#Iran singer, artists sentenced to 74 lashes each over concert. An Iranian court sentenced a prominent singer named Parastoo Ahmadi and a group of seven fellow artists to 74 lashes each after they livestreamed a performance on YouTube, according to her videographer and local media.

The concert featured Ahmadi singing powerful, mournful songs to an empty audience, on a dimly-lit stage adorned solely with a large Persian carpet in the grounds of a traditional caravanserai complex.

Ahmadi was backed by a pianist, drummer, guitarist and bassist.

All the musicians wore black, with Ahmadi dressed in a long, strappy gown and wearing deep red lipstick, in a country where women are banned from singing in public.

They are also required to dress modestly and wear the headscarf.

🇨🇩 Fally Ipupa: le roi de la #Rumba congolaise fait chevalier de l'ordre des Léopards

Taylor Swift announces new song for ‘Toy Story 5’ “You knew it! My new original song ‘I Knew It, I Knew You’ for Disney and Pixar’s Toy Story 5 will be yours on June 5th,” she wrote on X on Monday.

The songwriter, winner of 14 Grammy awards, said she had “adored” the characters of the Toy Story franchise since the first movie came out in 1995.

“Toy Story 5” will be released in theatres worldwide from June 17. It features Woody the cowboy, Buzz Lightyear and their gang of toys fighting for survival against competition from technology, particularly a tablet.

Swift’s fans had been speculating for weeks about her involvement in the latest Toy Story film, after a countdown timer appeared on her website against a background reminiscent of the wallpaper in the bedroom of the original film’s hero, Andy.

Late last week, billboards with that background and the initials TS — which the singer and the film share — began appearing in major cities in multiple countries.

Swift, 36, is engaged to American football player Travis Kelce, who is also 36. Their wedding will take place in New York on July 3, according to celebrity media site People.

#Bulgaria wins the 70th #Eurovision song contest with the party anthem ‘Bangaranga’. Dara beat 24 other competitors during Saturday’s grand final in Vienna. The song’s infectious beats and tightly choreographed dance routine proved a hit with both national juries and viewers, whose votes together decide the winner.

#Israeli competitor Noam Bettan came second after a contest clouded by protests against t he country’s participation.

#Dara is an established name in her homeland and a mentor on “The Voice Bulgaria,” but had not been among the favorites to win. Still, “Bangaranga” is the sort of pop banger that Eurovision does so well, with its irresistible exhortation: “Surrender to the blinding lights. No one’s gonna sleep tonight. Welcome to the riot.”

Romania’s Alexandra Căpitănescu came third with the provocatively titled rock song “Choke Me.” Australian star Delta Goodrem was fourth with the slick midtempo ballad “Eclipse,” and Italian crooner Sal Da Vinci came fifth with “Per Sempre Si,” or “Forever Yes.”

The Finnish duo of pop star Pete Parkkonen and classical violinist Linda Lampenius, who were strong favorite on betting markets, ended up in sixth place.

#Eurovision historian Dean Vuletic said the contest often produces surprises.

“Eurovision has never really been a contest for big stars. It’s largely been a contest for underdogs,” Vuletic said. “People like to see the underdog on stage. They like to the artist-in-the-making on stage or an artist from a smaller, poorer country on stage.”
Eclectic and outrageous acts

After a week’s buildup, acts from 25 countries took the stage at the Wiener Stadthalle arena in Vienna to battle for the continent’s pop crown. Millions of viewers around the world cast judgment on a fiery Finnish violinist, a Moldovan folk rapper, a Serbian metal band and many more at Eurovision’s 70th anniversary event.

The campy, colorful contest has been likened to the World Cup with songs instead of soccer. And like global sports, it often becomes entangled in politics. The contest has been clouded for a third year by calls for Israel to be excluded over its conflicts in Gaza and elsewhere, with five longtime participants -- Spain, the Netherlands, Ireland, Iceland and Slovenia -- boycotting in protest.

The political tensions have clouded a contest that over the decades has given the world the perfect pop of ABBA’s “Waterloo” and the ageless “Nel blu, dipinto di blu” -- better known as “Volare” -- along with a host of Euro-pop party anthems.

The musicians had just 3 minutes to win over viewers. Jets of flame, glitter guns and wind machines worked overtime in a show that celebrated Europe’s eclectic musical tastes.

Serbian metal band Kravina offered hard rock angst, while Albania’s Alis used a brooding choral sound to pay tribute to mothers on “Nan,” while Cypriot contestant Antigoni had the crowd on its feet with dance floor filer “Jalla.”

British act Look Mum No Computer’s jokey novelty song “Eins, Zwei, Drei” came last.

Female solo artists dominated: an empowering power ballad from Germany’s Sarah Engels, gospel-tinged R&B from Poland’s Alicja, ethereal beauty from Ukraine’s Leleka, techno-pop from Sweden’s Felicia. and opera-pop from France’s Monroe.

Male soloists were well represented too, by the likes of Aidan from Malta, Denmark’s Søren Torpegaard Lund, rock-edged singer Jonas Lovv from Norway and Austria’s Cosmo.

Party rap with a political edge was in the house thanks to Satoshi’s ebullient “Viva, Moldova” and Greek artist Akylas’ “Ferto.”
Protests express opposition to Israel

Bettan was loudly cheered, though there was a smattering of boos as he performed “Michelle,” a rock ballad in Hebrew, French and English. Earlier in the week, four people were ejected for trying to disrupt his semifinal performance.

Street protests opposing Israel’s inclusion over the conduct of its war against Hamas in Gaza have been smaller in Vienna than at the 2024 contest in Malmo, Sweden and last year’s event in Basel, Switzerland.

Hundreds marched near the contest arena before Saturday’s final, some holding placards saying “Block Eurovision.” Pro-Palestinian groups also staged an outdoor concert on Friday under the banner “No stage for genocide.”

“Inviting Israel on such a beautiful stage as the Eurovision Song Contest stage is an affront to all the people who believe in humanity, who believe in love and togetherness,” said Congolese-Austrian artist Patrick Bongola, one of the organizers.

The five-nation boycott is a revenue and viewership blow to an event that organizers say was watched by 166 million people around the world last year.

Still, Eurovision is eyeing expansion, with a spinoff Eurovision Song Contest Asia due to take place in Bangkok in November.

Eurovision director Martin Green urged viewers to put politics aside and enjoy the “brilliant, wonderful, heartfelt show.”

Vuletic says political controversy is nothing new. The first Eurovision boycott was in 1969 -- ironically, by Austria, which refused to send a delegation to Spain under dictator Francisco Franco.

“We’ve seen very politicized editions of the contest in the recent past,” Vuletic said. “All of them were very much mired in political controversy, yet Eurovision continues.”

Jill Lawless, The Associated Press

Associated Press writers Hilary Fox and Philipp Jenne in Vienna contributed to this report.

‘#Michael’ moonwalks to US$97 million opening, shattering record for #music biopics.

A highly authorized portrayal of the King of Pop, co-produced by the Jackson estate, Lionsgate’s “Michael” far surpassed previous biopic top performers like “Straight Outta Compton” (a $60.2 million debut in 2015) and “Bohemian Rhapsody” ($51 million in 2018).

International sales were also strong. “Michael” collected $120.4 million overseas, to give it a $217.4 million global opening — a new high for a music biopic. Universal picked up distribution in most international markets.

A few weeks back, estimates for “Michael” were closer to $50 million. Going into the weekend, the studio estimated closer to $70 million. But it wildly overperformed.

“From the beginning, all of the signals were that something like this was possible,” said Adam Fogelson, Lionsgate chairman. “We were seeing massive engagement with every conceivable audience segment that you could identify.”

Even in the lucrative market of music biopics, “Michael” was an audacious bet by Lionsgate on an extraordinarily popular but controversial figure. The reputation of Jackson, who died in 2009 at the age of 50, has been repeatedly tarnished by allegations of sexual abuse of children. Jackson and his estate have maintained his innocence, though the pop star acknowledged sharing a bedroom with other people’s children. He was acquitted in his sole criminal trial in 2005.

Some Jackson family members opposed the film. Janet Jackson was uninvolved and doesn’t appear in it. Jackson’s daughter, Paris, called it “fantasy land.” But three years after “Leaving Neverland,” the 2009 documentary about Jackson’s alleged sexual abuse of children, “Bohemian Rhapsody” producer Graham King announced plans for the biopic. Jackson’s nephew, Jaafar Jackson, was cast to star.

“Michael” had an unusually rocky production. After shooting was completed, producers realized they had made a costly mistake. The third act focused on the accusations of Jordan Chandler, then 13 years old, whom Jackson paid $23 million to in a 1994 settlement. The terms of that settlement barred the Jackson estate from ever mentioning Chandler in a movie.

A huge chunk of the film had to be cut. Reshoots for as much as $50 million were done at the estate’s expense. Director Antoine Fuqua and screenwriter John Logan reworked the movie to conclude in 1988, before any accusations were made.

“I would take issue with the idea that we as a studio or as filmmakers were running around in a panic,” said Fogelson. “It was definitely a unique and challenging circumstance to figure out how to work through. But it created an opportunity to tell more story than any one film could possibly contain.”

Yet as bad as things once looked for “Michael,” the movie turned into a huge hit. The film’s total production cost came close to $200 million. To defray costs, Lionsgate sold international distribution rights to Universal. A sequel is in development. A third film after that, Fogelson said, is “not inconceivable.”

“The audience spoke loud and clear,” Fogelson said. “The portion of Michael’s life that this story tells couldn’t have gotten into those allegations because the allegations themselves hadn’t happened in the period this movie existed. I think the audience is judging it on those terms. We’ll see what happens as we move into the possibility of subsequent films.”

Critics slammed the film for glossing over some of the less convenient aspects of Jackson’s life. It scored a paltry 38% on Rotten Tomatoes. But audiences were far more enthusiastic. “Michael” earned an “A-” CinemaScore.

“It’s only human nature to enjoy yourself at the movie theater,” said Paul Dergarabedian, head of marketplace trends for Comscore. “The movie was perfectly positioned ahead of the start of the summer movie season which launches later this week with the ‘The Devil Wears Prada 2’ that is also poised to outpace even the most generous opening weekend projections.”

The opening for “Michael” added to a strong spring for Hollywood boosted by box-office hits like Amazon MGM’s “Project Hail Mary” and Universal’s “The Super Mario Galaxy Movie.” After three weeks atop the box office, the “Mario” sequel slid to second place, with $21.2 million. In four weeks, it’s collected $386.5 million domestically and $445 million internationally.

Meanwhile, “Project Hail Mary” surged past $600 million worldwide in its sixth weekend of release. The film’s total haul for Amazon MGM stands at $305.3 million domestic and $613.3 million globally.
Top 10 movies by domestic box office

With final domestic figures being released Monday, this list factors in the estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Comscore:

1. “Michael,” $97 million.

2. “The Super Mario Galaxy Movie,” $21.2 million.

3. “Project Hail Mary,” $13.2 million.

4. “Lee Cronin’s The Mummy,” $5.6 million.

5. “The Drama,” $2.6 million.

6. “Hoppers,” $1.9 million.

7. “You, Me & Tuscany,” $1.5 million.

8. “Over Your Dead Body,” $1.4 million.

9. “Mother Mary,” $1.2 million.

10. “American Youngboy,” $1.2 million.

Jake Coyle, The Associated Press

Justin Bieber sparks tour speculation after website change. Justin Bieber has fans asking “What do you mean?” after a cryptic website update suggests a tour announcement could be coming.

Over the weekend, the tour section of the Canadian pop star’s site was quietly refreshed noting no current shows and prompting fans to RSVP “to be notified when new tour dates are announced.”

Bieber returned to the Coachella stage on Saturday for his second headlining set, bringing out special guests including SZA and even pulling Billie Eilish onstage to be serenaded during “One Less Lonely Girl.”

The singer ended his performance telling the audience, “I’ll see y’all soon,” further fueling speculation that he could be hitting the road.

Bieber cancelled his last tour in 2022 in order to deal with the health effects of his Ramsay Hunt syndrome diagnosis. At the time, the “Daisies” singer shared an Instagram video showing how the condition left half of his face temporarily paralyzed.

During a Twitch stream last fall, the singer said the idea of touring at this point in his life “sounds super daunting” and that he was focused on Coachella, which marked his biggest live performances since canceling his tour.

“I always start out really loving it, and then it always gets to a point where I’m just super burned out,” Bieber said.

He added that wants to be more selective about the performances he does from now on.

“And so, like, I think at this point in my life, I really want to do spot dates, where I just pick maybe a city and do a couple shows, and not commit to a whole two-year run; That’s usually what it is, is like, for a year and a half, two years,” he said.

Junos showdown to kick off in Hamilton, but Weeknd, Justin Bieber and Tate McRae aren’t attending.

Most Juno Awards trophies are on the line tonight, with The Weeknd, Tate McRae and Justin Bieber among the top nominees — however none of those A-listers are expected to attend the ceremonies.

McRae and Bieber lead the field with six nominations each, including artist of the year, album of the year and single of the year — putting them head-to-head across categories set to be awarded at an industry gala in Hamilton.

McRae is recognized for her album “So Close to What” and her Y2K throwback single “Sports Car,” while Bieber is up for his LP “Swag II” and his lo-fi track “Daisies.”

The Weeknd follows closely with five nominations, including album of the year for “Hurry Up Tomorrow” and single of the year for “Cry For Me.” Already one of the most decorated artists in Juno history, he enters the weekend with 22 trophies — just two shy of Anne Murray’s record 24 — and could claim first place tonight.

One of this year’s biggest surprises is country newcomer Cameron Whitcomb, who racked up five nominations — including album of the year for his debut “The Hard Way” and single of the year for “Options.” He’s also up for best country album, breakthrough artist and the fan choice award, which will be handed out at Sunday’s televised ceremony.

Hosted by comedian Mae Martin, Sunday’s show will feature performances by Whitcomb, R&B star Daniel Caesar and Hamilton rockers Arkells, plus a rare public appearance by Joni Mitchell to accept a lifetime achievement award. The broadcast will also include a tribute to Nelly Furtado, who is being inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame.

Junos organizers confirmed The Weeknd, Bieber and McRae are all expected to miss the celebrations.

This year’s nominations also introduce a new category: Latin music recording of the year. The inaugural nominees include Alex Cuba, Lido Pimienta, Andy Rubal, Isabella Lovestory and Mario Puglia.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 28, 2026.

Alex Nino Gheciu, The Canadian Press

#Nigerian #afrobeat singer David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, has begun constructing his Eko Atlantic mansion.

#Taylor Swift asks U.S. government to block ‘#Swift Home’ trademark.

Pop superstar Taylor Swift has asked the U.S. Patent and #Trademark Office to block a bedding company from securing a federal trademark featuring the phrase “Swift Home,” arguing it would confuse shoppers.

Swift’s company TAS Rights Management LLC told the agency in a filing on Wednesday the cursive “Swift” in Cathay Home Inc’s logo closely resembles the singer’s trademarked signature and would likely mislead consumers into thinking that she endorsed Cathay’s products.

Attorneys and spokespeople for Swift and Cathay Home did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the filing.

Cathay’s website says it sells its products through Bed Bath & Beyond, Target, Nordstrom and other retailers. It applied last year to register a federal “Swift Home” trademark covering bedding items including pillows, mattresses and sheets.

Taylor Swift is a 14-time Grammy Award winner whose recent “Eras” tour was the highest-grossing concert tour of all time. Her company’s filing on Wednesday said she owns federal trademarks covering the use of her name on bed linens, clothing and other products, and that Cathay’s proposed trademark would cause consumer confusion.

Swift has experience with intellectual property disputes, but Josh Gerben, a trademark attorney who first reported the filing, told Reuters the pop megastar has filed relatively few trademark oppositions for a celebrity of her stature. Gerben, who is not involved in the case, said the logo’s similarity to her signature may have been the trigger.

“Normally, somebody that has as much invested in IP as Taylor does, we would see more activity at the Trademark Office,” Gerben said. “There just hasn’t been this really strong enforcement or policing effort around ‘Swift.’”

Reporting by Blake Brittain in Washington; Editing by Lincoln Feast, Reuters

Legendary #gospel #musician Benjamin Dube has been accused of reneging on a verbal agreement and could have his assets auctioned to pay off a R1 million debt.