Blogs

Week In Review

By Elissa Hecker posted 5 days ago
By Giancarla Sambo Edited by Elissa D. Hecker Below, for your browsing convenience, the categories are divided into: Entertainment, Arts, Sports, Technology/Media, and General News: Entertainment Morrissey Launches Legal Action Against Alleged Online Fraudster, As Web Sheriff Investigation Uncovers ‘Decades-Long Defamation Campaign’ In 2022, Cardi B won a libel case against a YouTuber for defamatory statements. Recently, K-pop giant HYBE has moved to unmask anonymous YouTubers who are allegedly spreading misinformation about its artists. With AI-generated deepfakes, the distinction between legitimate criticism ...

This Week in Theater News

By Elissa Hecker posted 8 days ago
By Bennett Liebman Obit for William Finn, William Finn, Tony-Winning Composer for ‘Falsettos,’ Dies at 73 - The New York Times Life of William Finn, The Loose Screws, Hot Flames and Infinite Joy of William Finn - The New York Times End the NEA, End the National Endowment for the Arts | Cato Institute Trump Defunds Arts programs, Jewish cultural institutions reeling as Trump defunds arts and humanities – The Forward Lawsuit Seeking Restoration of NEA Funding Denied, AMERICAN THEATRE | ACLU-Led Lawsuit for NEA Funding Relief Denied Trump Takes Axe to Humanities Agency, New York Attorney General joins lawsuit against ...

This Week in New York Gambling

By Elissa Hecker posted 8 days ago
y Bennett Liebman Goodbye to the Saks Casino, Saks Fifth Avenue abandons NYC casino project before contest opens | Crain's New York Business Favorites in the Casino Race, Favorites and underdogs in the race to build a casino in the New York City area (MGM:NYSE) | Seeking Alpha Transit Wins with Wynn, Wynn's NYC casino plan gets key Planning Commission approval — CDC Gaming Related Wins City Planning Approvals, Related Wins Support of City Planning Commission for Hudson Yards Casino – Commercial Observer Protect the High Line Opposing Wynn, Protect the High Line Pushes Bottcher to Oppose Wynn Casino Will ...

Week In Review

By Elissa Hecker posted 11 days ago
By Lorena Guzmán-Díaz Edited by Elissa D. Hecker Below, for your browsing convenience, the categories are divided into: Entertainment, Arts, Sports, Technology/Media, and General News. Entertainment Federal Communications Commission Chairman Orders Inquiry Into Disney’s D.E.I. Practices The chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, Brendan Carr, has initiated an inquiry into Disney's diversity, equity, and inclusion (D.E.I.) practices. Carr accused Disney of potentially violating equal employment opportunity regulations by implementing programs that increase diversity in hiring and promoting race-based affinity ...

This Week in Theater News

By Elissa Hecker posted 15 days ago
By Bennett Liebman Review of Glengarry Glen Ross, Review: ‘Glengarry Glen Ross’ With Kieran Culkin, Bob Odenkirk and Bill Burr - The New York Times WaPo on Glengarry, Glengarry Glen Ross review: Kieran Culkin and other stars are better on TV - The Washington Post Sara Bareilles’ First Original Musical, Sara Bareilles teases first original music she’s written since Covid: ‘Heavy’ but ‘cathartic’ Reimagining Death Becomes Her, Reimagining "Death Becomes Her" for Broadway - CBS News Early Look at Smash, 'Smash' on Broadway stars Brooks Ashmanskas. Our early look Sarah Snook in Dorian Gray, BROADWAY REVIEW: ...

This Week in New York Gambling News

By Elissa Hecker posted 15 days ago
By Bennett Liebman Trump Will Profit from Bronx casino, If New York Puts a Casino in the Bronx, Trump Will Get $115 Million - The New York Times Casino Sweepstakes May Aid Trump, New York's casino sweepstakes could put $115M in Donald Trump's pocket | AP News Bronx Pols Push Bally’s Bid, Bronx pols push bill to aid Bally's bid to build casino on parkland Steve Cohen Casino Bid Adds Affordable Housing, Steve Cohen, Hard Rock NYC casino proposal now includes affordable housing in Queens — CDC Gaming Drilling at Citi Field, Mets Owners Are Already Drilling at Citi Field — Without NYC Casino Bid Settled | THE CITY ...

Week In Review

By Elissa Hecker posted 18 days ago
By Jessie Schuster Edited by Elissa D. Hecker Entertainment ‘Moana’ Verdict An LA jury decided there was no evidence that “Moana” creators had seen the unproduced project, “Bucky the Surfer Boy”, and therefore Disney was cleared of copyright infringement claims brought against it. The case was half a decade long and cost millions of dollars in legal fees. https://copyrightlately.com/moana-verdict-delivers-another-no-access-reality-check-for-courts/ Judge Rules That AI Can Continue Training on Copyrighted Lyrics, For Now While a judge ruled that an AI can continue using copyrighted lyrics for ...

Week In Review

By Elissa Hecker posted 25 days ago
By Celine Agard Edited By Elissa D. Hecker Entertainment Investigation Into Leaked Eminem Recordings Reveals an Inside Job — Federal Charges Now Being Filed Joseph Strange, a former sound engineer for Eminem, is facing federal charges for allegedly stealing and selling the rapper's unreleased music. Strange, who worked for Eminem from 2007 to 2021, reportedly sold the music over the internet, leading to leaks. The FBI launched an investigation after staff at Eminem's studio discovered the stolen music online. Strange is charged with criminal copyright infringement and interstate transportation of stolen goods. During a search ...

Week In Review (delayed due to technical website issues)

By Elissa Hecker posted 30 days ago
By Christine Coleman Edited by Elissa D. Hecker Entertainment The Trump Administration Is Upending the AI Race. What Does That Mean for Music? As the administration appears to be taking a more bullish stance on AI, industry experts weigh in on the possible consequences for musicians and rights holders. https://www.billboard.com/pro/trump-upending-ai-race-what-does-that-mean-music/#recipient_hashed=a56884b15f52a23930fd1cad4e8531916b52ea8a19835c4c08439717bda510c4&recipient_salt=331e198496565af19d43589a05b00e746cab0e5da267831ac69c84c80e8cbc22&utm_medium=email&utm_source=exacttarget&utm_campaign=billboard_MustRead&utm_content=593405_03-13-2025&utm_term=1439336 ...

Week In Review

By Elissa Hecker posted 03-10-2025
By Seth Nguyen Edited by Elissa D. Hecker Below, for your browsing convenience, the categories are divided into: Entertainment, Arts, Sports, Technology/Media, and General News. Entertainment Drake and iHeartMedia settle lawsuit over ‘Not Like Us’ payola dispute Drake settled a legal dispute with iHeartMedia over the promotion of Kendrick Lamar's diss track "Not Like Us." However, his legal battles continue with UMG and Spotify, alleging unfair streaming tactics and defamation. He also filed a petition accusing UMG of orchestrating the song's success to harm him. https://routenote.com/blog/drake-iheartmedia-lawsuit-settled/ ...

Week In Review

By Elissa Hecker posted 03-03-2025
By Giancarla Sambo Edited by Elissa D. Hecker Below, for your browsing convenience, the categories are divided into: Entertainment, Arts, Sports, Technology/Media, and General News: Entertainment Missouri Woman Pleads Guilty in Brazen Plot to Sell Graceland A Missouri woman pleaded guilty to federal charges of attempting to defraud Elvis Presley's family by auctioning off Graceland. In a Memphis hearing, Lisa Jeanine Findley admitted to mail fraud. She previously pleaded not guilty to a two-count indictment, including aggravated identity theft dropped. https://www.cbsnews.com/amp/news/graceland-foreclosure-sale-scheme-fraud-guilty-plea-lisa-jeanine-findley/ ...

This Week in New York Gambling News

By Elissa Hecker posted 02-28-2025
By Bennett Liebman Empty Stands at Racetracks, Opinion | Dead Athletes. Empty Stands. Billions to Keep Horse Racing Alive. - The New York Times Mayor Adams Will Influence Casino Selection, NYC Mayor Adams Will Continue To Influence Casino Licensing Borough President Opposes Wynn Casino, Manhattan Borough President Opposes Wynn's Hudson Yards Plan Approval Uncertain for Cohen Casino, Pitch for casino near Citi Field heads to New York City Council; state approval uncertain — CDC Gaming New Members on casino Board, NYC casinos board shaken up by unexplained resignations | Crain's New York Business Concerns ...

This Week in Theater News

By Elissa Hecker posted 02-28-2025
By Bennett Liebman Buena Vista Starts Strong, ‘Buena Vista’ starts strong, ‘Wicked’ remains on top while overall box office slips Equity and the Broadway League Reach Agreement, Actors' Equity And The Broadway League Reach Agreement On Thorny Issues Around New Work Development Original Cast Returns to Oh Mary, Cole Escola and entire original cast to return to ‘Oh, Mary!’ on Broadway Sarah Snook Readies for Broadway, Sarah Snook in Rehearsals for Broadway's 'The Picture of Dorian Gray' (Exclusive Photos) English and Theater Language, The director of 'English' on Broadway talks about the importance of language in and ...

Week In Review

By Elissa Hecker posted 02-24-2025
By Lorena Guzmán-Díaz Edited by Elissa D. Hecker Below, for your browsing convenience, the categories are divided into: Entertainment, Arts, Sports, Technology/Media, and General News. Entertainment The Fight to Protect Your Royalties in Washington A new coalition of music licensees and their Washington lobbyists are seeking to change the performing rights licensing system used by organizations like ASCAP, potentially leading to lower royalties for music creators. The U.S. Copyright Office has issued a Notice of Inquiry in response to this lobbying effort, prompting music creators and copyright owners to share ...

This Week in Theater News

By Elissa Hecker posted 02-21-2025
By Bennett Liebman Box Office Boost for Presidents’ Day Weekend, ‘Romeo + Juliet’ exits on a high; most shows get a Presidents’ Day weekend boost Boffo Ending for Romeo, Broadway Box Office: 'Romeo + Juliet' Ends Run on $1.5M High Artists protest NEA, Artists protest new NEA restrictions : NPR Artists Call for NEA Rollback, Hundreds of Artists Call on N.E.A. to Roll Back Trump’s Restrictions - The New York Times The Kennedy Center Under Trump, What's Going on With the Kennedy Center Under Trump? , AP Fund Raising at the Kennedy Center, At Kennedy Center, Trump Inherits a Tough Job: Fund-Raising - The New York Times ...

This Week in New York Gambling News

By Elissa Hecker posted 02-21-2025
By Bennett Liebman Manhattan Borough President Opposes Wynn Casino, Manhattan president opposes Wynn's New York casino Wynn-Related-Casino Expands Benefits, Exclusive | Developer behind Hudson Yards casino promises $200M to butter up neighbors in face of growing opposition Wynn-Related Developers Get Grilled, City Grills Developers Over Hudson Yards Casino Plan at Western Rail Yards Coney Island Artists Concerned about Casino, Coney Island artists concerned about controversial casino proposal - CBS New York Cohen Casino Lands Zoning Changes, Queens Casino Plan Lands Important Zoning Changes Cohen Casino ...

AI & IP Panel Discussion: A Global Perspective on Warfare of Art and Law Podcast

By Elissa Hecker posted 02-17-2025
By Stephanie Drawdy Stephanie Drawdy is an artist, attorney, and host of "Warfare of Art and Law" podcast. Her practice includes writing and lecturing on art law issues with a focus on socio-technical concerns. How successful might an AI/IP treaty be? How does existing law stand up in the face of efforts to mold it to emerging technologies? A robust debate was had on these and other AI/IP queries during a recent panel discussion on Warfare of Art and Law podcast . The six-member panel was comprised of professionals from across the globe with backgrounds in the arts, law, and technology, who highlighted a range of concerns and insights. ...

Week In Review

By Elissa Hecker posted 02-17-2025
By, Jessie Schuster Edited by Elissa D. Hecker Entertainment Sean Combs Files $100M Defamation Lawsuit Against NBC, Peacock Over Diddy Doc Disgraced rapper Sean Combs has filed a $100M defamation suit against NBC and Peacock following the release of the networks’ new documentary that focused on the fall of Diddy. https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/sean-diddy-combs-defamation-lawsuit-nbc-peacock-documentary-1235263887/ The MLC Asks Court to Reconsider Dismissal of Spotify ‘Bundling’ Lawsuit The MLC is asking the U.S. District Court for SDNY to reconsider the January dismissal of the MLC’s original ...

This Week in New York Gambling News

By Elissa Hecker posted 02-14-2025
y Bennett Liebman Breaking Down the Casino Bids, Breaking down every 2025 New York casino license bid - City & State New York Genting and MGM Seen as Leaders, Genting, MGM Seen as Leaders for New York Casino Licenses Key Dates in Casino Licensing Process, Here are the key dates in New York’s casino licensing timeline - City & State New York Environmentalists Object to Sands Casino, Long Island Environmentalist Group Objects to Sands Casino Wynn-Related Casino Bid Sweetens Offerings to Neighbors, Exclusive | Developer behind Hudson Yards casino promises $200M to butter up neighbors in face of growing opposition ...

This Week in Theater News

By Elissa Hecker posted 02-14-2025
By Bennett Liebman Winter Doldrums on Broadway, Gross dips but capacity holds steady as Broadway hits standard winter doldrums Wicked Defies Gravity, Broadway Grosses Analysis: Wicked Continues to Defy Gravity As Snow Falls on Broadway | Playbill Reviews for Redwood, The Reviews Are In for Redwood on Broadway | Playbill Tikkun Olam on Broadway, Idina Menzel's musical 'Redwood' has a song about Tikkun Olam – The Forward Trump’s NEA Guidelines, AMERICAN THEATRE | New NEA Guidelines Require Compliance With Trump’s Anti-DEI, Anti-Trans Orders NEA and DEI Programs, Arts org will no longer fund cultural institutions ...