Spotify reeled in fewer new customers general than it anticipated within the first quarter of 2024, however the audio-streaming big touted “report energy” in profitability.

Whole month-to-month lively customers (free and paid) grew 19% yr over yr to 615 million, a achieve of 13 million from the earlier quarter — which missed its steerage by 3 million. Spotify mentioned “moderated advertising and marketing exercise” led to “extra normalized development” following 2023’s report efficiency (when it added 26 million new MAUs). The corporate mentioned the lower-than-expected MAU development additionally got here amid “organizational change,” a reference to Spotify’s December 2023 layoffs slicing 17% of its workforce.

On the paid-subscriber entrance, Spotify Premium prospects grew 14% yr over yr to 239 million worldwide, a achieve of three million within the interval (in keeping with steerage).

Income within the quarter elevated 19.5%, to €3.64 billion, and gross margin topped steerage by 121 foundation factors, reaching 27.6%. Working revenue improved to a brand new quarterly excessive of €168 million. Internet revenue for the quarter got here in at €197 million, in contrast with a lack of €225 million within the year-earlier interval.

“We’ve talked about 2024 because the yr of monetization, and we’re delivering on that ambition,” Spotify CEO Daniel Ek mentioned in ready remarks. “Now as we’ve shifted to give attention to robust income development and margin enlargement, we see a transparent alternative to make sure we’re additionally persevering with to develop the highest of our funnel. I be ok with the adjustments we’re implementing and stay very assured in our capability to succeed in the bold plans we’ve outlined.”

Spotify mentioned that common income per subscriber in Q1 elevated 5% yr over yr to €4.55, pushed by value will increase and partially offset by “product and market combine.” Advert-supported income grew 18%, reflecting double-digit annual development throughout all areas, in response to the corporate.

The corporate’s podcast advert income grew quicker than music, pushed by “important development in impressions offered” throughout unique and licensed podcasts and the Spotify Viewers Community, which was partially offset by softer pricing, the corporate mentioned. The Spotify Viewers Community noticed “excessive single-digit” quarter-over-quarter development amongst collaborating publishers and exhibits.

In March, Spotify launched its 4th annual “Loud & Clear” report, which claimed the corporate paid out greater than $9 billion to the music business in 2023 — a report for the very best annual cost to the music biz from any single retailer.

The Karlovy Range Movie Pageant and Selection have teamed as much as honor Francine Maisler, one of many world’s most revered casting administrators, whose current credit embrace “Dune: Half Two,” “The Bikeriders,” “Challengers,” “Civil Battle” and “Joker: Folie à Deux.”

Maisler has labored on greater than 70 function movies and is a recipient of 15 Artios Awards from the Casting Society of America, together with for “Marriage Story” in 2020 and “Don’t Look Up” in 2021. In addition to working with director Denis Villeneuve on “Dune: Half Two,” “Dune,” “Arrival” and “Sicario,” her different movies embrace Terrence Malick’s “Tree of Life” and “Knight of Cups,” and Alejandro González Iñárritu’s “The Revenant” and “Birdman.” In 2022, she received a Primetime Emmy Award for her work on HBO’s “Succession.”

As a part of its homage, Karlovy Range will maintain a particular screening of one of many movies which Maisler labored on. Maisler may also give a public grasp class, through which she’s going to mirror on her profession to this point.

“The career of casting director has gained growing consideration over the previous years, as evidenced amongst different issues by the truth that, beginning in 2026, the Academy Awards will embrace an Oscar for casting,” KVFF’s government director Kryštof Mucha stated.

Karlovy Range additionally revealed Tuesday that it’s to carry a retrospective of movies impressed or tailored from the work of novelist Franz Kafka, which can mark the a hundredth anniversary of his dying.

Among the many titles included within the retrospective will probably be Orson Welles’ “The Trial,” Martin Scorsese’s “After Hours,” Federico Fellini’s “Interview,” Roman Polanski’s “The Tenant,” Steven Soderbergh’s “Kafka,” Ousmane Sembene’s “The Cash Order” and Masao Adachi’s “Artist of Fasting.”

KVFF’s inventive director Karel Och and Lorenzo Esposito, who’re co-curators of this system, stated: “For many years, Kafka’s oeuvre has functioned as a unbroken provocation to filmmakers. It’s as if he have been slyly difficult them to aim to seize as authentically and intensely as doable the elusive nature of his formulations, of his narratives, of the realities he has crafted and the sentiments of apprehension he elicits, but additionally of the comedian conditions he has created.”

This month, director Agnieszka Holland started principal pictures within the Czech Republic and Germany on her Kafka biopic “Franz,” as revealed completely by Selection.

Amongst different bulletins made at a press convention Tuesday have been that the President’s Award for excellent contribution to Czech cinema will probably be offered to actor Ivan Trojan, and that the pageant will display a newly restored print of František Vláčil’s “Shadows of a Sizzling Summer season,” which received the pageant’s Crystal Globe for finest movie in 1978.

The pageant additionally revealed that Future Frames – Era NEXT of European Cinema, a program for younger filmmakers organized by Karlovy Range and European Movie Promotion, will probably be as soon as once more supported by expertise company UTA, Vary Media Companions and Allwyn.

Jerry Seinfeld is lastly a film director with the upcoming premiere of his characteristic debut “Unfrosted.” Backed by Netflix, the star-studded comedy is a fictional account of the creation of Pop-Tarts toaster pastries. In a brand new interview with GQ journal, Seinfeld mirrored on his expertise leaping into moviemaking for the primary time so late in his profession.

“It was completely new to me. I believed I had completed some cool stuff, however it was nothing like the best way these individuals work,” Seinfeld mentioned. “They’re so useless severe! They don’t have any concept that the film enterprise is over. They don’t know.”

Requested to elaborate on a extra severe be aware, Seinfeld continued: “Movie doesn’t occupy the top within the social, cultural hierarchy that it did for many of our lives. When a film got here out, if it was good, all of us went to see it. All of us mentioned it. We quoted strains and scenes we preferred. Now we’re strolling by way of a hearth hose of water, simply attempting to see.”

So what, if something, has changed movie? “Melancholy? Malaise? I might say confusion. Disorientation changed the film enterprise,” he answered. “Everybody I do know in present enterprise, day-after-day, goes, ‘What’s happening? How do you do that? What are we imagined to do now?’”

“I’ve completed sufficient stuff that I’ve my very own factor, which is extra priceless than it’s ever been,” Seinfeld famous about his profession outdoors the more-confused movie business. “Stand-up is such as you’re a cabinetmaker, and everyone wants a man who’s good with wooden. … There’s timber in every single place, however to make a pleasant desk, it’s not really easy. So, the metaphor is that when you have good craft and craftsmanship, you’re sort of impervious to the whims of the business.”

“Audiences at the moment are flocking to stand-up as a result of it’s one thing you may’t pretend,” he added. “It’s like platform diving. You would say you’re a platform diver, however in two seconds we are able to see in case you are otherwise you aren’t. That’s what individuals like about stand-up. They’ll belief it. All the things else is pretend.”

Seinfeld lately popped up within the sequence finale of Larry David’s HBO sequence “Curb Your Enthusiasm.” The 2 males co-created the enduring sitcom “Seinfeld,” they usually reunited within the “Curb Your Enthusiasm” finale to riff on the controversial ending of their belived sitcom, which noticed its primary characters wind up in jail. Lots of people have given Seinfeld flak through the years for the top of “Seinfeld,” and he admitted to GQ the finale had bothered him “a bit of bit” all these years.

“I don’t consider in remorse,” Seinfeld mentioned. “It’s conceited to suppose you may have completed one thing completely different. You couldn’t. That’s why you probably did what you probably did. However me and Jeff Schaffer and Larry had been standing round, speaking about TV finales and which we thought had been nice. I really feel ‘Mad Males’ was the best. Lots of people just like the ‘Bob Newhart’ one. ‘Mary Tyler Moore’ was OK. ‘Mad Males’ was the best last second of a sequence I’ve ever seen. So satisfying. So humorous. They usually mentioned that that they had sat and watched the ‘Seinfeld’ finale, attempting to determine what went fallacious. And it was clearly concerning the last scene, leaving them within the jail cell.”

“Unfrosted” streams on Netflix starting Could 3. Head over to GQ’s web site to learn Seinfeld’s interview in its entirety.

Liberty International and the household workplace run by TPG chairman David Bonderman have made a minority funding in Vary Media Companions because the administration and manufacturing agency brings in new capital to drive progress initiatives and strategic acquisitions.

The funding will assist the four-year-old Vary solidify its operations within the U.S. whereas permitting it to develop in new markets. Monetary particulars of the funding weren’t disclosed.

Since its launch in late summer season of 2020, Vary has sought to construct a busy administration agency and content material growth operation spanning TV, movie, digital, music, sports activities and types. Its preliminary companions included Steven A. Cohen’s Point72 Ventures and A+E Networks. Over the previous 12 months, Vary solidified its movie actions by merging with the busy manufacturing firm Automatik, revved up progress at Vary Sports activities together with buying firms and experience within the areas of media rights, athlete advertising and marketing and golf. It additionally continued to develop the Vary Music division with the launch of a Music Publishing arm and with the opening of a Nashville workplace.

“We based Vary with the specific intention to construct a multi-vertical, full-service providing, one which extends past the normal enterprise of movie & TV illustration with the intention to catapult shopper careers and ambitions via the broader leisure & media panorama in addition to via expertise and diversified ventures,” said Peter Micelli, CEO of Vary. “We noticed the dynamic adjustments taking place, our shoppers had been feeling them via the ripple impact, and we wished to be extra aggressive in how we might advantageously leverage these adjustments accordingly.”

The investor group is comprised of associates of Liberty International and an funding fund suggested by Bonderman’s Wildcat Capital Administration, in addition to CAA and Evolution Media Capital alum Rick Hess. The fundraise was led by Forest Street Asset Administration LLC and included an funding from Playground Productions, described as a STEM-focused household leisure agency led by former Chicago public faculty instructor Lindsay Barnett.

“Liberty International, some of the extensively revered business leaders worldwide, together with Wildcat Capital Administration and Playground Productions are preferrred strategic companions for Vary’s subsequent stage of progress. We’ve been very deliberate throughout this course of, wanting to seek out top-tier, blue-chip companions who’ve a singular perspective on our business and are as dedicated as we’re to an progressive long-term technique to unlock international worth for our shoppers,” Vary Media Companions managing companion Jack Whigham stated. “We’re honored to maneuver into this transformative part with Liberty International, together with the opposite first-rate monetary sponsors, at our aspect to proceed to meaningfully diversify our enterprise via funding & acquisition.”

As a part of the funding, Hess has been appointed to serve on Vary’s governing physique as Forest Street’s consultant. ACF Funding Financial institution suggested the investor group and Greenberg Traurig served as its authorized counsel. Cooley served as authorized counsel to Liberty, whereas Vary was represented by Jones Day.

Mckenna Grace, the in-demand actor who appeared in “I, Tonya” and “The Handmaid’s Story” and just lately starred in “Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire,” is about to steer the upcoming movie “All the things I By no means Did.”

The younger adult-targeted image is written by screenwriters D.J. McPherson and Scott Taylor and can be directed by Australia’s Jeremy Sims (“Final Cab to Darwin”).

The movie can be produced by Spencer McLaren (“La Brea,” “Dive Membership”) of Side Leisure, alongside McPherson and Jack Christian underneath their newly-launched manufacturing banner Filmology Options.

“’All the things I By no means Did’ is a bittersweet love story that throws away cliches and sparks with originality, spontaneity, and shock,” the producers mentioned. “It tells the story of troubled teen Liam Black and Jenna Reid (Grace), a critically sick lady, who collectively embark on a transformative journey of residing and loving within the face of adversity.”

Added McPherson, “We’re thrilled to lastly announce ‘All the things I By no means Did.’ It’s a mission that could be very near our hearts, and we’re ecstatic to have Mckenna Grace main our solid. Her profound potential to attach with advanced roles will breathe life into this poignant narrative. We’re thrilled to see her deliver Jenna to life on the massive display.”

Additional casting particulars are but to be introduced. Equally, distribution and worldwide gross sales roles haven’t but been disclosed.

Although Grace has a busy dance card, manufacturing of “All the things I By no means Did” is anticipated to start later in 2024. The Luminate database reveals her in pre-production on Mandalay Photos’ “Straight Traces” as solid and government producer, with two different titles in post-production: Lionsgate’s “Anniversary” and Hungry Bull Productions’ “Spider & Jessie,” on which she is once more solid and government producer.

Grace can also be set as a producer and solid member on the in-development mission “Rabbit Cake” for Amazon MGM Studios, and is solid in Searchlight Photos’ “Good” and Alloy Leisure’s “99 Days,” each of that are listed as in improvement. She is represented by CAA, Leisure 360 and lawyer Stewart Brookman.

When a personality within the new musical “The Coronary heart of Rock and Roll” tries to persuade his ex to go away her job at a manufacturing facility that makes transport supplies, he’s surprised: “Oh, my god. It’s cardboard!”

However there might be actual enchantment to the humblest of supplies — and the identical might be mentioned of this unpretentious, foolish and, in the long run, slightly enjoyable present. For all of the acquainted jukebox musical templates of skinny characters, unsurprising plot developments and oldie pop/rock songs shoehorned into the narrative, there’s one thing to be mentioned for easy packaging that is aware of what it’s and does it properly.

The present, which premiered in 2018 at The Outdated Globe, options Jonathan A. Abrams’ authentic script (story by Tyler Mitchell and Abrams), which is “impressed by the songs of Huey Lewis and the Information,” the mainstream ‘80s group identified for hook-filled pop/rock songs sung by its raspy-voiced, likable-guy lead singer.

However lots of the Information’ infectious, throbbing tunes — penned by varied writers together with Lewis — form of merge right into a steady, corrugated complete. That makes it a problem to craft a present that doesn’t sound prefer it’s on a loop, at the very least for dramatic functions.

However right here the musical’s intelligent creators, led by director Gordon Greenberg and choreographer Lorin Latarro, resolve to simply go for the nice center which neither offends nor evokes, simply entertains. It additionally displays the broad, easy-going enchantment of the music — at the very least for sure generations — which makes this present’s future promising, if not on this Broadway run then actually for the highway.

Derek McLane’s colourful set design and Jen Caprio’s witty costumes (love the cardboard skirt) echoes the late ‘80s, and sign senseless escapism is the important thing.

The musical rom-com’s nutty exuberance can also be harking back to one other present: “Hairspray.” Right here, too, are oddball jokes, crazy characters and winking interval references (Sam Goody’s, Dealer Vics, increase bins and the Walkman — “Why not a Walkwoman?” snaps one feminine visionary.)

Simply don’t take a look at the plot too deeply because it follows Bobby (Cory Cott), a man who gave up his rock and roll dream because the lead singer for the longtime-struggling The Loops for a safer job at a Milwaukee manufacturing facility the place he hopes to impress the boss (John Dossett) and the boss’s daughter Cassandra (McKenzie Kurtz, who provides this ingenue stunning quirks and comedian chops).

However he additionally doesn’t wish to let down his previous bandmates (F. Michael Haynie, Raymond J. Lee and John-Michael Lyles) when there’s an opportunity to get an surprising report deal.

However there are issues, natch, with Bobby’s wooing of Fjord (Orville Mendoza), the Swedish furnishings magnate, for a giant contract whereas concurrently competing with Cassandra’s ex-fiancee and Gordon Gekko wannabe Tucker (Billy Harrington Tighe, a triple-threat performer, in addition to a comic book virtuoso in each scene and music.)

Humor and brightness is what fuels this engine whose musical repertoire will not be infinitely assorted. So “Hip to Be Sq.” is sung by the field manufacturing facility employees with dancers doing faucet on bubble wrap. “Caught with You” turns into a hilarious fantasy of home doom. “I Need a New Drug” turns into Bobby’s love music to a seductive electrical guitar.

Throw in a scene in a sauna and one other in an aerobics studio led by a Richard Simmons-type (Tommy Bracco) and you’ve got sufficient diversions to maintain you from pondering an excessive amount of in regards to the story.

Including sly comedian asides is a really humorous Tamika Lawrence as Bobby’s HR ally. She will get the most important laughs with the subtlest of takes, and slays the present’s wind-up music, “The Energy of Love” (a tune that additionally fuels Broadway’s “Again to the Future”).

“The Coronary heart of Rock and Roll” solely betrays itself when it dips its toe too deeply into the pool of seriousness with an overwrought 11 o’clock quantity (“The Solely One”). Till then, Bobby is an interesting sufficient go-getter, however sudden father points takes the present down a special highway.

Cott, who was spectacular because the lead in “Bandstand,” sings the hell out of the songs. However his hanging attractiveness, to not point out his well-displayed biceps and abs, makes him maybe an excessive amount of of a slick outsider to be totally credible in Huey’s working-for-a-living world.

Nonetheless, because the present retains its ambitions in examine with its sensibly-scaled manufacturing and low-stakes ebook, it doesn’t actually matter that it thinks contained in the field. In spite of everything, cardboard has its makes use of.

Michael Cuscuna, a three-time Grammy profitable jazz producer and the co-founder of Mosaic Data, has died. He was 75.

His demise was confirmed on Monday by the document label Blue Observe, for whom he produced reissues and studio periods. He did the identical for quite a few different labels together with Impulse, Atlantic, Arista, Freedom, Novus, Muse and Elektra.

Cuscuna died April 20 of most cancers at his house in Stamford, Connecticut, in line with Grammy-winning recording artist Billy Vera, Cuscana’s longtime pal and collaborator.

Cuscuna was born in Stamford on September 20, 1948. After mastering the drums, saxophone and flute as a youngster, he took on quite a few roles throughout the music trade: he was a progressive rock deejay (at New York’s WXPN and later WABC-FM, in addition to Philadelphia’s WMMR), music journalist and had a grasp on music historical past which led him to write down liner notes for albums by Buddy Man, Chris Smither, Ken Nordine, and Bonnie Raitt.

Cuscuna’s largest initiatives, commercially, vary from the 1970 album “Buddy & the Juniors,” that includes Buddy Man, Junior Wells and Junior Mance, to Bonnie Raitt’s 1972 album, “Give It Up.”

He started Mosaic Data in 1982 with Charlie Lourie, a former CBS govt and Blue Observe’s new head of selling. Cuscana was stated to have gotten the thought for Mosaic within the early Nineteen Eighties when he found twenty-eight minutes of unreleased Thelonious Monk materials from his Blue Observe years, which led to him producing “The Full Blue Observe Recordings of Thelonious Monk” as Mosaic’s debut, per a 2013 interview with Esquire.

“It isn’t straightforward to bid farewell to a greatest pal, figuring out that it’s a ultimate goodbye,” Blue Observe wrote on their socials. “Michael Cuscuna was top-of-the-line associates this music has had.”

Cuscuna is survived by his spouse, Lisa, youngsters Max and Lauren and grandchildren Nicolas and Penelope.