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Search for UnitedHealthcare CEO's killer yields evidence, but few answers– WWE Superstar John Cena commented on social media about his upcoming farewell tour and WWE Elimination Chamber 2025, which will be held in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. This will be Cena’s last show in the Toronto market during his upcoming farewell tour, which kicks off next month. John Cena wrote, “Toronto, I was lucky enough to stand in your ring to announce my retirement. I said I’d be back. This is it! The last time is now! I’m so excited to stand in your ring one last time. Do NOT miss it and looking forward to an unforgettable event!!! 🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦” You can view his social media post below. Cena’s upcoming retirement tour will start in January and run through December. They will include his last appearances at Royal Rumble and WrestleMania. Toronto, I was lucky enough to stand in your ring to announce my retirement. I said I’d be back. This is it! The last time is now! I’m so excited to stand in your ring one last time. Do NOT miss it and looking forward to an unforgettable event!!! 🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦 https://t.co/Oi7lIhQjLJ — John Cena (@JohnCena) December 7, 2024Love Horoscope Today: Astrological Predictions on December 8, 2024, For All Zodiac Signs
Every year I try to make Christmas perfect. Maybe it’s time I give up
Belgrade to be transformed into 'world’s largest playground' for Expo 2027, Serbian ambassador saysMid-American Conference football goes all in on November weeknights for the TV viewers
In-form sides NEC and FC Utrecht will be looking to keep their momentum going when they face off against each other at the Goffertstadion on Sunday afternoon. Both teams head into this one seeking a fourth straight victory across all competitions off the back of respective wins in their final outings before the two-week hiatus for international duty. © Imago Fresh from picking up their largest win of the season against Groningen six days earlier, NEC headed to the Mandemakers Stadion on October 9 to lock horns with RKC Waalwijk aiming to win consecutive league games for the first time since August when they beat PEC Zwolle and Fortuna Sittard. An even first-half saw Rogier Meijer 's men head into the interval on level terms, but the dismissal of Daouda Weidmann just before the break would tip the balance in the second period as Koki Ogawa , Sami Ouaissa and Ivan Marquez all netted to decide the contest. Since winning just one of their six games between September 14 and October 25, the Eniesee have won three on the spin across league and cup duty to move up to eighth in the Eredivisie table and secure safe passage into the next round of the KNVB Beker. More impressively, NEC have been impressive at both ends of the pitch in that time, having scored a whopping 13 goals, while letting in only three—all of which came in their seven-goal thriller against Zwolle which ended in a 4-3 triumph. Ahead of a tough assignment against Ajax one week later, Sunday's hosts now target yet another victory to keep the juggernaut rolling in their push to secure continental football having come within touching distance last time out. © Imago Like NEC, Utrecht were also in contention for a place in the Conference League playoffs during the 2023-24 season but eventually lost out to Go Ahead Eagles in the final of the qualifiers following a 2-1 defeat. However, missing out on European football has turned out to be a blessing in disguise for Ron Jans 's men, who have flown out of the blocks to emerge as PSV Eindhoven's current biggest threat in the title race. De Domstedelingen battled hard to claim a narrow 1-0 win over Heracles in their most recent outing on November 8 and sit five points shy of PSV at the top of the standings with a game in hand on the league leaders. Utrecht are set to have their title credentials extensively tested in the first week of December when they face off against PSV and Ajax three days apart, so a win this weekend would set them up perfectly for those heavyweight meetings. Sunday's visitors will be confident of coming away with all three points given their recent record against the hosts having lost just one of the most recent nine meetings between the teams since 2016, picking up five wins in that time. © Imago Philippe Sandler will not be playing any part for NEC in Sunday's game as he continues his battle with a muscle problem, while fellow Dutchman Dirk Proper misses out with a shoulder problem. However, Bram Nuytinck is back in contention for the home side once again having missed the victory over RKC Waalwijk last time out through a brief illness. Utrecht's Kevin Gadellaa is still unavailable for selection due to a knee problem he picked up against Roda earlier this year, and the goalkeeper is still a considerable way off returning to action. Alonzo Engwanda is also unfit to feature for the away side as Can Bozdogan prepares to miss a second straight game after coming off injured against Sparta Rotterdam earlier this month. NEC possible starting lineup: Roefs; Verdonk, Sandler, Marquez, Pereira; Sano, Hoedemakers, Hansen, Gonzalez; Ogawa, Van Crooy FC Utrecht possible starting lineup: Barkas; Horemans, Van der Hoorn, Viergever, El Karouani; Fraulo, Aaronson; Rodriguez, Jensen, Cathline; Descotte Given the confidence levels of both teams heading into this one, we are anticipating a highly entertaining affair decorated by goals. That said, we are also backing a share of the spoils with honours even at the end of the 90 minutes. For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here .KINGSTON, Jamaica— Over 400 Jamaicans gathered in Kingston on Sunday for the Run for Rights 5K Walk and Run, an event organised by Jamaicans for Justice (JFJ). Marking JFJ’s 25th anniversary, the event aimed to raise awareness about critical human rights issues in Jamaica while fostering community solidarity. Participants wore colourful outfits representing key advocacy themes: blue for human rights, yellow for child rights, green for climate justice, and purple for victims of gender-based and domestic violence. The initiative underscored JFJ’s mission to create a Jamaica free from discrimination and violence. Speaking at the event, Kingston Mayor Andrew Swaby lauded JFJ’s efforts to promote justice and equality. “This initiative not only brings awareness to critical issues but also mobilises the community to take meaningful action,” said Mayor Swaby. JFJ’s Executive Director, Mikel Jackson, expressed gratitude to attendees, emphasising the significance of collective action. “Your presence here today shows the power of unity. Every step taken is a step toward raising awareness and a stronger sense of responsibility to protect the most vulnerable in our society,” she said. In a news release, JFJ highlighted significant milestones, including justice for Michael Gayle, a mentally ill man reportedly beaten to death by security forces. JFJ successfully brought the case to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR), resulting in a $3 million compensation for Gayle’s family. JFJ noted its ongoing advocacy in cases like those of Matthew Lee and Mario Deane. In 2023, the organisation documented 289 cases out of over 300 reports for closer monitoring. Beyond legal advocacy, JFJ has expanded its outreach programs, including mobile legal clinics for marginalised individuals and school-based interventions to prevent youth involvement in legal conflicts. While the primary goal of the Run for Rights was to raise awareness, any net proceeds will support JFJ’s legal and advocacy programs, JFJ said. As JFJ looks ahead, the organisation says it remains steadfast in advancing social justice and empowering vulnerable communities through education and advocacy.
Social Development Minister, UN Officials Discuss CooperationThe Brics countries – Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, in addition to a few recently added economies – are far from a financial alliance. The idea that they can create a common currency to take on the US dollar is pure fantasy. While Russian President Vladimir Putin has flirted with the idea by showing off a colourful Brics banknote at a recent summit in Kazan this year, he was quick to clarify that the group is not considering a new currency. The member states are unified by a shared discontent with the US-led world order and belief that their voices do not get the attention they deserve. Still, the group lacks influential institutions or capabilities. The Shanghai-based New Development Bank, formerly the Brics Development Bank, is unlikely to assume the role of central bank. The group’s annual summit offers a new chance for state leaders to mingle and provides a stage to make symbolic political gestures, but little else. Despite the undertone of resentment towards US hegemony, the term Bric was first published by American investment bank Goldman Sachs. The acronym was coined by British economist Jim O’Neill to inform clients about trading and investment patterns, like the Pigs tag for Portugal, Italy, Greece and Spain during the European debt crisis. The term Bric started to gain political weight after the G8 summit in Japan in 2008. One unconfirmed story is that Japan listed G8 members as honoured guests while the five invitees – China, Brazil, Mexico, India and South Africa – were peripheral. The G8+5 global governance was quickly discarded for a more equal and inclusive G20, and Bric states started to develop some camaraderie. The first Bric summit was in 2009, before South Africa’s inclusion in in 2010 added the “S” to the name.
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Suriname's government announced Saturday that the small South American nation will not hold a state funeral for its ex-president Desi Bouterse, who this week died a fugitive from justice aged 79. Current President Chan Santokhi "has decided, based on his powers and advice received, that there will be no state funeral... No period of national mourning," Foreign Minister Albert Ramdin told a press conference. Bouterse was a former military man who twice mounted coups, in 1980 and again in 1990, to take charge as a dictator. He eventually returned to power after being elected president in 2010 and governed for a decade. He died Tuesday in the unknown location where he had been holed up as a fugitive, with in-absentia convictions for cocaine trafficking and murder. Bouterse's body was dropped off at his residence in the capital Paramaribo. An autopsy was ordered, though police said there were "no signs of criminal activity." Bouterse had been sentenced to 20 years in prison in December 2023 for the 1982 execution of political opponents, including lawyers, journalists, businessmen and military prisoners. He remained a popular figure with the poor and working class in the former Dutch colony. The foreign minister said that, out of respect for Bouterse's status as an elected former president, flags would be flown at half-staff on government buildings on the day of his funeral, whose date has not yet been given. str-jt/rmb/acbWe are done with woke Hollywood revisions of the classics, right? The artistic obsession with ramming political messages down the throats of consumers, of spoiling a good story with a parable about tolerance, or acceptance, or diversity, or whatever? Apparently not. Ariana Grande, as Galinda, and Cynthia Erivo, as Elphaba, in Wicked. Credit: Universal Call it a post-Trump lament, if you like, but Wicked – the blockbuster prequel to The Wizard of Oz , and which explains the back-story of Glinda and Elphaba, the witches of the West and the East, one good and one wicked – has captivated audiences and broken box-office records. It is already the highest-grossing Broadway adaptation ever, ahead of 1978’s Grease – a movie that did not trouble itself at all with political correctness. Wicked is openly a political allegory . It tells the story of the green-skinned Elphaba, who is marked as different from birth. She is ostracised and demonised by those around her, including her own family. As an adult witch with extraordinary powers (which, as with Elsa from Frozen , she has not yet learnt to control), Elphaba is groomed as a useful tool by the state of Oz, and later persecuted when she refuses to do its bidding. Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande at Mrs Macquarie’s Chair in Sydney last month. Credit: Kate Geraghty Oz, of course, is led by a strongman leader, the Wizard, played by a creepy Jeff Goldblum, who flirts with just enough neediness to make him perfectly Trumpian. Elphaba is the only one brave enough to stand up for the minority segment of society (animals), which the Wizard is blaming for all of Oz’s ills, and so she is hunted down by the state. The story truly has something for everyone: it is a morality tale about racism, fascism, the power of propaganda, and the dangerous seduction of peer pressure and groupthink. Even animal rights activists have claimed Wicked as their own – it is animals who are increasingly marginalised in Oz, forced out of jobs and eventually banned from speaking, a repression-creep that borrows much from Germany in the 1930s. I count myself as a narrative purist – I get tired of ideological messages which get in the way of good story-telling. But Wicked is not that. It’s never that – otherwise it wouldn’t be so beloved by adults and children alike. The politics drive the story but never impinge on it. And at the story’s heart is the relationship between Elphaba and Galinda, the young wizardry student who will go on to become Glinda the Good Witch – Dorothy’s great benefactor. Loading For my money, the most complex political message in Wicked lies in its treatment of female friendship, and the unblinking gaze it casts on the opposing roles women are often channelled into. Most radically, it calculates, with mathematical precision, the cost of female niceness. Galinda (who, halfway through the movie, drops the first “a” in her name in an act of performative virtue signalling) is styled as the idealised good girl/witch, princessy and pretty in pastel hoop skirts and dainty shoes. Her waist is tiny. Her hair is long, thick and blonde. She has perfected the art of swooshing it. She oozes privilege and perfection. Galinda is the alpha female of the university she and Elphaba both attend. At their initial meeting, Galinda squeaks in disgust at Elphaba’s green skin. But then, remembering her personal brand is Goodness, with a capital G, she quickly rearranges her features in a mask of concern for Elphaba, the poor, poor thing. Elphaba refuses to accept Galinda’s pity and sees straight through her phoney benevolence. We have our conflict: the story has begun. The two clash, particularly as they have been thrown together in a dorm room which Galinda populates with her extensive wardrobe and girlish paraphernalia. But then the story does something more interesting than simply playing out a female rivalry (even though it nods to the traditional arc of such stories with a “makeover” scene and a love triangle between the two witches and a charismatically rogueish prince). Galinda, played by pop star Ariana Grande, starts envying Elphaba. At first, she is jealous of Elphaba’s magic powers – which are far superior to Galinda’s own – and the attention those powers bring from the regal headmistress of the college. But then, as she gets to know Elphaba – played magnificently by Cynthia Erivo – Galinda begins to envy her classmate’s self-possession and her freedom to be herself. Her green skin allows her to sidestep pretence. Galinda is all pretence, and by observing Elphaba, she starts to see how constricting it is. Galinda is trapped in a prison of niceness, needing to publicly display her unending kindness and unfailing sweetness at every turn, lest she ruin her image. She is ruled by moral vanity. But she is not “nice” – she is envious and covetous, with a capacity for real malice. Which is to say, she is human. When the class holds a party, Galinda gives Elphaba a hat to wear. She does so with treacly sweetness, knowing that Elphaba will be mocked when she wears it. Loading Galinda’s transformation comes when she allows herself to be more like Elphaba – non-conformist. Apart from anything else, Galinda is very funny, sometimes intentionally, sometimes not, and it’s not possible to be funny without some capacity for wickedness. But as all women know, the need for niceness runs deep. It is hard to de-program oneself from people-pleasing, even though the mask often slips, revealing the resentment that lies under it. Galinda struggles with the conflict between doing the right thing and doing what is expected of her by the society of Oz. The film is the first of two parts, so the conflict is not resolved. We have to wait for the sequel. But as Grande told a journalist during the extensive press tour for the movie – Wicked serves “to remind people that change is possible ... we can choose to be good, and we can be wrong”. It also serves to show everyone (but especially young girls), that we can reject the tyranny of niceness. We can choose to be green-skinned, sardonic, clever and wicked. Apart from anything else, those things make for a more interesting story. Jacqueline Maley is a senior writer and regular columnist. Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. License this article Feminism Opinion Ariana Grande Cinema Gender equality For subscribers Jacqueline Maley is a columnist. Connect via Twitter or Facebook . Most Viewed in Politics Loading
On December 11, Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (“NYK”) and ENEOS Corporation (“ENEOS”) signed an Agreement regarding the sale and purchase of marine fuel with carbon dioxide removal credits (“CDR credits”) created through Direct Air Capture with Carbon Storage (“DACCS”). The Agreement stipulates that ENEOS will procure CDR credits from 1PointFive’s STRATOS Direct Air Capture plant in Texas, the United States that is scheduled to commence operations in 2025. These credits are generated by removing CO2 from the atmosphere and storing it underground. ENEOS will then sell these credits, along with the marine fuel it supplies, to NYK for five years starting in 2028. DACCS is one of the negative emission technologies that achieves the removal of greenhouse gases (GHGs) that cannot be reduced by energy conservation or transition to next-generation fuels. This innovative technology contributes to achieving net zero emissions in the energy sector. NYK and ENEOS will continue to actively promote the development and dissemination of GHG emissions reduction technologies, including DACCS, to contribute to the realization of a carbon-neutral society. 1PointFive’s STRATOS Direct Air Capture plant Based on the NYK Group Decarbonization Story published in November 2023, NYK is promoting CO2 emissions reduction toward achieving net zero emissions by 2050. This is being done by maximizing energy efficiency and transitioning from traditional fossil fuels to next-generation fuels such as LNG, ammonia, and methanol. Additionally, for residual emissions that cannot be eliminated through efforts to reduce emissions, NYK aims to achieve net zero CO2 emissions through a “reduction” and “removal” approach by offsetting emissions using CDR credits. Based on the Third Medium-Term Management Plan & Carbon Neutrality Plan announced in May 2023, the ENEOS Group is working not only on reducing and absorbing its own CO2 emissions through such as Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS), forest absorption, and DACCS, but also on reducing society’s overall emissions through the promotion of energy transitions to such as hydrogen, biofuels, and renewable energy, with the aim of achieving net zero emissions at the Group and society at large. Moreover, through the launch of carbon offset fuel announced in January 2024, ENEOS will contribute to voluntary initiatives across society. 1PointFive is a Carbon Capture, Utilization and Sequestration (CCUS) company that is working to help curb global temperature rise to 1.5°C by 2050 through the deployment of decarbonization solutions, including Carbon Engineering’s Direct Air Capture and AIR TO FUELSTM solutions alongside geologic sequestration hubs. Direct Air Capture can help marine companies advance their emissions removal goals during the transition period until low-carbon fuels become widespread and address residual emissions of alternative fuels. Source: Nippon Yusen KaishaWith this same dynamism, according to the predictions of the general administrator of the Mérida airport, Oscar Carrillo Maldonado, the end of the year and the first week of January 2025 would continue, which is when the December 2024 holiday season ends. Carrillo Maldonado reported that the high demand for flights to Mérida and other destinations from this city was reflected in the number of daily aircraft operations, which totaled 180 per day, including passenger planes, cargo planes, and private aviation, but especially commercial flight operations, which averaged 76 daily. Regarding the percentage in which travelers and operations increased during the days before Christmas, compared to 2023, he said that it is very similar to last year because this year that is ending many Airbus company aircraft were grounded for maintenance reasons worldwide. In Mexico, it mainly affected Volaris due to the inspections of the Pratt & Whitney engines that kept its aircraft grounded. For this reason, according to Carrillo Maldonado, the number of passengers did not grow in the percentages that Grupo Asur had planned compared to previous years. The administrator of the Mérida airport highlighted that the air terminal of this city was one of the airports where Volaris flies that least suffered the lack of this company’s aircraft due to that review. He reiterated that according to the guidelines of the stock exchanges where Grupo Asur is listed, the airport cannot give or advance figures for the end of the month or the year. Volaris, according to its preliminary report that it gave in July 2024 on its operations, recognized that aircraft inspection decreased its capacity by 15.0%, compared to 2023, due to the fact that the aircraft was grounded. Until that report, Volaris had transported 2.7 million passengers.One suspects that there are those whose favourite sporting indulgence is to launch little social media grenades before standing back to admire their handiwork. A million impressions! 700,000 likes! Once the currency of the geeky in-your-folks’-basement-keyboard-warrior, it has become a more mainstream means of satisfaction to a certain demographic. It would be remiss, though, to suggest the age group appeals to those who are barely of legal age to drink. Last week Roger Mitchell, the former SPL chief – the one who recommended that the league knock back a Sky Sports broadcasting deal in 2002 – detonated one of those social media bombs with a tweet about women’s football that promptly blew up. As England internationalist Lucy Bronze suggested that 99.9% of women’s players will have to work when they finish playing rather than live off their earnings, Mitchell was very keen to offer his thoughts. ‘The entitlement of women’s football is totally off the scale,’ he wrote. ‘They arrived yesterday. They have no real audience. And yet...World class male players of the 80s didn’t get “for life” wages. Stars in the 60s needed a testimonial to maybe buy a pub and work another 35 years.’ The point that Bronze was making, and entirely lost here, was that the position of women’s football is a million miles off of its male equivalent. Her observation was simply this; it is unlikely that any current player in the England team will have any financial worries when the time comes to hang up their boots. Indeed, there will be bang-average Championship and League One players in England who need never dirty their hands when they finish playing. This is not entitlement to discuss this. This is a question and not exclusive to sport, stained deep within the culture of our time, about creating genuine pathways to equality. If no-one talks about it and puzzles over how to offer means of correcting it, how can it ever change? Pointing out the differentials is not entitlement. And the reason why women’s football ‘arrived yesterday?’ Well, that’s an easy one. It was banned. It was not allowed. Growth was prohibited when the game was shut down with no oxygen to move and morph the way the men’s game did. Historically the women’s game attracted significant numbers at times before facilities were removed. It is impossible to know how things would have played out had those decisions by the old gatekeepers not been taken. But these are the new gatekeepers of the women’s game. The ones who have an opinion – and there is nothing quite so entrenched as a middle-aged man with an opinion – who has decided that the world must hear it. As Mitchell’s tweet attracted significant traction – surprise, surprise – the patronising rhetoric which followed offered some wry amusement. “There is a very large portion of the fan base of the male game who has deep resentment for how the female game has been 'forced' upon them. “I’d pay attention to that.” Quite what we are all paying deep attention to is an interesting question. Who is forcing the women’s game on anyone? Watch if you will, turn off if you will. Go to a game or consider it not for you. Both choices are fine. But it is here and it has a right to be here. It also has a right to wish to grow and market itself properly and attract commercial entities which will facilitate that. It has a right for players and chief execs and coaches to ask the questions about how it becomes more professional and how it attracts a bigger audience. AND ANOTHER THING Brian Graham has made it clear that he would be keen to be considered for the Scotland job following the exit of Pedro Martinez Losa. Graham currently juggles the duel demands of Partick Thistle striker for Kris Doolan’s side along with managing the women’s side. Twice he took them into the top six while also taking the to the League Cup final last year. By his own admission, the ceiling has been reached with the women’s team given the current lack of resources available. Erin Cuthbert suggested some months ago that tapping into some traditional Scottish qualities would enhance the national team and it is interesting to see if a homegrown route is pursued for this reason. Leanne Ross should also fancy that she should be in the running for the role. Having assisted Martinez Losa she knows the landscape of the national team while her own body of work would speak for itself. Glasgow City are currently leading the charge for this season’s title having had to regroup and rebuild this summer. Both candidates would offer something to Scotland – although both would also need to get a move on with their pro-license. AND FINALLY The SWPL is on a break for a couple of weeks to allow players to recharge. If the game is to grow and develop then a break makes absolute sense. It doesn’t help to have players who are mentally and physically fatigued – many of whom juggle working commitments with their football – working through a hectic schedule. The men’s game will miss its break this year as it accommodates the growing demands of international and domestic football and there is no question that it has an impact on performance levels. The women’s game will be all the better for a brief break.
Seahawks have taken a bumpy path to first place in the NFC WestOver the last several years, the entertainment industry has been rocked by a succession of body blows. It came out of a global pandemic only to be hit with dual strikes (WGA and SAG-AFTRA) that caused historically long labor stoppages, which were followed by a work slowdown brought on by a deflation of the streaming bubble, exacerbated by the threat of strikes by below-the-line unions. Through it all, the honorees on Variety ’s 2024 Dealmakers report continued to work on behalf of their clients. On the whole, the deals weren’t as plentiful or as rich, but, necessity being the mother of invention, often more innovative. They approach the coming new year with a mix of optimism and uncertainty, as they navigate the threat and the promise of artificial intelligence — perhaps the most disruptive of technological innovations to date — while cautiously anticipating the incoming administration in Washington, D.C., which is seen as more friendly to corporate mergers and acquisitions, but hostile to Hollywood, in spite of its leader’s past ties to show business. CEO, All Elite Wrestling (AEW) In October, five years to the week after Khan launched professional wrestling promotion AEW as a direct competitor to Vince McMahon’s long-dominant WWE, he closed a multi-year media rights deal with Warner Bros. Discovery, worth a reported $185 million a year, that calls for AEW’s shows and events to be broadcast on TBS and TNT and stream on Max. The company is now valued at more than $2 billion, making it the third-most-valuable combat sports company in the world. Ain’t bragging if it’s true: “Our new arrangement signifies that AEW will make history as the first professional wrestling promotion to simulcast events weekly on top cable channels and a top streaming platform,” says Khan. Chris Spicer Marissa Román Griffith Alissa Miller Vanessa Roman Partners Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld The Akin team closed more than $3.5 billion in deals in the past year, spanning media, entertainment and sports. Recently, it repped CAT5, an action film label backed by Fifth Season, in its initial project, “Levon’s Trade” (Black Bear Pictures), written by Sylvester Stallone, and advised HarbourView Equity Partners on its investment in Mucho Mas Media, producers of the films “Rosario” and “The Long Game.” Be open-minded : “AI will obviously have an impact on all facets of the media and entertainment industry, but how much and to what extent is still TBD,” says the group in a joint statement. “Our advice for anyone in the industry, be it legal, financial, creative, etc., is to learn how to use the technology to be more efficient and better at your job as opposed to be scared of it. Embrace the change and look for ways to use it to your advantage.” Partners Alter Kendrick & Baron Alter and Baron closed almost $1 billion worth of music publishing and master recording catalog acquisitions and sales in the past year, representing Primary Wave Music Publishing (Neil Sedaka), BMG Rights Management (Peter Frampton), Reservoir Media Management (Louis Prima), Iconic Artists Group (Rod Stewart) and Influence Media Partners (Enrique Iglesias). Spotlight shining brighter on NIL deals: “There are a number of buyers that are — if not getting exclusive rights in that area, because it’s hard to value, particularly if those kinds of rights haven’t been historically exploited — at least getting the opportunity to bring things to the table,” says Alter. “Some sellers are looking for partners to help them make the biopic they’ve always wanted to make or the Broadway jukebox musical they’ve always wanted to do.” Pat Shah Global head of content acquisition, strategy & partnerships Rhonda Adams Medina Head of business affairs Kristin Lang Senior director of content acquisition Audible If there was doubt that Audible isn’t just about audiobooks and podcasts anymore, it was put to rest when Shah’s team cut a deal for the company’s first musical, “Dead Outlaw,” which premiered Off-Broadway and won a Drama Desk Award. They also negotiated pacts with MGM Studios to develop TV adaptations of original Audible audio titles and Imagine Entertainment to produce a fictional audio series exploring unsolved murders through the lens of church confessions, as well as traditional audiobook deals, including the acquisitions of multi-language audio rights to Andy Weir’s next novel and Matt Dinniman’s “Dungeon Crawler Carl” series. Hear the possibilities: “Audio is a distinct and differentiated way to expand the canvas of what’s possible storytelling-wise, [and] the creative community is eager to explore how to connect with audiences both new and existing through this format,” says Shah. Robyn Polashuk Partner; co-chair, entertainment and media industry group Adrian Perry Partner; co-chair, entertainment and media industry group and music industry group David Lefebvre Mike Hill Special counsel Covington & Burling Calling Covington & Burling’s Perry, Polashuk, Lefebvre and Hill a dream team could be an understatement, given the multi-billion-dollar impact of the deals they structure. They represented the Walt Disney Co. in the media licensing aspects of its agreement to merge Disney Star India’s $8.5 billion with Reliance’s Viacom 18, and advised Paramount Global on network distribution matters involved on its proposed $8 billion merger with Skydance Media. On the sports side, Hill advised the NBA on an 11-year, $76 billion media rights agreement with the Walt Disney Co. (ABC/ESPN), NBCUniversal and Amazon. Better dealmaking through science: “This year is marked by the acceleration of training, deployment and adoption of AI technologies, which has opened up a new content licensing and monetization market for media and other clients,” says Polashuk. Partners Davis Wright Tremaine The Davis Wright Tremaine quartet had a busy year, handling everything from talent deals to litigation. Miller advised on above-the-line contracts, tax incentives and production services on Seasons 2 and 3 of Amazon MGM Studios’ “The Lord of the Rings: Rings of Power.” Zee handled more than 60 development deals for ITV Studios America’s partnerships with Tomorrow Studios and Bedrock Entertainment. Wei tackled unique production legal issues, including the vetting of “Last Week Tonight With John Oliver’s” offer to give Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas $1 million a year and a new RV in exchange for his resignation from the Supreme Court. Palacios advised on numerous documentaries for studios including Imagine Entertainment and Netflix and is lead defense counsel for the Cinemart in a defamation suit arising from its docuseries “Bug Out.” Pre-strike greenlights turned to red: “Talent hoped they would immediately go into production, but so many months had passed during the strike period that the studios started to take a second look at those projects, and in some cases scrapped them and started over,” says Miller. Partners Del Shaw Moonves Tanaka Finkelstein Lezcano Bobb & Dang These Del Shaw Moonves legal eagles span the entertainment spectrum from film, TV and docs to the legit stage. In the past year, Bobb cut deals for talent ranging from director Malcolm D. Lee (Blumhouse/Universal thriller “Help”) to actor David Oyelowo (starring role in National Theatre production of Shakespeare’s “Coriolanus”). A major player in the unscripted space, Cohan grew his sports-related business, cutting deals for Box to Box Films, Vox Media Studios, Pro Shop and the NFL, while repping stars like French chef and chocolatier Amaury Guichon and journalists Soledad O’Brien and Antonia Hylton. Lezcano negotiated Sterlin Harjo’s overall pact with FX, which spawned the pilot “The Sensitive Kind,” starring Ethan Hawke, and producer Gareth Neame’s deal for a third “Downton Abbey” film and his new multi-year deal to continue as chairman of Carnival Television. In addition to regularly handling deals for top entertainment execs, Tillers set Quinta Brunson to write, produce and star in the Universal comedy feature “Par for the Course” (with founding partner Nina Shaw), and Becky Hartman Edwards’ showrunner deal for Netflix’s “One Tree Hill” reboot. Relaxing talent holding deals: “The overall compensation package is not as lucrative as it used to be, nor are they ordering as many episodes as they did traditionally, so they have to be a little bit more lenient,” says Bobb. Founding partner Del Shaw Moonves Tanaka Finkelstein Lezcano Bobb & Dang A longstanding leader in the entertainment law community, Shaw had another year of big deals, including pacts for Lupita Nyong’o to join the all-star cast in Christopher Nolan’s next movie, Quinta Brunson to co-write, produce and star in the Universal feature comedy “Par for the Course” (with partner Lily Tillers), Ayo Edebiri to co-star in Luca Guadagnino’s “After the Hunt,” Victoria Mahoney to direct the Amazon MGM rom-com “Clean Air” and Jurnee Smollett to star in the Apple TV+ series “Firebug.” No profit participation for you!: “We always had really tough definitions of payouts, but a lot of people still got paid,” Shaw says. “Now, more and more, we see this concept that people don’t actually deserve to participate in the upside.” Partner; global co-chair, media, sport & entertainment DLA Piper Ara had a busy year repping Caryn Mandabach Prods. in its sale to Banijay U.K., animation studio Titmouse (“Big Mouth”) in an eight-figure renewal of its first-look pact with Netflix and Korean streaming service Coupang Play in its deal with Major League Baseball for the Los Angeles Dodgers and the San Diego Padres to face off in a pair of preseason games in Seoul in March 2024. Laying fresh revenue pipelines: “While new dealmaking opportunities in music have emerged from the securitization of royalty income streams, financiers are increasingly exploring broader sector opportunities,” he says. “This includes consolidating legacy assets and ensuring steady cash flows in an industry that is constantly evolving.” Partner; chair of national advertising team DLA Piper Mulcahy has been at the center of many of the biggest transactions at the intersection of sports and entertainment. Most notably, he repped Amazon Prime Video in its 11-year, $21 billion global media rights deal with the National Basketball Assn. for an exclusive package of NBA and WNBA games, running through the 2035-2036 season. The deal, which closed in July, marks the league’s first streaming-only media rights agreement. Package it up: “Live sports is rapidly migrating to digital media channels and is getting more expensive to acquire and exploit. So in an effort to build the scale needed to cover those costs, we’re seeing competitors team up to bundle their products and services and go to market together,” says Mulcahy. Stacy Marcus Katherine Imp Michael Isselin Partners David Markman Partner; co-chair, entertainment transactions practice DLA Piper This DLA Piper team has been a key player in matters that have widespread impact on the industry, most notably negotiations for SAG-AFTRA’s commercials contract, where Marcus serves as chief negotiator for the Joint Policy Committee representing the advertising industry, assisted by Isselin as legal counsel. Imp’s responsibilities include serving as lead outside counsel for iHeartMedia’s podcast slate with Shondaland and repping Lego Group in the negotiation of content production and distribution arrangements with studios including Disney and Netflix, while Markman handles all aspects of Jeanie Buss and David McLane’s all-female wrestling promotion Women of Wrestling, including the negotiation of its multi-year distribution deal with Paramount/CBS Studios. See AI from both sides now: “AI is an umbrella and there are many really great uses for it that can improve creativity and efficiencies,” says Marcus, whether the users are brands, film and TV producers, creators or performers, as long as they have proper protections. Robert J. Sherman Partner; co-chair, entertainment finance practice Richard Petretti Claire Hall Partners DLA Piper Sherman and Hall are at the glowing center of the red-hot music catalog marketplace. In March, the duo secured approximately $500 million in financing for client HarbourView Equity Partners, backed by its music royalty catalog, which includes titles by artists including Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo, Fleetwood Mac’s Christine McVie, Wiz Khalifa and Brad Paisley. They also repped leading independent music company Concord in its issuance of $850 million in asset-backed notes, which will be used for additional music acquisitions. Meanwhile, Petretti served as administrative agent on JPMorgan’s amendment of its $675 million term loan and revolving credit facility (expandable to $875 million) for Arnon Milchan’s Regency/Monarchy Entertainment group of companies. Business is good: “We see a maturing of the market for music securitizations and believe that music acquisition platforms sponsored by institutional investors and other sophisticated capital providers will continue to access and grow this subsector of the esoteric ABS [asset-backed securities] market,” says Sherman. General counsel and head of business legal affairs Fifth Season Arias assisted in securing a $225 million strategic investment from Toho, Japan’s largest film studio, which empowered Fifth Season to continue expanding its premium content slate. He’s provided ongoing oversight of business and legal practices for Emmy-nominated Apple TV+ series “Severance” and Max’s “Tokyo Vice,” and on the film side overseen the thriller “She Rides Shotgun,” starring Taron Egerton, and the comedies “Friendship,” starring Tim Robinson, and “Nonnas,” starring Vince Vaughn. Election impact on dealmaking: “We could see an easing of regulation on M&A in the media business, which could lead to more consolidation, while possibly boosting companies that have faced challenges being competitive, which is very good for the industry,” Arias says. Partner; founding chair, entertainment & sports law department Fox Rothschild Miller repped husband and wife clients Angela Bassett and Courtney B. Vance in numerous matters, including pacts for her to return for “Mission Impossible — The Final Reckoning” and for him to take over the role of Zeus in Season 2 of the Disney+ series “Percy Jackson and the Olympians,” as well as a first-look deal for the couple’s production company with 20th Television. He also closed deals for Chris “Ludacris” Bridges (2024 Super Bowl Halftime Show performance), Da’Vine Joy Randolph (starring roles in A24 rom-com “Eternity” and Michel Gondry’s Universal musical “Golden”) and comedian/host Taylor Tomlinson (Netflix special “Have It All”). One door opens and ...: “I see a paradigm shift breaking up the monopolies, creating more ways to make money and an opportunity for those nimble enough to find a new model and create their niche and build their audience,” Miller says. Partners Fox Rothschild Katz and Vaquerano have been working with HarbourView Equity Partners since its founding in 2021, handling all stages of negotiations — from due diligence to post-closing — on more than a billion dollars-worth of deals. This year, they were instrumental in securing $500 million in financing for HarbourView, backed by its music royalties catalog, which includes titles by artists such as Fleetwood Mac’s Christine McVie, Wiz Khalifa, Brad Paisley and James Fauntleroy. The bicoastal duo (Katz is in New York; Vaquerano in Los Angeles) also recently represented Merch Collective in its $25 million-plus majority interest sale to Sony Music Entertainment. Thinking globally: “There is heightened interest in deals relating to rights originating outside of the United States,” says Katz. “We need to be sure we are helping our clients to appropriately analyze the risk vs. reward tradeoff from exploring unfamiliar jurisdictions.” Partner; chair of entertainment & sports law department Fox Rothschild Simon is a force in the nonfiction space, closing deals for clients such as Oscar-winning director Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy (Hulu’s Diane von Furstenberg doc “Woman in Charge”), Alex Stapleton’s House of Nonfiction Prods. (Netflix docuseries about Sean “Diddy” Combs, produced with 50 Cent), longtime AMC Network exec Josh Sapan (overall deal with IFC Films), the Obamas’ Higher Ground Prods. and Bloomberg Media. Streaming for the future: The continued championing of new talent is something that Simon feels is vitally important to the marketplace. “I would like to see the emergence of a strong, consolidated and commercially viable SVOD platform for the smart and bold independent voices of our time and those to come,” he says. J. Eugene (Gene) Salomon Jr. Managing partner Donald S. Passman Ethan Schiffres Daniel S. Passman Partners Gang, Tyre, Ramer, Brown & Passman The Gang, Tyre quartet has a roster of superstar music, film and television clients ranging from Taylor Swift and Stevie Wonder to Timothée Chalamet, Zac Efron and Heidi Klum. In the past year, they amplified their reputation as headliners in the music arena, cutting deals for Green Day’s “Saviors” album and subsequent stadium tour, P!nk’s $693.8 million-grossing Summer Carnival World Tour and the sale of Randy Newman’s recorded music and publishing rights to Litmus Music. On the film and TV side, they brokered Emma Corrin’s appearance in the Marvel blockbuster “Deadpool & Wolverine” and Ridley Scott’s producer and director deal for the upcoming Bee Gees biopic “You Should Be Dancing.” More cross-cultural opportunities: “You’ve got artists from different parts of the world making an impact,” says Salomon. “It used to be that Anglo-American repertoire dominated what was popular everywhere. That’s becoming less of the case and you’re seeing much more diversity.” Kevin Masuda Partner; co-chair, media, entertainment and technology practice group Benyamin (Ben) Ross Partner and co-chair, media, entertainment and technology practice group Steve Tsoneff Sarah Graham Partners Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher The Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher quartet advised Iconic Artists Group, co-founded by longtime Eagles manager Irving Azoff, in its strategic investment from HPS Investment Partners, giving Iconic access to $1 billion to further build out its portfolio. It also repped RedBird Capital Partners in its investment in Charles Barkley’s Round Mound Media and its acquisition of indie TV production and distribution company All3Media, and advised on the launch of Gin & Juice by Dre and Snoop Dogg, an alcoholic beverage company founded by Dr. Dre, Snoop, Jimmy Iovine and Main Street Advisors. Who says deal flow is slow?: “Private equity involvement in M&A in the entertainment industry has accelerated, with a particular focus on catalogs, production companies, content libraries and talent-driven businesses like talent agencies, management firms and talent-founded consumer brands,” said the team in a statement. Partners Greenberg Glusker Fields Claman & Machtinger The Greenberg Glusker team worked collaboratively to cut a wealth of headline-grabbing deals, such as Tom Cruise’s strategic partnership with Warner Bros. Discovery and a subsequent pact to make an Alejandro G. Iñárritu film for the studio, both of which were handled by Galsor and Muir. The quartet’s clients also include actors Tom Hanks, Chris Hemsworth, Vin Diesel and Alice Braga, filmmakers Joe and Anthony Russo, James Cameron and David Fincher, authors J.K. Rowling and Jocko Willink, Silent House Prods., costume designer Colleen Atwood, Ubisoft Entertainment, Riot Games, the estates of J.R.R. Tolkien and Ray Bradbury, and Togethxr, (founded by female athletes Alex Morgan, Chloe Kim, Simone Manuel and Sue Bird). Fair compensation for streaming success: “Nobody has the right formula, and I think the formulas that people are discussing are not going to be the ones that are going to be adopted long-term, because they just don’t work,” says Galsor. Founder & CEO HarbourView Equity Partners Launched in 2021, Soares’ HarbourView Equity Partners has established itself as one of the hottest investment firms in the entertainment, sports and media markets, with roughly $1.5 billion in assets currently under its management. Recently, Soares invested in two media production companies focused on inclusive storytelling, Charles D. King’s Macro (“Judas and the Black Messiah,” “Mudbound”) and Mucho Mas Media (“The Long Game, “Rosario”). Growth creates opportunities: “I’ve been consistently focused on high-quality IP, while bringing a big focus on ROI and using data as currency in terms of who is watching and how often, which will help to empower all creative voices,” she says. Partner Johnson Shapiro Slewett & Kole Johnson has secured over $1 billion in production commitments for Tyler Perry Studios, including Netflix deals that closed in 2024 — a multi-year, first-look series pact and an agreement to produce multiple faith-based films — adding to a deal he made with the streamer in October 2023, calling for eight films over four years. He also handled Perry’s BET series producing agreement and the launch of two free ad-supported streaming channels featuring all of Perry’s BET output. Johnson’s non-Perry work included a joint-venture agreement between Andy and Barbara Muschietti and Skydance to create horror division Nocturna. Gaming the deflating production bubble: “Platforms are being more discerning in what they are investing in, so we need to work harder to show the value proposition to secure long-term, multi-part deals,” he says. Partner Kirkland & Ellis Traxler was at the center of two of the year’s biggest music catalog deals, repping Blackstone in its $1.6 billion purchase of Hipgnosis Songs Fund in April and Universal Music Group in its acquisition of a 25.8% stake in Chord Music Partners for a reported $240 million in February. Music catalog market comeback: “Most every client I’m in contact with about acquisitions feels that as interest rates hopefully continue to come down and economic conditions improve in different countries, opportunities will re-emerge to acquire catalogs,” he says. “There are still plenty of interesting catalogs at all sizes and all levels to attract different kinds of music companies. We need to work harder to show the value proposition to secure long-term, multi-part deals.” Partners Latham & Watkins As partners in Latham & Watkin’s entertainment, sports and media group, Bruington specializes in debt financing transactions and West handles music catalog acquisitions and represents talent in IP joint ventures and brand sponsorship deals, while Johnson and Ranger are transactional generalists. In the past year, they helped Blumhouse acquire Atomic Monster and buy out ITV’s equity interests in Blumhouse Television; advised Skydance Media in its merger with Paramount; negotiated KKR’s sale of Chord Music Partners; and represented Brittney Griner in an exclusive life rights and producing agreement with ESPN and ABC. Turbulent times stir up opportunities: “The big way it’s played out is that private capital has become a lot more nimble in the entertainment [space],” says Ranger. “There are new and more investors, and they’re increasingly open to deploying capital across a variety of investment strategies, rather than traditional equity, traditional debt deals.” CEO Legendary Entertainment Grode led Legendary’s buyback of Beijing-based Wanda Group’s remaining equity interest in the studio in October, putting its ownership solely in the hands of its management and private equity investment firm Apollo Global Asset Management. Grode says it gives them the freedom to pursue M&A opportunities “without the augmented regulatory risk that comes from having a foreign owner in our business.” Legendary was able to do it with cash on hand, thanks to back-to-back blockbusters “Dune: Part Two” and “Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire,” which grossed a combined $1.2 billion worldwide. AI can localize social media posts: “It’s proving to be very efficient in getting adjustments out the door quickly and at a good price point,” he says. James Feldman Managing partner Stephen Clark Melissa Rogal Jonathan Shikora Partners Lichter, Grossman, Nichols, Feldman, Rogal, Shikora & Clark Feldman cut feature deals for, among others, brothers Benny Safdie (write/direct “The Smashing Machine”) and Josh Safdie (co-write/direct “Marty Supreme”). Feldman and Rogal set Viola Davis for the HBO series “Waller,” while Rogal and Shikora negotiated a multi-script development deal at Amazon for “Poker Face” showrunners Lilla and Nora Zuckerman. Clark serviced clients including Rian Johnson and Ram Bergman (Will Ferrell golf comedy series for Netflix) and “Shōgun” creators Justin Marks and Rachel Kondo. Why streamers are now providing viewer data: According to Feldman, it’s not just about WGA and SAG-AFTRA contract demands. “It’s also largely driven by the fact that all the streamers are trying to sell ads now, and these advertisers have a lot more leverage than the writers did to demand the equivalent of ratings,” he says. Partner Manatt, Phelps & Phillips Chatham repped Dr. Phil (McGraw) in the April launch of his television network Merit Street Media, which is available to more than 80 million homes via partnerships with a mix of broadcast, cable, satellite and FAST channel platforms. Other clients include Logan Paul, Gabriel Macht, Demi Moore and Gabrielle Reece. Products placed just-so: “Now we’re negotiating deals where content, commerce and community blur together,” he says. “Our clients are building robust first-party data operations through their content, then leveraging that to launch everything from spirits, sports drinks, condiments and lifestyle brands. The content is essentially a marketing catalyst for their broader business empire.” Partner Manatt, Phelps & Phillips Meller led the Manatt team that advised Chord Music Partners on its sale, in which KKR’s majority stake was bought by a consortium consisting of Universal Music Group and Dundee Partners for $240 million, resulting in a valuation of $1.85 billion after the deal closed in February. Building out business: “The music industry continues to trend toward artists and songwriters owning and exploiting their own copyrights and relying less on companies and gatekeepers,” he says. “Artists can set their own destiny. We help songwriter clients self-administer and get the most value from their works. Building brands outside of the traditional entertainment industry is also a critical element to an artist’s long-term financial success.” Partner Manatt, Phelps & Phillips Over the past year, Custer handled 23 multi-million-dollar music catalog deals, 21 of which were on the buyer side. Among those were 13 for Reservoir Media Management (including publishing assets of Tupac Shakur producer Big D Evans) and six for Seeker Music (including royalties for B.o.B.). On the seller side, he closed major deals for Pat Benatar and Jay Gruska. He also serves as general counsel for artists including Neil Young and the Pixies. These are the good ol’ days: It’s been a rocky road for the music industry since Custer launched his career in 1997, but he’s happy where it is today. “Now with the ascendency of streaming, touring and music asset sales transactions, there is never a dull day,” he says. Partner Manatt, Phelps & Phillips Stapleton advised Pophouse Entertainment on its $300 million acquisition of the catalog, brand name and IP of rock band Kiss and its purchase of a majority share of Cyndi Lauper’s publishing and recording revenue. He also serves as counsel for Jack White’s Third Man Records, recording artists Em Beihold and La Lom, and Emmy-winning director-producer Jeff Zimbalist (“Skywalkers: A Love Story”). Wolf at the door, thy name is AI: “Performers and songwriters have been fighting for well over a decade to get their fair share of streaming revenues,” he says. “Now, with AI technologies boosting the occurrence of streaming fraud and flooding DSPs with authorless music, artists are facing a new threat to their hard-won share of the streaming ecosystem.” Navid Mahmoodzadegan Co-founder & co-president Carlos Jimenez Global head of media, sports & entertainment Moelis & Co. Mahmoodzadegan and Jimenez were at the center of Hollywood’s biggest deal of the year, advising Skydance Media on its $8 billion merger with Paramount, which closed in July. “There are lot of transactions that are roller coaster rides,” says Jimenez. “This one was probably the steepest.” Prospects for the “New Paramount”: “It’s a business that, in totality, obviously has some of its challenges ahead of it,” says Jimenez. “But I’m very bullish about [Skydance’s] David Ellison and the RedBird [Capital Partners] team that they’ve assembled. If anybody’s going to turn the Titanic, I think they will.” Partners Myman Greenspan Fox Rosenberg Mobasser Younger & Light Before Dead & Company grossed more than $130 million with their 30-day residency at the Sphere in Las Vegas this past summer, Greenspan and Arnst negotiated all-encompassing agreements involving the innovative venue, including ones that secured various rights and clearances for merch and visual IP incorporated into the concert. Greenspan also repped Red Hot Chili Peppers singer Anthony Kiedis in Universal’s option of the movie rights to his autobiography “Scar Tissue” and chef and TV personality Giada De Laurentiis in her spokesperson pact with Oceania Vista cruise ships. Old school still rules: “There was a moment a few years ago that everybody was chasing TikTok artists and it was almost like TikTok replaced the A&R department,” says Greenspan. If you want to build a long and sustained career, “get out on the road, play your songs, deal with people individually, let them know who you are.” Chairman, global advertising & partnerships NBCUniversal Marshall oversaw the team that secured a record $1.25 billion in advertising revenue for NBC’s Summer 2024 Olympics and Paralympics coverage. Seventy percent of the advertisers were Olympics first-timers, contributing $500 million to the final tally, thanks in part to Marshall’s efforts the help smaller marketers break into the once-exclusive television arena via programmatic ad buys. Trend spotter: “In measuring the impact of advertising, we are evolving from proxies to a certified measurement ecosystem proving the true impact of a client’s media objectives,” he says. “As the feedback loop has strengthened, it is indisputable that the most impactful advertising campaigns are in premium video that is running across linear and streaming.” Amy Siegel Partner; co-chair of the entertainment, sports and media group Matthew Syrkin Partner; co-chair of the media tech group Lindsay Conner Silvia Vannini Partners O’Melveny & Meyers In response to lingering challenges from 2023’s strikes, this O’Melveny & Meyers quartet got creative to help clients adapt and thrive. With Siegel in the lead, the team repped Fifth Season in the sale of a 25% stake to Japanese studio Toho for $225 million and advised HighPoint Media Advisors in connection with Shamrock Content Strategy’s acquisition of a media portfolio of more than 550 feature films, 2,000 hours of TV programming and 450 songs. With Cooper running point, they handled several transactions for ITV, including the sell-back of the 45% stake in Blumhouse Television it bought from Blumhouse in 2017 and its co-production agreement with Amazon MGM Studios for the television series “The Better Sister.” AI drawing industry deeper into uncharted territory: “It’s changing how content is created and how Hollywood does business, creating both opportunities and potential liabilities for our clients,” says Siegel “We are closely following the legal landscape around AI as it continues to evolve.” Partner, entertainment & media group Reed Smith Love’s focus on the intersection of music, digital media and emerging technologies makes him a trusted representative for emerging and established musical artists, songwriters, music companies and institutional investors. Whether acting as outside counsel to investment collective PleasrDAO, representing South Korea’s YG Entertainment, nu metal band Korn and jazz legend Thelonious Monk’s estate in transactional music matters or serving as Concord Music Group’s lead music attorney on its $468.8 million acquisition of Round Hill Music Fund, Love knows his success depends on his clients’ success. Doing good works: “We’ve worked on well over $1 billion in music catalog transactions this year, but helping Kesha to establish Kesha Records and seeing her thrive as a fully independent artist is my proudest moment,” says Love. Partner; co-chair, entertainment & media industry group Reed Smith Sessa spent a large part of the past year handling major music acquisition deals for clients including Concord, Sony, Lyric, Kobalt, Hipgnosis, Litmus, Shamrock, Seeker, Pophouse and Flexpoint. Other highlights include advising the Smashing Pumpkins on a stadium tour with Green Day and Bon Jovi on various issues (including his Hulu docuseries “Thank You, Goodnight: The Bon Jovi Story”) and assisting Kesha in launching her new record label. Another record year for music catalog sales predicted: “Simply stated, music rights are a bankable asset class for the financial industry,” he says. “The model works so you will continue to see more buyers enter the space.” Leif Cervantes de Reinstein Shaun Clark Aerin Snow Partners Joseph Ireland Associate Sheppard, Mullin, Richter and Hampton Cervantes de Reinstein and Snow closed high-profile deals for clients including Lionsgate ($375 million acquisition of indie content platform eOne from Hasbro), while serving as outside corporate counsel handling equity financing transactions and joint ventures for 101 Studios (home to Taylor Sheridan’s “Landman,” “Tulsa King” and the “Yellowstone” franchise), including a strategic deal with Paramount Global for multiple series from A-list executive producers including Antoine Fuqua and George Clooney. Clark and Ireland were equally busy, repping Creative Wealth Media Lending in its acquisition of Bron Studios and Sony Pictures in its purchase of Alamo Drafthouse Cinema. Other clients include studios Legendary Pictures and Fremantle and iconic brands such as Peloton, Mazda, QVC and the Hershey Co. Optimistic about the coming year: “[We] expect that we will continue to see strategic collaborations between companies in different industries, [including] tech companies working with content providers, brands collaborating with celebrities, sports leagues collaborating with entertainers, and networks attempting to find new ways to generate revenue,” says Clark. “The M&A marketplace also looks more bullish.” Robert A. Darwell Senior partner; head of global media Ramela Ohanian Partner Nicolas Urdinola Senior associate Tiago Aquino Associate Sheppard, Mullin, Richter and Hampton The multilingual team led by Darwell has been busy handling the development, production and rights agreements on a slew of international projects for companies including Meta, Paramount, TelevisaUnivision, Gaumont, Globo and, most significantly, Amazon MGM Studios. As the outside counsel for the latter, they recently worked on deals for the Spanish feature “La Virgen Roja,” the Mexican series “Cada Minuto Cuenta,” the Colombian film “Pimpinero,” starring Medellín-born rock star Juanes, and an eight-part limited series adaptation of Chilean-American author Isabel Allende’s novel “House of Spirits,” which is Amazon’s highest-budget Latin American production to date. For Meta, they assisted its in-house legal team in negotiating the talent agreements for a series of AI chatbots embodying public figures such as Tom Brady, Kendall Jenner and Naomi Osaka. Look for more experiential entertainment: “It’s bringing new ways for audiences to connect with one another and, on the business side, there’s ancillary revenue streams for both studios and talent,” says Ohanian. Partner; co-leader, global entertainment, sports and media practice Sidley Austin If Dwayne Johnson were Thompson’s only client, he’d still be a very busy man. In the past year, the attorney handled the launch of the massively muscled multi-hyphenate’s Papatui line of personal care products, the merger of the XFL (which Johnson bought out of bankruptcy in 2020 with ex-wife Dany Garcia and other investors) with the USFL to create the United Football League in partnership with ESPN and Fox, and a deal for him to join the board of WWE parent company TKO Group Holdings, re-enter the ring and take full ownership of his nom de wrestling “The Rock.” Placing more bets on original IP: “While that might not be the wisest move from a pure economics standpoint, with a more diverse landscape of bold new content, it will increase competition for people’s eyes and ears,” says Thompson, who also repped “Call Her Daddy” podcast host Alex Cooper in her new $125 million deal with SiriusXM. Managing Partner Singh, Singh & Trauben A onetime in-house lawyer for Universal Music, Singh occasionally moonlights as a producer, most recently with the 2024 Peacock docuseries “Reggaeton: The Sound that Conquered the World,” which he exec produced with client Daddy Yankee. But his day job is cutting deals for the likes of Missy Elliott (“Out of This World” tour), Latin music star Ozuna (publishing catalog sale to Kobalt/KMR Holdings), Flow La Movie (catalog sale to Cinq Music), FloyyMenor (deal with UnitedMasters) and Grupo Firme (new distribution agreement with Virgin and publishing deal with Universal). The power of music catalog sales: “This trend has reshaped how legacy artists, songwriters and producers approach their long-term financial strategies,” he says. David Eisman Partner; head of media and entertainment group Glen Mastroberte Partner, media and entertainment group Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom M&A specialists in the entertainment sector, Eisman and Mastroberte kept busy working on transactions spanning film, television, music, gaming and sports as the industry recovered from last year’s strikes. They’ve helped indie music labels like Drake’s OVO Sound and DJ Khaled’s We the Best Music strike major deals, and represented Parkwood Ventures in Beyoncé’s joint venture with Moët Hennessy and the development, marketing and launch of her SirDavis whisky brand. Proudest moment in 2024: For Eisman, it was handling UTA’s acquisition of top European soccer agency Roof. “That was the largest deal that UTA has ever done in its history,” he says. Rick Offsay Partner; global co-chair, entertainment, sports & media practice Justin Hamill Partner; global co-chair, mergers & acquisitions and private equity practice Latham & Watkins Hamill and Offsay tackle complex strategic transactions, like advising Skydance Media in a merger with Paramount and an investor group in a $8 billion-plus investment in Paramount Global and the acquisition of National Amusements. Separately, Offsay advised Carlyle in providing an $800 million asset-backed credit facility to Park County (“South Park”), while Hamill advised Endeavor in a $25 billion take-private acquisition of the company by Silver Lake. Staying ahead of the curve: “Comcast’s recent spin out of its cable networks, and Warner Brothers — [which has gone] through a number of transactions, including with Discovery — now needs to figure something else out,” says Offsay. “All of these legacy media companies are trying to figure out the next thing.” Exec VP, global head of corporate Sony Pictures Entertainment Anguelova played a key role in securing Sony Pictures Entertainment’s acquisition of the dine-in theater chain Alamo Drafthouse Cinema, marking the first time a major studio has re-entered the theatrical exhibition business since the 1948 Paramount Consent Decrees were lifted in 2020. The studio plans to harness Alamo’s four million loyalty club members to “eventize” its IP, including content from anime-centric subscription VOD streamer Crunchyroll. Managing the downturn: “Certainly, our offer structures are adapting and becoming more nuanced to be reflective of the new realities of the market, and to align with both seller and buyer interests,” says Anguelova. “The market is showing resilience for premium companies despite current challenges, as evidenced by recent high-profile transactions like the All3Media sale to RedBird.” Greg Akselrud Partner; chair of internet, digital media and entertainment practice Cathleen Green Senior counsel Stubbs Alderton & Markiles Influential Network could’ve used a big white shoe law firm to handle its $500 million acquisition by Publicis Groupe. Ex-Disney exec Ben Sherwood and former Hearst chief content officer Joanna Coles could’ve done the same when they took the editorial reins at the Daily Beast in a deal that gave the duo close to a 50% equity interest in the publication. Instead, they called on mid-size Sherman Oaks-based Stubbs Alderton & Markiles. According to Akselrud, it’s because not only are they well-versed in the issues, they also have the ability to see the blind spots in a deal and “think around the corner.” Can’t sell a new product on stars power alone: “You need to have a celebrity with a relatively decent following to launch the brand, but then you really must have marketing dollars to facilitate the growth,” says Akselrud. Global head of music business development TikTok Obermann played a key role in bringing Universal Music Group catalog back to TikTok in May 2024 with a new licensing agreement featuring enhanced AI protections. He’s also provided promotional and creative support for the platform’s partnerships with artists including Taylor Swift, Billie Eilish, Sabrina Carpenter and Post Malone. No need to panic about AI: “A year and a half ago, the feeling in the music industry was the sky might be falling because AI is coming at us in a fast and furious way, and we don’t know if we have the right guardrails,” he says. “We had ‘Fake Drake’ [in April 2023] and a couple of other cultural moments with AI in music, but it’s gone pretty quiet, if you think about it.” President, platform distribution The Walt Disney Company Disney’s roster of networks (including ABC, Disney-branded channels, ESPN, FX and National Geographic) had been dark on DirecTV for nearly two weeks in September before Connolly, serving as chief negotiator, hammered out an agreement. The multi-billion-dollar deal he facilitated covered carriage of the Mouse House’s linear channel portfolio, as well the option for consumers to subscribe to its streaming services (Disney+, Hulu, ESPN+) via select DirecTV packages or on an a la carte basis. The upside to bad times: According to Connolly, the production downturn “has created greater demand for content in the marketplace and more opportunities for us to strategically license our best-in-class, non-branded library content to third parties.” Adam Glick Exec VP, business operations, Warner Bros. Television Matt Matzkin Exec VP, operations, Warner Bros. Unscripted Television and Warner Bros. Animation Shanon Muir Senior VP, legal, Warner Bros. Television Group — Animation Warner Bros. Television Group Collectively, this Warner Bros. trio handled the dealmaking for just under 90 series for a multitude of platforms. Glick cut straight-to-series deals for an untitled HBO comedy from Bill Lawrence starring Steve Carell and the John Wells’ medical drama “The Pitt.” On the unscripted side, Matzkin launched the Food Network’s “Harry Potter: Wizards of Baking,” Max’s “Fast Friends” and the syndicated “True Crime News” and secured renewals for “Extra” and “The Jennifer Hudson Show.” Muir negotiated three new Cartoon Network series orders for “Foster’s Funtime for Imaginary Friends,” “Adventure Time Side Quests” and an untitled “Regular Show” project. Dealing digital supplements: “We have a number of podcasts that we produce on our own, and we’re also collaborating with other podcasts that are not produced by us, and trying to get our talent on to them,” says Matkzin. Partner Weintraub Tobin Gordon negotiated several headline deals for “Call Her Daddy” host and executive producer Alex Cooper, including a new multi-year $125 million pact with SiriusXM that will bring Cooper’s Unwell Network family of podcasts to the platform beginning in 2025. Other clients include actors Diane Lane and Zosia Mamet, podcasters Guy Raz and Caleb Pressley, novelist/screenwriter Maria Semple, dancer/singer/social media personality Niana Guerrero and actress/writer/comedian Jenny Lorenzo. Added visuals mean bigger bucks: “Video podcasts continue to gain popularity, and video has therefore become a key element, not only in driving audience engagement, but also providing great opportunity for promotion via clips on social media,” he says. Ariel Emanuel CEO, TKO Nick Khan President, WWE Mark Shapiro President & chief operating officer, TKO Andrew Schleimer Chief financial officer, TKO WWE Last year, Endeavor merged Ultimate Fighting Championship with World Wrestling Entertainment under the TKO Group Holdings banner. In January 2024, TKO’s leadership quadrumvirate closed a $5.2 billion, 10-year deal to make Netflix the exclusive home of WWE’s flagship show “Raw” in the U.S., Canada, U.K., Latin America and other territories beginning in January 2025. As part of the pact, Netflix will be the home for all WWE shows and specials outside the U.S. from that date forward, giving roughly 80% of international territories immediate access to 100% its content, with the rest of the globe filling out their WWE lineups as outstanding deals expire. Added value with Netflix: “While the money is extraordinarily important, the downstream impact and ancillary benefits to being with the distributor and just south of 300 million homes globally was something that got us very excited,” says Schleimer. Co-founder & managing partner Yorn Levine Barnes Krintzman Rubenstein Kohner Endlich Goodell & Gellman Yorn kept his 29-year-old firm at the front of the entertainment law pack in 2024, cutting deals for clients including Scarlett Johansson (starring role in “Jurassic World Rebirth”), Ellen DeGeneres ($20 million pact for Netflix comedy special), Zoe Saldaña (Golden Globe-nominated role in “Emilia Pérez”), Jonah Hill (write, produce and act in Apple TV+ movie “Outcome”) and Matthew McConaughey (Apple TV+ series “Brother From Another Mother”). Belt and suspenders treatment for AI: “We try to make sure that we add extra protection on top of what SAG has achieved with respect to studio deals for film and television,” he says. “We try for a zero-use policy across the board but are always open to see if AI can be beneficial for all concerned.” Partner Yorn Levine Barnes Krintzman Rubenstein Kohner Endlich Goodell & Gellman Barnes has been in the Snoop Dogg business for more than a quarter of a century, and business was very good this year, with the attorney closing deals for the rapper’s high-profile role in NBC’s Summer Olympics coverage and his judge gig on the network’s singing competition show “The Voice.” He did that while simultaneously helping set up his premium spirits company Still G.I.N., launched in partnership with Dr. Dre. Buckle up for Trump 2.0: “There may be an initial chilling effect on diverse hiring and productions,” he says. “And with such a vast ideological divide within the entertainment industry and beyond, some may be denied employment or access to capital based on their views.” Partner Yorn Levine Barnes Krintzman Rubenstein Kohner Endlich Goodell & Gellman Endlich recently negotiated comedian Bert Kreischer’s deal for two upcoming Netflix stand-up specials, and director/producer pacts for Taika Waititi’s Sony feature adaptation of Kazuo Ishiguro’s novel “Klara and the Sun,” starring Amy Adams, and Jaume Collet-Serra’s Netflix thriller “Carry On,” starring Taron Egerton. He also set D’Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai to star in A24’s “Warfare.” World domination has its benefits: “Given the global reach of the major streaming platforms, there’s greater opportunity to work with international clients and make innovative deals with foreign production companies that have partnered with the streamers to produce programs for both a U.S. and worldwide audience,” he says. Partner Ziffren Brittenham As the co-executor and manager of Michael Jackson’s estate, Branca engineered a 50% sale of the late superstar’s music publishing and record masters to Sony Music worth a reported $600 million, while retaining control for the estate, which to date has yielded $2 billion from productions including the Tony-winning “MJ: The Musical.” Disruption on endless rotation: “When you trace the effect of technology in the industry, whether it went from piano rolls to wax discs to albums, and 45s to free download to streaming, it keeps changing the industry,” Branca says. “The most important thing that content owners are doing is trying to protect their IP rights from being basically taken for free while somebody else creates a new asset.”
Suriname's government announced Saturday that the small South American nation will not hold a state funeral for its ex-president Desi Bouterse, who this week died a fugitive from justice aged 79. Current President Chan Santokhi "has decided, based on his powers and advice received, that there will be no state funeral... No period of national mourning," Foreign Minister Albert Ramdin told a press conference. Bouterse was a former military man who twice mounted coups, in 1980 and again in 1990, to take charge as a dictator. He eventually returned to power after being elected president in 2010 and governed for a decade. He died Tuesday in the unknown location where he had been holed up as a fugitive, with in-absentia convictions for cocaine trafficking and murder. Bouterse's body was dropped off at his residence in the capital Paramaribo. An autopsy was ordered, though police said there were "no signs of criminal activity." Bouterse had been sentenced to 20 years in prison in December 2023 for the 1982 execution of political opponents, including lawyers, journalists, businessmen and military prisoners. He remained a popular figure with the poor and working class in the former Dutch colony. The foreign minister said that, out of respect for Bouterse's status as an elected former president, flags would be flown at half-staff on government buildings on the day of his funeral, whose date has not yet been given. str-jt/rmb/acbTrump is stacking his White House roster with uber-rich backers - CNBCBASHAR al-Assad's 24-year rule over Syria has finally crumbled, marking the end of a regime infamous for its heinous crimes and devastating legacy. Once hailed as a potential reformer, Assad’s journey from a soft-spoken London-trained eye doctor to one of the most brutal dictators of the 21st century is a chilling tale of power corruption. Advertisement 15 Bashar al-Assad's rule over Syria has finally crumbled after 24 years Credit: AP:Associated Press 15 His regime notorious for its brutality, including chemical attacks on children Credit: EPA 15 Assad has now fled to Moscow to stay safe under the wing of evil pal Vladimir Putin Credit: Reuters 15 The Syrian tyrant's rule was also marked by bloody war such as the 2015 civil war Credit: AP:Associated Press Assad’s rule over Syria ended in dramatic fashion after rebel f orces stormed Damascus in a surprise offensive , forcing the dictator to flee to Russia. This marked the conclusion of a regime notorious for its brutality, including chemical attacks, mass detentions, and the decimation of Syrian cities. Born in 1965 to Hafez al-Assad, Syria’s iron-fisted leader, Bashar grew up as the unassuming third son in a political dynasty. He seemed destined for a quiet life in medicine, even earning the nickname “geeky IT guy” while specialising in ophthalmology in London. Advertisement Read more on Syria FREE AT LAST Moment TODDLER is freed from jail by Syria's rebels as thousands walk free SEIZING POWER Syria's PM frogmarched from home by rebels to hand over power as Assad ousted His life took a dramatic turn in 1994 when his elder brother, Bassel, the family’s chosen heir, died in a car accident. Bashar was abruptly recalled to Syria and groomed for power. When Hafez died in 2000, the Syrian parliament amended the constitution to lower the presidential age requirement from 40 to 34, enabling the younger Assad to assume power. Head of Hafez al-Assad Statue Dragged Through Streets of Hama after Syrian rebel takeover 15 A young Bashar (second from top left) pictured with his parents and brothers Credit: Getty - Contributor Advertisement 15 In power since 2000, Assad was close with fellow dictatorial leaders such as Hugo Chavez from Venezuela (left) Credit: Rex 15 Assad at first had several supporters as he made hopeful promises to Syria Credit: AP:Associated Press Initially, hope stirred for reform as Bashar promised modernisation, anti-corruption measures, and political openness. Most read in The Sun STREET ATTACK Manhunt launched after girl, 15, sexually assaulted at Scots bus stop DIFFERENT LEAGUE Rangers boss Clement told 'don't make excuses' after surprising admission STRICKEN STAR Michail Antonio undergoes surgery on broken leg after horror car crash Latest CITY CENTRE DRAMA Police lock down busy street in major Scots city after person hit by bus But the so-called “Damascus Spring” was short-lived. Advertisement Within a year, Assad cracked down on dissenters, signalling the beginning of his authoritarian rule. THE DESCENT INTO TYRANNY The Assad regime quickly devolved into a kleptocracy, with Assad and his extended family siphoning wealth while suppressing opposition. Corruption ran rampant, and citizens chafed under economic stagnation and police-state oppression. In 2011, when the Arab Spring ignited hope for change across the Middle East, Assad’s government responded to peaceful pro-democracy protests with violence. Advertisement The brutal suppression in Daraa, where security forces tortured children and fired on unarmed demonstrators, sparked nationwide outrage. Assad’s response was devastating: he unleashed his military on civilians, transforming protests into an all-out civil war. His forces targeted hospitals, schools, and marketplaces with barrel bombs and chemical weapons. The 2013 sarin gas attack on Ghouta left hundreds dead and cemented Assad's reputation as a war criminal. Advertisement A WAR OF ATTRITION The Syrian Civil War became a geopolitical quagmire. Assad, backed by Russia and Iran, portrayed himself as a bulwark against terrorism while cynically releasing jihadist prisoners to bolster extremist factions. This fuelled the rise of groups like ISIS, reshaping global terror. By 2015, Assad’s regime controlled only 10 per cent of Syria. Advertisement 15 But the tyrant soon revealed himself as he drove the nation into decades of despair Credit: Rex 15 Security forces loyal to Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad are seen during a field exercise at an undisclosed location in 2013 Credit: Reuters 15 A Syrian youth walks over the rubble of a destroyed house in Al-Bab in the northern province of Aleppo in 2012 Credit: AFP 15 Smoke rising from the site of bomb explosion in Damascus, Syria, in 2012 Credit: Anadolu Advertisement It was Russia’s military intervention, with relentless airstrikes under the guise of fighting terrorism, that turned the tide. Russian President Vladimir Putin and Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei propped up Assad, ensuring his survival even as Syria became a battleground for international powers. Despite gaining the upper hand, Assad’s methods hollowed out Syria. Cities like Aleppo and Homs were reduced to rubble, over half the population was displaced, and hundreds of thousands perished. Advertisement The United Nations accused Assad of widespread atrocities, from systematic torture in government prisons to indiscriminate bombings. ASSAD'S DOWNFALL The end of Assad’s reign came abruptly in December 2024, as rebel forces launched a lightning offensive , exploiting weakened Syrian defences. Rebels captured Damascus in a lightning campaign, declaring the capital “free” and marking the end of years of brutal authoritarian rule. With Russia mired in Ukraine and Iran preoccupied with regional conflicts, Assad’s regime was left vulnerable. Advertisement Rebels stormed Aleppo, marking a symbolic victory, and Assad fled Damascus. Assad left aboard a military plane amid rumours of its crash before resurfacing in Moscow, where Vladimir Putin granted him asylum. Meanwhile, opposition forces took control of key cities, toppled Assad’s statues, and announced plans for a transitional government. The fall of Assad deals a blow to allies Russia and Iran, with both withdrawing assets from Syria. Advertisement 15 Assad pictured in Romania in 2010, 14 years before his regime was toppled by rebels Credit: EPA 15 A person waves a Syrian opposition flag as people celebrate at Masnaa Border Crossing, after Syrian rebels announced that they have ousted President Bashar al-Assad on December 8, 2024 Credit: Reuters 15 Islamist-led rebels declared that they have taken the Syrian capital in a lightning offensive, ending five decades of Baath rule in Syria Credit: AFP Challenges remain as Syrians celebrate, but hopes rise for a democratic future after years of war. Advertisement His fall not only signals the collapse of a dynastic dictatorship but also underscores the cost of clinging to power through terror. Bashar al-Assad has left behind a shattered nation. He decimated Syria’s infrastructure, fractured its society, and plunged millions into despair. Read more on the Scottish Sun 'vicious circle' I live in Scotland's benefits hotspot -I've only worked 4 years of my life SPLIT THE PACK I'm one of the best ever snooker stars but I wouldn't be if I was born later Syria became synonymous with human suffering, and Assad’s name will forever be tied to some of the worst war crimes of the modern era. Advertisement The man once seen as a modernising reformer will be remembered instead as a symbol of unchecked brutality, his legacy written in the blood of his own people. 15
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