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Hard Rock and John Legend ‘Come Together for Good’ at Special Performance for Unity by Hard Rock™ Members

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Last Updated on September 20, 2024 by Daily News Staff

Hard Rock International presents Legend with $100,000 donation for his The Show Me Campaign

Two lucky Unity members won a trip to Legend’s performance at Hard Rock Cafe London complete with a stay in the inaugural ‘Hard Rock House’ – a local home adorned with the iconic, music-inspired décor of Hard Rock Hotels

HOLLYWOOD, Fla., Sept. 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Last night, Hard Rock International hosted a private “Unity by Hard Rock Come Together for Good” performance with EGOT-winning critically acclaimed, multi-platinum artist and producer John Legend at the original Hard Rock Cafe London in continued celebration of the Unity by Hard Rock™ global loyalty program launch. To show their gratitude for Legend’s partnership and support for his philanthropic endeavors, Hard Rock presented a $100,000 check to his organization The Show Me Campaign, which is committed to ensuring that every young person has the opportunity to pursue their dreams through access to inspiring education, not just by chance, but by transforming the systems that shape our children’s futures. Show Me Campaign is a fiscally sponsored program of the Social Impact Fund.

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Keith Sheldon presents The Show Me Campaign check to John Legend on behalf of Hard Rock Heals Foundation – Credit Will Bailey (PRNewsfoto/Hard Rock International)

Legend at the Hard Rock

Legend performed favorite songs “Ordinary People,” “Tonight” and “All of Me” for an intimate audience of Unity members and other guests. Two lucky Unity members from Yukon, Oklahoma were flown in and sat feet away from Legend after winning the Come Together Experiences sweepstakes. They received exclusive swag, signed merchandise, a $200 Rock Shop gift card and overnight stay in the inaugural ‘Hard Rock House’ – a local home adorned with the iconic, music-inspired décor of Hard Rock Hotels. 

Legend has a long-standing relationship with Hard Rock, having performed at various Hard Rock Live music venues and helped open the Hard Rock Hotel New York. Most recently, he was part of the star-studded Unity global loyalty program launch ‘Come Together’ campaign which also featured Lionel Messi, Shakira and Noah Kahan who did a cover of The Beatles’ iconic song.

Unity by Hard Rock merges the best of casino, hotel, restaurant, retail and entertainment loyalty programs under one umbrella around the world and online. It offers an array of services for members to earn Unity Points and redeem them for free hotel nights, dining experiences and merchandise, while gaining access to offers, promotions and rewards.

“I feel very fortunate to have the opportunity to perform again at a Hard Rock venue, this time for Unity members and fans in the place where it all started, the ‘original cafe’ in London,” said Legend. “The night was special and made even more so with Hard Rock’s generous donation to The Show Me Campaign. Growing up, music was my passion, but it was my teachers who truly unlocked my potential. They taught me to write with creativity, passion, and clarity, which paved my way to becoming a successful musician. I recognize that my journey was not just about talent, but also the fortune of having teachers who believed in me. Thank you to Hard Rock for supporting The Show Me Campaign’s work to pay it forward and ensure opportunity and access to quality education for the next generation.”

“We are proud to support The Show Me Campaign and are thankful to John for sharing his talents and powerful music with our Unity members and special guests at another incredible performance curated by Hard Rock,” said Keith Sheldon, President of Entertainment & Brand Management at Hard Rock International and Seminole Gaming. “We’re thrilled with the continued growth of Unity by Hard Rock membership since its global launch and supporting the ‘Come Together’ campaign that began this spring. Members have been discovering how they can earn points for doing what they love across Hard Rock’s amazing venues including hotels, casinos, restaurants, shops and more.”

Photos from last night’s Unity performance can be downloaded here.

To learn more about Unity member and sign up, visit unity.hardrock.com.

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About Hard Rock®
Hard Rock International (HRI) is one of the most globally recognized companies with venues in over 70 countries spanning 309 locations that include owned/licensed or managed Hotels, Casinos, Rock Shops®, Live Performance Venues and Cafes. Its Unity by Hard Rock™ global loyalty program rewards members for doing the things they love across participating properties around the world. HRI also launched a joint venture named Hard Rock Digital in 2020, an online sportsbook, retail sportsbook and internet gaming platform. Beginning with an Eric Clapton guitar, Hard Rock owns the world’s largest and most valuable collection of authentic music memorabilia at more than 88,000 pieces, which are displayed at its locations around the globe. HRI became the first privately-owned gaming company designated a U.S. Best Managed Company by Deloitte Private and The Wall Street Journal in 2021 and has since been honored fourfold. Hard Rock was also honored by Forbes among the World’s Best Employers, as well as Best Employers for Women, Diversity and New Grads and a Top Large Employer in the Travel & Leisure, Gaming and Entertainment Industry. In the 2022 Global Gaming Awards, Hard Rock was named Land-Based Operator of the Year for the second time in four years. Hard Rock International currently holds investment grades from primary investment-grade rating agencies: S&P Global Ratings (BBB-) and Fitch Ratings (BBB). For more information on Hard Rock International, visit www.hardrock.com or shop.hardrock.com.

SOURCE Hard Rock International

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Looking for an entertainment experience that transcends the ordinary? Look no further than STM Daily News Blog’s vibrant Entertainment section. Immerse yourself in the captivating world of indie films, streaming and podcasts, movie reviews, music, expos, venues, and theme and amusement parks. Discover hidden cinematic gems, binge-worthy series and addictive podcasts, gain insights into the latest releases with our movie reviews, explore the latest trends in music, dive into the vibrant atmosphere of expos, and embark on thrilling adventures in breathtaking venues and theme parks. Join us at [insert website URL] and let your entertainment journey begin! https://stmdailynews.com/category/entertainment/

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What Was the Cause of Michael Jackson’s Death?

Michael Jackson died on June 25, 2009 from acute propofol and benzodiazepine intoxication. Learn what the coroner found, why his death was ruled a homicide, and how Dr. Conrad Murray was held responsible.

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December 12, 2025

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What Was the Cause of Michael Jackson’s Death?

On June 25, 2009, the world lost one of its most influential entertainers when Michael Jackson died at the age of 50. The Los Angeles County Coroner determined that Jackson’s death was caused by acute propofol and benzodiazepine intoxication. The powerful anesthetic propofol—administered in a home setting—combined with sedatives created a fatal mix that stopped his breathing.

Jackson’s personal physician, Dr. Conrad Murray, was later found guilty of involuntary manslaughter for administering the drugs without proper monitoring or medical safeguards. The ruling underscored the dangers of using hospital-grade anesthesia outside a controlled environment.

Michael Jackson’s passing remains one of the most discussed celebrity deaths in modern history, marking a tragic end to the life of a groundbreaking artist whose music still shapes global culture.

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Entertainment

Netflix-Warner deal would drive streaming market further down the road of ‘Big 3’ domination

Netflix’s planned acquisition of Warner Bros. marks a new era of “Big Three” domination in the streaming industry, joining Amazon and Disney at the top. Discover what this means for viewers and the future of digital entertainment.

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December 11, 2025

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Netflix and Warner Bros. logos side by side, symbolizing the major streaming industry merger and the emergence of a dominant “Big Three” in digital entertainment.
Netflix’s Hollywood studio offices at Sunset Bronson Studios in Los Angeles. Patrick T. Fallon / AFP via Getty Images

Netflix-Warner deal would drive streaming market further down the road of ‘Big 3’ domination

David R. King, Florida State University When it comes to major U.S. industries, three tends to be the magic number. Historically, auto manufacturing was long dominated by Chrysler, Ford and General Motors – the so-called “Big Three,” which at one point controlled over 60% of the U.S. auto market. A dominant trio shows up elsewhere, too, in everything from the U.S. defense market – think Lockheed Martin, Boeing and Northrup Grumman – to cellphone service providers (AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon). The same goes for the U.S. airline industry in which American, Delta and United fly higher than the rest. The rule of three also applies to what Americans watch; the glory days of television was dominated by three giants: ABC, CBS and NBC. Now, in the digital age, we are rapidly moving to a “Big Three” dominating streaming services: Netflix, Amazon and Disney. The latest step in that process is Netflix’s plan to acquire Warner Bros. for US$72 billion. If approved, the move would solidify Netflix as the dominant streaming platform.

When streams converge

Starting life as a mail DVD subscription service, Netflix moved into streaming movies and TV shows in 2007, becoming a first-mover into the sphere. Being an early adopter as viewing went from cable and legacy to online and streaming gave Netflix an advantages in also developing support technology and using subscriber data to create new content. The subsequent impact was Netflix became a market leader, with quarterly profits now far exceeding its competitors, which often report losses. Today, even without the Warner Bros. acquisition, Netflix has a dominant global base of over 300 million subscribers. Amazon Prime comes second with roughly 220 million subscribers, and Disney – which includes both Disney+ and Hulu – is third, with roughly 196 million subscribers. This means that between them, these three companies already control over 60% of the streaming market. Netflix’s lead would only be reinforced by the proposed deal with Warner Bros., as it would add ownership of Warner subsidiary HBO Max, which is currently the fourth-biggest streamer in the U.S. with a combined 128 million subscribers. While some of them will overlap, Netflix is likely to still gain subscribers and better retain them with a broader selection of content. Netflix’s move to acquire Warner Bros. also follows prior entertainment industry consolidation, driven by a desire to control content to retain streaming service subscribers. In 2019, Disney acquired 21st Century Fox for $71.3 billion. Three years later, Amazon acquired Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer for $8.5 billion. Should the Netflix deal go through, it would continue this trend of streaming consolidation. It would also leave a clear gap at the top between the emerging Big Three and other services, such as Paramount+ with 79 million subscribers and Apple TV+, which has around 45 million. Paramount on Dec. 8, 2025, announced a hostile takeover bid for Warner Bros. in a proposed $108.4 billion deal that would, unlike the Netflix plan, include Warner Bros. subsidiary Discovery+.

Why industries come in threes

But why do industries converge to a handful of companies? As an expert on mergers, I know the answer comes down to market forces relating to competition, which tends to drive consolidation of an industry into three to five firms. From a customer perspective, there is a need for multiple options. Having more than one option avoids monopolistic practices that can see prices fixed at a higher rate. Competition between more than one big player is also a strong incentive for additional innovation to improve a product or service. For these reasons, governments – in the U.S. and over 100 other countries – have antitrust laws and practices to avoid any industry displaying limited competition. However, as industries become more stable, growth tends to slow and remaining businesses are forced to compete over a largely fixed market. This can separate companies into industry leaders and laggards. While leaders enjoy greater stability and predictable profits, laggards struggle to remain profitable. Lagging companies often combine to increase their market share and reduce costs. The result is that consolidating industries quite often land on three main players as a source of stability – one or two risks falling into the pitfalls of monopolies and duopolies, while many more than three to five can struggle to be profitable in mature industries.

What’s ahead for the laggards

The long-term viability of companies outside the “Big Three” streamers is in doubt, as the main players get bigger and smaller companies are unable to offer as much content. A temporary solution for smaller streamers to gain subscribers is to offer teaser rates that later increase for people that forget to cancel until companies take more permanent steps. But lagging services will also face increased pressure to exit streaming by licensing content to the leading streaming services, cease operations or sell their services and content. Additionally, companies outside the Big Three could be tempted to acquire smaller services in an attempt to maintain market share. There are already rumors that Paramount, which is a competing bidder for Warner Bros., may seek to acquire Starz or create a joint venture with Universal, which owns Peacock. Apple shows no immediate plan of discontinuing Apple TV+, but that may be due to the company’s high profitability and an overall cash flow that limits pressures to end its streaming service. Still, if the Netflix-Warner Bros. deal completes, it will likely increase the valuation of other lagging streaming services due to increased scarcity of valuable content and subscribers. This is due to competitive limits that restrict the Big Three from getting bigger, making the combination of smaller streaming services more valuable. This is reinforced by shareholders expecting similar or greater premiums from prior deals, driving the need to pay higher prices for the fewer remaining available assets.

The cost to consumers

So what does this all mean for consumers? I believe that in general, consumers will largely not be impacted when it comes to the overall cost of entertainment, as inflationary pressures for food and housing limit available income for streaming services. But where they access content will continue to shift away from cable television and movie theaters. Greater stability in the streaming industry through consolidation into a Big Three model only confirms the decline in traditional cable. Netflix’s rationale in acquiring Warner Bros. is likely to enable it to offer streaming at a lower price than the combined price of separate subscriptions, but more than Netflix alone. This could be achieved through additional subscription tiers for Netflix subscribers wanting to add HBO Max content. Beyond competition with other members of the “Big Three,” another reason why Netflix is unlikely to raise prices significantly is that it will likely commit to not doing so in order to get the merger approved. Netflix’s goal is to ensure it remains consumer’s first choice for streaming TV and films. So while streaming is fast becoming a Big Three industry, Netflix’s plan is to remain at the top of the triangle. This article was updated on Dec. 8, 2025, with news of Paramount’s hostile bid. David R. King, Higdon Professor of Management, Florida State University This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

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Ariel Award-Winning Animated Short ‘SHIMMER’ Makes Its Digital Debut on Short of the Week

Ariel Award-winning animated short SHIMMER by director Andrés Palma premieres on Short of the Week. A stunning exploration of fatherhood and regret created with Unreal Engine 5. Watch now.

Published

4 days ago

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December 9, 2025

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Last Updated on December 9, 2025 by Daily News Staff

Still from SHIMMER animated short film showing ethereal glowing fish floating across a night sky above a desolate shoreline with shipwrecks and an unfinished lighthouse

Ariel Award-Winning Animated Short ‘SHIMMER’ Makes Its Digital Debut on Short of the Week

A haunting tale of fatherhood, obsession, and redemption comes to life through groundbreaking animation technology The world of independent animation just got a stunning new addition. Director Andrés Palma’s SHIMMER, an Ariel Award-winning animated short film, premiered December 8th on Short of the Week, the premier destination for curated short film content reaching millions of viewers worldwide.

A Father’s Dream, A Daughter’s Pain

Set against a desolate shoreline littered with the skeletal remains of forgotten shipwrecks, SHIMMER tells the emotionally charged story of Ricardo, a father whose single-minded obsession with building a towering lighthouse blinds him to the emotional wreckage he’s creating within his own family. As he chases what he believes will be salvation, his eldest daughter Lucía grows increasingly resentful—until her choices force Ricardo to face the devastating consequences of his dreams. “Every project that matters to me comes from a place of unresolved emotion,” Palma explains. “Art is how I process pain and transform it into something meaningful. I trust the audience will resonate with that.” This isn’t just animation—it’s personal healing rendered in light and shadow.
Gizmodo Premieres Award-Winning Animated Short Shimmer
Link to related article: https://stmdailynews.com/gizmodo-premieres-award-winning-animated-short-shimmer/

Technical Brilliance Meets Emotional Depth

Short of the Week’s managing editor Rob Munday didn’t hold back in his praise: “A genuinely compelling, high-quality piece of 3D animation, marked by beautiful design work, strong character rigging, and impressive world-building. There’s tremendous potential here – it’s an exciting calling card for its creators.” What sets SHIMMER apart technically is its innovative use of Unreal Engine 5, blending retro-futuristic aesthetics with cutting-edge visual design. The film’s most striking visual element—ethereal fish that shimmer across the night sky—was created using the Niagara particle system, merging procedural motion with hand-crafted animation cycles to achieve something that feels both organic and otherworldly.

A Collaborative Vision

Marking Palma’s directorial debut, SHIMMER benefits from powerhouse executive producers including celebrated Mexican animator Jorge R. Gutiérrez (The Book of Life, Maya and the Three) and Andrés Buzo. The film was developed through a groundbreaking collaboration between professionals and students at Mexico City’s Escena Animation Studio, the project-based learning arm of Escena Animation School. The creative team includes associate producer Karla Vazquez, co-writer Santiago Maza Stern, and composer Alex Otaola—a collective effort that proves the power of mentorship and collaborative storytelling. Carteles Shimmer Laureles Escena 021 9900000000079e3c

Why This Matters for Independent Animation

SHIMMER represents more than just another festival darling. It’s proof that independent creators with vision, backed by the right collaborators and technology, can produce work that rivals major studio productions. The film is currently being considered for FYC (For Your Consideration) in the Best Animated Short Film category—and based on its technical achievement and emotional resonance, it’s easy to see why. For audiences hungry for animation that dares to explore complex emotional territory while pushing visual boundaries, SHIMMER delivers on both fronts. It’s a meditation on the cost of obsession, the weight of parental expectations, and the possibility of redemption—all wrapped in visuals that haunt long after the credits roll.

Watch Now

SHIMMER is now streaming exclusively on Short of the Week at ShortOfTheWeek.com/2025/12/08/shimmer For more information about the film and its creators:
Story Source: ChicArt PR For publicity inquiries, contact Patricia at info@ChicArt.world PR coordination: Sophia at pr@chicart.world Website: www.ChicArt.world
Discover more inspiring stories from the world of film, animation, and creative talent by visiting our Entertainment section at stmdailynews.com/entertainment. Dive in for the latest features, interviews, and news you won’t want to miss!

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