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Ever wondered how some of the biggest acts in K-pop were made? Amazon‘s documentary Lee Soo Man: King of K-Pop dives deep into the inner workings of the popular music genre as seen through the eyes of legendary South Korean business executive and record producer Lee Soo Man.
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Directed by Ting Poo, the one hour and 47-minute film is currently available to stream on Amazon’s Prime Video via a Prime subscription, which will run you $14.99 per month. The documentary was made available on the streaming platform on May 13.
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‘Lee Soo Man: King of K-Pop’
A brand new Amazon’s Prime Video documentary discussing the life and work of legendary music producer and businessman Lee Soo Man.
From Man’s beginnings in the traditional town of Jeonju, to his work at hallowed entertainment company SM Entertainment, the documentary chronicles the good, bad and ugly of the K-pop industry, with the hallowed producer behind the wheel. Many credit Man with starting what is known as the “Hallyu wave,” a phenomenon that speaks to the surge in popularity of South Korean culture, particularly its music, dramas and films.
Man founded SM Entertainment back in 1989. During his roughly 33 years at SM Entertainment, Man is credited with creating some of the company’s most popular groups, including Exo, Super Junior, Aespa, Girls Generation, Red Velvet, NCT, TVXQ and SHINee. The company is largely credited as a key driver of the global success of K-pop. Man left the company in March of 2023 due to a slew of logistical issues and a heated management dispute, which are briefly touched on in the documentary.
While the Hallyu movement began in the 1990s, the figurative wave has grown to monsoon levels, taking the music industry by storm. The K-pop sphere has gained major recognition over the past few years, becoming an immensely popular genre throughout the world, thanks to the work of Man and industry bigwigs like him. This documentary is a must-watch for fans of the genre who are seeking an insider’s perspective on some of their favorite groups.
Source: California Correctional Institution / California Correctional Institution
TMZ has reported that the man allegedly responsible for attacking Tory Lanez in prison is Santino Casio, a known violent offender currently facing life behind bars.
Casio’s record reportedly includes multiple assaults on fellow inmates, with one such incident adding six years to his sentence. His reputation for violent behavior behind bars aligns with the brutality of the reported attack on Lanez. The incident has stirred speculation online, particularly from music executive Wack 100, who claimed via social media that Mexican gangs were behind the assault.
At the time of his statement, there was no official confirmation supporting that theory, though Wack cited unnamed inside sources. His comments fueled online debate but have not been backed by prison authorities or official reports.
Following the incident, Tory Lanez’s official Instagram account released shocking details about his condition. According to the post, Lanez was stabbed 14 times in various areas of his body, including his back, torso, head, and face. The severity of the attack reportedly led to two collapsed lungs. Despite the life-threatening injuries, Lanez is said to have survived and is now recovering.
The disturbing nature of this assault has drawn increased attention to prison violence and raised concerns about the safety of high-profile inmates. As investigations continue, more details are expected to emerge about the motive and whether Casio acted alone or under gang orders. Authorities have yet to make an official statement regarding Casio’s alleged involvement.
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Travis Scott and thousands of others’ lives changed on the night of Nov. 5, 2021, at the rapper’s Astroworld Festival in his hometown of Houston. The event left 10 festivalgoers dead and hundreds more injured following a lethal crowd surge.
Billboard can report that the events surrounding the tragic festival at NRG Park will be featured in the first episode of Netflix’s upcoming anthology series Trainwreck.
Titled “The Astroworld Tragedy,” the episode will explore the concert’s failures from the perspective of those in the middle of the chaos, with input from survivors, mourning family members, paramedics and security guards.
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Look for the premiere episode of the series to arrive on June 10. Yemi Bamiro is on board as director of “The Astroworld Tragedy,” while Hannah Poulter will serve as co-director and producer.
Eight individuals were pronounced dead at the scene in November 2021, and Harris County medical examiners confirmed that two more people died as a result of their injuries days later. The official cause of death was listed as compression asphyxia; the victims ranged in age from 9 to 27 years old. There were about 50,000 people who attended the festival in total.
Trainwreck: The Astroworld Tragedy
Netflix
Scott and Live Nation became the subject of aplethora of wrongful death lawsuits in the wake of the tragedy, all of which were settled by the parties by May 2024.
“I always think about it, those fans were like my family. You know, I love my fans to the utmost,” Scott told GQ in 2023. “It has its moments where it gets rough and, yeah. You just feel for those people. And their families.”
The rest of the Trainwreck series is set to delve into other disasters, including “political scandals, media hoaxes, cult-like corporations and reality TV” debacles, according to the press release. Episodes after “The Astrworld Tragedy” will be released by Netflix each of the following seven weeks, wrapping up on July 29.
Watch a trailer for Trainwreck below.
Good news! Fans are finally getting their first looks at Wicked: For Good, with Universal Pictures announcing the release date of its first trailer while unveiling the film’s poster Wednesday (May 14).
As revealed first on the official Wicked Instagram account, the sequel’s official poster finds leading ladies Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande — who portray Elphaba and Glinda in the live-action musical duology, respectively — looking stoic as they stare each other down while standing on opposing rocky cliffs separated by a deep ravine. At the bottom, the franchise’s famous Yellow Brick Road leads the way to the Emerald City, which looms on the horizon in the center.
“You will be changed,” reads text on the poster, a play on the lyrics to Elphaba and Glinda’s “For Good” duet from the Wicked Broadway musical, on which the films were based.
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The poster offers fans their first visual of the sequel to Jon M. Chu’s first Wicked film, which hit theaters in November 2024 and has so far grossed $755.4 million worldwide — more than any other film adaptation of a Broadway musical — as of Monday (May 12). It also shows Erivo and Grande’s characters in brand new outfits, with the former embracing her persona as the Wicked Witch of the West in her signature pointy hat and an edgy black coat that billows out behind her, while the latter wears a tiara and multicolored ballgown.
But while the artwork is all viewers get for now of Wicked: For Good, they’ll soon get their first proper view of the November-slated installment. Shortly after unveiling the poster, the Wicked Instagram account announced that the sequel’s trailer will premiere in theaters on June 4 as the first film returns to the big screen for one night only in the United States and Canada.
“We know you’ve been waiting for this, and it’s finally coming,” Erivo says in a video sharing the news, standing next to the “Positions” singer.
“You will be changed …,” adds Grande before the Pinocchio star finishes, “For good.”
Tickets for Wicked‘s single-night return to theaters are on sale now. The announcement comes just two days after NBC revealed that a Wicked event special featuring Grande, Erivo and some “special guests” would both air on the network and stream on Peacock in November.
Modeling the arc of Act II in the Wicked stage musical, For Good is expected to pick up during the aftermath of the events of the first film. Elphaba is forced into hiding after the Wizard of Oz (portrayed by Jeff Goldblum) convinces the realm that she’s, well, wicked. Meanwhile Glinda assumes her role as people’s princess and government mouthpiece in the absence of her best frenemy.
“It gets messy,” Chu told Variety of the sequel’s plot in January. “I think if [audience members] are following the emotions of this movie, they’ll walk with us.”
See the new Wicked: For Good poster and trailer announcement below.
OOKA, a futuristic hookah system that uses an innovative pod system for sessions, has a hot new announcement that will be especially good news to those who are fans of CBD. OOKA will be building upon its ongoing partnership with Berner’s Cookies brand and releasing a trio of CBD pods nationwide.
OOKA, manufactured by and distributed by Advanced Inhalation Rituals (AIR), announced the expansion on Tuesday (May 13), and the flavor blends sound delicious. The Cookies CBD pod blends are Apples and Bananas, Melted Sherb, and Berry Pie.
Near the top of the year, Cookies, which specializes in both hemp and other inhalable products, partnered with OOKA to roll out pods that are outfitted with technology ensuring that the session remains favorable and enjoyable. OOKA has both tea-based nicotine options, along with traditional hookah pods.
“We are excited to launch the Cookies x OOKA CBD Pods in the United States, combining OOKA’s cutting-edge, charcoal-free hookah technology with Cookies’ iconic, lifestyle-driven brand,” said Ashley Bock, marketing director of the Americas at AIR. “This collaboration aligns perfectly with our mission to deliver our customers with a modern, elevated hookah experience.”
Beyond the Cookies lineup, OOKA also features Al Fakher tobacco pods, its Zodiac line, which is made with tea and molasses, and Pacific Reams CBD pods. Each pod has its temperature modified for the experience via an internal NFC chip, with sessions lasting from 45 minutes to a full hour.
To grab your own OOKA and Cookies CBD pods, click here. To learn more about the OOKA brand, click here.
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Photo: Cookies / OOKA
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All products and services featured are independently chosen by editors. However, Billboard may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes. Beyoncé fans rejoice! The world-renowned musician has teamed up with heritage denim brand Levi’s to reinvent some of the brand’s most […]
All products and services featured are independently chosen by editors. However, Billboard may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.
Want to hang out with Megan thee Stallion, Sabrina Carpenter, and Doechii on your next vacation? Now, you can. Today, Airbnb launched a revamped app bringing with it one of kind experiences to enhance your next trip: AirBnb Services, AirBnb Experiences, and AirBnb Originals, which include opportunities to become an “Otaku Hottie”.
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With AirBnB Originals, you can find unique experiences hosted by the biggest talent around the world, designed exclusively for Airbnb. Users can learn pastry-making at the renowned French Bastards bakery with chef Raphaelle Elbaz; spend a Sunday with Patrick Mahomes, learning how to throw the perfect spiral and enjoying Kansas City barbecue; step inside the Short n’ Sweet set with Sabrina Carpenter for a day of glam, dancing, and espresso; and nerd out on anime with Megan Thee Stallion in her Otaku Hottie Quest. Each experience can be reserved within the app, but hurry up, as bookings are going quickly.
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The new app also brings with it AirBnB Services, which help give users a more hotel like experience featuring amenities like private chefs, spa treatments, personal training, hair and makeup appointments, a personal photographer, catering, and tons more. The app is launching with 10 service categories in 260 cities starting today.
“People choose hotels for their services. People choose Airbnbs for the space,” added Chesky. “Now, we’re giving you the best of both worlds—amazing homes with services that make them even more special.”
One top of all that, AirBnb Experiences will help travelers experience the city they are in. Tourists traps can be very annoying, and this new service is aiming to remove the woes of experiencing a new cities with more well-crafted activities by vetted hosts. Experience’s are broken out five categories:
Landmark, museum, and cultural experiences
Food tours, cooking classes, and dining experiences
Outdoors, water sports, and wildlife experiences
Gallery tours, art workshops, and shopping experiences
Workout, wellness, and beauty experiences
With Experiences you can explore the Notre-Dame’s restoration with Axelle Ponsonnet, an architect from its restoration team, master the art of ramen-making with chef Saburo Ishigōka—the culinary force behind a Michelin Bib Gourmand-awarded restaurant, go horseback riding through sacred Inca sites and stunning Andean landscapes with an expert in Andean culture and anthropology, and more. Experiences is launching in 650 cities around the world, exclusively on the AirBnB app.
“Seventeen years ago, we changed the way people travel. More than two billion guests later, Airbnb is synonymous with a place to stay,” said Brian Chesky, Airbnb co-founder and CEO, in a statement. “With the launch of services and experiences, we’re changing travel again. Now you can Airbnb more than an Airbnb.”
The new AirBnb app update including Services, Experiences and Originals is now live. The Airbnb Originals experiences are free, but there’s limited availability on a “first-come, first-serve basis” to users who sign up. Book yours now here.
All products and services featured are independently chosen by editors. However, Billboard may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes. Lady Gaga just made shopping for foundation a whole lot easier. The “Rain On Me” singer’s brand Haus Labs has just […]
After a 28-city international leg that included London’s O2 and Dublin’s 3Arena, stand-up comedian, actor and writer Shane Gillis announced the extension of his Shane Gillis Live tour to 10 additional U.S. cities on Tuesday (May 13).
The new dates — which have been scheduled in July, August and September — will take Gillis to arenas in Tulsa and Oklahoma City, Okla.; Kansas City, Mo.; Louisville, Ky.; St. Louis, Mo.; Detroit; Grand Rapids, Mich.; Milwaukee; Houston; Hollywood, Fla.; and Orlando, Fla.
Representatives for Gillis said in an announcement that the added performances, which will be promoted by Outback Presents, come in response to “a staggering demand for tickets across the U.S., Canada and European dates,” adding that Gillis has “set the all-time ticket sales record at six arenas,” including Toronto’s Scotiabank Arena and achieved historic sellouts at 11 more, including Philadelphia’s Wells Fargo Center and Lenovo Center in Raleigh, N.C., marking each of the venue’s largest comedy shows ever.
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Gillis, who hails from Mechanicsburg, Pa., and is lifelong avid Notre Dame University football fan — his grandfather and cousin played for the team, and he appeared in an Under Armour commercial for the blue and gold — is slated to co-headline the stadium there with Zach Bryan and Dermot Kennedy on Sept. 6. If that show sells out, it will surpass the world record for the largest single-show attendance for a comedian in history. (Gillis does not report box-office results to Billboard Boxscore.1
Gillis has emerged as a comedy phenomenon over the last five years, despite being hired as a Saturday Night Live cast member in 2019 and then dismissed before the season began after examples of him using racist language on podcasts. He has since become a touring behemoth, the Matt and Shane’s Secret Podcast he hosts with comedian Matt McCusker consistently ranks in the top 15 of Spotify’s U.S. Comedy charts, and on June 5, the second season of his series, Tires, will debut on Netflix. He has also hosted SNL twice — in 2024 and 2025.
Artist presale sign-up and tickets are available on Shane Gillis’ website.
Patreon presale will begin Tuesday, May 13, at 10:30 a.m. CT
Artist presale will begin Wednesday, May 14, at 10 a.m. local
General on sale begins Friday, May 16, at 10 a.m. local
Shane Gillis
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Organized by the European Broadcasting Union, the 69th annual Eurovision Song Contest features the brightest up-and-coming singers and pop groups in 37 countries, including France, Germany, Sweden, Belgium, Australia, Israel, Italy, United Kingdom and many others, competing to win the event.
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Eurovision 2025 starts on Tuesday (May 13) at 3 p.m. ET/12 p.m. PT and ends on Saturday (May 17) at 3 p.m. ET/12 p.m. PT. The music competition livestreams on Peacock. Learn more about Eurovision Song Contest 2025 here.
The event livestreams from St. Jakobshalle in Basel, Switzerland. Keep reading to learn how to watch the event live.
How to Watch Eurovision Song Contest 2025
Peacock exclusively livestreams Eurovision Song Contest 2025. For Peacock subscribers, you can tune into the live event for no additional cost. Just log into your account once the event begins, and you’ll have access.
Don’t have a Peacock subscription? The streaming platform doesn’t offer a free trial, but does come with a couple of affordable plans starting at $7.99 per month.
There are two different plans offered on Peacock: The Premium Plan for $7.99 per month or the Premium Plus Plan for $13.99 per month. If you’re looking for additional savings, you can save 17% off when you do the annual plan for $79.99 per year or $139.99 per year. With the Premium Plan, it’s ad-supported and you’ll receive more than 80,000 hours of TV, movies and sports, access to live sports events, current NBC and Bravo shows, 50+ always-on live TV channels as well as the ability to stream new, exclusive and original content from the streaming platform.
Peacock’s Premium Plus plan comes with everything in the Premium plan, no ads, your local NBC channel live and the ability to download and stream eligible content offline.
Alongside Eurovision Song Contest 2025, you’ll have access to the entire Peacock library, including WrestleMania, Yellowstone, The Holdovers, Five Nights At Freddy’s, Vanderpump Rules, The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, Based on a True Story, Bel-Air, Kevin Hart: Reality Check, Poker Face, Saturday Night Live, Willie Nelson & Family and more.
Check out the Eurovision 2025 schedule below, and livestream the event here.
Eurovision 2025 Schedule:
Tuesday, May 13, First Semifinal — 3 p.m. ET/12 p.m. PT
Thursday, May 15, Second Semifinal — 3 p.m. ET/12 p.m. PT
Saturday, May 17, Grand Final — 3 p.m. ET/12 p.m. PT
The streaming service also offers a number of music documentaries and specials, such as Toby Keith: An American Icon, Bowie: The Man Who Changed The World, Bob Dylan: The Folk Years, Stevie Nicks: Through The Looking Glass, Katy Perry: Main Square, Welcome To The A: 50 Years of Hip-Hop in Atlanta and more.
Meanwhile, those who want to watch internationally can access the streaming service with a VPN, such as ExpressVPN or NordVPN — prices start at $4.99 per month or $3.09 per month, respectively.
Eurovision Song Contest 2025 is available to stream on Peacock starting on Tuesday, May 13, starting at 3 p.m. ET/12 p.m. PT.
Want more? For more product recommendations, check out our roundups of the best Xbox deals, studio headphones and Nintendo Switch accessories.
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