Ariana Grande and Demi Lovato leave Scooter Braun
US superstars Ariana Grande and Demi Lovato have reportedly split from manager Scooter Braun.
Grande had worked with SB Projects boss since 2013, while Lovato signed with the company in 2019. Representatives for Grande and Braun declined to comment.
The news was first reported by Puck‘s Matthew Belloni and was confirmed by Billboard sources. It follows Colombian singer J Balvin’s departure from SB in May. He is now managed by Roc Nation.
Rumours that longtime SB client Justin Bieber was also looking to leave the firm have been denied by both parties.
Braun became the sole CEO of HYBE America, the US division of the South Korean entertainment giant, in early 2023
In 2017, Braun and Grande were honoured as ‘industry champions’ with Festival Republic MD Melvin Benn and SJM Concerts’ Simon Moran at the UK’s Artist & Manager Awards for their efforts in producing that year’s One Love Manchester concert, which raised more than £17 million for victims of the Manchester Arena bombing and their families.
Braun became the sole CEO of HYBE America, the US division of the South Korean entertainment giant, in early 2023. The entrepreneur, who had previously shared the co-CEO title with Big Hit veteran Lenzo Yoon, joined after his venture capital firm Ithaca Holdings merged with HYBE in April 2021.
HYBE is home to K-pop acts including BTS, Tomorrow X Together, NewJeans, LE SSERAFIM and Seventeen through its subsidiary labels, such as Big Hit Music, Pledis Entertainment, Source Music and ADOR.
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UTA signs Demi Lovato worldwide
UTA has signed Grammy-nominated artist Demi Lovato for worldwide representation in all areas.
One of the decade’s most successful artists, Lovato’s most recent release, seventh studio album Dancing with the Devil: The Art of Starting Over, went to No 1 on the Billboard charts, while her new documentary, Demi Lovato: Dancing with the Devil, has earned positive reviews since debuting at SXSW.
In addition to her work as a recording artist, she is known as an advocate for mental health awareness and LGBTQ causes.
Lovato’s most recent tour, 2018’s Tell Me You Love Me, was the 77th highest grossing of the year, earning US$24.1 million from 41 shows.
Lovato, who uses non-binary (they/them) pronouns, was formerly represented by WME. They are managed by Scooter Braun Projects.
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Stars come together for virtual LGBTQ+ benefit
Demi Lovato, Lil Nas X, Ricky Martin and Pink are among the artists who will appear at ‘Can’t Cancel Pride,’ a virtual relief benefit for the LGBTQ+ community
The organisers, consumer goods corporation P&G and media company iHeartMedia, say: “Covid-19 has not only led to the disruption of many national Pride events but has also had a damaging effect on fundraising efforts LGBTQ+ organisations rely on to survive.
“The second annual event will demonstrate that nothing can cancel the heart of Pride and the spirit that the LGBTQ+ equality movement embodies while focusing on the issues that continue to impact the LGBTQ+ community in 2021, including the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.”
Brothers Osborne, Hayley Kiyoko, Jennifer Hudson, JoJo Siwa, Marshmello and Troye Sivan, among others, are also set to perform.
The hour-long concert will stream on 4 June at 9 pm via a number of iHeartRadio channels and stations and will be available to watch back on-demand throughout June.
“This amazing night of music will honour the communities’ fight for equal rights, while benefitting six remarkable nonprofits”
The event is once again teaming up with Greater Cincinnati Foundation to distribute the money raised by the event to LGBTQ+ organizations including GLAAD, SAGE, The Trevor Project, The National Black Justice Coalition, CenterLink, and OutRight Action International.
Last year’s event raised over $4 million to benefit LGBTQ+ communities impacted by the global pandemic.
“As the country is returning back to normal and we are slowly starting to gather again, LGBTQ+ communities around the world are still feeling the devastating effects of Covid-19,” said Gayle Troberman, chief marketing officer for iHeartMedia.
“We look forward to once again celebrating the incredible voices and allies of the LGBTQ+ community with an amazing night of music that will honour Pride and the communities’ fight for equal rights, all while benefitting six remarkable nonprofits that make an everyday positive impact.”
To support this year’s participating nonprofits, visit www.cantcancelpride.com or text “Rainbow” to 56512.
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Legal action fails to halt Coldplay India debut
Coldplay’s debut show in India tomorrow will go ahead as planned following the failure of a legal challenge in the High Court of Bombay.
Anti-corruption activists Anjali Damania and Hemant Gavande challenged a decision by the Maharashtra state government waiving entertainment duty on the concert, arguing the British band’s performance at the not-for-profit Global Citizen festival does not count as an educational or charitable activity, as required by the Bombay Entertainments Duty Act 1923.
However, judges Manjula Chellur and MS Sonak found in favour of Global Citizen and acting advocate-general Rohit Deo, who said the festival “is going to be an eight-hour programme, and the concert by Coldplay is just part of it. The festival is to create awareness of three subjects: gender equality, education and clean water,” reports the PTI news agency.
“It is going to be an eight-hour programme, creating awareness of three subjects: gender equality, education and clean water”
Deo said out of the 80,000 tickets, 65,000 will be given free to those who have demonstrated their commitment to positive societal change – as with previous Global Citizen events, tickets can be won by promoting the charity’s work (by, for example, signing petitions and contacting governments to advocate for it) – and “of the remaining, 11,000 will be sold by the organisers [Delhi-based the Global Education & Leadership Foundation (tGELF)] to meet expenditure and 4,000 have been kept for dignitaries.”
The festival takes place at the Bandra Kurla Complex in Mumbai (Bombay) tomorrow. Also on the bill are Jay-Z, Demi Levato and a host of local acts.
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