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Tag: Janet Jackson

  • Oprah tops ‘Forbes’ list of richest women in entertainment

    Oprah tops ‘Forbes’ list of richest women in entertainment

    MUMBAI: The annual Forbes magazine list has put out its list of the wealthiest women in entertainment and there are no new surprises on who occupies the top spot.

    U.S. talk show host and media mogul Oprah Winfrey tops the list with an an estimated $1.5 billion during her career. JK Rowling, who is finishing the seventh and final instalment in her boy wizard series Harry Potter, ranks second with $1 billion. Martha Stewart another talk show host is third with $638 million.
    Madonna ranks fourth with $325 million, followed by Celine Dion ($250 million), Mariah Carey ($225 million), Janet Jackson ($150 million), Julia Roberts ($140 million), and Jennifer Aniston and Jennifer Lopez (both $110 million).

    Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, the twin actresses who started out on the ’80s comedy Full House and created a multimedia empire, Dualstar Entertainment Group, are No. 11 with an estimated “combined net worth at around $100 million,” Forbes said. They’re followed by Britney Spears, Judge Judy Sheindlin of TV’s Judge Judy, Sandra Bullock, Cameron Diaz, Gisele Bundchen, Ellen DeGeneres, Nicole Kidman, Christina Aguilera and Renee Zellweger. Forbes stated that to make its top-20 list these female megastars needed a minimum net worth of $45 million amassed over the course of their careers.

    Oprah Winfrey, $1.5 billion

    J.K. Rowling, $1 billion

    Martha Stewart, $638 million

    Madonna, $325 million

    Celine Dion, $250 million

    Mariah Carey, $225 million

    Janet Jackson, $150 million

    Julia Roberts, $140 million

    Jennifer Lopez, $110 million

    Jennifer Aniston, $110 million

    Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, $100 million

    Britney Spears, $100 million

    Judge Judy Sheindlin, $95 million

    Sandra Bullock, $85 million

    Cameron Diaz, $75 million

    Gisele Bundchen, $70 million

    Ellen DeGeneres, $65 million

    Nicole Kidman, $60 million

    Christina Aguilera, $60 million

    Renée Zellweger, $45 million

  • Viacom launches video sharing site Flux in Japan

    Viacom launches video sharing site Flux in Japan

    MUMBAI: Viacom International Japan has launched the Flux video sharing site for broadband Internet users in Japan.

    Flux is a free, advertiser-supported next-generation entertainment service that combines popular video from Viacom brands such as MTV, Nickelodeon and Bet – Black Entertainment Television, with music videos, Japanese animations, movie previews and content created by users themselves.

    Japan’s 75 million Internet users can now watch pre-programmed channels on Flux and access video-on-demand from a vast library of diverse content. As Flux members, users can also create their own personal channels from the video library and watch channels created by other users.

    MTV chairman and CEO Judy McGrath says, “Flux revolutionises the way audiences view and use video content – putting them in complete control. This innovative service significantly expands MTVN’s digital media presence in Japan, enabling us to deliver our leading MTV, Nickelodeon and BET content to audiences in new ways. Through our global network we are uniquely positioned to share Flux innovations from Japan with more than 150 MTV digital media properties worldwide.”

    Viacom International Japan senior VP and GM digital media Tony Elison commented, “Flux presents an entirely new way of interacting with entertainment – it’s 21st century television on the Web. Placing the consumer at the center of the programming universe, Flux offers endless opportunities for Japanese users to access the content they love, discover new entertainment and share their experiences with others.”

    In addition to video created by users, Flux features content including – Nickelodeon’s SpongeBob SquarePants; MTV’s Europe Music Awards and Jackass and local MTV Japan productions including Trainsurfer and Tempura, among others. Clips range from 3-10 minutes in length.

    Flux will continuously launch new programming to enrich the Japanese online entertainment landscape. Next month, Flux will bring content from Viacom-owned BET Networks to Japanese audiences, including excerpts from the 2006 BET Hip-Hop Awards.

    Bet chairman and CEO Debra L. Lee says, “Our mission is to provide high-quality entertainment to consumers of Black culture on a global basis. The launch of Bet content on FLUX provides access to an enormous audience who has long displayed an appetite for hip hop culture. This partnership allows Bet a chance to reassert our global brand presence while super-serving this passionate audience like never before.”

    Also next month, the first co-production from Flux and MTV Japan called Nigoldeneye will debut simultaneously on both platforms. The docudrama series will follow Nigo, the creator behind the ‘A Bathing Ape’ fashion empire. Content produced exclusively for both Flux and MTV Japan will complement the online and on-air viewing experiences, encouraging audiences to migrate between platforms.

    Flux also features more than 2,000 music videos – one of the largest selections online in Japan – licensed from local and international music companies such as Warner Music Group, Universal Music Group and Toshiba EMI. Artists featured on FLUX include international acts Madonna, Janet Jackson and Red Hot Chili Peppers, along with local acts. Additional licensing agreements with music companies will be announced soon.

    Flux says that it provides this diverse and innovative video programming in a unique environment. The Flux video player displays contextually related clips during video playback, so that the user can easily watch more programming from sources he enjoys, without the need for a specific search. Flux also allows users to programme their own channels and share these channels with friends within a social network. Individual channels created can include anything ranging from self-made content, clips created by others, music videos, animations and more – building bridges between professional, independent, and amateur content providers. In this way, Flux says that it harnesses the power of technology and social networking to facilitate users’ discovery of new entertainment.

  • Star World to air Kanye West concert

    Star World to air Kanye West concert

    MUMBAI: Controversial, obnoxious, gifted, brash. American pop star Kanye West has been called many names, but he’s never been called safe or boring.

    A hip-hop producer and songwriter, he has already won six Grammy Awards for just two albums, two years in a row. Star World will air his concert tonight 29 March at 9 pm.
    He burst onto the scene as a singer-songwriter a couple of years ago. In this special, he once again approaches old music with new arrangements.

    Backed by an all-female 17-piece orchestra in an intimate gig at London’s famous Abbey Road studios, he belts out songs from his albums College Dropout and Late Registration, but with a twist. It also features special guest, neo-soul singer/pianist John Legend. Viewers can also check out West’s superstar friends in the audience, like Jay-Z & Beyoncé.

    Drawing from musical influences as diverse as Franz Ferdinand to classical music, West counts Alicia Keys, Jay-Z, Janet Jackson, Ludacris, Prodigy, Mariah Carey and Mos Def among his collaborators, whether as a producer or as a songwriter. His own record label, G.O.O.D. (Getting Out Our Dreams) Music has already signed acts like Common and John Legend – both of whom earned Grammy nominations alongside him this year.

    He once posed in a crown of thorns as Jesus on the cover of Rolling Stone. He has also been quoted saying, “George Bush doesn’t care about black people” on American television in a Hurricane Katrina benefit. He is not afraid to speak out against hip-hop’s discrimination against homosexuals, and rant about political correctness.