Live Nation Reaches Antitrust Deal with DOJ Over Ticketmaster Monopoly Concerns
Live Nation has reached a settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice over antitrust concerns tied to its Ticketmaster business. The agreement requires Ticketmaster to open parts of its ticketing technology to competitors and unwind certain exclusivity deals with artists. Live Nation will also divest at least 13 amphitheaters and pay about $280 million in civil penalties. The settlement still needs court and state approval.
‘The Pitt,’ ‘Sinners,’ and ‘One Battle After Another’ Continue to Dominate Awards Season
The 2026 Writers Guild Awards were held Sunday in New York, and The Pitt continues to dominate awards season with wins for Best Drama Series, Best New Series, and Best Episodic Drama. On the film side, Ryan Coogler‘s Sinners won Best Original Screenplay, while Paul Thomas Anderson‘s One Battle After Another took home Best Adapted Screenplay.
Foldable iPhone, OLED MacBook, AI-Enabled AirPods Expected in Apple’s Premium Push
Apple is reportedly preparing a new wave of premium “Ultra”-tier products as it pushes for more market cap. The strategy could include a roughly $2,000 foldable iPhone with a large inner display, next-generation AirPods featuring camera sensors for visual AI features, and a higher-end MacBook Pro with a touch-enabled OLED screen. Together, the devices would expand Apple’s top-tier offerings and reinforce its focus on high-end hardware.
Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker Joins Kansas City Chiefs
Super Bowl LX MVP Kenneth Walker III is signing with the Kansas City Chiefs on a three-year, $43.05 million deal that includes $28.7 million fully guaranteed, according to ESPN. Walker, 25, is coming off the best season of his career with the Seattle Seahawks, totaling 1,309 scrimmage yards and averaging 4.6 yards per carry before delivering a standout postseason that ended with a Super Bowl MVP performance. His new teammate Patrick Mahomes excitedly shared the news on X.
Anthropic Sues Trump Administration Over Pentagon Label
Anthropic is suing the Trump administration after the Pentagon labeled the company a “supply chain risk” and ordered federal agencies to stop using its Claude chatbot. Anthropic says the move is retaliation for refusing to allow unrestricted military use of its technology. The company filed two federal lawsuits seeking to overturn the designation and restore government access to Claude.
Fanatics Flag Football Classic Moves to LA, Adds Team USA
Originally slated for Saudi Arabia, the Fanatics Flag Football Classic will now be held at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles on March 21, expanding into a three-team competition that adds the USA Football men’s national team alongside squads of current and former NFL stars. Ahead of the event, teams captained by Tom Brady and Jalen Hurts, and by Joe Burrow and Jayden Daniels, will draft 12-player rosters from a 24-athlete pool that includes Saquon Barkley, Myles Garrett, Odell Beckham Jr., and Rob Gronkowski.
Dakota Johnson Debuts as New Face of Calvin Klein
Dakota Johnson is fronting Calvin Klein’s Spring 2026 campaign, marking her debut with the brand that continues to leverage celebrity talent to connect with audiences and shape its visual identity. Shot by Gordon von Steiner, the campaign, live across the brand’s website and social platforms, features the actress modeling pieces from the new underwear and denim collection.
‘Hoppers’ Tops Box Office; Pixar Confirms ‘Incredibles 3’, ‘Monsters 3’, ‘Coco 2’
Pixar scored its biggest original animated debut since Coco in 2017, with Hoppers earning $46 million domestically and $88 million worldwide at the box office over the weekend. Looking ahead, the studio has set Incredibles 3 for a 2028 release, confirmed Monsters 3 is currently in development, and revealed that a Coco sequel is expected to arrive in 2029.
Twitch, TheLinkU Create Livestream Network for College Athletics
Twitch is partnering with NIL platform TheLinkU to launch StreamU, a livestreaming network dedicated to college athletics. The platform allows universities to manage branded channels under a national umbrella, offering subscriptions, advertising, sponsorships, and interactive monetization tools. StreamU expands NIL opportunities beyond marquee sports to Olympic and non-revenue programs, with activations planned around Selection Sunday and the Final Four.
Solange Knowles Leads Jacquemus, Nike’s New Moon Shoe Release
Jacquemus and Nike have tapped Solange Knowles to help unveil new colorways of their sold-out Moon Shoe collaboration. The collaboration blends Nike’s 1972 Moon Shoe heritage with Jacquemus’ modern, ballet-inspired reinterpretation. Last fall, actor Nicholas Alexander Chavez fronted the debut release, appearing in a campaign shot by Oliver Hadlee Pearch that highlighted the sneaker’s design through dance studio and outdoor scenes.
Jill Scott Sets Summer World Tour Supporting Sixth Album
Jill Scott is hitting the road for her 36-date To Whom This May Concern world tour this summer, in support of her sixth album. The R&B singer kicks off at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium, with U.S. stops including Los Angeles’ YouTube Theatre, New York’s Kings Theatre, and Dallas, before heading to Europe, the U.K., and concluding in Cape Town on Nov. 11.
Francis Ngannou Joins Rousey-Carano Netflix Card in MMA Return
Former UFC and PFL heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou will make his MMA return on May 16, facing Philipe Lins in a five-round co-main event for Most Valuable Promotions’ inaugural MMA card, headlined by Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano. Streaming live on Netflix — the platform’s first MMA broadcast — this will be Ngannou’s first fight since claiming the PFL Super Fights title in 2024.
Racquet 360 Raises $9M to Expand U.S. Padel, Racket Sports
Racquet 360 has raised $9 million to accelerate growth across its U.S. racket sports ecosystem, including the National Padel League, RacquetX, Racket Central, and Racket Social Club. The funding supports league expansion, digital and retail growth, and experiential club openings, including a flagship in Houston. CEO Emiliano Abramzon says the capital positions Racquet 360 to scale the sport’s rapidly growing padel market and strengthen its integrated platform nationwide.
Image: Jonathan Raa / NurPhoto via Getty Images
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