Entertainment
Music Festival Brand Breakaway Adds Shaun Neff and Nick Gross to Ownership Group
Independent live entertainment brand Breakaway is expanding its leadership team with two new partners: Cultural entrepreneur Shaun Neff and entertainment executive Nick Gross, who have officially joined Breakaway’s ownership group, it was announced Wednesday (Oct. 8). It’s a move that underscores the company’s ambition to scale beyond festivals into music, media and lifestyle ventures.
The announcement follows a milestone year for Breakaway, which in 2025 staged its largest festival season yet: With events across 12 U.S. cities, it became the nation’s largest multi-city touring festival. Earlier this year, the company launched Breakaway Projects, a record label and artist management arm dedicated to nurturing emerging talent aligned with the brand’s creative DNA.
“Bringing Shaun and Nick into the Breakaway family is like adding rocket fuel to everything we’ve been building,” said Adam Lynn, Breakaway’s co-founder and CEO, in a statement. “They understand Breakaway’s broader strategic vision — evolving beyond live events by developing new formats and engaging audiences across multiple platforms. As Breakaway evolves, we’re building a team that reflects that direction.”
Breakaway chief revenue officer William Van Orsdel added, “Breakaway isn’t just a festival anymore — it’s a movement. We’re proud of the culture we’re building and even more proud of the ownership group we’ve assembled to take us to the next level.”
Neff and Gross bring a blend of creative entrepreneurship and industry experience that mirrors Breakaway’s cross-platform ambitions.
Neff, best known as the founder of Neff Headwear, built his reputation through collaborations with icons like Snoop Dogg, Kevin Durant and Wiz Khalifa before co-founding Beach House Group, the brand incubator behind celebrity ventureslike Moon Oral Care with Kendall Jenner, Pattern with Tracee Ellis Ross, BÉIS with Shay Mitchell and Florence by Mills with Millie Bobby Brown. He was also part-owner of Sun Bum, which was acquired by SC Johnson in 2019, and now sits in the ownership groups of both X Games and Los Angeles Football Club (LAFC).
“Breakaway has already built something powerful — a national platform that resonates with Gen Z culture,” said Neff. “Our goal now is to scale that foundation intentionally, and expand in a way that deepens cultural relevance and community connection.”
For his part, Gross — through his Gross Labs umbrella — operates Big Noise, the record label he co-founded with producer John Feldmann; Find Your Grind, an edtech and career discovery platform for K-12 students; and Noise Nest Studios, his content and recording facility in Los Angeles. Gross’ portfolio spans investments across sports, entertainment and lifestyle ventures, including Tiger Woods’ TGL Golf League, X Games and Oklahoma City’s professional soccer franchise. As a musician himself, Gross has toured globally with Avril Lavigne and Machine Gun Kelly.
“The mission is clear: amplify artists, empower fans, and break the mold,” Gross said in a statement. “That’s what drew me to Breakaway.”
Lynn added that expanding ownership to include creative entrepreneurs like Neff and Gross is a deliberate move to strengthen Breakaway’s foundation for the future. “We’re not just building festivals,” he said. “We’re building a brand that can live across every medium — from stages to screens to the products people use every day.”
Entertainment
Anuel AA & Blessd’s ‘Pórtate Bonito’ Skyrockets to No. 1 on Latin Airplay Chart
Anuel AA returns to the No. 1 spot on Billboard’s Latin Airplay chart with “Pórtate Bonito,” his first team-up with Blessd. The track flies 9-1 on the Nov. 8-dated list, Anuel’s first champ in over three years.
Released August 21 on Real Hasta La Muerte, “Pórtate Bonito” was initially announced on Anuel’s Instagram account on August 6, alongside news that Blessd would join him on his RHLM 2 tour.
The collab, produced by Ovy on The Drums, surges 9-1 in its seventh week on the chart with the Greatest Gainer weekly honors, after a 32% boost in audience impressions, to 7.6 million, logged during the Oct. 24-30 tracking week, as reported by Luminate.
The new win marks Anuel’s first No. 1 in over three years, since “Ley Seca,” with Jhayco, ruled for one week in February 2022. In sum, he’s placed 11 rulers, here’s a recap of those since “Ella Quiere Beber,” with Romeo Santos, in 2019:
Title, Artist, Peak, Weeks at No. 1
“Ella Quiere Beber,” with Santos, Feb. 2, 2019, one
“Secreto,” with Karol G, May 4, 2019, one
“Baila Baila Baila,” with Ozuna, Daddy Yankee, J Balvin & Farruko, May 11, 2019, one
“Otro Trago,” with Sech, Darell, Nicky Jam, & Ozuna, Aug. 31, 2019, one
“China,” with Daddy Yankee, Karol G, Ozuna & J Balvin, Sept. 21, 2019, two
“Aventura,” with Lunay & Ozuna, Nov. 9, 2019, one
“Keii,” May 2, 2020, one
“Fútbol & Rumba,” with Enrique Iglesias, Aug. 8, 2020, one
“Location,” with Karol G & J Balvin, April 10, 2021, one
“Ley Seca,” with Jhay Cortez, Feb. 5, 2022, one
“Pórtate Bonito”” with Blessd, Nov. 8, 2025, one
Colombian star Blessd adds his third No. 1 on the overall Latin radio ranking. “Medallo,” with Justin Quiles and Lenny Tavarez, and “Si Sabe Ferxxo,” with Feid, each led for one week in 2022 and 2024, respectively.
Beyond its Latin Airplay coronation, “Pórtate Bonito” ascends 3-1 on the Latin Rhythm Airplay chart. Plus, it gains traction on the Hot Latin Rhythm Songs chart, where it narrowly misses the top 10 with an 18-11 leap.
Entertainment
Flavor Flav Says He Gave Alix Earle a Lower ‘DWTS’ Score on ‘Accident’: ‘That Girl Deserved Perfect 10s’
Alix Earle’s performance on the latest episode of Dancing With the Stars may have been a nine on Flavor Flav‘s scorecard, but in his heart, it was a 10.
In a couple of Wednesday (Nov. 5) posts on X, the Public Enemy rapper — who served as a guest judge on the program’s broadcast the night prior — explained that he had intended to give the influencer and pro dance partner Val Chmerkovskiy a perfect score for their routine set to Bon Jovi’s “Livin’ on a Prayer.” Instead, Flav says he plugged in the number nine by mistake.
“As a judge on #DWTS,,, you hit your score on a computer first,,, then hold up the sign,” he wrote. “I accidentally hit 9 for someone and told the crew I meant to hit 10,,, and they said they can’t change it and there’s nothing I can do. That girl deserved perfect 10s.”
In a second post, Flav went on to point out that the snafu was why he’d been captured on camera “looking down at the computer confused” after punching in his score.
“Couldn’t get the words out because I was watching the computer and then couldn’t find the other paddle cuz I was ready to go with my 10,” he added. “I found [Earle] afterwards and apologized and let her know what happen , she was cool.”
If the rapper had given Earle the score he’d intended, she and Chmerkovskiy would have received perfect numbers across the board for the first time this season. They’d also come close to the feat on last week’s episode, earning 39/40 for a performance set to Billie Eilish’s “Bury a Friend.”
Flav also spoke about the situation while still on the DWTS set, telling People, “I gave them a nine which was an accident. I really wanted to give them a 10, but they wouldn’t let me change it.”
Billboard has reached out to the TV show for comment.
Despite not getting the best possible score, Earle can still celebrate knowing that she’s advancing to the next round. This week’s episode — which had a Rock & Roll Hall of Fame theme — resulted in Danielle Fishel getting sent home, while Jen Affleck and former Taylor Swift backup dancer Jan Ravnik were eliminated the week before that.
Also still in the game are Dylan Efron, Andy Richter, Whitney Leavitt, Elaine Hendrix, Jordan Chiles and Robert Irwin. The next episode will air on Nov. 11 and celebrates the 20th anniversary of DWTS.
Entertainment
Streaming Playlist That Funds Conservation Projects Is Now Accepting Submissions From All Artists
Sounds Right, a charitable cross-DSP playlist featuring music that incorporates the sounds of nature, will now allow any artist to submit their music to the project, it was announced Wednesday (Nov. 5).
Sounds Right initially launched in April 2024 with a playlist featuring new and older tracks with sounds like bird calls, waves, wind and other greatest hits of the mother nature soundscape, woven into music by artists like David Bowie, Brian Eno, Hozier and Ellie Goulding. Royalties generated by this music, which includes 36 original songs that were added this past April, are directed to conservation efforts.
Now, as scientists and activists from around the world gather in Belem, Brazil for the COP30 UN Climate Conference (Trump administration officials recently announced that no high-level representatives from the U.S. government will attend the event), Sounds Right has announced an update that allows artists to help fund conservation work by officially crediting “Nature” in their music and submitting it for inclusion on the playlist.
Accepted submissions will be incorporated into the Sounds Right playlist, with 50% of royalties raised from any given song going to the artist and the other 50% going to environmental causes. Submissions are open now.
This past Saturday (Nov. 1), Sounds Right announced that the project has so far raised a total of $400,000 for Indigenous and community-led conservation in the Amazon and Congo Basin regions, building on $225,000 it directed to projects in the Tropical Andes in 2024. The funds were announced on stage at Saturday’s Global Citizen Amazonia concert in Belem, which was broadcast throughout Brazil.
Sounds Right has now added 14 new tracks to the playlist, all of which celebrate the natural world of the Amazon and Africa. The Amazonian contributions come from artists Alexia Evellyn, Pedrina, Antonio Sanchez, Chancha Via Circuito, Systema Solar and Monte (aka Simon Mejia), while the music of artists Juls, Phila Dlozi, Olivetheboy, Bien, Blinky Bill, and Lady Donli showcases the sounds of the Congo Basin region.
“This collection of tracks is a powerful expression of how artists can use their creativity to celebrate and protect the natural world at such a critical moment for our planet,” EarthPercent co-executive director Cathy Runciman tells Billboard. “From Alexia Evellyn recording the rhythms of the Amazon’s rivers and birds to Juls blending Congo Basin forest ambience into Afrobeats, and Antonio Sánchez turning birdsong into percussion, it’s inspiring to see such diverse artists uniting to honor these vital ecosystems and leading a movement to bring nature back into music and culture.”
“It’s an honor and a thrill to be part of Sounds Right,” adds the Grammy-winning Sanchez, whose contribution “Drumming with the Birds” explores the percussive rhythms of Amazonian birdlife. “I believe it’s vital to keep opening new avenues for people to connect with the importance of preserving and protecting Mother Nature. This collaboration, inspired by the Amazon and its remarkable avian life, celebrates that connection. I hope you enjoy it as much as I enjoyed creating it.”
Brazilian producer Alok will also soon release a special track for the Sounds Right project, with the artist saying in a statement that “nature has always played an essential role in music, and the time has come for it to be recognized for that.”
-
Tech2 months agoReview: The Dreame H15 Pro CarpetFlex is the first wet/dry vacuum I liked
-
Business2 months ago
25 Low-Effort Side Hustles You Can Start This Weekend
-
Business2 months ago
25 Side Hustle Jobs With Great Pay
-
Business2 months ago
9 Ways to Command a Six-Figure Salary Without a Bachelor’s
-
Business2 months ago
How to Know If You Can Get Unemployment — and How to Apply
-
Business2 months ago
20 Work-From-Home Jobs With 6-Figure Salaries
-
Business2 months ago
From Teen to Retiree: 13 Ways to Earn More at Any Age
-
Business2 months ago
15 States That Have Lost the Most Manufacturing Jobs Since the Turn of the Century
