Entertainment
‘KPop Demon Hunters’ Sequel Confirmed
The KPop Demon Hunters franchise will live to see another slay. After months of speculation on whether the smash-hit film would spawn a sequel, Netflix and Sony Pictures Animation have confirmed that a second part is on its way.
Few details are known about the sequel — least of all its release date, though it will likely take multiple years — but KPop Demon Hunters directors Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans are set to return. The first film premiered on the streaming service in June and followed the story of a K-pop girl group called HUNTR/X that used the power of music to defend the world from demons. It is Netflix’s most-watched title of all time.
The original’s voice cast included Arden Cho, Ji-young Yoo and May Hong, while singers REI AMI, Audrey Nuna and EJAE provided the vocals to all of HUNTR/X’s songs. That includes eight-week Billboard Hot 100-topper “Golden,” which won best original song at the 2026 Critic’s Choice Awards and Golden Globes and is up for the same category at the fast-approaching Oscars.
“I screamed way too loud,” EJAE, who also cowrote much of the film’s Billboard 200-topping soundtrack, told Billboard of receiving the Oscar nod in a January interview. “It was wild.”
Kang and Appelhans also spoke to Billboard following the Oscar news, which also revealed KPop Demon Hunters as a contender for best animated feature film. “That was the dream from the beginning with this movie was just, ‘How do we take all of [K-culture] and encompass it in a film?’” Kang said at the time. “Now Koreans can look at it and be like, ‘This is something that encapsulates our culture,’ and they can celebrate it.”
The sequel news comes on the heels of Billboard‘s announcement that REI AMI, Audrey Nuna and EJAE will collectively share the Woman of the Year title at this year’s Women in Music ceremony. They comprise the first group to ever win the honor, which in the past has gone to individuals such as Taylor Swift, Lady Gaga and Doechii.
Entertainment
VENU Raises $86 Million Through Stock Offering
Live entertainment company Venu Holding Corporation (VENU) raised $86.25 million from institutional investors through an oversubscribed stock offering this week, the company announced on Thursday (March 12).
Colorado-based VENU, which trades on the New York Stock Exchange, said on Tuesday (March 10) it had completed an underwritten public offering for 18.75 million shares sold for $4 each. Executives said the stock offering beat the $75 million in gross proceeds they initially expected, despite widespread market volatility sparked by the conflict in Iran.
“The market is hungry, and this raise proves it,” J.W. Roth, VENU’s founder, chairman and CEO, said in a statement. “We’ve created a model to scale premium entertainment destinations across the country, and investors are recognizing the opportunity.”
Founded in 2017, VENU owns, operates and is developing live music venues in cities like Oklahoma City and Tulsa in Oklahoma, and El Paso and Dallas-Fort Worth in Texas. VENU says its luxury music venues put a family and group-friendly spin on typical VIP offerings with fire pit suites, which individuals can buy shares in.
The company, which boasts shareholders including Niall Horan and Dierks Bentley, said the capital raised through this week’s offering will go toward accelerating development of projects currently underway in Colorado, Texas and Oklahoma.
VENU’s flagship facility, the Ford Ampitheater in Colorado Springs, Colorado, was named the Top West Coast Amphitheater on Billboard‘s Top Venues of 2026. The 8,000-seat, open-air venue, which opened in August 2024, has held concerts by Cage the Elephant, OneRepublic, Miranda Lambert, Dwight Yoakam, The Black Keys and Godsmack, in partnership with promoter AEG Presents.
The company said it expects to open three more amphitheaters in 2026 and aims to operate 25 amphitheaters and 15 indoor entertainment complexes by 2030.
“We might be $4 or $5 today, but we’re going to $50. This capital is what accelerates us to get there,” Roth said in a video posted to YouTube.
VENU’s stock was trading at $3.56 around 11:30 a.m. ET on Thursday, near its 52-week low of $3.49. The S&P 500 index was down 1.26% on Thursday.
Entertainment
Cynthia Erivo & Sade on 2026 Rainbow Honours Shortlist
Cynthia Erivo, Sade, Sophie Ellis-Bextor and Kate Nash are among the bold-faced names on the shortlist for the Rainbow Honours 2026, which celebrates individuals, organizations and cultural moments advancing LGBTQIA+ equality across the U.K. and beyond.
Sade, Ellis-Bextor and Nash are recognized in the Celebrity Ally of the Year category, alongside actors David Tennant and Eddie Redmayne, both long-standing supporters of LGBTQIA+ equality. Sade is currently a nominee for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame’s Class of 2026. Ellis-Bextor had a global hit in 2024 with her 2001 song “Murder on the Dancefloor” after it was featured in the film Saltburn. They are joined on the shortlist by broadcaster Jeremy Vine, actor Paapa Essiedu, actress Suranne Jones, and actors Alison King and Balvinder Sopal.
The Celebrity LGBTQIA Champion of the Year category celebrates high-profile LGBTQIA+ figures using their platforms to drive visibility and change. Nominees include Erivo, whose continued advocacy for LGBTQIA+ representation and inclusion has resonated globally, and actor Andrew Scott, whose openness around identity has helped bring LGBTQIA+ stories to wider audiences.
They are joined by broadcaster and athlete Adele Roberts, comedian Rosie Jones, actor Layton Williams, chef and presenter Gok Wan MBE, Olympic swimmer Michael Gunning, reality TV trailblazer Ella Morgan, actor Heather Peace, and campaigner Jordan Sangha.
The awards also recognize the cultural moments shaping the national conversation around LGBTQIA+ inclusion. Nominees for Media Moment of the Year include Alan Carr and Cat Burns’ starring appearances in Celebrity Traitors; Coronation Street’s same-sex domestic abuse storyline; and the BBC’s coverage of Pride Month.
“The Rainbow Honours celebrate the individuals and organisations who are truly making a difference for LGBTQIA+ communities,” Linda Riley, founder of the Rainbow Honours, says in a statement. “From global stars using their influence to champion equality, to charities providing life-saving support and businesses building inclusive workplaces, the shortlist reflects the incredible breadth of work happening across society. We are proud to honour those who are helping to create a more inclusive and accepting world for everyone.”
The ceremony will take place on June 11 at The London Hilton on Park Lane, hosted by comedian Steven Bailey and featuring a special performance from disco greats Boney M.
The full 2026 shortlist can be viewed at the Rainbow Honours website.
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Entertainment
Prep for Peso Pluma’s 2026 Dinastía Tour With His Official Merch on Amazon
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Peso Pluma‘s 2026 Dinastía Tour is in full swing and everyone’s celebrating, including Amazon.
The retailer just launched Pluma’s official tour merch on their site, and the pieces are extremely cute. The new line includes unisex styles like graphic tees, hoodies and even quarter-zips that are affixed with graphics that make reference to the singer’s Mexican roots and the tour’s name. The collection also includes some fire accessories like an everyday tote, ankle-length socks and a few fashionable hats that we couldn’t pass up on.
Dinastía Tour Luchador Dateback T-Shirt
This tee features a luchador motif on the back and an oversized fit. The graphics are a contrasting black.
Dinastía Tour Chainstitch Tote
This is an everyday tote in black with Pluma’s tour name stitched on the front. The tote is roomy enough for all your essentials and is machine washable.
The official merch collection retails from $20 to $165 and comes in a slew of sizing. If you are planning on attending Pluma’s Dinastía tour but don’t want to spend a ton on merch at your chosen venue, shopping his merch on Amazon can save you both time and money. The Dinastía Tour Chainstitch Quarter Zip Fleece is an item we can’t pass up on.
The famed quarter-zip gets a Dinastía upgrade with white embroidered detailing and a cozy mock neck. Most, if not all, the pieces in this collection are slightly oversized, giving the pieces that effortless “street style” look. The trucker hat for $40 is also a favorite, what with the stylish chain-stitched embroidery on the front. Mesh paneling on the sides offer a unique textural finish.
Dinastía Laija Family Crest Socks
Black ankle-length socks with branded white graphics. These socks are machine washable.
Dinastía Tour Crest Dateback T-Shirt
Yet another Peso Pluma tee, this time, with the Dinastía tour logo. The tee is oversized like our last pick.
The Dinastía Tour Luchador Dateback T-Shirt for $50 nods to the singer’s roots with a luchador mask affixed to the back. The graphics are black, juxtaposed against the white background. The tee is also oversized, making for an extremely comfy moment if you’re looking to dress casually for your concert experience.
Pluma’s first stop on his 30-city tour already took place in Seattle on March 1 at the Climate Pledge Arena. Next up, the performer will be stopping in Houston, Austin, Atlanta, Salt Lake City, Tampa and New York before finally finishing off his run in Chicago on May 7 at the United Center. Fans in attendance can expect dynamic performances of some of Pluma’s top tracks, along with a rotating lineup of special guest appearances from the performer’s friends.
Dinastía Tour Trucker Hat
This is a trucker-style hat with white embroidered logo detailing on the front. The trucker style is slightly oversized.
Dinastía Tour Chainstitch Quarter Zip Fleece
The famed quarter zip gets a Dinastía makeover. This black zip-up features the tour’s logo throughout in white.
We’ve already covered where to find affordable ticketing that you can buy here. “This moment is a reminder of how far our music has traveled, and it makes me really happy to see the fans connecting with it,” Pluma told Billboard. “Together, we’re continuing to push Mexican culture forward.”
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