“It’ll be like Barbenheimer,” says one biographer of Paul and John of the new wave of movies coming out this year, including four by Sam Mendes, with one devoted to each band member. - The Guardian (UK)
OK: “The music giant said Pershing Square's $64.3bn (£48bn) takeover offer was ‘not in the best interests’ of the company, shareholders, artists, fans and other stakeholders.” - BBC
Lawrence Ferlinghetti explained, years ago, that “‘Howl’ knocked the sides out of things, just the way rock music in the '60s knocked the sides out of the old music world.” - NPR
So did the comedy series North of North. But Heated Rivalry, whoa: "The series entered the night riding on a red-hot winning streak after collecting 13 awards from its 18 nominations during Saturday night's gala for scripted television. It left with a total of 16 Screen Awards.” - CBC
“From the first day I met him, when I was going through a period of frustration, I knew we would make special films, that he would elevate me to another level. He pressed my acting button again.” - El País English
Just in case you’ve missed multiple strains of philosophy, ethics, and “happiness studies” over the years, not to mention Buddhist thought, well: "When we encounter something new, we get a dopamine hit. … But sometimes novelty seduces us without offering anything meaningful.” - Fast Company
“Williams is rarely spotted without a book in his hand. He’s now name-checked multiple Joan Didion titles in interviews, and was once photographed next to a copy of Knausgaard’s My Struggle. His personal motto comes from Victor Hugo’s Les Misérables.” And his selections sell very well. - LitHub
Bessy was "a graceful French ballet star whose firm hand at the helm of the Paris Opera Ballet School for three decades made it one of the world’s top dance institutions, though her rigorous methods eventually drew stinging criticism.” - The New York Times
“Under the totalitarian Age-Appropriate Materials Act — a Tennessee law passed in 2022 that, along with an addendum passed two years later, has permitted the removal of hundreds of books from libraries throughout the state — the Knox County school district recently ordered the removal of Alex Haley’s novel.” - Salon
He’s also said he wants to headline it himself. But “a senior administration official described the rollout of the concerts as ‘a mess’ and suggested that someone would most likely be fired over how the invitations to the event had been handled.” - The New York Times
Kim Petras was not happy with her experience of “what can happen when the general corporate powers that be force you to sideline your artistry for the company line.” So, she left. - The Fader
Sheung was "deeply invested in crafting an image of female autonomy and audacity at a time when women’s lives were constrained by traditional expectations.” - The New York Times
“Rather than an exit point, this new wave of merchandising is quickly turning museum gift shops into a desirable entry point. Curated edits ... are now beginning to treat them as a stand-alone shopping destination, marking a shift from cultural institution to cultural retailer.” - The Guardian (UK)
