Pharrell & Tiffany & Co. Team Up For Limited-edition Titan Jewelry Line
Pharrell Williams has joined forces with Tiffany and Co. to debut a new jewelry collection called the Tiffany Titan. The 19-piece capsule boasts earrings, bracelets, rings, and an 18k yellow gold with pavé diamond necklace that retails for $55,000. “I’m very inspired by the water, and the name of this collection, ‘Titan,’ draws inspiration from Poseidon, ruler of the sea, King of Atlantis — Atlantis, which is also the name of the community I grew up in Virginia Beach,” Williams, LVMH’s Men’s Creative Director said via WWD. “The detail in all of the jewelry pieces is very intentional, the use of black titanium…it’s a physical manifestation of beauty in blackness.” Pharrell’s Tiffany Titan line is available to shop early access on the brand’s website.
Apple Hopes to Battle Disappointing Q2 with $110B Share Buyback
The year is off to a rough start for Apple. The tech giant released its Q2 earnings report after the closing bell on Thursday, displaying a dip in revenue year over year. Apple posted $90.75 billion in revenue, with experts pointing to the 10% drop in iPhone sales as a big factor in the earnings gap as compared to 2023. This is due, in large part, to issues that the company is experiencing in the Chinese market. In response to the financials, the board decided to approve a shares buyback program that will total more than $110 billion, the largest in company history. Apple‘s stock was up in after-hours trading, as the revenue dip was lower than initial reports projected. All eyes will be on Apple next week for a standalone event, during which it is expected to unveil two new iPads.
Brittney Griner Opens Up on Russian Prison Life, Trial & More in NY Times Interview
Ahead of the May 7 release of her memoir Coming Home, Brittney Griner opened up to the New York Times about the 10 months she spent in a Russian prison for transporting a cannabis oil cartridge. In the feature, the Phoenix Mercury star talked candidly about the immediate shock of discovering she’d traveled with the cartridge, her trial, and her less-than-acceptable experience behind bars. Following her release in December 2022, Griner also talks about adjusting to life back in the States, her quest to return to basketball form, and what the future of overseas travel looks like for her today. Griner also recently shared many of these details in a sit-down interview with Good Morning America’s Robin Roberts.
UMG, TikTok Agree to New Licensing Agreement
After a months-long dispute, Universal Music Group and TikTok reached a new licensing agreement, allowing songs from music’s largest label company to return to the social media app. Per a Thursday release from TikTok, the deal includes “improved remuneration” and “industry-leading protections” for musicians, and they also teased “new promotional and engagement opportunities” for UMG artists. “Music is an integral part of the TikTok ecosystem, and we are pleased to have found a path forward with Universal Music Group,” said Shou Chew, TikTok’s CEO. Users of the platform should expect to see all of UMG’s catalog return to TikTok within the next two weeks.
21 Savage, Missy Elliott Among Artists Tapped for Live Nation's Concert Week
Live Nation‘s Concert Week is back for a monumental 10th year, and it’s going to include artists like 21 Savage, Missy Elliott, Bryson Tiller, Gunna, Blink-182, Janet Jackson, Peso Pluma, Sean Paul, Maroon 5, and dozens more. Attendees can secure passes for numerous shows for only $25. Those interested can visit the official page between May 8 and 14 and click on the concert they want to attend. Once selected, find the ticket type labeled “Concert Week Promotion,” add the tickets, and proceed to checkout. Concert Week tickets include all fees upfront in the $25 fee, but taxes are extra.
Court Documents Reveal Google Paid Apple $20B to Become Preferred Search Engine
According to unsealed court documents in the Justice Department’s antitrust lawsuit against Google, the company paid Apple $20 billion in 2022 to be the main search engine in Apple‘s Safari browser. That’s $2 billion more than what Google reportedly paid the previous year. This is the first time the public has heard an exact monetary figure during this judicial process, as the $20 billion mark will be used as key evidence in the DOJ’s lawsuit against Google. Up until this point, both companies steered clear of providing a dollar amount.
Kendrick Lamar's 'Euphoria' Tops Spotify, Apple Streaming Charts
Kendrick Lamar dropped his latest single — “Euphoria” — earlier this week, and it racked up 9.2 million streams on its first day on Spotify to claim the title of having the biggest streaming day of any rap song in 2024 so far. Additionally, the nearly 6.5-minute track quickly shot up to No. 1 on Apple Music and remains there as of this writing. Kendrick‘s “Euphoria” was seemingly released in response to two recent singles dropped by Drake, “Push Ups” and “Taylor Made Freestyle,” the latter of which was later taken down after Drake used AI to replicate Tupac‘s voice, which in turn forced the late rapper’s estate to threaten to sue the Toronto native.