VIDEO: Singer Miguel Accidentally Lands on Fan At Billboard Music Awards

Singer Miguel got a little excited during his performance of 'Adorn' during the Billboard Music Awards. When he ...

FilmAid’s Liz Manne Stepping Down As Executive Director

Longtime independent film marketing executive Liz Manne was appointed executive director of FilmAid International in 2011. She’s now transitioning out of the job to the board of directors as a vice chair. Co-founder of the MTV Exit Foundation Simon Goff will replace Manne. FilmAid, founded by producer Caroline Baron during the Balkan crisis of 1999, uses film to educate and bring hope to refugees and communities in need around the world. Manne said today, “I remain deeply committed to FilmAid’s mission, and am honored the board has invited me to join its ranks and continue with the organization in a meaningful and strategic, if no longer day-to-day role.”

Nicki Minaj: Twerking, Straddling Lil Wayne at Billboard Music Awards!

Nicki Minaj proved, with her raunchy performance at the 2013 Billboard Music Awards, that she can be a lady on the streets and a freak on the stage. She walked the red carpet in an elegant red gown, but oh how quickly things changed. The rapper gav...

Cannes: Deadline Crashes Palais Forum With Costa Gavras, Michel Hazanavicius And Harvey Weinstein

An esteemed party, led by Costa Gavras, Michel Hazanavicius and TWC co-chairman Harvey Weinstein, crashed a parlay at the Palais on Strengthening The Cultural Exception In Tomorrow’s Europe where MPAA head Chris Dodd was among the policy-maker panelists today. Weinstein spoke on an issue that currently has European filmmakers fighting to preserve the autonomy of their individual film industries. The U.S. and the European Union will enter trade talks later this year which could result in the removal of trade barriers between the world’s two biggest economies. But, included in the draft negotiation mandate for the talks are the audiovisual and film industries. Filmmakers want the arts excluded. Hazanavicius said, “Our fear is if they kill our regulatory system, it will crush us.” Weinstein recalled that when preserving the cultural imperative wasn’t as important in Italy, filmmakers there began turning out clones of American movies, which they felt they needed to do to compete. “We never bought any of those films,” Weinstein said. Costa Gavras and Hazanavicius also showed their support and then the whole crashing party was gone. Earlier, as they made their way to the Palais, the filmmakers explained the stakes to Deadline. Costa Gavras said, “The big risk is having the same ... Read More »

Chris Brown Billboard Music Awards Performance: "Fine China" and Kung Fu!

Say what you will about Chris Brown, the man never phones in a live performance. Even when people are phoning in death threats to him the same day. The singer turned in a high powered, feisty rendition of "Fine China" at the 2013 Billboard Music Aw...

Yahoo Announces $1.1B Tumblr Deal With Vow “Not To Screw It Up”

SUNNYVALE, Calif. & NEW YORK– Yahoo! Inc. (NASDAQ: YHOO) and Tumblr announced today that they have reached a definitive agreement for Yahoo! to acquire Tumblr. Per the agreement and our promise not to screw it up, Tumblr will be independently operated as a separate business. David Karp will remain CEO. The product, service and brand will continue to be defined and developed separately with the same Tumblr irreverence, wit, and commitment to empower creators. With more than 300 million monthly unique visitors and 120,000 signups every day, Tumblr is one of the fastest-growing media networks in the world. Tumblr sees 900 posts per second (!) and 24 billion minutes spent on site each month. On mobile, more than half of Tumblr’s users are using the mobile app and do an average of 7 sessions per day. Its tremendous popularity and engagement among creators, curators and audiences of all ages brings a significant new community of users to the Yahoo! network. The combination of Tumblr+Yahoo! is expected to grow Yahoo!’s audience by 50 percent to more than a billion monthly visitors, and to grow traffic by approximately 20 percent. The deal offers unique opportunities for both companies. Tumblr can deploy Yahoo!’s personalization technology and search infrastructure to help its users discover creators, bloggers, and content they’ll love. In turn, Tumblr brings 50 billion blog posts (and 75 million more arriving each day) to Yahoo!’s media network ... Read More »

Cubs Fan Makes Miraculous, Dangerous Foul Ball Catch

Sign him up, Theo Epstein! During Saturday's Chicago Cubs-New York Mets game, a fan risked life, limb and beer to try and snag a foul ball hit by first baseman Ike Davis. Did he succeed? You bet! Should the struggling Cubs look to ink this man to...

Yahoo to Buy Tumblr For $1.1 Billion

As part of its ongoing effort to reinvent itself, Yahoo agreed to buy the blogging service Tumblr for about $1.1 billion in cash, The New York Times reports.

If the deal is approved, it would be the biggest yet under the tenure of Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer and a major move into social media for the company.

It would also top Facebook’s 2012 acquisition of Instagram for $1 billion.

Founded in 2007, Tumblr has a young, active user base, with over 108 million image-centric blogs. Owning that would expand Yahoo's user base.

Or will it? Analysts and investors are likely to question immediately whether buying a site that has struggled to generate revenue makes any sense.

It is meant to give Yahoo more appeal to young people, and to make up for years of missing out on the revolutions in social networking and mobile devices.

Yet the basic question about Tumblr and other social media sites remains open and is sure to present a challenge to Mayer: Can they make money?

It has not proved that it can be profitable, nor that it can have success on mobile devices, which are rapidly becoming the gateway to the Internet.

Even Facebook and its massive revenue stream face major pressure from investors to show it can increase its profits and adapt to the mobile world.

Mayer will face the challenge of managing the takeover, given Yahoo’s reputation for paying big money for start-ups and then letting the prizes wither.

Previous acquisitions, like Flickr for $35 million and GeoCities - an early pioneer in social networking - for $3.6 billion (!), have done little for Yahoo.

Will Tumblr follow suit? Or be the transformational takeover they hope it will be? Only time will tell, and right now, not even Yahoo knows for certain.

It’s Official: Yahoo Is Buying Tumblr For $1.1B, Vows To Keep It Independent

Yahoo has now officially confirmed that it is buying blogging platform Tumblr for $1.1 billion mostly in cash, after reports on an impending deal first surfaced last week. It says it will keep it as an independent company, with founder David Karp at the helm as CEO. "The product, service and brand will continue to be defined and developed separately with the same Tumblr irreverence, wit, and commitment to empower creators," it writes.

VIDEO: Top Headlines: Tornadoes Sweep Across Midwest

Powerball winner still hasn't claimed prize; China asks North Korea to return fishing crew; another missile test from ...

Happy Anniversary, Jessica Alba and Cash Warren!

Jessica Alba took a break from Street Fighting over the weekend to send anniversary wishes to Cash Warren, her beloved husband of five years. #happyanniversary #mylove+myheart+mybestfriend+myconfidant ur my everything cash_warren I love u," the act...

Mobile Payment Startup Payvia Buys Mogreet To Add Messaging-Based Marketing To Its Payment Platform

Some more consolidation afoot in the worlds of mobile marketing and mobile payments: Payvia, one of the many startups working in the area of carrier-based mobile billing, is buying Mogreet, a mobile marketing company that delivers campaigns via text, video and picture messaging services. Terms of the deal were not disclosed -- although we have contacted the company to ask. Payvia says that the whole of the Mogreet team will be coming over, including Mogreet founder and CEO James Citron, who will become Payvia’s Chief Marketing Officer.

Yet Another TechCity Report Confuses Tech Companies With Web Agencies And Consultants

A new report commissioned by research giant GfK claims that the growth of the high density cluster of technology companies in East London (dubbed Tech City by the UK government) is being "stunted" by a talent shortage and lack of access to capital. The ‘Tech Futures Report' - commissioned by publishing company TechCityInsider and sponsored by accountant Grant Thornton, recruitment firm Vitamin T, City University London and Digital Shoreditch is based on 141 interviews of 'tech' company senior management. In fact, only less than half of these admitted to developing technology products and platforms. It's simply the latest in a long line of reports that conflate consultants and digital advertising agencies with technology companies, leading to yet more confusion about the state of the cluster.

Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez Kiss, Gross Out Taylor Swift

Contrary to earlier reports, Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez did not sit next to each other at last night's Billboard Music Awards. But the estranged couple did greet each other with a peck on the cheek backstage. Much to the chagrin of Taylor Swift...

Hammond On Cannes: Sun Comes Out As Parties, Deals And Movies Take Over Croisette

The sun finally came back to a windy and rainy Cannes but the weather clearly couldn’t slow the nonstop parties, premieres, deals and hype for which this festival is famous. And despite the rain on Saturday the turnout for Lionsgate’s big Catching Fire bash was wall-to-wall at Baoli Beach, with everyone including star Jennifer Lawrence crowded into the large tent. One exec there actually was happy with the monsoon-like conditions. “The rain probably kept 30% of our RSVPs away which is probably good because i don’t know how we could have squeezed them in,” he said. With everyone drying out Sunday there seemed to be even more party-hopping than usual. At the crowded Participant Films party at the Carlton, Focus Features CEO James Schamus was accepting congratulations on his re-upping at the company. I have rarely heard him wax more eloquently about a film than Focus’ recent pickup of The Dallas Buyers Club, the movie where Matthew McConaughey lost about 50 pounds to play an early AIDS victim. It’s not dated yet according to Schamus but is planned  for fall sometime. “It’s just a bloodbath trying to pick the right date in that period but this movie is extraordinary. I just so admire what Matthew has been doing with his career in the last couple of ... Read More »

Alteryx Raises $12M For Data Analytics Platform That Shapes Data Into Apps

Alteryx has raised $12 million for its business intelligence service designed for data analysts to build tools out of their own internal data and that from third parties. The investment comes from SAP Ventures and Toba Capital, a new firm founded by former Quest Founder and CEO Vinny Smith.

Prince Wins Icon Award, Performs (!) at Billboard Music Awards

Now this is how you close an awards ceremony!

Toward the end of the Billboard Music Awards last night, Prince received the Icon Award. But instead of an acceptance speech, the legendary artist shocked viewers with a rare television performance.

Watch him sing the 1984 smash “Let’s Go Crazy” here and then transition to his newest track, "FIXURLIFEUP."

Among other Billboard highlights:

• Fans may have booed Justin Bieber.
• There was a PSY and Tracy Morgan dance-off.
• Miguel fell on a fan's head.
• Taylor Swift mocked her own love life while winning Artist of the Year.

PSY vs. Tracy Morgan: "Gentleman" Dance-Off!

PSY and Tracy Morgan engaged in the briefest of dance-offs last night at the 2013 Billboard Music Awards before Chris Brown took the MGM Grand stage. Morgan, the host of the mega-music event, appeared on stage in a yellow suit, black hat and sungla...

Cannes Briefs: Mongrel Buys ‘Blue’ Competition Film; ‘Badges Of Fury’ Sales; Stealth Indie Adds Pics; Solar Launches Romanian Studio

Mongrel Media has been on a shopping spree this fest acquiring all Canadian rights on competition titles Inside Llewyn Davis and Paolo Sorrentino’s La Grande Bellezza. Its latest pickup is competition entry Blue Is The Warmest Color from director Abdellatif Kechiche. The movie premieres here on Thursday. Léa Seydoux and Adèle Exarchopoulos star in the lesbian coming of age story. Mongrel is planning a 2014 release. Easternlight, the specialty label of Arclight Films has sold myriad territories on Jet Li-starrer Badges Of Fury. Zhang Wen, who was in the recent Chinese box office smash Journey To The West, co-stars. Sales include the U.S. (Well Go), Australia/New Zealand, Germany, Hong Kong, Greece, Italy, Japan, Latin America, Spain and Turkey. The detective action comedy opens in China in June. Stealth Indie, which focuses on commercial genre from British and European talent, has come aboard three new films set to shoot at the end of July. The Hatching is a creature horror pic about man-eating crocodiles set on the Somerset moors to be shot by commercials and documentary director, Michael Anderson. Greg Davies (The Inbetweeners Movie), Thomas Turgoose and Sylvia Syms star. Repercussion is a blackly comic thriller starring Joseph Millson as a reluctant hold-up man, on the run. Sarah-Jane Potts (Kinky Boots) also stars. ... Read More »

Obama Approval Rating Not Impacted By Scandals

Justifiably or not, President Barack Obama's approval rating has apparently not been hurt by a trio of scandals making headlines in the past week. A new poll from CNN and ORC International found that 53 percent of Americans approve of the job Obama...

VIDEO: Keanu Reeves Appears to Show Weight Gain at Cannes

Keanu Reeves is spotted on a yacht at Cannes Film Festival, showing off a possible weight gain and ...

VIDEO: Fatal Hot Air Balloon Accident in Turkey

A mid-air collision between two hot-air balloons carrying tourists in Turkey has left one tourist dead and about ...

Mobile Ad Startup Adelphic Hires WPP’s Michael Collins As CEO

Adelphic is announcing that Michael Collins (pictured), previously global CEO at WPP-owned mobile marketing agency Joule, has joined the mobile ad startup as its new chief executive. The current CEO Changfeng Wang will remain on-board as CTO. Wang and his co-founder Jennifer Lum both worked at Apple-acquired mobile ad network Quattro, and they announced last year that they had launched a new company. Adelphic says it helps mobile advertisers find the most desirable audiences for their ads, addressing the lack of a persistent ID for mobile users by analyzing different signals that allow it to predict a visitor's demographic data.

Chad Johnson: Unemployed, Unable to Pay Child Support

The maligned Chad Johnson's woes seem to keep piling up. In addition to the warrant out for his arrest, the former NFL athlete is in a declining state of fiscal health, a dramatic reversal from just one year ago. Pretty soon, he may no longer hav...

Selena Gomez Performs at Billboard Music Awards, Wears Bindi Again

Like her ex-boyfriend, Selena Gomez courted some controversy at last night's Billboard Music Awards. With Justin Bieber singing his own praises and addressing haters while accepting the Milestone Award, Gomez ignored her critics and donned a Bindi ...

Headcast, A Mobile Broadcast Platform For Celebrities’ & Brands’ Avatars To Talk To Fans, Launches On iOS, Backed By Stephen Fry

There's no shortage of channels for brands and celebrities to stay in touch with their customers, followers and fans in these socially connected times. Today's addition to the mix is the launch of broadcasting and animation platform Headcast, which lets brands and celebrities record and push out short voice messages to their audience -- accompanied by an animated, virtual avatar.

Christina Aguilera, Pitbull "Feel This Moment" at Billboard Music Awards

Christina Aguilera is most definitely feeling this moment. The sexy singer, who is returning for The Voice Season 5, showed off her slender figure while performing at Sunday's Billboard Music Awards in Vegas. Wearing a short black skirt and black...

Taylor Swift Mocks Love Life, Performs, Wins HUGE at Billboard Music Awards

Simply put, Taylor Swift owned the 2013 Billboard Music Awards.

First, the artist took home 11 trophies. No, that is not a misprint. 11!

Then, she performed her hit "22," starting off backstage... making her way through the crowd... and ending up with a bunch of back-up dancers, jumping and playing around on stage.

Watch that Taylor Swift performance now.

But Swift saved the best for last when she accepted Artist of the Year and joked at the mic: “To the fans... I just want you to know this one thing: You are the longest and best relationship I’ve ever had.”

Self-zing! Watch the speech here and then compare it to Justin Bieber's Milestone Award speech. One is self-deprecating; the other anything but...

Celebrity Apprentice Winner: Crowned!

After a two-hour (!) episode and surprisingly potent efforts by both Trace Adkins and Penn Jillette, an all-star champion was finally crowned on Celebrity Apprentice.

Both were worthy, but there can be only one winner.

And that winner, ladies and gentlemen, is ...

• 
• 

Trace Adkins! Penn Jillette was fired by Donald Trump, though the choice didn’t just come down to money, even though Trace raised more than Penn.

Instead, it was a mixture of success at the final task, in addition to other traits. As Penn told Trace, one of them had to win, and it wouldn’t be by much.

Both performed admirably in the season-ending bonanza.

The big elimination ceremony featured a live recap of what went on in this epic season, as well as plenty of returning faces, interviews and filler.

Perhaps the best part? Omarosa celebrating “10 years with the franchise.” Penn encasing Teller’s head in concrete and smashing it was up there too.

Anyway, Trace won out. Did he deserve it? You tell us!

‘Senna’ Director Asif Kapadia to Direct Love Story ‘Ali and Nino’

"Senna" director Asif Kapadia has signed on to direct "Ali and Nino," which Oscar winner Christopher Hampton is adapting from Kurban Said's pre-World War Two bestselling romance novel.

PeaPie Films founder Kris Thykier will produce, while Leyla Aliyeva will executive produce. IM Global will handle worldwide sales for the film, which is scheduled to start production early next year.

First published in 1937, the epic novel follows the love story between the male descendant of a royal Muslim family and a beautiful, Christian, Georgian princess.

"'Ali and Nino' is such a poignant and timeless novel and I am thrilled to be collaborating with such a talented screenwriter as Christopher Hampton to bring it to life," said Kapadia, whose "Senna" is the highest-grossing UK documentary of all-time.