by Frankie Taggart Agence France-Presse LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — Four-time Grammy winner Lionel Richie cemented his legacy in Hollywood Wednesday, plunging his feet and hands into a wet paving slab at the forecourt of the iconic TCL Chinese Theatre. The 68-year-old R&B singer, a former frontman for Motown legends The Commodores, has sold more than 100 million records over a career spanning six decades. “This is almost beyond the childhood dream,” Richie told […]
Tag: entertainment
‘The Shape of Water’ makes a splash at Oscars
by Frankie Taggart Agence France Presse HOLLYWOOD, United States (AFP) — Fantasy romance “The Shape of Water” took home the best picture Oscar on Sunday, capping an awards season which has seen the film lavished with acclaim and glittering trophies. Guillermo del Toro’s Cold War-era story of love between a mute cleaning woman and a mystery merman-like creature being held in a top secret government laboratory in Baltimore has dominated Hollywood’s annual prize-giving season. […]
Five things to watch on Oscars night
by Frankie Taggart Agence France-Presse HOLLYWOOD, United States (AFP) — All eyes will be on the battle for Oscars supremacy between “The Shape of Water” and “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri” on Sunday. But if there’s one thing previous ceremonies have demonstrated, it’s that it’s a good idea never to expect the expected on Hollywood’s biggest night. Here are five things to watch for: The specter of ‘Envelopegate’ It may have been the most embarrassing […]
Spotify, controversial king of music streaming
by Gaël Branchereau Agence France-Presse STOCKHOLM, Sweden (AFP) — Spotify may uncontestably be the king of music streaming, but as the Swedish firm prepares for a stock listing, there is still a divide whether its reign is benign or not for artists and the music industry. “We really do believe that we can improve the world, one song at a time,” Spotify’s 35-year-old chief executive and co-founder Daniel Ek said in the documents filed to […]
Shakira pays 20 mn euros to Spain taxman: report
MADRID, Spain (AFP) — Superstar Shakira has handed over more than 20 million euros ($24.6 million) to tax authorities in Spain, a report said Tuesday, accused of not paying taxes despite being a resident between 2011 and 2014. Catalan daily El Periodico reported that the Colombian award-winning singer had paid the money “to settle part of the debt claimed by Spain’s tax authorities”, corresponding to what she allegedly owes for 2011. The fiscal authorities filed […]
25 years later, The Breeders revive distinct rock voice
by Shaun TANDON Agence France-Presse NEW YORK, United States (AFP) — When The Breeders reunited in 2013 to mark 20 years since “Last Splash,” it looked like a straightforward nostalgia tour for an album that had become an alternative rock cornerstone. “We had a great time and people responded and loved it. And then we started getting calls to do shows in 2014 and so, hmmm, that was technically not a 20th anniversary anymore,” Kim […]
Ed Sheeran named world’s best-selling artist of 2017
LONDON, United Kingdom (AFP) — British folk-pop phenomenon Ed Sheeran on Monday was named the best-selling artist in the world in 2017 by the global recorded music industry group IFPI. Sheeran’s ÷ (Divide) was the best-selling album of last year and “Shape of You” was the best-selling single, London-based IFPI said in its announcement. Sheeran is the fifth recipient of the Global Recording Artist of the Year Award after One Direction (2013), Taylor Swift (2014), […]
Weinstein Company will file for bankruptcy: media
LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — The Weinstein Company will file for bankruptcy, US media reported on Sunday, after prosecutors sought to impose conditions on a sale of the firm co-founded by disgraced Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein. The company has been in freefall since accusations of sexual harassment, assault and rape began emerging in October against Weinstein, who steered numerous films to Academy Awards glory including “The Artist,” “The King’s Speech” and “The Iron […]
‘Black Panther’ again slays North American box office
LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — Disney’s “Black Panther” sunk its claws into the top spot once again this weekend at the North American box office, taking an estimated $108 million, industry estimates showed Sunday. Following a record-shattering opening weekend — raking in $242.2 million — the frenzy to see the 18th entry in the Marvel Cinematic Universe continued, bringing total earnings to an astronomical $400 million in just 10 days, according to tracker Exhibitor […]
Hong Kong harbour gets star attraction with sculpture park
HONG KONG, China (AFP) — Hong Kong’s harbourfront is known for glistening skyscrapers and the sight of containerships navigating busy shipping lanes — but a new art project has added a giant pumpkin, a map of the stars and a pair of disembodied legs to the famous skyline. The Harbour Arts Sculpture Park, which officially opened on Thursday, is a collection of works by 19 local and international artists including Britain’s Antony Gormley and Tracey […]
‘Girl with Pearl Earring’ to undergo public examination
THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AFP) — One of the world’s most famous paintings “Girl with a Pearl Earring” is to undergo a two-week scientific examination in front of curious visitors to the Dutch museum where it lives. The luminescent tableau painted by Dutch master Johannes Vermeer around 1665 was last examined in 1994 during a conservation treatment at the Mauritshuis museum in the centre of The Hague. “Although further restoration is not yet required, major advances […]
Dua Lipa, Stormzy take top Brit awards
LONDON, United Kingdom (AFP) — Rising British pop singer Dua Lipa and grime star Stormzy were the early winners at the Brit Awards on Wednesday as folk-pop hit machine Ed Sheeran missed out at a packed O2 Arena in London. US superstar Justin Timberlake kicked off the show with a stirring performance of hit single “Say Something,” backed by scores of singers. London-born Dua Lipa, who is of Kosovan background, beat off Paloma Faith, Laura […]





