CNN
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There’s more than enough room upstairs for Beyoncé and Taylor Swift.
It’s a move that shouldn’t shock anyone: This is the second newsletter in a row to focus on Swift or a Swift-related entertainment phenomenon, but today we’re talking about a different queen.
While I know there is a tendency to pit two of the world’s biggest stars against each other – especially when they are women – I refuse to play such games because it is disrespectful to their individual talents and achievements.
Let’s celebrate them as both artists and businesswomen.
Tag me as someone who would watch the concert film even if I attended the show in real life.
Both Beyoncé and Swift have had powerful tours this year—like, powerfully moving the needle on the local and national economy (not to mention on the Richter scale).
So it’s no surprise that the couple is keeping the atmosphere (and money) alive with concert films.
Swift’s concert film “The Eras Tour” hits theaters on October 13 – forcing the shutdown of all other films originally scheduled for release on that date – and her devoted fans, known as Swifties, are treating it like Christmas and the Super Bowl ( which may have featured Swift’s boyfriend Travis Kelce this year) all rolled into one.
Likewise, Beyoncé announced that Renaissance: The Beyoncé Movie will be released in theaters on December 1st, and her fans, called the Bey Hive, are equally excited to grab some popcorn and enjoy the movie.
Some of their supporters may not be old enough to remember when concert films and music documentaries were more common and taken so seriously that even the godfather of cinema, Martin Scorsese, directed one. Released in 1978, Scorsese’s The Last Waltz was an intimate look at the rock group The Band.
Plus, this isn’t the first time the music superstar has been at the rodeo with a concert doc. Swift had a concert film about her “Reputation Tour” in 2018, and “The Beyoncé Experience Live” was shown in nearly 100 theaters nationwide for one day to celebrate the release of the DVD in 2007.
Bey and Tay have also previously released major streaming projects about their music—Miss Americana, Folklore: The Long Pond Studio Sessions for Swift, and Homecoming for Beyoncé. Queen Bey also showed off her range with the visual albums “Lemonade” and “Black is King.”
Their latest projects seem like a natural progression that theater owners can’t help but rejoice at.
Issa Rae already wears several hats, so she should wear another one.
The actress, writer, producer and entrepreneur has been named creative director of the 2024 American Black Film Festival (ABFF), the festival’s production company Nice Crowd announced this week.
“Ray, who is an outspoken advocate for underrepresented creators in Hollywood, will work closely with ABFF co-founders and producers Nicole and Jeff Friday to shape the festival’s programming and help highlight the festival’s mission of showcasing Black talent and discovering new voices,” the announcement reads.
It wasn’t long ago that Rae was one of these “new voices” herself, catapulting from YouTube with The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl to Hollywood stardom with Insecure. It’s great to see her continue to reach new heights.
The 28th annual ABFF will take place June 12-16, 2024 in Miami Beach.
It looks like Drake is ready to make amends.
His dance album “Honestly, Nevermind” did not please some listeners last year. Now expectations for his new record have increased.
For All the Dogs is Drake’s eighth studio album, and while promoting his poetry collection Titles Ruin Everything, he sent a message to the haters.
“I made an album for this book,” says a note on his book’s website. “They say they miss old girl Drake, don’t tempt me. FOR ALL DOGS.”
The new album debuted Friday.
Before there was Lionel Messi, there was David Beckham.
The legendary soccer star opened up about his life, career, marriage and fatherhood in a limited documentary series. In it, he talks about everything from the controversial red card in the 1998 World Cup semi-final and the devastating aftermath to rumors of infidelity in his 24-year marriage to Victoria Beckham.
The four-part documentary Beckham, directed by Fisher Stevens, showcases the man both on and off the field.
It is streaming on Netflix.