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Sphere Entertainment stock rose 19.3% to $58.33 this week, marking its fourth consecutive weekly gain and the largest improvement in that month-long run. Sphere shares have risen an astounding 46.3% in the last four weeks. The stock reached an all-time high of $58.71 on Friday (Sept. 12).
Sphere’s latest offering, a revamped The Wizard of Oz, has won over both audiences and Wall Street analysts. As Billboard noted on Wednesday (Sept. 10), numerous analysts have raised forecasts in the wake of a stellar debut and strong ticket sales. The $2.3 billion venue requires a high level of utilization to be profitable, meaning Sphere must squeeze in film showings when it’s not hosting sold-out concerts by the likes of Backstreet Boys and The Eagles. Early results suggest the revamped The Wizard of Oz, which cost upwards of $100 million, is performing better than Sphere’s two previous films, Postcards from Earth and V-U2.
The 19-company Billboard Global Music Index (BGMI) rose 1.0% to 3,061.29, putting its year-to-date gain at 44.1%. The majority of music stocks ended the week in positive territory, mirroring gains elsewhere in the market as investors lifted stocks ahead of an expected interest rate cut by the U.S. Federal Reserve.
The week’s biggest gainer was music streamer LiveOne, which jumped 29.5% to $0.57. On Thursday (Sept. 11), LiveOne raised its fiscal 2026 adjusted EBITDA guidance to $4.5 million to $6 million on revenue of $55 million to $60 million. On Friday, the company announced that its Bitcoin holdings exceed $5 million.
Radio broadcaster and podcast company iHeartMedia rose 23.3% to finish the week at $2.59. iHeartMedia shares rose 9.2% on Friday after the company announced an expanded partnership and new long-term agreement with Bell Media in Canada. iHeartRadio Canada is a partnership between iHeartMedia and Bell Media, giving the American company distribution of its radio stations and podcast content in the neighbor to the north.
Live Nation shares rose 6.3% to $173.73 on Friday after reaching a new all-time high of $175.25 earlier in the day. The spike followed Citi’s hike of its Live Nation price target to $195 from $165 on Tuesday (Sept. 9). Also this week, CFRA raised its Live Nation price target by $26 to $196, citing “the outsized opportunity for live entertainment around the globe” and the company’s efforts to build arenas and theaters to capture market share.
Universal Music Group (UMG) rose 1.2% to 24.59 euros ($28.86). This week, Citi upgraded UMG to “buy” from “neutral” and increased its price target to 29 euros ($34.03) from 27 euros ($31.68).
Warner Music Group shares gained 2.8% to $33.62, lifting the stock’s year-to-date gain to 8.4%. On Wednesday (Sept. 10), Tigress raised its price target to $45 from $44 due to subscriber growth and the company’s margin expansion.
Spotify, the BMGI’s largest single component with a market capitalization of $142.6 billion, fell 1.5% to $696.40. Spotify shares are up 49.2% this year but have fallen 12.7% since reaching an all-time high of $785.00 on June 27. This week, the company announced the launch of its long-awaited high-quality audio streaming offering.
Many markets and indexes gained this week as investors awaited a decision by the Federal Reserve and companies continued to announce positive news. Amidst rising inflation and falling consumer sentiment, companies ranging from Six Flags Entertainment to Adobe nonetheless gained on encouraging results.
In the U.S., the Nasdaq composite index rose 2.0% to a record closing of 22,141.10, and the S&P 500 climbed 1.7% to 6,584.29. In the U.K., the FTSE 100 improved 0.8% to 9,283.29. South Korea’s KOSPI composite index jumped 5.9% to 3,395.54, and China’s Shanghai Composite Index improved 1.5% to 3,870.60.

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A former hypeman who sued Fat Joe over shocking underage sex allegations — accusations the star has called part of an extortion scheme — has quietly dropped all reference to such allegations in a new version of his lawsuit.
Terrance “T.A.” Dixon sued Fat Joe (Joseph Cartagena) last year over sweeping allegations of wrongdoing, including sex trafficking, fraud, racketeering and, most seriously, that he had “personally witnessed” him engage in “sexual relations” with two girls aged 15 and 16.
But in an amended complaint filed in court Thursday (March 26), Dixon’s allegations no longer contain those claims of underage sex, and it also removes previous allegations made under the Federal Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) law. Dixon’s attorney, Tyrone Blackburn, did not immediately return a request for comment on why those accusations had been dropped.
The move is significant, and not just because it means Fat Joe is no longer facing hideous accusations that would constitute a crime if true. The rapper has long said such claims were part of a scheme by Dixon to extort him into a settlement; in his own separate lawsuit filed months before Dixon’s case, the rapper said the hypeman had been threatening to sue him over “grotesque” false claims, including “unspeakable acts such as pedophilia,” if he was not paid out.
The new version of Dixon’s lawsuit still includes serious accusations, including that Fat Joe violated the Trafficking Victims Protection Act by coercing Dixon to work for him and to take part in non-consensual sexual encounters. But other claims are more of a business nature, centering on allegations that Dixon was not properly paid wages and not properly credited as a co-writer on certain songs.
In a statement to Billboard, Fat Joe’s lawyer Jordan Siev reiterated that the accusations against his client were “nothing more than an elaborate shakedown to extract money from him.”
“Their decision to now voluntarily amend Mr. Dixon’s complaint — removing all allegations involving transporting of minors, statutory rape and RICO — and recast this matter primarily as a financial dispute about royalties and wages allegedly owed only reinforces that the allegations were baseless and that Mr. Cartagena is the one being targeted,” Siev said.
Meanwhile, Joe’s lawsuit against Dixon is moving ahead. In a ruling earlier this month, a federal judge refused to dismiss the rapper’s claims that the hypeman and Blackburn legally defamed him by publicly airing their allegations, allowing those claims to go ahead toward a trial. Dixon and Blackburn are currently attempting to appeal the ruling.
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TWICE’s Nayeon is well known for many things, including her music, but her personal style is severely underrated.
The K-pop star’s looks are often a mix of feminine and comfortable pieces, often pulling inspo from Y2K aesthetics. The “ABCD” singer favors bright colors, playful textures and silhouettes that flatter her frame. In short, we trust her taste, and clearly so does Vivaia, an eco-friendly footwear brand founded in 2020. The retailer tapped the K-pop act to star in its spring 2026 collection titled Feel the Comfort.
The girl group member modeled some of her favorite styles, which consisted mostly of Mary Jane-meets-ballet-flat styles and whimsical sneakers in various colors with feminine and edgy touches. In specific, Nayeon wore the brand’s Square-Toe Jogger Sneakerina retailing for $159, the Square-Toe Hybrid Mesh Mary Janes retailing for $149, the Square-Toe Margot™ Mary Jane 3.0 retailing for $139 and the Mesh Floral Square-Toe Mary Janes for $149. You can shop her picks below and on Vivaia’s website.
Think of this like a mix between a sneaker and a ballet flat. The style is affixed with silky ribbon lace-up closures.
This style is another ballet flat but with lace-up detailing. It also comes with charms that you can attach and alternative laces.
When asked, “What does comfort mean to you?” Nayeon responded in a statement saying, “When I am being my true self.” One of our favorite styles is the Square-Toe Hybrid Mesh Mary Janes in a tan hue with red accents. The shoe features all-round mesh paneling, making them breathable, along with dainty lace-up closures and a playful bubble sole. This style also comes with interchangeable red laces, which Nayeon chose for the campaign, along with floral charms in matching hues that can be attached to your laces to change things up. Sizing is available from 5 through 9.
Another great option is the Mesh Floral Square-Toe Mary Janes that feature see-through mesh throughout and floral accents. Fun fact: The mesh uppers are made with recycled plastic bottles. The shoe has gold clasps to adjust the fit and square toes that Vivaia seems to incorporate in a bunch of its shoe creations. Again, this silhouette is see-through, but you can wear socks with them, which could be a fun stylistic choice if you don a fun print or color.
These are breathable square-toed ballet flats with straps. The straps are equipped with edgy buckles and grommets.
This was said to be one of Nayeon’s favorite styles. These ballet flats feature mesh paneling with floral adornments.
All of Vivaia’s footwear focuses on on-trend silhouettes with an emphasis on comfort. The brand’s mission of comfort meets style came from a singular question: “Why can’t heels, and all women’s shoes, have a sneaker-like comfort?” Each of its shoes is equipped with padded insoles to provide ultimate comfort. The retailer even has wide-foot-friendly designs, creating a more inclusive range for people to shop.
As of the release of ARIRANG, BTS has finally returned. And in an upcoming Netflix documentary, the band is showing ARMY everything it took to get here.
In a sneak peek for the streamer’s BTS: The Return posted Wednesday (March 25), cameras follow RM, Jin, Suga, j-hope, Jimin, V and Jung Kook behind the scenes of their cover shoot for ARIRANG. In the final artwork, the septet poses in two rows wearing suits, looking stoically ahead. But the documentary footage shows how much work the seemingly simple shot took, with a team of producers, stylists and creatives milling about around the Bangtan Boys.
The teaser also shows each of the members sitting down for solo talking-head interviews showcasing their individual personalities. It previews some of the questions asked — Do you feel that you’re trying something completely new? What changed the most for you as an artist? Are you returning with something familiar? — but holds off on showing any of their answers.
“They’re back!” a description of the doc reads. “BTS gathers in LA to record their album ‘Arirang’ in this documentary offering unprecedented access to the band as they enter a new era.”
The sneak peek comes just two days ahead of the Friday (March 27) premiere BTS: The Return on Netflix. The project will drop exactly one week after the release of ARIRANG, which features 14 tracks — including single “Swim” — and marks the band’s first full-length since 2020’s Billboard 200-topper Be.
The group is currently in the midst of promoting ARIRANG with a series of performances that’ll build to a global tour in April. After hosting a huge comeback concert in Seoul, BTS descended on New York City for a Spotify showcase followed by performances at the Guggenheim for The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.
Watch the sneak peek for BTS’ upcoming Netflix doc above.
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