Hollywood
Justin Bieber to perform ‘What Do You Mean’ at MTV Video Music Awards 2015
MUMBAI: Multi-Platinum singer-songwriter Justin Bieber will perform his new single “What Do You Mean” at the 2015 MTV Video Music Awards, which will be aired on 30 August. The song released on 28 August on RBMG / Def Jam Recordings.
The performance will mark Bieber’s first return to the VMA stage since his medley performance of “Baby,” “Somebody to Love” and “U Smile” in 2010. Miley Cyrus will be the host for the evening, along with Kanye West joining the exclusive club of legendary artists bestowed with the “Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award.”
Performers include The Weekend, Pharrell Williams, Demi Lovato, Macklemore and Ryan Lewis, Tori Kelly, A$AP Rocky and Twenty One Pilots and more.
This year, MTV has also teamed up with world-renowned fashion designer Jeremy Scott to redesign the MTV Moonman. As homage to Jeremy and his creative talent, the 2015 VMA Moonman encapsulates the true iconic essence of both the fashion designer and the network. From the distinct colour of the TV colour bars, to the peace sign necklace, to Jeremy’s signature sneakers, the redesign of statue is part of MTV’s long-standing history of bridging the gap between the world of fashion and music.
Artists who win a 2015 “Video Music Award” will take home a special-edition Jeremy Scott Moonman, which was created exclusively for this year’s show. The 2015 MTV Video Music Awards will air across MTV’s global network of channels in more than 160 countries and territories, reaching more than half a billion households around the world.
Hollywood
WBD sets April 23 vote on $110bn Paramount Skydance merger
Investor approval key step, but regulators loom over mega media deal
NEW YORK: Warner Bros. Discovery has set April 23 as the date for shareholders to vote on its proposed $110 billion merger with Paramount Skydance, marking a crucial step in one of the biggest media deals in recent years.
The all-cash transaction offers WBD shareholders $31 per share, a hefty 147 per cent premium to its unaffected stock price, signalling strong intent to push the deal across the finish line. The company’s board has unanimously backed the merger and is urging investors to vote in favour.
Even if shareholders give the green light, the deal is far from done. Regulators in the United States and Europe are expected to scrutinise the merger closely, weighing concerns around competition and potential price impacts for consumers.
To keep investors on side, WBD has built in a safety net. If the deal is not completed by September 30, shareholders will receive a quarterly “ticking fee” of $0.25 per share until closure.
The proposed merger would significantly reshape the media landscape, combining the assets of Warner Bros. Discovery with those linked to Paramount Global and Skydance Media. It would also cement the growing influence of David Ellison, who has been steering Skydance’s aggressive expansion strategy.
“The WBD Board has been guided by the singular principle of securing a transaction that maximises the value of our iconic assets and delivers as much certainty as possible to our shareholders,” said Warner Bros. Discovery board chair Samuel A. Di Piazza Jr.. “This historic transaction will expand consumer choice and create new opportunities for creative talent.”
Warner Bros. Discovery chief executive officer David Zaslav added that the company is working closely with its counterpart to close the deal and unlock value for stakeholders.
With investor backing likely but regulatory hurdles ahead, the proposed merger is shaping up to be a defining moment for the global entertainment industry, where scale, content and competition are increasingly intertwined.
