Stories

The biggest windfall is headed straight to Swift, who stands to make as much as $4.1 billion from the Eras Tour, according to estimates from Peter Cohan, an associate professor of management at Babson College. - Washington Post

Google said on Thursday that it will defend users of generative artificial-intelligence systems in its Google Cloud and Workspace platforms if they are accused of intellectual property violations, joining, Adobe and other companies that have made similar pledges. - Reuters

Marvel has been mighty tight-lipped about where things are headed, so possibly dubious casting rumors are all obsessive fans have. - Washington Post

Our hardwired love for "cute" may cause a few issues as "new robotic or artificial personas use cuteness to solicit our affection." - The Guardian (UK)

The statement comes hours after Martyn Brabbins said he could not “in all conscience continue to support the Board and Management’s strategy for the future of the company.” Brabbins resigned after the ENO announced plans to cut 19 musical staff positions and put the remaining staff on part-time contracts. - OperaWire

Walt visited an English village and heard a lot of tales about his purported ancestors - and thus, in Norton Disney, was the Disney crest born. - BBC

Patrick Page - the voice of Hades in Hadestown - loves being a villain, or, currently, all of Shakespeare's bad guys. - Slate

They destroyed it - or rather, transformed it, turned it into a web. Will that work in a world obsessed with rankings? - American Theatre

Weirdly: "People who do not know how librarians select material are much more likely to also believe librarians should be prosecuted for that material." - BookRiot

If filmmakers want to tell the stories of the Native peoples of the U.S., well, there's a lot to choose from. - Los Angeles Times

The film is director Ryusuke Hamaguchi’s follow-up to the Oscar-winning Drive My Car and "is on first glance a simple tale of corporate capitalism despoiling the environment." - The Guardian (UK)

One visitor to New York and MoMA from North Carolina: "I was in here for a long time. ... And I turned around and was like, 'Is this real?'" - Hyperallergic

And yet, such are the times we live in. - Washington Post

This New Jersey librarian thinks that's one tool. (Though the ban-fans usually don't care at all about awards.) - The Mary Sue

"It’s a big story, and dancers are an integral part of the storytelling force. ... They’re not just coming in for their number or routine." - The New York Times