Bad Bunny Announces Puerto Rico Residency
Instead of hitting the road, Bad Bunny is staying home. Following the release of a successful sixth studio album, DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS, Bad Bunny announced the first residency of his career on Monday, set in his homeland of Puerto Rico. The 21-show residency titled “No me quiero ir de aquí,” which translates to “I do not want to leave here,” will take place between July 11 to Aug. 24, with the first nine shows being exclusive to local residents for in-person purchase. The entirety of the residency will take place at the Coliseo de Puerto Rico, also known as “El Choli.” Bad Bunny will become the first singer to formally perform a residency at the biggest entertainment venue on the island, which holds 18,000.
‘Den of Thieves 2’ Tops Weekend Box Office; ‘Moana 2’ Eyes $1B
In what was a predictably slow weekend at the box office, the new thriller from Lionsgate, Den of Thieves 2: Pantera, starring Gerard Butler, finished the weekend as the top movie by bringing in $15.5 million across 3,008 North American theaters. The mark topped projections heading in and eclipsed the film’s 2018 predecessor, which brought in $15.2 million during its opening weekend. Elsewhere, Paramount’s Better Man tanked, bringing in just $1.1 million, while the Disney hit Moana 2 nears the $1 billion mark after finishing the weekend at an estimated $989.8 million in worldwide ticket sales.
Lil Baby Records Fourth No. 1 Billboard Album with ‘WHAM’
Lil Baby tops this week’s Billboard 200 with WHAM following its first full week since it released on Jan. 3, earning 140,000 equivalent units in the United States in the week ending Jan. 9, per Luminate. It’s the rapper’s fourth consecutive chart-topping album, joining It’s Only Me, The Voice of the Heroes, and My Turn. Bad Bunny’s aforementioned album took second place with 122,000 equivalent units, although it was dropped on an off day, therefore only collecting five days’ worth of data.
76ers Ditch Downtown Arena Plans, Partner with Comcast on Future South Philly Home
After a yearslong effort to build a brand-new $1.3 billion downtown arena, the Philadelphia 76ers have decided to stay put. Harris Blitzer Sports Entertainment, which owns the Sixers, made the announcement alongside Comcast Spectacor, the team’s current landlord and one of the biggest opponents of the team moving downtown. As part of the new plans, the franchise will build and open a new venue in the South Philly sports complex by 2031. The two sides came together to reach this agreement to construct a “world-class, state-of-the-art arena” that will also be home to the Flyers and also signaled a serious effort to bring in a WNBA expansion team. Comcast will also boast naming rights to the new arena.
LiAngelo Ball Reportedly Signs Def Jam, UMG Deal
LiAngelo Ball has reportedly turned the success of his viral hit, “Tweaker,” into a label deal with Def Jam and Universal Music Group. According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, the middle Ball brother has signed a contract worth up to $13 million, with $8 million guaranteed, giving him “full ownership of music and his own record label.” After going undrafted in 2018, LiAngelo played in numerous summer leagues and training camps while also suiting up in 31 G League contests. Ball shifted his focus to music following his final pro fun in 2023.
Oscars Extend Nomination Voting, Cancel Luncheon Amid LA Wildfires
The Oscars have adjusted the 2025 season schedule for a second time in light of the ongoing wildfires in Los Angeles, this time extending the nomination voting window to Jan. 17 with announcements pushed to Jan. 23. Additionally, the annual Oscar Nominees Luncheon initially set for Feb. 10 has been canceled. As things stand currently, the ceremony for the 97th Oscars is still set for March 2 at the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood.
lululemon Eyes Strong 2025 After Lifting Q4 Outlook
Following a holiday season in which it set to fend off competitors in a crowded space, lululemon has updated its outlook for the fourth quarter to exceed market expectations. The activewear brand reports revenue will rise 11-12% to finish in anywhere from $3.56-$3.58 billion, which surpasses the average estimate of analysts, according to Bloomberg. In addition to the CEO saying the company will expand styles and embrace trends, lululemon has also carefully selected athletes to partner with, most recently American tennis star Frances Tiafoe.
NBC & ‘Saturday Night Live’ Launch Immersive Hosting Experience
If you’ve ever wondered what it would be like to host one of the most popular late-night shows of all time, now’s your chance. From Jan. 30 through Feb. 2, NBC is setting up “Live From New York: The SNL50 Experience” at the Rockefeller Center, during which fans will be able to experience “both the on-camera magic and off-camera rush” of hosting Saturday Night Live. The project is just one of the ways NBC plans to celebrate the popular program’s 50th anniversary in 2025. Reservations are on a first-come, first-serve basis and will be available starting Jan. 14 at noon ET.