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01 Sep 2023

From A-Z: The 20 Best Sales to Shop for Labor Day 2023

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.

Labor Day weekend is finally here. If your holiday weekend will consist of shopping for great savings, then you’ve come to the right place. Below, find a roundup of the 20 best sales to shop this Labor Day weekend. The alphabetized list includes clothing, beauty, electronics, appliances, shoes and other great deals from Best Buy, Amazon, Walmart, Lowe’s, Tory Burch, Bloomingdale’s, Carter’s, Nike and other retailers.

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The 25 Best Sales to Shop for Labor Day:

Amazon — When you need to order something in a hurry, Amazon never fails! Save up to 50% off Labor Day sale items including electronics, power tools, streaming devices, clothing, shoes, beauty products, home improvement items, Blu-rays, DVDs and tons more.

Ambercrombie & Fitch — Save 25% off select styles, plus an extra 15% off during the Long Weekend Sale.

Best Buy – Shopping for appliances or electronics? Best Buy is a no-brainer. The retailer’s Labor Day sale ends on Monday (Sept. 4) at 11:59 p.m. PT. Enjoy discounts on appliances, cell phones, laptops, desktop computers, headphones, cell phones, speakers, furniture, fitness and more.

Bloomingdale’s – Take an extra 30% off clearance items for a savings of up to 65% off during Bloomingdale’s Labor Day Sale. Offer ends 9/4.

Carter’s – The clothing retailer is offering 50% off in stores and online for Labor Day.

Coach – Insiders can save up to 25% off select styles during the Coach Labor Day Weekend Event. Save an extra 20% off select styles at Coach Outlet.

Coco & Eve – Up to 50% off best-sellers including the Like a Virgin Masque, Body Moisture Whip, and Sunny Honey Bail Bronzing Bundle.

DermaFlash  — Shop the 25% off Everything Labor Day Sale. Use code: GLOWON to save on the Sonic Skincare.

GlassesUSA — Up to 40% off select frames during the GlassesUSA Labor Day sale.

Home Depot — Shop Labor Day savings on appliances, grills, patio furniture, outdoor power equipment and more. Savings include up to 50% off select patio furniture and up to 30% off home security cameras.

Kate Spade — Take an extra 40% off select styles with code: LD40 for a savings of up to 60%. Sale ends 9/4 at 11:59 p.m .PT. Save up to 70% off everything + an extra 20% off at Kate Spade Surprise.

Nike – Save up to 50% on select styles. No code needed.

Nordstrom – Up to 60% off select clothing, accessories and shoes.

Sephora – Up to 50% off makeup, hair care and more.

Target – Save 20% off clothing, shoes and accessories; 40% off furniture, up to 35% off headphones and speakers and other deals.

Ulta Beauty – Save up to 50% off beauty must-haves, plus shop new arrivals and more during Ulta’s 21 Days of Beauty event. Ends 9/16.

Urban Outfitters — Take an extra 40% off all sales styles (in stores and online).

Wayfair – Up to 70% off during Wayfair’s Labor Day sale.

Walmart – Save up to 65% weekly flash deals, plus shop Labor Day deals on outdoor cooking items, PC gaming items, mattresses, clothing and accessories and other deals.

Z Gallerie – Up to 50% off everything, online and in stores. Up to 70% off clearance items and an extra 20% off with code: EXTRA20.

To help you save some time, we collected a list of deals you should know about. And be sure to read our roundup of laptop deals, air conditioners, and the best Labor Day mattress sales.

Amazon

GLAMBURG Ultra Soft 8-Piece Towel Set – 100% Pure Ringspun Cotton, Contains 2 Oversized Bath Towels 27×54, 2 Hand Towels 16×28, 4 Wash Cloths 13×13 – Ideal for Everyday use, Hotel & Spa – Hot Pink

$19.45 $59.99 68% OFF

An eight-piece towel set for $20? This set is on sale at Amazon and available in seven colors including hot pink, blue, black, charcoal, orange, green and burgundy. Click here for more expensive towels.

Amazon

Shark IQ Robot Vacuum AV970 Self Cleaning Brushroll, Advanced Navigation, Perfect for Pet Hair, Works with Alexa, Wi Fi, xl dust bin, A black finish

$219.99 $399.99 45% OFF

Clean up time! For those of you who like to clean during a long holiday weekend, save up to 45% off Shark robot vacuums at Amazon.

Apple Watch Series 8 GPS

$309.99 $399.99 23% off% OFF

Save $90 on this Apple Watch Series 8 GPS watch. Measure your blood oxygen level, take an ECG anytime, sync your favorite music, podcasts and audiobooks, access mindfulness and sleep tracking apps and more, from your wrist.

Walmart

Sofia Jeans Women’s Skinny Jeans

$8.73 $27.50 68% off% OFF

Here’s a deal that you’ll want to jump on because. These skinny jeans are on sale for $8 at Walmart while supplies last.

Nordstrom

Prada 56mm Cat Eye Sunglasses

$175.80 $293 40% off% OFF

These Prada sunnies are 40% off at Nordstrom and they’re a popular pick — more than 100 people are eyeing them at press time.

Amazon

Apple AirPods (2nd Generation) Wireless Earbuds with Lightning Charging Case Included.

$99.00 $129.00 23% OFF

AirPods are back on sale! Get them for $99 before the price goes back up again.

Walmart

TCL 32-inch TV 720 HD LED Roku Smart TV

$108 $148 27% off% OFF

This 32-inch TLC TV is on sale for $108 at Walmart. Stream over 500,000 movies and episodes of TV, live sports and more in HD (720p) resolution.

Amazon

LUGGEX Black Carry On Luggage 22x14x9 – Polycarbonate Expandable Hard Shell Suitcase with Spinner Wheels

$79.99 $99.99 20% OFF

This LUGGEX carry-on suitcase is 20% off for Labor Day. The suitcase is available in over a dozen different colors including black, silver, white, orange, and champagne.

Wayfair

All Modern Geo 84-Inch Upholstered Sofa

$720 $1,500 52% off% OFF

Need a new couch? This 84-inch sofa is 50% off at Wayfair and it earned a 4.7/5-star rating. The couch sits on tapered solid wood legs and is available in over 13 colors including ink blue, emerald, blush and platinum gray.

Amazon

Royal Gourmet CC1830 30 Barrel Charcoal Grill with Side Table, 627 Square Inches, Outdoor Backyard, Patio and Parties, Black

$99.99 $159.99 38% OFF

Grilling season is still here. The Royal Gourmet Charcoal Grill is 38% off for Labor Day. The grill has 433 square inches of cooking surface, chrome-plaited stainless steel burners, adjustable fire grates and a temperature monitor.

Home Depot

GE 27 cu. ft. French Door Refrigerator

$1,498 $2,399 38% off% OFF

This GE 27 cu. ft., french door refrigerator features spill-proof shelves, LED lighting, humidity-controlled drawers Turbo Cool and Turbo Freeze settings, and an internal water dispenser and ice maker.

Samsung

Samsung Bespoke Ultra Capacity Front Load Capacity Washer and Dryer

$1,796 $2,798 36% off% OFF

Save $1,002 on this Samsung Bespoke 5.3 cu. ft. Ultra Capacity Front Load Capacity Washer and Dryer (available in black and silver). The washer and dryer has a smart dial that learns your favorite cycles and makes recommendations.

01 Sep 2023

Nelly Furtado Says She’s ‘Happier Than Ever’ in Her Career: ‘It’s Just Pure Inspiration Every Day’

Nelly Furtado is back and better than ever, and in celebration of her reunion with Timbaland and Justin Timberlake on “Keep Going Up,” she sat down with Billboard‘s Jason Lipshutz to discuss where she’s at in her career at the moment.

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“[Timbaland and Timberlake] had thought it out quite a lot,” she said of the new collaboration, which arrives more than a decade after the trio’s Billboard Hot 100 chart topper “Give It to Me” was released in 2007. “What’s great about them is they’re like, ‘We want you to do your thing.’ If the three of us are on a song, then we’re all equals, and that’s a really good feeling.”

As for how she’s feeling, the 44-year-old star said she’s more “grateful” than ever. “I feel like the place that I’m at is the same place I was at when I was like 20, when I first signed a record deal and spent all my time obsessing over music, listening to music, making music and collaborating with friends who make music,” she explained. “I’m there again, I’m in it for the craft. I’m in it for the right reasons and it’s so pure for me right now. It’s just pure inspiration all day.”

She continued, “I’m just happier than ever making music. I love my job more than I’ve ever loved it. I recognize that being onstage is like my home.”

Moving forward, Furtado is gearing up to release new music. “I have so many songs in the pipeline. I have so many new songs,” she assured.

Watch Billboard‘s full interview with Nelly Furtado above.

01 Sep 2023

Nelly Furtado Talks Returning to Music, Reminisces On Her Album ‘Loose’ & More | Billboard News

Nelly Furtado talks to Billboard’s Executive Music Director, Jason Lipshutz about her anticipated return to music, reminisces on her career re-defining album ‘Loose,’ teases her new music, what it’s like to work with Justin Timberlake and Timbaland again and more!

Jason Lipshutz
Oh, oh sh*t, okay. This is the most fun I’ve ever had during a video.

Nelly Furtado
Hi, I’m Nelly Furtado This is Billboard News

Jason Lipshutz
Here with the one and only Nelly Furtado.

Jason Lipshutz
Nelly, I’m so happy you’re here. I’m such a huge fan.

Nelly Furtado
Oh, for real?

Jason Lipshutz
The hugest fan seriously. I want

Nelly Furtado
I had a feeling that you might be a fan but I wasn’t sure.

Jason Lipshutz
I listened to on my walk here. I listen to all of the ‘Spirit Indestructible’

Nelly Furtado
Yeah, right.

Jason Lipshutz
I swear to God.

Nelly Furtado
No way.

Jason Lipshutz
“Parking Lot” just blasting in my ears.

Nelly Furtado
Oh my god.

Jason Lipshutz
And meanwhile, like you’ve been kind of slowly, as you said, playing shows put out the single top dollar like, what is it been like kind of dipping your toe back into the music world a bit more.

Nelly Furtado
It’s been so fun. I’m just like, more grateful than ever. I’m, I’m super grateful. I feel like the place I’m at right now is kind of like the same place I was at when I was like, I would say 20. And I first signed a record deal. And like, I spent all my time obsessing over music, listening to music, and making music and collaborating with friends who make music and family actually. And so I’m there again, like I’m in it for the craft I’m in it for for the right reasons. And I just, it’s so pure for me right now. It’s just pure inspiration. Like, all day.

Watch the full interview above!

01 Sep 2023

How Taylor Swift Ditched Dealing With Hollywood Studios to Release the ‘Eras Tour’ Film With AMC

Thursday’s announcement that AMC Theatres is partnering with Taylor Swift to present Taylor Swift / The Eras Tour Concert Film in thousands of North American cinemas starting Oct. 13 was a blockbuster — both in terms of cultural impact and ticket sales, which broke AMC’s record for single-day advance revenue with $26 million in the first 24 hours.

And according to a new report at Puck, the unorthodox deal that bypasses traditional studios and instead release the film directly in cinemas with AMC Theatres acting as distributor came about only after discussions with traditional distributors, including Universal Pictures, broke down.

The story claims that talks with AMC Theatres began more than three months ago — while Swift was already in the midst of her smash Eras Tour in the United States and before the concert film was shot at some of the Los Angeles shows in August — after AMC CEO Adam Aron received “a call from a friend who also happened to know [Swift’s father] Scott Swift” that Team Swift was interested in talking.

Citing sources, the report states that Aron personally negotiated the deal directly with Swift’s parents, Scott and Andrea Swift, over several weeks. Among the agreed-upon terms is that 43% of the gross will remain with theaters, while the remaining 57% will be shared (in an undetermined split) by the Swifts and AMC. (Variance Films, a small sub-distributor, was reportedly hired to book the film in Regal, Cinemark and other theaters on a fee-for-service basis.) Notably, standard tickets for the film will be priced at $19.89 (plus tax) for adults and $13.13 for children and seniors (plus tax).

All theaters playing the Sam Wrench-directed film will reportedly also take all concession revenue, including any commemorative Eras Tour items. The story claims that AMC and Cinemark have also ordered four million posters to give away to fans for free, while a “small offering” of paid merchandise is planned.

Other details in the report include that theaters playing the film (which reportedly came in at a budget of between $10 and $20 million) must agree to carry it for a minimum of four weeks and can play it for as many as 26 weeks without worrying that the terms of the deal will change. Additionally, after 13 weeks, the Swifts are free to put the film on streaming services (the streaming rights are still up for grabs).

At least one traditional film studio that had discussed distributing the film with the Swifts was reportedly under the impression that the film would be a 2025 release — after the completion of the tour’s global run — but according to the story, the Swifts decided to strike while fan demand for all things Taylor was at an all-time high.

Speculation that the unusual deal could lead to similar plays by AMC and other exhibitors to act as distributors for other major concert films has been rampant, and indeed, the Puck report notes that “AMC is already talking about what other major artists might want a Taylorstyle deal” — suggesting there may be more of these to come.

Representatives for Taylor Swift and AMC Theatres did not immediately return Billboard‘s requests for comment on this story.

01 Sep 2023

Rod Wave “Come See Me,” Queen Naija ft. YoungBoy Never Broke Again “No Fake Love” & More | Daily Visuals 9.1.23

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Rod Wave Beautiful Mind Tour - Atlanta, GA

Source: Prince Williams / Getty

It’s been more than a year since Rod Wave dropped his last LP, Beautiful Mind and while fans await his fifth studio album, the vocalist from the Sunshine State comes through with some new work to give his fans something to chew on until he serves up the main course.

Droppingn off some new visuals to his latest cut “Come See Me,” Rod finds himself in a condo all by his lonesome as he pours out his soul about how his latest relationship got him in knots about how to proceed with his life. Happens to the best of us, homie. Well, maybe not Future.

Elsewhere the impossible almost happened as Queen Naija linked up with YoungBoy Never Broke Again for her latest clip to “No Fake Love” in which she turned up with her homegirls out on the open seas, and just when it seemed like YNBA was going to join her, she ended up going to his compound to shoot his portion of the video. That man never leaves his crib. Son should be called YoungBoy Never Leaving Home Again or something. Not hatin,’ just sayin.’

Check out the rest of today’s drops including work from Blakkboyz, JID and Lil Yachty, Icewear Vezzo, and more.

ROD WAVE – “COME SEE ME”



QUEEN NAIJA & YOUNGBOY NEVER BROKE AGAIN – “NO FAKE LOVE”



BLAKKBOYZ, JID & LIL YACHTY – “VAN GOGH”



ICEWEAR VEZZO – “SNOWMAN”



REAL BOSTON RICHEY – “BLACK TRUCK”



EARTHGANG – “DIE TODAY”



MAXO KREAM FT. KEY GLOCK – “BONECRUSHER”



FINESSE2TYMES – “CAN’T GO TO JAIL”



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01 Sep 2023

2023 NFL Opening Weekend: Sunday Football Schedule & How to Stream Games Live on Sling TV

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.

The final countdown! NFL opening weekend is upon us, with more than a dozen games on the roster for Sunday, Sept. 10 — and you can stream them all on Sling TV.  

Keep reading for a roundup of everything you should know about NFL football on Sunday, including what teams will be playing opening weekend, plus how to watch and stream football games from anywhere.  

Sunday Football: Start Time, Teams & Channel Lineup  

What time does Sunday football start? Mark your calendar and set your alarm clock! The first seven Sunday football games are scheduled for 1 p.m. ET/10 a.m. PT on Sept. 10.  

Which teams will be playing on Sunday during opening weekend? The schedule will include the Carolina Panthers vs. Atlanta Falcons and Houston Texans vs. Baltimore Ravens.  

Sling TV

$20/month $40/month 50% off% OFF

Football fans can expect a packed slate on Sept. 10, with 14 games airing across NBC, Fox and CBS. Want to watch every game? Read on to learn more about Sling TV!  

How to Watch NFL Sunday Football on Sling TV: Best Streaming Packages    

The NFL Sunday football schedule can be a bit tricky to follow, but we’ve put together a comprehensive list to help you prepare for football season.  

And it doesn’t hurt that Sunday is the best day to enjoy football games. Not to take away from Thursday Night Football and Monday Night Football, but there’s something special about football on the weekend. With 14 games on next Sunday’s schedule, NFL fans will be flipping channels to watch a full day of football, but Sling TV gives you front-row access without leaving home.  

Watch football games on CBS, Fox, NBC and other live sports channels, along with your favorite shows and more on Sling TV. Right now, Sling TV is offering a 50% off deal to stream up to 46 channels on multiple devices and DVR storage — in case you want to record football games and other programs to watch on-demand.  

Sling Blue is a great streaming package for football lovers at a bargain-friendly price, plus you get three device streams and DVR. You can access up to 42 channels, including 17 exclusive news and entertainment channels, starting at just $20 for the first month.

Sling TV

$20/month $40/month 50% off% OFF

Sling Blue features local channels like ABC, FOX and NBC in select DMAs, and cable channels such as FS1, NFL Network, TNT, TBS, FX,Bravo, TLC, USA, E!, TruTV, HLN, A&E, ID, History Channel, Nick Jr., AMC, Comedy Central, ravel Channel, Cartoon Network, AXS TV and Vice.

Or, Subscribe to Sling Orange and pay just $20 for the first month. Stream up to 32 channels, including ESPN and Disney Channel, exclusive sports and family channels on one device.

Want to maximize your streaming options? Subscribe to Sling Orange + Blue to access all 46 channels, including 22 exclusive channels offered in each package.  

For the ultimate football fan, Sling Season Pass gets you five months of Sling Orange & Blue including NFL Redzone, ESPN, NFL, SEC, ACC, Pac 12, Big Ten and Longhorn Networks for $274 (a savings of $74). Sling’s best streaming deal for NFL fans combines Sling Blue with Sports Extra and includes access to NFL Redzone, NFL Network, FS1, FS2 and Big Ten Network for $199 (a savings of $56). College football fans will enjoy the Sling Orange + Sports Extra deal ($199) with ESPN, SEC, ACC, Longhorn Networks and Pac 12.     

Sling allows you to stream football and other sports, news, TV shows and movies on your smart TV or computer. To watch NFL Sunday football on mobile, download the Sling TV App and stream games on your phone.  

You can also access Sling on Chromecast, Roku, FireTV, Vizio, Xfinity, Apple TV, Apple IOS, Android TV, AirTV mini, LGTV and other devices (see a full list of supported devices here).  

Ready to watch football? Click the buy below to launch your subscription to Sling TV.  

Sling TV

$20/month $40/month 50% off% OFF

See below for the NFL Sunday football schedule. Note: CBS is only available with an OTA antenna if the customer’s house can get the signal. 

NFL Football Sunday Schedule (Week 1, Sept. 10): 

Carolina Panthers vs. Atlanta Falcons at 1 p.m. ET/10 a.m. PT on FOX 
Houston Texans vs. Baltimore Ravens at 1 p.m. ET/10 a.m. PT on CBS  
Cincinnati Bengals vs. Cleveland Browns at 1 p.m. ET/10 a.m. PT on CBS  
Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Indianapolis Colts at 1 p.m. ET/10 a.m. PT on CBS  
Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Minnesota Vikings at 1 p.m. ET/ 10 a.m. PT on CBS  
Tennessee Titans vs. New Orleans Saints at 1 p.m. ET/10 a.m. PT on CBS  
San Francisco 49ers vs. Pittsburgh Steelers at 1 p.m. ET/10 a.m. PT on FOX 
Arizona Cardinals vs. Washington Commanders at 1 p.m. ET/10 a.m. PT on FOX 
Green Bay Packers vs. Chicago Bears at 4:25 p.m. ET/1:25 p.m. PT on FOX 
Las Vegas Raiders vs. Denver Broncos at 4:25 p.m. ET/1:25 p.m. PT on CBS  
Miami Dolphins vs. Los Angeles Chargers at 4:25 p.m. ET/1:25 p.m. PT on CBS  
Philadelphia Eagles vs. New England Patriots at 4:25 p.m. ET/1:25 p.m. PT on CBS  
Los Angeles Rams vs. Seattle Seahawks at 4:25 p.m. ET/1:25 p.m. PT on FOX 
Dallas Cowboys vs. New York Giants at 8:20 p.m. ET/5:20 p.m. PT on NBC

01 Sep 2023

Miley Cyrus Reflects On Past, New Music From Nicki Minaj, SEVENTEEN & NKOTB & More | Billboard News

It’s Friday and we have a ton of new music picks for you today! Doja Cat’s new track “Demons,” Nicki Minaj dropped the lead single off of ‘Pink Friday 2,’ SEVENTEEN and NKOTB have come together for an iconic boy band collab and more! During Miley Cyrus’ “Used to Be Young” TikTok series, she reflected on a throwback photo in which she’s walking alongside Emily Osment, Taylor Swift and Demi Lovato. And more!

Rania Aniftos
Miley opens up about her sexuality. We talked to Nelly Furtado about teaming back up with Timbaland and Timberlake, we take you front row at some of your favorite shows. New music from Nicki Minaj and Doja Cat, and we explain how women have taken over hip hop. Happy Friday, everyone, I’m Rania Aniftos for Billboard News. It’s September 1, and let’s get the show started with some new music here is your Friday music guide. Her album ‘Scarlett’ is out September 22 Doja Cat harnesses her dark side with her latest single ‘Demon’ and the video features Christina Ricci. We’ll have more new music throughout the show. But first, here’s your top story.

Tetris Kelly
Miley Cyrus talks figuring out her sexuality and it involves a fellow Disney star.

Tetris Kelly
Miley Cyrus talked about their sexuality during her retrospective “Used To Be Young” series.

Miley Cyrus
You guys didn’t know I was bisexual from this damn picture. I don’t know what’s wrong with you.

Watch the full news video above!

01 Sep 2023

Spotify Shares Rose 15% to Lead Soaring Music Streaming Stocks This Week

Spotify led a group of high-flying streaming stocks this week by gaining 14.8% to $157.54 per share, increasing its market capitalization by nearly $4 billion to $30.7 billion. The world’s largest streaming company, which boasted 220 million subscribers as of June 30, has clawed back nearly all its losses since its share price dropped 14% following its second-quarter earnings on July 25. Through Friday (Sept. 1), Spotify shares are up 99.5% in 2023, second only to streaming company LiveOne’s 191.9% gain. 

The 21-stock Billboard Global Music Index improved 4.7% to 1,359.74, its highest mark in four weeks and the first gain since the week ended July 21. Twelve stocks finished the week in positive territory, seven stocks dropped and two were unchanged. The index outperformed many key indexes. In the United States, the Nasdaq composite gained 3.2% to 14,031.81 and the S&P 500 improved 2.5% to 4,515.77. In the United Kingdom, the FTSE 100 rose 1.7% to 7,464.54. South Korea’s KOSPI composite index climbed 1.8% to 2,563.71.

Six music streaming stocks improved by an average of 6.7% this week. Led by SiriusXM’s 11.4% gain, three radio stocks had an average gain of 4.9%. Led by Sphere Entertainment Co.’s 7.9% gain, four live music stocks had an average gain of 1.7%. Eight recorded music and publishing stocks had an average gain of 0.5% and were led by HYBE’s 5.1% improvement. 

Close behind Spotify was Chinese music streamer Cloud Music, which gained 13.4% to HKD 79.35 ($10.12). Cloud Music gained 3% last week following mid-year results that showed revenue improved 33.8% to 4.26 billion RMB ($587 million). This week’s gain came amidst a report by Reuters that Cloud Music was forced by Chinese authorities to remove live streaming features that are sometimes used for illegal gambling. One analyst estimated the anti-gambling crackdown to eliminate 20% to 70% of live streaming revenue at Cloud Music, Tencent Music Entertainment and broadcasting platform Huya. 

Tencent Music Entertainment shares rose 8.5% to $7.03, cutting the stock’s year-to-date loss to 15.1%. LiveOne shares jumped 11.9% to $1.88. Shares of French music streamer Deezer were unchanged at 2.07 euros ($2.24).

The lone laggard amongst music streaming stocks this week was Abu Dhabi-based Anghami. With its share price down 8.5% this week — the worst performance in the Billboard Global Music Index — investors apparently don’t see Anghami’s need for debt financing as a positive sign for the company. Anghami shares dropped 11% on Thursday after the company announced in an SEC filing the sale of $5 million of convertible debt related to an investment by the venture arm of Saudi media company SRMG that was announced on August 23. After dropping another 9% to 81 cents on Friday, Anghami shares ended the week well below the $1 floor for companies trading on the Nasdaq. 

01 Sep 2023

Charter Spectrum Customers Experience ABC & ESPN Blackout Due To Dispute With Disney

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In this photo illustration the Charter Spectrum logo seen on...

Source: SOPA Images / Getty / Charter Spectrum

Charter Spectrum customers, unfortunately, got caught up in Charter Communications’ dispute with Disney.

Reuters reports Disney let Charter Communications and its customers know it was not playing when it pulled several channels, including ESPN and ABC, over an unresolved distribution agreement.

The move left Spectrum customers in massive markets like New York and Los Angeles in the dark and during significant sporting events like the return of College Football and the U.S. Open.

Charter Spectrum serves more than 32 million customers in 41 states and was paying Disney roughly $2.2 billion in annual programming costs.

Per Reuters:

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Charter flashed a message on screen that urged viewers to contact Disney. “We offered Disney a fair deal, yet they are demanding an excessive increase,” it read.

“The rising cost of programming is the single greatest factor in higher cable TV prices, and we are fighting to hold the line on programming rates imposed on us by companies like Disney.”

The dispute is mainly over sports network ESPN, which does not have a streaming service and is a big cable attraction despite losing subscribers each year to cord-cutting.

This Dispute Could Push Disney Into A Direct-to-Consumer Model

As expected, the “unresolved distribution” between the two companies is hurting both company’s stock prices. Reuters reports Spectrum’s shares fell 2% after losing what it describes as the “lynchpin” of its video service in ESPN.

Disney’s shares fell to 2.7%, joining other media companies, Warner Bros Discovery and Paramount Global, which lost between 4% and 6% thanks to down numbers on their streaming platforms.

The website further reports if this dispute continues, it could speed up the House of The Mouse’s direct-to-consumer ambitions. Returning CEO Bob Iger said the company is actively searching for a “strategic partner” to start a joint venture or purchase a stake in the sports network to bring it directly to customers.

—

Photo: SOPA Images / Getty

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01 Sep 2023

Electric Zoo Cancels Day 1 in New York

The first day of the Electric Zoo Festival on New York’s Randall’s Island was abruptly canceled hours before it was set to start, organizers announced Friday (Sept. 1) on X (formerly Twitter).

In the statement, organizers cited “global supply chain issues” as the cause of the cancellation and promised to reopen Saturday. Acts scheduled to play Friday include Kx5, Galantis, The Chainsmokers, Excision and many more.

“Despite our tireless efforts and round-the-clock commitment, we have made the painful decision to cancel the first day of Electric Zoo,” organizers wrote. “This year has presented unparalleled challenges for everyone. The global supply chain disruptions have impacted industries worldwide, and, sadly, our beloved festival has not been immune. These unexpected delays have prevented us from completing the construction of the main stage in time for Day 1.”

Fans who bought tickets for Friday will receive a refund. Fans with multiday tickets “will receive credit for one of the days” to be applied to a future event. The festival will now open at 1 p.m. on Saturday, and “we look forward to uniting with all of you to celebrate life and music, and dance through the sunset with the iconic backdrop of the New York skyline, right in the heart of New York City,” organizers wrote.

“While words cannot fully express the depth of our remorse about Day 1, please know that this decision was not made lightly,” organizers wrote. “We ask for your forgiveness and understanding during this challenging time. We are profoundly sorry for all the inconvenience and disappointment this will cause.”

The festival’s social media pages announced the news just after 11:30 a.m. ET Friday, hours before doors for the event were set to open at 3 p.m.

Made Events, launched by Long Island City husband-wife team Mike Bindra and Laura De Palm and creators of the long-running Electric Zoo festival, was sold to an investment group that owns the Avant Gardner nightclub and venue in Brooklyn in July 2022 for $15 million.

In 2014, Made Event was acquired by Bob Sillerman‘s electronic dance music conglomerate SFX, which filed for bankruptcy in 2016 and eventually landed in the hands of senior creditor Andrew Axelrod. SFX was rebranded as LiveStyle by former chief executive Randy Phillips, who managed the festival properties for Axelrod and led efforts to sell off SFX’s assets to new buyers. Made Event was the last U.S. festival property held by LiveStyle to be sold.