RIAA reports record $8.4 billion in revenue for recorded music in first half of 2023

In a candid new interview with NPR, former Saturday Night Live cast member Leslie Jones says the show’s limitations made her “a caricature” of herself, although she came to realize that the process was par for the course at the longrunning NBC show.

McKinley Franklin editor She’s not just Hollywood’s new mistress — Slayyyter is officially Hollywood’s “Starfucker.” One of pop music’s best-kept secrets, Slayyyter has been chasing new levels of stardom since 2018 when the now 26-year-old first started releasing self-made hyper-pop tracks on SoundCloud. Five years later, she’s taken on the self-proclaimed title of “Hollywood Starfucker,” a campy moniker she uses to reference her tumultuous ascent in the social hierarchies of Los Angeles. “Starfucker” is also the title of Slayyyter’s sophomore record (out now via Fader Label), a 12-song collection that sees her transcending her pop-centric roots to expose the gritty realities of nightlife and a heightened sense of awareness about fame over racy club tempos.

Brian Steinberg Senior TV Editor Rick Cordella is taking the field for NBC Sports. The executive, who has been enmeshed in developing streaming products for NBCUniversal, has been named president of NBC Sports at a moment when many media companies are working on new models that will make big-ticket TV sports properties available to consumers who have fewer ties to traditional screens.

Brian Steinberg Senior TV Editor Krishan Bhatia, a key architect of NBCUniversal’s recent forays into new kinds of advertising revenue, is leaving the company, and has informed his direct reports of his decision to exit at the end of 2023. Bhatia helped develop new revenue systems and infrastructure at NBCUniversal’s ad-sales unit, which for a time was very vocal about its efforts to strike e-commerce and data partnerships with advertisers.

McKinley Franklin editor “Barbie” cinematographer Rodrigo Prieto says he shot “so many scenes” for the Greta Gerwig blockbuster “that didn’t end up in the movie” — including a scene inspired by Steven Spielberg’s “Jaws.” “There were many moments that ended up on the cutting room floor,” he tells Variety. “There are many things that I imagine will start coming out,” he continued, referencing “Barbie’s” scheduled Sept. 22 IMAX release that will include new post-credit scenes.

Sophia Scorziello editor If you can’t take it with you when you go, then where does it end up? Daniel Brown thought a lot about this before making his upcoming film “Your Lucky Day,” which tells the ironic story of a man who wins the lottery but dies shortly after finding out his numbers hit. First created as short in 2010 starring Rider Strong, the story takes place one Christmas Eve at a corner store called Sip ‘n’ Go, where a white-haired boomer-aged wealthy man wearing a tie stops to scan his lotto tickets.

Jenelle Riley Deputy Awards and Features Editor Trae Crowder and Corey Ryan Forrester share a lot in common, starting with both being stand-up comedians from the South. They both got big boosts in their careers after posting viral videos — Crowder in 2016 with “The Liberal Network,” in which he delivers scathing political commentary you might not expect to gibe with his accent, and Forrester in 2021 with his alter ego “Buttercream Dream,” a faux professional wrestler who proves to be surprisingly enlightened.

Steven J. Horowitz The Black Music Action Coalition (BMAC) celebrated its third annual awards gala at the Beverly Hilton last night in Los Angeles.

Kerry Washington is getting candid.

Sophia Scorziello editor In an industry on track to drive around $400 billion in revenue this year, it might seem fine for gaming companies to let go of the reins every now and then when hit games take off. But Javier Ferreira, co-CEO of Scopely (a mobile-first video game developer) argues that it’s very much a business of planning. He says, “We think of games as forever businesses.” Ferreira shared his thoughts on best practices for engaging with today’s gaming communities and the best IPs to invest at the “Big Business of Games with Scopely” panel during Variety’s Entertainment & Technology Summit Thursday.

said in a social media post that he’s attempting to get a Richard Simmons film made — with himself in the starring role as the 1980s fitness guru.“I’ve noticed all the reactions to me playing Richard Simmons in a new biopic,” he wrote on Facebook. “So I reached out to him.”Shore further claims he’s spoken on the phone to the reclusive Simmons, 75, who has not been seen in public since 2017.“I heard he’s living deep in Big Bear,” Shore continued. “We’ve been playing phone tag (yes, he still has a phone).

Drake is performing live in North Carolina.On Sept. 22-23, the “Passionfruit” rapper will headline at Charlotte, NC’s Spectrum Center along with special guest 21 Savage as part of his ongoing ‘It’s All A Blur Tour.’And if you want to see Drizzy in the Queen City, it isn’t too late to scoop up last-minute tickets.The only problem is it will cost you.At the time of publication, the best price we could find on tickets was $246 before fees on Vivid Seats.If you want to get closer to the action, floor seats start at $502 before fees.Still, it’s hard to put a price on hearing over 45 songs live.Yes, at a recent show, Champagne Papi really performed 46 tracks (!) — way, way more than your average headliner’s career retrospective for those keeping score at home — to ensure fans got their money’s worth.Want to go to the show before Drake’s onto the next city?We’ve got everything you need to know and more about Drake’s Charlotte ‘It’s All A Blur’ concerts.All prices listed above are subject to fluctuation.A complete breakdown of all the best upper-deck, lower-level and floor seat prices for Drake’s two Charlotte shows can be found below.(Note: The New York Post confirmed all above prices at the publication time. All prices are in US dollars, subject to fluctuation and include additional fees at checkout.)Vivid Seats is a verified secondary market ticketing platform, and prices may be higher or lower than face value, depending on demand.

Dermot O'Leary has explained his reasons for declining an offer for Strictly Come Dancing after bosses tried to recruit him.

Barry Ferguson was left disappointed with the performance of Jose Cifuentes against Real Betis - and the pundit reckons he has to move up the Rangers gears.

EXCLUSIVE: Stanley Nelson’s Firelight Films and Hulu have set Julianna Brannum (Now I Lay Me Down), Ivan MacDonald (Breaking the Silence) and Juan Carlos Dávila Santiago (When Reggaeton Was a Crime) as the first filmmakers to benefit from their new Hulu/Firelight Kindling Fund. Through the initiative, each will be awarded $25,000 to develop their original documentary feature or limited series for a first look by the companies.

BravoCon has released the full schedule for its annual fan convention scheduled for Las Vegas Nov. 3-5.

NBCUniversal has promoted veteran executive Rick Cordella to president of NBC Sports, reporting into Mark Lazarus, chairman of NBCUniversal Media Group. 

, there's another much-loathed solar event hot on its heels: fall equinox.September heralds the arrival of the autumn equinox, marking the end of summer and the start of , along with heightened chances of witnessing the northern lights. Searches for the solar event have sky-rocketed by 500% so people are obviously curious to know what it means for them.

be damned. The posed for pictures outside Fast Company's Innovation Festival in a business casual look with a sexy daytime twist. The actor built the ensemble around a figure-hugging grey wrap skirt that was seemingly secured with just a single button.She paired the eye-catching skirt with a sheer black blouse that was left slightly open to reveal a glimpse of her midriff.

Bianca Censori and Kanye West have been making controversial headlines since their whirlwind romance started in January 2023. After reports that her friends were “scared” for her well-being and her friends were trying to “save her,” a source told DailyMail she has “shut everyone out,” even telling former friends to “f*** off.”Censori has been walking around barefoot in Europe with very unique looks, but the public became concerned after viral photos showed the rapper with his pants down on a water taxi, an act that got them banned for life.After the scandal, a “close friend” told DailyMail some of her friends were “finally” able to get in contact with her, but “she wasn’t interested in talking, nor was she interested in anyone’s concerns for her.”The source said when former friends tried to ask if she was okay, she said, “Her friends are just jealous of her stardom.” The Australian’s friends are reportedly done trying, saying Censori loves being West’s muse and making headlines, “because it gives her what she has always wanted - fame.”Is Bianca Censori’s style as wild as Julia Fox’s revealing ensembles for NYFWBianca Censori changes her style: From ‘nude’ sheer dresses to micro shorts and high heelsKim Kardashian shares North West’s new painting two years after people doubted her authenticityInsiders had previously told the outlet, “Bianca is stuck, and her friends are trying to save her, but no one can because of the blockades Kayne has put up [around her].” “Everyone is extremely concerned.

Another woman has come forward with accusations against Russell Brand.