between the Hollywood writers' union and major entertainment companies, marking the first formal bargaining session in a month. Talks were described as encouraging, and both sides agreed to meet again on Thursday. The strike, now in its fifth month, is on track to become the longest writers' walkout ever, with the union arguing for improved pay and working conditions in the streaming era. The strikes have already cost California's economy over $5 billion.
Drew Barrymore announced that her talk show, "The Drew Barrymore Show," will return for its fourth season amid the ongoing SAG/WGA strikes. Despite walking away from hosting the MTV Movie & TV Awards in support of the strikes, Barrymore stated that her show will comply with not discussing or promoting struck film and television. The strikes, led by screenwriters and actors, are in protest of unfair pay in the streaming era. Negotiations between the guild and the entertainment industry's top studios have broken down, with performers seeking a new contract that addresses the economic realities of streaming and emerging digital technologies.
The strikes in Hollywood, involving both writers and actors, are about more than just privileged elites. Background actors, who make up the majority of the profession, are facing threats to their livelihoods due to the vanishing of residual payments and the encroachment of artificial intelligence on their jobs. They are also seeking protections against the scanning and digital reuse of their images. This fight reflects the broader risks faced by workers in today's economy, where technological and cultural shifts can lead to exploitation and rewriting of employment terms. The struggle for fair treatment and job security extends beyond Hollywood and affects all workers.
ESPN has announced a new round of layoffs, with around 20 on-air talent expected to be affected as the network downsizes for the streaming era. Notable cuts include NBA color commentator Jeff Van Gundy and longtime reporter Suzy Kolber. The layoffs are part of a larger effort by ESPN's parent company, Disney, to reduce costs and deliver promised savings. This marks the third wave of layoffs at ESPN this year, with previous cuts focused on the executive ranks. The network has been transitioning to a direct-to-consumer future and has already shed over 1,000 jobs in recent years.
Peso Pluma, a rising star of regional Mexican music, has emerged as a likely contender for the first global star of the genre. His eight songs have landed on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, and "Ella Baila Sola" became the first regional Mexican song to reach the chart's Top 10. Peso Pluma's success can be attributed to the algorithm and cross-genre collaborations. The reach and aesthetic of regional Mexican music have expanded in the hands of Gen Z-ers who grew up listening to regional Mexican music and hip-hop.
The Writers Guild of America (W.G.A.) has overwhelming support for a strike, giving union leaders the right to call for a walkout when the writers’ contract with the major Hollywood studios expires on May 1. The writers say compensation has stagnated over the last decade despite the explosion of television series in the streaming era. The last time the writers went on strike was in 2007, and that strike lasted 100 days. If a strike begins in early May, late-night shows like “Saturday Night Live” and talk shows hosted by Stephen Colbert, Jimmy Fallon, Jimmy Kimmel and Seth Meyers will go dark immediately.
