Uptrends 
A judge has ordered Elon Musk to testify for a third time as part of the Securities and Exchange Commission’s investigation into his $44 billion purchase of Twitter, now called X, in 2022. Magistrate Judge Laurel Beeler issued an order Saturday giving Musk, his team and the SEC a week to agree on a date and location … Read more
If you’re noticing more air than chips in your bag of Lay’s, you’re not imagining things. The phenomenon of “shrinkflation” arose during the pandemic as retailers grappled with surging costs and experimented with pricing power. To avoid raising costs, stores are cutting the size and quality of their products. Now, even as inflation rates have … Read more
Over the past six decades, Autry Stephens has worn nearly every hat in the oil industry, from trucker to driller to engineer. Now he’s poised to don the crown of America’s richest oil tycoon. On Monday Diamondback Energy Inc. agreed to buy Stephens’s Endeavor Energy Resources LP for $26 billion in cash and stock. The … Read more
When Vermont senator Bernie Sanders was running for president the first time, the Democratic Socialist turned some heads when he lambasted the choice overload in—of all places—the deodorant aisle. “You don’t necessarily need a choice of 23 underarm spray deodorants or of 18 different pairs of sneakers when children are hungry in this country,” Sanders … Read more
Usher and longtime partner Jenn Goicoechea married in Las Vegas just hours after the R&B superstar’s headline appearance at the Super Bowl halftime show, according to officials and documents. The officiant who wed the pair is known to dress as an Elvis Presley impersonator. The couple married Sunday at Vegas Weddings, according to a marriage … Read more
Gone are the days of gifting ties, purses, and flowers for Valentine’s Day. This year self care is in, and that means people are appreciating the kinds of gifts that provide relaxation or a tasty treat. We’ve come up with five of the best last-minute gift ideas for your favorite Valentine—all found on Amazon.com. Though, … Read more
Misery loves company and after facing steep stock price declines of more than 50% each, activist investor Carl Icahn and JetBlue might need each other right now. Icahn Enterprises disclosed a 9.9% ownership stake in airline JetBlue today, Icahn’s first foray back onto the dance floor after promising that the firm would “stick to our … Read more
Believe is expanding its presence in Japan, the world’s second-largest recorded music market. The France-headquartered music company has launched a new imprint called PLAYCODE, dedicated to Japan’s hip-hop scene. The company also says it will be partnering with Japan-based acts for the new label, including ¥ellow Bucks, Red Eye, and Issei Uno Fifth. The … Read more
In San Francisco’s Chinatown, amid Lunar New Year celebrations, a crowd surrounded the autonomous vehicle, broke its windows, and set off fireworks inside it, setting it ablaze. Firefighters called to the scene reported the vehicle had also been graffitied. One video—posted to X by NBC Bay Area’s Gia Vang—shows a crowd cheering as someone starts … Read more
MBW Reacts is a series of analytical commentaries from Music Business Worldwide written in response to major recent entertainment events or news stories. Only MBW+ subscribers have unlimited access to these articles. MBW Reacts is supported by JKBX, a technology platform that offers consumers access to music royalties as an asset class. When it … Read more