Showbiz Sandbox 394: A Golden Globes Ceremony With Perfect Timing

Amid a sea of black dresses and black tie Hollywood held its first big annual event of the #metoo age as the Golden Globes became a platform for the industry to speak out on gender inequality. The highlight of the evening came when Oprah Winfrey delivered a rousing acceptance speech for an honorary award that had everyone wondering whether she plans on running for president in 2020.

Meanwhile, estimated financials for 2017 are being tallied and it looks as if the global box office set new highs, thanks in part to the Chinese market which is still rising sharply. In North America however, attendance reached a low that hasn’t been seen in decades generating receipts that declined only slightly.

And just as a new wave of lawsuits threaten to swamp Spotify, the music streaming service looks to cash in with one of the largest direct public offerings ever. Apple music is still trying to catch up to Spotify’s 70 million paying subscribers as Jimmy Iovine, one of their key executives, is reportedly stepping down this summer.

Of course we also cover the week’s top entertainment news including Broadway’s record breaking year, Lady Gaga heads to Las Vegas and John Legend becomes a savior.

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comScore Announces Official Worldwide Box Office Results for Weekend of January 7, 2018
https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/comscore-announces-official-worldwide-box-office-results-for-weekend-of-january-7-2018-300578704.html

China Box Office Expands by $2 Billion to Hit $8.6 Billion in 2017
http://variety.com/2017/film/asia/china-box-office-expands-by-2-billion-in-2017-1202650515/

Netflix’s ‘Bright’ Spot: Nielsen Says 11 Million Have Watched Panned Flick
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/netflixs-bright-spot-nielsen-says-11-million-have-watched-panned-flick-1070605

‘Bright’ Sequel Officially a Go at Netflix
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/bright-sequel-will-smith-david-ayer-expected-return-netflix-movie-1071188

Disneyland Power Restored After Outage
http://variety.com/2017/biz/news/disneyland-power-outage-1202649168/

Movie Biz Banking on Big Franchises (Again) in 2018 to Reverse Box Office Slump
http://variety.com/2017/film/news/2018-box-office-upcoming-films-black-panther-han-solo-1202649248/

Disney Becomes Only Studio to Hit $6 Billion Twice at Global Box Office
http://variety.com/2017/film/box-office/disney-2017-worldwide-box-office-6-billion-star-wars-the-last-jedi-1202648241/

MoviePass Adds a Million Subscribers, Even if Theaters Aren’t Sold on It
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/27/business/media/moviepass-theaters-tickets.html

‘Three Billboards’ and ‘Big Little Lies’ are the top winners of a very different kind of Golden Globes awards
http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-golden-globes-winners-three-billboards-20180107-story.html

Led by Oprah Winfrey, women take center stage at the Golden Globes
http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-golden-globes-analysis-20180107-story.html

Golden Globe Award Winners 2018: The Complete List
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/07/movies/golden-globes-winners-list.html

‘Lady Bird’ Named Best Film of 2017 by National Society of Film Critics
http://variety.com/2018/film/awards/lady-bird-named-best-film-of-2017-by-national-society-of-film-critics-1202655555/

Producers Guild Awards: ‘Get Out,’ ‘Wonder Woman’ Among Film Nominees
http://variety.com/2018/film/awards/producers-guild-awards-movie-nominations-2018-1202654307/

WGA Awards: ‘Get Out,’ ‘Logan,’ ‘The Big Sick’ Among Film Nominations
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/2018-wga-awards-movies-doc-nominations-revealed-1071581

Warner Bros. Taps Walter Hamada to Oversee DC Films Production
http://variety.com/2018/film/news/warner-bros-taps-walter-hamada-to-oversee-dc-films-production-exclusive-1202652878/

DC Takes Over a Declining Market: Which Comics Sold Best in 2017
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/best-selling-comics-2017-1070490

‘The Office’ Revival in the Works at NBC
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/office-revival-works-at-nbc-1069099

‘Mad About You’ Revival in the Works
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/mad-you-revival-works-1070368

For Holt, Unexpected Demand for ‘Fire and Fury’ Proves a Challenge
https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/publisher-news/article/75766-for-holt-unexpected-demand-for-fire-and-fury-proves-a-beautiful-disaster.html

The Most Dangerous Man in America by Bill Minutaglio and Steven L. Davis – BookFilter
http://bookfilter.com/2017/05/09/the-most-dangerous-man-in-america/

B&N Has Disappointing Holiday Sales
https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/bookselling/article/75744-b-n-reports-disappointing-holiday-sales.html

Are Independent Bookshops Finally Back on the Rise?
https://www.theguardian.com/books/2017/dec/25/were-here-for-the-long-haul-are-independent-bookshops-finally-back-on-the-rise

Bernard Law, Powerful Cardinal Disgraced by Priest Abuse Scandal, Dies at 86
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/19/obituaries/cardinal-bernard-law-dead.html

Glenn Thrush, Suspended Times Reporter, to Resume Work but Won’t Cover White House
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/20/business/media/glenn-thrush-suspension-white-house.html

Peter Martins Retires From New York City Ballet After Misconduct Allegations
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/01/arts/dance/peter-martins-resigns-ballet.html

Miss America Ex-Winners Revolt Over Crude Emails as Broadcast Partner Severs Ties
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/22/business/miss-america-emails-sam-haskell.html

Gretchen Carlson, Miss America 1989, Is Picked to Lead Pageant
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/01/business/gretchen-carlson-miss-america.html

Vice Suspends Two Top Execs in Wake of Sexual Harassment Allegations
http://variety.com/2018/digital/news/vice-suspends-sexual-harassment-andrew-creighton-mike-germano-1202650838/

Rose McGowan Gets Her Own E! Series
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/rose-mcgowan-gets-her-own-e-series-1070978

Danny Masterson Dropped by UTA Amid Rape Accusations
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/uta-drops-danny-masterson-rape-accusations-1064367

Four Women Accuse Paul Haggis of Sexual Misconduct, Including Two Rapes
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/four-women-accuse-paul-haggis-sexual-misconduct-including-two-rapes-1072015

Met Changes 50-Year Admissions Policy: Non-New Yorkers Must Pay
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/04/arts/design/met-museum-admissions.html

Hoda Kotb Will Co-Anchor NBC’s ‘Today’ Show
http://variety.com/2018/tv/news/hoda-kotb-co-anchor-nbc-today-show-1202650709/

‘Sunday Night Football’ Ratings Fell 13 Percent in 2017
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/sunday-night-football-ratings-fell-13-percent-2017-1070590

Lady Gaga Las Vegas Residency a Done Deal
http://variety.com/2017/music/news/lady-gaga-las-vegas-residency-deal-1202645667/

Fast-Rising Prices Drive Broadway to $1.6 Billion Year
http://variety.com/2017/legit/news/broadway-sales-2017-hamilton-springsteen-on-broadway-1202649895/

Lin-Manuel Miranda Taking ‘Hamilton’ On The Road in 2018 with a 20-City Tour
https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/broadway/8085782/lin-manuel-miranda-hamilton-2018-20-city-tour

‘Walking Dead’ Production Company Hit With Maximum Fine for Stuntman’s Death
http://variety.com/2018/tv/news/walking-dead-stuntman-death-osha-fine-1202654901/

John Legend to Star in NBC’s ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’ Live Musical
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/john-legend-star-nbcs-jesus-christ-superstar-live-musical-1069173

Scripted Originals Hit Another Record High in 2017
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/scripted-originals-hit-record-high-2017-1071899

Yoko Ono Congratulates Ringo Starr on Knighthood: ‘It’s About Time!’
https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/rock/8085785/yoko-ono-congratulates-ringo-starr-knightood

Spotify Hit With $1.6 Billion Copyright Lawsuit Over Tom Petty, Weezer, Neil Young Songs
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr-esq/spotify-hit-16-billion-copyright-lawsuit-tom-petty-weezer-neil-young-songs-1070960

Spotify Confidentially Files for IPO (Report)
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/spotify-confidentially-files-ipo-report-1071235

How This Week’s House Judiciary Committee Vote Could Have Big Consequences For the Music Business
https://www.billboard.com/articles/business/8070898/house-judiciary-committee-vote-big-consequences-music-business-copyright

White Noise Video on YouTube Hit by Five Copyright Claims
http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-42580523

Music Modernization Act Introduced In the House of Representatives, With Major Music Licensing Reform At Stake
https://www.billboard.com/articles/business/8078543/music-modernization-act-house-of-representatives-licensing-reform

Pop Star Videos Make Sweet Music for Vevo
https://www.ft.com/content/fab994ac-e6df-11e7-97e2-916d4fbac0da
Jimmy Iovine to Leave Apple Music in August: Sources
https://www.billboard.com/articles/business/8092650/jimmy-iovine-leaving-apple-music-august

Spotify Hits 70M Subscribers
https://www.billboard.com/articles/business/8092645/spotify-hits-70-million-subscribers

Deals With Universal and Sony Music
http://variety.com/2017/biz/news/universal-music-group-and-youtube-reach-new-global-multi-year-agreement-1202644815/

Rick Hall, Music Producer Known for Muscle Shoals Sound, Dies at 85
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/03/obituaries/rick-hall-muscle-shoals-dies.html

Fred Bass, Who Made Strand Bookstore a Mecca, Dies at 89
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/03/obituaries/fred-bass-strand-bookstore-dies-at-89.html

Dick Enberg, Known for ‘Oh My!’ Catchphrase, Dies at 82
https://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2017/12/22/us/ap-obit-dick-enberg.html

Mystery Writer Sue Grafton Dies at 77
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/sue-grafton-dead-mystery-writer-dies-cancer-battle-at-77-1070744

Dan Talbot, Influential Art-House Exhibitor, Has Died
http://variety.com/2017/film/news/daniel-dan-talbot-dead-dies-lincoln-plaza-cinema-1202650123/

Rose Marie, ‘Dick Van Dyke Show’ Star, Dies at 94
http://variety.com/2017/tv/people-news/rose-marie-dead-dies-dick-van-dyke-show-1202649747/

Jerry Van Dyke, Luther the Football Assistant on ‘Coach,’ Dies at 86
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/jerry-van-dyke-dead-coach-my-mother-car-actor-dies-at-86-972500