Category: news

Amazon Prime Video to start showing ads from January

UK customers will start seeing ads from February 4

The post Amazon Prime Video to start showing ads from January appeared first on NME.

NME

Amazon Prime Video has confirmed the dates from which it will introduce advert breaks in its shows.

The move was first announced back in September as a bid to increase the amount of money it invests in making original content.

Users in the US will start seeing ads on the streamer from January 29, while they will appear on UK and German users’ version of the service from February 4.

Amazon said the move would “allow us to continue investing in compelling content and keep increasing that investment over a long period of time”.

An ad-free version of Amazon Prime Video will be available for an extra £2.99 per month, but live content such as sports will continue to feature adverts. The company affirmed in an email to customers that it aims to “have meaningfully fewer ads than linear TV and other streaming TV providers” and will still offer “compelling value”.

Amazon plans on expanding adverts to other territories, including France, Italy, Spain, Mexico and Australia, later in 2024.

Some of Amazon’s rival streamers, including Disney+ and Netflix, have also brought in adverts in recent months, particularly as they have struggled to hold onto customers amid growing inflation worldwide.

MORZINE, FRANCE – APRIL 04: In this photo illustration, a TV remote control with Netflix and Amazon Prime Video streaming platform buttons is seen on April 04, 2023 near Morzine, France. Netflix is a US media that was founded in 1997 initially selling and renting DVDs. In 2007, Netflix introduced streaming media and video on demand and by 2013, the service began to acquire and produce original content. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images)

In other streaming news, Warner Bros. Discovery and Paramount Global have held talks for a potential merger that would see two of the world’s biggest media companies join together, according to reports.

The talks are in a “very early stage” and the merger may still not go ahead, sources close to the talks claim.

The merger would see the combination of two of Hollywood’s traditional “Big Five” studios. Warner and Paramount currently have a combined market value of around $38bn (£30bn).

Reports of a possible merger come as Paramount faces substantial pressure to find a buyer or forge a strategic partnership after it reported a long-term debt of $15.6bn. While it is considerably less than Warner Bros’ debt of $43.5bn, Warner Bros. Discovery still holds a greater market value –  $28.4bn over Paramount Global’s $10.3bn.

Both companies were hit hard as consumers transitioned from cable TV subscriptions to streaming services such as Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Apple TV+.

The post Amazon Prime Video to start showing ads from January appeared first on NME.

BRIAN FAIR On Making New SHADOWS FALL Music: ‘It’s Been A Blast’

During a recent episode of “Drinks With Johnny”, the Internet TV show hosted by AVENGED SEVENFOLD bassist Johnny Christ, SHADOWS FALL frontman Brian Fair spoke about the reunited band’s plans for new music. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET):…

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During a recent episode of "Drinks With Johnny", the Internet TV show hosted by AVENGED SEVENFOLD bassist Johnny Christ, SHADOWS FALL frontman Brian Fair spoke about the reunited band's plans for new music. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "We're pretty deep into the process. I'd say I'...

Paramore wipe their social media accounts, prompting fan speculation

The band had recently said there was “a level of uncertainty” about their future

The post Paramore wipe their social media accounts, prompting fan speculation appeared first on NME.

NME

Paramore have wiped all of their official social media accounts and taken down their website, prompting fans to speculate about their future.

The trio, comprised of frontwoman Hayley Williams, guitarist Taylor York and drummer Zac Farro, have taken down all posts and images from their X, Facebook and Instagram profiles, while their official website now just displays a 404 error message.

Earlier this month, the band said there was a “level of uncertainty” about their future. Following the completion of their tour to support sixth album, ‘This Is Why’, they spoke about how they have now fulfilled all of their label obligations and are now essentially free agents.

At that time, they made a point of reassuring fans that they will remain together and continue to have fun. Williams said: “The only thing that matters is we will still get to be each other’s community,” with Farro adding: “I just hope we can keep building the Paramore empire and then rule the world.”

Check out some reactions to Paramore’s mysterious actions below:

Paramore are set to be the opening act for the latest European leg of Taylor Swift’s all-conquering ‘Eras’ tour, with dates running from May to July 2024.

In a five-star review of ‘This Is Why’, NME said: “Paramore are reaching to where, finally, their music has wanted to get to for the best part of the past decade. Rather than try to top their peerless anthems, the band have instead uncovered a new warmth on ‘This Is Why’, and the effect is triumphant indeed.”

Earlier this year, Paramore told NME that they consider the release to be “the scariest record we’ve ever made.”

“We were grounded and feeling confident in one aspect of our lives and we were in such a safe bubble,” Williams said. “Then we knew we were going to make something that wasn’t in that safe bubble and that was terrifying. The expectation is the main thing that would slow us down. There’s a lot more people waiting than there was the last time we did this.”

The post Paramore wipe their social media accounts, prompting fan speculation appeared first on NME.

Tales from The Farm with Festival Photographer Yvonne Gougelet: The What Podcast

From attending Bonnaroo on less than a dime to starting “Babes & Beards of Bonnaroo.”

Tales from The Farm with Festival Photographer Yvonne Gougelet: The What Podcast
Jonah Krueger

Consequence

Note: The player above automatically displays the latest episode. To see past episodes, click the “playlist” button (three parallel lines) in the bottom right corner of the player. Listen via Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts | Amazon Music | Radio Public | TheWhatPodcast.com | RSS For now, the 2024 lineup for Bonnaroo remains a mystery. So, instead of participating in rampant…

Please click the link below to read the full article.

Original RATOS DE PORÃO Bassist JARBAS ‘JABÁ’ ALVES Dead At 60

Jarbas “Jabá” Alves, original bassist for Brazilian crossover legends RATOS DE PORÃO (Portuguese for “Basement Rats”), has died at the age of 60.
RATOS DE PORÃO announced Jabá’s passing in a social media post on Tuesday (December 26), writing…

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Jarbas "Jabá" Alves, original bassist for Brazilian crossover legends RATOS DE PORÃO (Portuguese for "Basement Rats"), has died at the age of 60. RATOS DE PORÃO announced Jabá's passing in a social media post on Tuesday (December 26), writing: "Rest in peace friend Jarbas". Jabá's cause of...

New QUEENSRŸCHE Book ‘Roads To Madness: The Touring History Of Queensrÿche (1981-1997)’ Due In March

“Roads To Madness: The Touring History Of Queensrÿche (1981-1997)” is now available for pre-order at nwmetalworxmusic.com. The book will be published in March 2024.
QUEENSRŸCHE is one of the pioneers of progressive heavy metal. “Roads To Madness” cover…

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"Roads To Madness: The Touring History Of Queensrÿche (1981-1997)" is now available for pre-order at nwmetalworxmusic.com. The book will be published in March 2024. QUEENSRŸCHE is one of the pioneers of progressive heavy metal. "Roads To Madness" covers the band's beginnings in the 1980s as an openi...

John Cleese apologises for comparing Donald Trump to Adolf Hitler

The comedian had posted a list of ways in which Hitler was “preferable” to Trump

The post John Cleese apologises for comparing Donald Trump to Adolf Hitler appeared first on NME.

NME

John Cleese has apologised after joking in a social media post about a list of ways in which Adolf Hitler was “preferable” to Donald Trump. 

The Monty Python comedian had posted the original message on his X account in the early hours of Wednesday (December 27), before adding the follow-up apology four minutes later. 

“Five ways that Hitler was preferable to Trump,” read the first tweet. “1. He fought for his country. 2. He never used a teleprompter. 3. He was nice to dogs. 4. He wrote his own books. 5. He never played golf. 6. He wasn’t a big fat slob.” 

“Five ways Trump is preferable to Hitler,” it continued. “1. He doesn’t practice genocide. 2. He has nicer hair.” The post then continued by listing the numbers 3, 4 and 5, followed by blank spaces. 

Cleese swiftly followed up on the post with a second, writing: “I would like to apologise for my last tweet. It was a very bad joke, especially on Boxing Day.” 

Cleese went on to engage with some of the replies to the original tweet. After one poster said they had screenshot the tweet, Cleese wrote, “receiving insults from the literal minded is like being booed by a flock of sheep.” 

Another asked him why he would make the comparison, to which he said: “Because I’ve never tried to amuse the simple-minded. There are plenty of comics who do, and you will enjoy them.” 

Cleese started hosting his show The Dinosaur Hour on GB News in October, although he revealed that he had been struggling to secure guests to discuss “woke issues”. 

“There’s a good part to woke, and a bad part,” Cleese said at the time. “The good part is that it’s good and kind to be nice to people. Some people think that’s all it is. There’s also quite a threatening side, almost a totalitarian side.” 

Earlier this year, Cleese announced plans to reboot Fawlty Towers with his daughter Camilla. The new series would focus on the relationship between Basil and his daughter as they manage a hotel together in the Caribbean. A release date has yet to be announced. 

He later commented that the new show had been snubbed by the BBC after saying the broadcaster would not allow him sufficient creative freedom to make it his way. 

The post John Cleese apologises for comparing Donald Trump to Adolf Hitler appeared first on NME.

BOYSNEXTDOOR’s agency apologise over bodyguard’s alleged violence against fans

“We have taken measures to ensure that the security personnel in question is not assigned to our artist on-site in the future.” 

The post BOYSNEXTDOOR’s agency apologise over bodyguard’s alleged violence against fans appeared first on NME.

NME

The agency representing BOYNEXTDOOR has apologised following controversy around an incident involving a fan and the group’s bodyguards at an airport. 

A video had been circulating appearing to show one of the K-pop group’s security guards pushing a fan to the floor at Qingdao Jiaodong International Airport in China. 

In response, KOZ Entertainment, which manages the group, have issued a formal apology about the incident. 

BOYNEXTDOOR. Credit: KOZ Entertainment / HYBE

“We apologize to the fans for the problem caused by the inappropriate actions of a bodyguard who was performing security duties for BOYNEXTDOOR on December 16 at the Qingdao airport,” they wrote. 

“We apologized separately to the person who was directly harmed [in the incident], and for the sake of aftercare, we are currently asking them about their mental and physical health, as well as whether there was any damage to their belongings,” it continues. “We have taken measures to ensure that the security personnel in question is not assigned to our artist on-site in the future.” 

“We will do everything we can to strengthen guidance and education of our security personnel so that this problem does not reoccur in the future.” 

The six-piece group from Seoul released their debut mini-album ‘WHY..’ in September via KOZ Entertainment, which also included the songs that made up the previous release ‘Who!’ in May. 

BOYNEXTDOOR – comprising Sungho, Riwoo, Jaehyun, Taesan, Leehan and Woonhak – are the first and only K-pop group so far to debut under KOZ Entertainment. Founded by rapper Zico, KOZ Entertainment is a subsidiary label under HYBE Labels, alongside other notable sublabels such as Source Music, Pledis Entertainment and Big Hit Music. 

The post BOYSNEXTDOOR’s agency apologise over bodyguard’s alleged violence against fans appeared first on NME.

BOYSNEXTDOOR’s agency apologise over bodyguard’s alleged violence against fans

“We have taken measures to ensure that the security personnel in question is not assigned to our artist on-site in the future.” 

The post BOYSNEXTDOOR’s agency apologise over bodyguard’s alleged violence against fans appeared first on NME.

NME

The agency representing BOYNEXTDOOR has apologised following controversy around an incident involving a fan and the group’s bodyguards at an airport. 

A video had been circulating appearing to show one of the K-pop group’s security guards pushing a fan to the floor at Qingdao Jiaodong International Airport in China. 

In response, KOZ Entertainment, which manages the group, have issued a formal apology about the incident. 

BOYNEXTDOOR. Credit: KOZ Entertainment / HYBE

“We apologize to the fans for the problem caused by the inappropriate actions of a bodyguard who was performing security duties for BOYNEXTDOOR on December 16 at the Qingdao airport,” they wrote. 

“We apologized separately to the person who was directly harmed [in the incident], and for the sake of aftercare, we are currently asking them about their mental and physical health, as well as whether there was any damage to their belongings,” it continues. “We have taken measures to ensure that the security personnel in question is not assigned to our artist on-site in the future.” 

“We will do everything we can to strengthen guidance and education of our security personnel so that this problem does not reoccur in the future.” 

The six-piece group from Seoul released their debut mini-album ‘WHY..’ in September via KOZ Entertainment, which also included the songs that made up the previous release ‘Who!’ in May. 

BOYNEXTDOOR – comprising Sungho, Riwoo, Jaehyun, Taesan, Leehan and Woonhak – are the first and only K-pop group so far to debut under KOZ Entertainment. Founded by rapper Zico, KOZ Entertainment is a subsidiary label under HYBE Labels, alongside other notable sublabels such as Source Music, Pledis Entertainment and Big Hit Music. 

The post BOYSNEXTDOOR’s agency apologise over bodyguard’s alleged violence against fans appeared first on NME.

Shane MacGowan’s widow reacts to Wham! beating The Pogues to Christmas Number One

She had endorsed the campaign to get ‘Fairytale of New York’ to the top spot

The post Shane MacGowan’s widow reacts to Wham! beating The Pogues to Christmas Number One appeared first on NME.

NME

Shane MacGowan’s widow Victoria Mary Clarke has reacted to the news that The Pogues’ ‘Fairytale of New York’ was beaten to Christmas Number One by Wham!’s ‘Last Christmas’. 

Writing on X, she posted a link to the George Michael/Andrew Ridgeley track and said: “I love Wham!!! We loved George.” 

Wham! claimed the top spot on Friday (December 22), finally landing the coveted Christmas Number One for the first time after 39 years. 

It made history as having the longest-ever journey to the UK Christmas Number One, after being held off the top on its original release in 1984 by Band Aid’s ‘Do They Know It’s Christmas?’. 

Clarke had previously endorsed the campaign to get ‘Fairytale of New York’ to Number One, saying she was “very much in favour” of the track topping the charts. “It would be nice, wouldn’t it?” she said. “It should be the Christmas number one. It absolutely should.” 

Proceeds from ‘Fairytale of New York’ are going to Dublin Simon Community this year, a charity supported by MacGowan and Clarke. MacGowan was laid to rest on December 8 after he died from pneumonia in hospital, aged 65, on November 30. 

In response to news of ‘Last Christmas’ success, Wham!’s Andrew Ridgeley wrote that “George would be beside himself [that] after all of these years, [we’ve] finally obtained Christmas Number One. Yog [George] said that he wrote Last Christmas with the intention of writing a Christmas Number One. It’s mission accomplished!” 

‘Last Christmas’ was streamed a staggering 13.3 million times over the past seven days, according to Official Charts Company data – the most-streamed Christmas Number 1 ever during Christmas week. It has become the UK’s third biggest song of all time with a combined lifetime total of 5.34m chart units, comprising 1.93m sales and nearly 413 million streams. 

As well as ‘Last Christmas’ and ‘Fairytale of New York’, contenders for the Number One included Sam Ryder’s ‘You’re Christmas to Me’ and Mariah Carey’s ‘All I Want For Christmas is You’. 

Earlier this week, Harry Hill re-shared Shane MacGowan‘s festive cameo from the 2010 Christmas special of TV Burp, in which MacGowan deadpans his way through a duet with a giant beluga whale.

The post Shane MacGowan’s widow reacts to Wham! beating The Pogues to Christmas Number One appeared first on NME.

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