Netflix’s latest deal marks a significant update in the entertainment landscape. In a press release, Netflix confirmed it has agreed to purchase Warner Bros. Discovery Inc. in a deal with a total enterprise value of approximately $82.7 billion ( equity value of $72.0 billion). The agreement, approved unanimously by the boards of directors of both companies, states that the acquisition includes Warner Bros.’ film and television studios, HBO Max, and HBO, but not Discovery. The deal is projected to be finalized in the third quarter of 2026 as Warner Bros. Discovery Inc. separates Discovery Global, its Global Networks division, into a new publicly traded company. Greg Peters, co-CEO of Netflix, noted in the press release that the acquisition will position the company to reach a broader audience while scaling its business model in the decades ahead, ensuring customers have an optimal streaming service and improving the entertainment landscape, which will also benefit shareholders....

Louis Carr is the new president of BET. According to a press release shared with AFROTECH™, Paramount announced that Carr will step into the role after nearly four decades at the company. He is credited for his efforts in the multicultural advertising landscape and for bridging the gap between global corporations and Black and Brown communities. Under his leadership, BET has secured partnerships with Procter & Gamble, Walmart, Unilever, McDonald’s, Meta, and Toyota, among others. Carr’s impact at BET led to billions in advertising sales and investments in diverse communities. “Louis’ leadership has been integral to BET’s success for nearly four decades,” said Paramount TV Media Chair George Cheeks, to whom Carr will report in his newly appointed role, according to the release. “His vision for the future will drive innovation, deepen BET’s cultural impact, and position the brand for continued growth.” Carr will be tasked with carrying forward BET’s foundation of strengthening its...

In a recent interview, T-Pain shared he could have made more money from his hit song, “Buy U A Drank.” The rapper from Tallahassee, FL, first experienced commercial success with the release of “I’m Sprung” in 2005, which was the lead single from his debut album “Rappa Ternt Sanga.” The song peaked at No. 8 and remained on Billboard’s Hot 100 Chart for 26 weeks, Revolt reports. In 2007, “Buy U A Drank” was released and was even more successful. The song reached No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot 100 Chart and went triple Platinum, according to Genius. T-Pain reflected on the success of the single and how it impacted his wealth on the “Club Shay Shay” podcast. He made revenue, but suggested he could have earned more if the masters and publishing rights  agreement had been different. His song paid respect to rappers Lil Scrappy and Lil Jon, prompting the artists to claim publishing rights. “When I did ‘I’mma Buy U A Drank, then I’mma take you home with me. I got money in the bank.’ As soon as I...

HarbourView Equity Partners and Grammy-winning artist and producer Hit-Boy have announced an exclusive partnership. According to Billboard, the deal follows the conclusion of Hit-Boy’s 18-year publishing agreement with Universal Music Publishing Group. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Sherrese Clarke, founder and CEO of HarbourView Equity Partners, said the firm is committed to investing in creators who shape culture.   View this post on Instagram   A post shared by HarbourView Equity (@harbourviewep) “Hit-Boy’s work has defined a generation of music, blending innovation with impact in a way few others have,” Clarke said when announcing the news. “We’re honored to partner with him and proud to help preserve, celebrate, and continue his extraordinary legacy.” Hit-Boy said the partnership represents a new chapter in his career focused on ownership, innovation, and creative freedom. “HarbourView will be a forward-thinking partner and that is exactly what I want when making...

As the 2026 Grammys approach, singer, songwriter, and producer Leon Thomas is among the nominees for Album of the Year for “MUTT,” his 14-track project that incorporates Jazz, Neo-Soul, and Rock influences. According to the Recording Academy, the organization behind the Grammys, “MUTT” is the singer’s sophomore album, released in 2024 as a follow-up to his debut album, “Electric Dusk.” The album draws inspiration from artists ranging from Art Blakey and Miles Davis to Black Sabbath and Led Zeppelin, and its layered instrumentation and vocals highlight Thomas’ meticulous approach to production and artistic direction. At the time of its release, Thomas — a former child star on Broadway and Nickelodeon — told Essence in an interview, “This album is me stepping into my confidence. It was a tough journey getting into music out of Nickelodeon during my twenties, but now, in my thirties, I’m showing people that I know what I’m doing—and I’m having a good time doing it.” According to the...

Issa Rae has built a multifaceted career as an actor, producer, director, and entrepreneur. With a net worth that Celebrity Net Worth estimates to be around $20 million, Rae first gained a devoted following through her 2011 YouTube series “The Misadventures of an Awkward Black Girl,” and later cemented her cultural impact with the Emmy-award-winning HBO series “Insecure.” Despite her achievements, Rae admits she doesn’t feel successful — at least not right now. Appearing on the first episode of KevOnStage’s “Not My Best Moment” podcast on Nov. 11, 2025, Rae shared that she currently feels stagnant in her career. “I know that I appear successful to other people, but right now, no, I feel really stagnant… because I only feel successful when my sh-t is on the air. I don’t have sh-t on the air right now,” Rae said, acknowledging that creating shows is her first love. “Like I can have the 18 businesses that you said, and those are like great passion projects, but like what I do and what...

The late Michael Jackson is still at the top of his game. Jackson’s influence on music began in his childhood as a member of the iconic sibling group The Jackson 5, formed in Gary, Indiana. The group produced classics such as “I Want You Back,” which sold over six million copies worldwide and was later inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame, according to Jackson Dynasty, along with hits like “ABC,” “I’ll Be There,” “Blame It on the Boogie,” and more. Jackson’s track record as a solo artist cemented his status as a legend, with albums that have stood the test of time and changed the trajectory of the music industry. His albums include “Thriller,” which followed the success of “Off the Wall” and was the brainchild of both Jackson and Producer Quincy Jones. “Thriller” sold over 70 million copies worldwide, The Root reports. It is regarded as one of the best-selling albums of all time and led Jackson to earn eight Grammys in one night. View this post on Instagram The King of Pop...

AMC Entertainment Holdings Inc., the world’s largest movie theater chain, reported a net loss of $298.2 million for the third quarter of 2025, while generating $1.3 billion in revenue for the period ending Sept. 30, according to Variety. The outlet reports that the company’s revenue slightly exceeded analysts’ expectations of $1.23 billion for the quarter. However, the net loss widened significantly compared to the $20.7 million loss reported during the same period last year. AMC attributed the steeper loss to non-cash charges tied to a debt refinancing completed in July 2025, Variety notes. On an adjusted basis, the company reported a loss of $110 million, or 21 cents per share, compared to 4 cents per share in the third quarter of 2024. Admissions revenue for the quarter was reported at $715.1 million, a drop from $744.2 million in the prior year, according to Variety. Food and beverage sales also declined, reaching $451.8 million compared to $490.4 million in 2024. These numbers...

Artificial intelligence is increasingly entering the music world, with AI-generated artists gaining attention on charts and in media coverage. As AFROTECH™ previously reported, Telisha “Nikki” Jones, a poet and entrepreneur from Mississippi, has made headlines for her AI creation, Xania Monet. The artist’s debut single, “How Was I Supposed to Know?,” has already secured Jones a multi-million-dollar recording contract with Hallwood Media following a competitive bidding process that reached $3 million. In an interview with “CBS Mornings” co-host Gayle King, Jones discussed her approach to creating Xania Monet.   The 31-year-old emphasized that she writes all of the lyrics herself, often drawing from poems she has been composing since she was 24. “There’s real emotions and soul put into those lyrics,” Jones said. She added that “How Was I Supposed to Know?” was inspired by the death of her father when she was 8 years old. After writing the lyrics, Jones uses the AI platform Suno to...

At 21 years old, Brooklyn Frost brings her creativity to her streams, social media, and music, engaging millions of fans across Twitch, TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube with her voice, energy, and perspective. Streaming Success Brooklyn Frost has built an audience that spans 1.3 million Instagram followers, 2.2 million TikTok followers, over 600,000 Twitch followers, and more than 1 million YouTube subscribers. Per Essence Girls United, watching her brother create content first, she said she was drawn to the energy, creativity, and connection that streaming offered. Stepping in front of the camera herself, she realized she could tell her own story. “Streaming gave me a space to be myself in real time, to laugh, to talk, and to build a genuine community that grew with me,” Frost told AFROTECH™. Her first Twitch subathon in December 2024 was a milestone, earning her 10,000 new subscribers and averaging 13,000 views per stream, according to Complex. Frost celebrated the achievement with...

Disney has suspended its channels from YouTube TV, including ESPN, after the two companies failed to reach a new distribution deal by 11:59 p.m. ET on Oct. 30, 2025. YouTube TV announced the news in a blog post just over three hours before the deadline. The company said it had been negotiating with Disney “in good faith,” but accused the media giant of using “the threat of a blackout” to push for higher prices. Disney is “now following through on that threat,” YouTube TV wrote, calling the move to suspend their content one that “directly harms” subscribers while benefiting Disney’s own live TV offerings, such as Hulu + Live TV and Fubo. YouTube TV, whose parent company is Google, said it will offer subscribers a $20 credit if Disney’s channels remain unavailable for an extended period. On Oct. 23, YouTube TV said in its blog that Disney had proposed “costly economic terms that would raise prices on YouTube TV customers and give our customers fewer choices.” “With a $3 trillion...

Former CBS producer Trey Sherman is accusing his employer of only laying off people of color on his team. The Wall Street Journal reported that nearly 2,000 Paramount employees were being laid off, including those under CBS. The company’s chief executive, David Ellison, said the layoffs were to address “redundancies that have emerged across the organization,” while also removing roles that don’t align with the company’s “new structure” that will prioritize growth. Sherman, who is Black and served as an associate producer for canceled “CBS Evening News+”, per New York Post, took to TikTok to reveal that the show had been canceled and every producer on his team who was laid off was a person of color, while those who found new roles within the company were white. He claimed that he had personally asked each white person on his team if they had been laid off, and they each said no. “Every person who gets to stay and will be relocated within the company is a white person,” Sherman...

Debra Lee sees great opportunity in the digital landscape. The former CEO of BET acknowledged during a conversation held at AFROTECH™ Conference 2025 that it’s hurtful to see Black programming under attack. In the past two years, various shows rooted in the culture were cut, such as “61st Street,” “South Side,” and “Sweet Life: Los Angeles,” and in June, it was announced that CBS and NBC were canceling a number of Black-led shows, including “Poppa’s House,” according to the Nubian Message. “It’s very hurtful to see the progress we’ve made in Black programming and programming targeted to the Black community, but also programming we hope all people will watch,” Lee told AFROTECH™ in an interview . “It’s very hurtful to see that under attack. And I think it’s really necessary in our society for groups to understand each other.” Photo Credit: Ismael Quintanilla III She explained, “I think the numbers show that there’s an audience for it. When you look at the movie ‘Sinners’ or you look...

Hip-Hop artist Nas and Resorts World New York City have announced a combined $2 million donation to support the construction of The Hip Hop Museum in the Bronx, according to a press release. The announcement was made during the museum’s second annual benefit gala and reflects Resorts World’s 15-year record of supporting cultural institutions across New York City’s five boroughs. The contribution will support the museum’s ongoing capital campaign as it moves toward a 2026 opening. Located at 585 Exterior St. within the Bronx Point complex — a mixed-use building that includes affordable housing, public spaces, and cultural facilities, per the Bronx Times — The Hip Hop Museum is intended to serve as a center for community, education, and the preservation of hip-hop’s global legacy. “Hip Hop has always reflected the culture of New York City, from its emergence in the Bronx to Queens’ own, Nas,” said Kevin Jones, chief legal and chief strategy officer at Resorts World New York City, in...

Def Jam is forever indebted to Warren G. Signing To Def Jam During an interview on “ Drink Champs, ” co-hosted by N.O.R.E., also known as Noreaga, he mentioned that a few individuals are referenced when new artists are signed to Def Jam. These include LL Cool J, its first signee, and Warren G, the rapper who “ singlehandedly ” saved the label. Warren G, a California-born rapper, signed to Def Jam when it was led by then-president Lyor Cohen, According to HipHopDX, he was discovered by A&R executive and manager Paul Stewart. “We were really excited about being down with Def Jam,” Stewart told Rolling Stone. “Def Jam had missed out on all the West Coast stuff. Death Row was killing it. So they were smart, and saw an opportunity,” he continued. One day, when Warren G was leaving Roscoe’s House of Chicken ‘N Waffles, he saw a man selling a crate of records. Warren G purchased all of them for $500, and one of those records was from Michael McDonald. It inspired his 1994 rap single...