Las Vegas: Last News

Saying that AI was discussed at CES last week is a bit like saying oxygen was breathed during the giant tech confab. There was simply no way of avoiding the topic.

WARNING: This post contains spoilers from the latest episode of RuPaul’s Drag Race!

Two million subscribers of Optimum pay-TV systems are going without 63 Nexstar Media Group local stations and cable network NewsNation due to a carriage dispute.

Cynthia Littleton Business Editor From AI to webtoons to advertising and distribution innovations, the discussions featured Jan. 8 at the annual Variety Entertainment Summit at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas ran the gamut of hot topics driving the business of media and entertainment.The daylong conference opened with a panel of top programming executives who weighed in on the big shifts in streaming content and the business focus of major networks and platforms.Beatrice Springborn, president of NBCUniversal’s UCP and Universal International Studios, cited “the new normal” of commissioning and production volume following 2023’s actors and writers strikes and the wave of consolidation among media giants.“There is an adjustment from the peak TV era where we’re not making hundreds and hundreds of shows.

Tupac Shakur’s murder, has filed a motion to dismiss the case.As reported by the Associated Press, Davis’ attorney Carl Arnold filed the motion and claimed that his client’s rights were being violated by a 27-year delay in prosecution and a failure to honour prior immunity agreements that both federal and local authorities granted Davis after confessing to playing a role in the homicide back in 2008.In a news release, Arnold said: “The prosecution has failed to justify a decades-long delay that has irreversibly prejudiced my client. Moreover, the failure to honor immunity agreements undermines the criminal justice system’s integrity and seriously questions this prosecution.”At the time of writing, Davis’ trial is still set to go ahead on March 17.

EXCLUSIVE: While Fox Corp.‘s sports division is known for generating fan engagement, the company is increasingly aiming to showcase its capabilities across the board in leveraging fandom.

Robbie Williams has said he wants to make a “new Rat Pack album”.The pop star released his big band swing covers collection, ‘Swing When You’re Winning’, in 2001 and followed it up with 2013’s ‘Swings Both Ways’. Both albums went to Number One in the UK.During a new interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Williams revealed that he was keen to revisit this style of music on a forthcoming record.“I would like to write a new Rat Pack album,” he told the publication.

Disney said it is expanding its “Magic Words” advertising feature, introduced last year, to live programming.

Todd Longwell Will.i.am has a long list of accomplishments as a member of the mega-platinum hip-hop group Black Eyed Peas (“Imma Be,” “Boom Boom Pow,” “I Gotta Feeling”) and a songwriter and producer for superstars including Michael Jackson, Rihanna, Nicky Minaj, Justin Timberlake, Lady Gaga and U2. But in his conversation with Variety senior entertainment and crafts editor Carolyn Giardina at today’s Variety Summit at CES 2025 at the Aria in Las Vegas, he focused on his innovative work as a tech entrepreneur, most notably as founder and CEO of fyi.ai.Will.i.am spent the bulk of his time on stage giving a demonstration of the fyi.ai app, billed as “an AI-powered productivity tool designed to serve the creative community and beyond.”On Monday at CES, will.i.am appeared at LG’s press conference to introduce the line of audio products he developed as the “experiential architect” of the company’s new “xboom by will.i.am” brand, including Bluetooth speakers that use AI to automatically adjust their sound to emphasize the melody, rhythm or voice.Will.i.am told Giardina that regulations and governance for AI is needed as soon as possible, but he’s not scared by the technology.“I’m not worried about AI making music because it’s making music differently than what I need to make music for,” he said.

Todd Longwell Mother Nature threw Ravi Ahuja a curve ball for his first interview since taking the reins as president and CEO of Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE), conducted at the Variety Summit at CES today at the Aria in Las Vegas. While his conversation with Variety co-editor-in-chief Cynthia Littleton covered a wide range of studio strategies — from deal structures to maximizing Sony IP — the most pressing topic was the devastating wildfires burning in Los Angeles.“Obviously, the situation…is very fluid,” Ahuja said.

Disney Advertising says the company’s streaming platforms collectively racked up an average of 157 monthly active users globally (and 112 million domestic) over the past six months.

Lenny Kravitz has announced his second Las Vegas residency for ‘Blue Electric Light’ – see the full list of dates below.Last night (January 7), Kravitz took to social media to share that he will be returning to Las Vegas’ Dolby Live at Park MGM in early August this year for more shows in support of his latest album ‘Blue Electric Live’.The run will consist of five shows between August 1 and August 9. The shows will take place on August 1, 2, 6, 8 and 9.

Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck‘s divorce is now official.Per documents obtained by PEOPLE Magazine, the couple are officially divorced as of January 6, after a judge approved of Lopez’s filing for a dissolution of marriage in August.Billboard adds that the two agreed on terms of the divorce settlement in September, and that neither will have to pay spousal support and equally split the cost of legal fees. They have also come to terms to split assets and finances, though details remain private.

Media veterans Jeffrey Katzenberg and Linda Yaccarino offered starkly different reactions to Meta’s decision to stop fact-checking Facebook and Instagram in separate appearances at CES.

Cynthia Littleton Business Editor LAS VEGAS — Delta is ramping up content-related offerings on its flights as the nation’s dominant air carrier banks on exclusive YouTube access, better WiFi and AI-powered convenience to court frequent fliers from the entertainment industry. Delta has set a deal with YouTube to make the ad-free YouTube Premium and YouTube Music services available free on flights for members of its SkyMiles loyalty program.

Cynthia Littleton Business Editor If the first few days of January are any indication, 2025 is going to be a rock ‘em, sock ‘em year across the media and entertainment landscape. In advance of Variety’s Entertainment Summit on Jan.

Aldis Hodge, producer and star of Cross, and Lauren Anderson, head of content and brand innovation at Amazon MGM Studios, say the value of the Prime Video series results from its local flavor.

Nikki Glaser catapulted from critical daring/comic’s comic/mid-level headliner to full-on household name after a star-making set at ‘The Roast of Tom Brady.’ In just 8.5 minutes, the comedienne came out of the gate swinging making fun of Kevin Hart — “thank you, 15 Cent,” “you really gotta hand it to Kevin Hart because he can’t reach” and “did you know Kevin wakes up at 4 a.m. every day to make a s—– movie?” — and then Brady himself.Seven months later, the “F— Boy Island” host was tapped to host the 2025 Golden Globes.

AC/DC, Ringo Starr, James Taylor, Santana and Heart are all operating at the height of their rock and roll powers.Frankie Valli, Earth Wind and Fire, War, America and Ozark Mountain Daredevils dominate the Top 40.Somehow, a half century later, they’re all still going strong.In fact, a large number of artists that broke big before 1980 — sorry, ’80s music isn’t classic rock to us just yet — have continued their never-ending tours.However, some of our throwback favorites like Tommy James and the Shondells, Al Stewart, Grand Funk Railroad, Foghat and Iggy Pop are flying under the radar only having booked a few off the beaten path gigs this year.That’s where we come in. Our team got curious, dug in and found all the huge stadium runs, small casino treks, international jaunts, Las Vegas residencies and more from our favorite classic rock heroes that broke before the advent of MTV.And, trust us, we searched far and wide. No stone got unturned on this list.

Tom DeLonge has teased that Blink-182 could hit the road for more live shows this spring – see the post below.The pop-punk trio embarked on a huge world tour across 2023 and 2024 in support of their latest album ‘One More Time…’ – which saw Travis Barker and Mark Hoppus reunite with DeLonge for the first time in a decade.Last summer, Blink headlined Reading & Leeds 2024 as part of their comeback run ahead of further headline gigs in Belfast, Dublin and Glasgow.

As Jon Stewart returned to The Daily Show on Monday, he had some advice for the country’s radicalized men in the wake of recent attacks.