Technology

Google Invests $75 Million in A24 in First Movie-Studio Stake

Google is investing about $75 million in A24 — its first stake in a movie studio — in an AI research partnership with DeepMind to build filmmaking tools.

Culture

Uptown Records Relaunches Under Republic With G Herbo and Yung Miami

Andre Harrell's Uptown Records relaunched under Republic Collective for its 40th anniversary, with a roster led by G Herbo, Yung Miami, and Trap Dickey, who signs via Top Dawg Entertainment.

Culture

Obamas' Higher Ground Lands Disney Series Deal After Leaving Netflix

The Obamas' Higher Ground signed with Disney Kids & Family for an animated series, Journey, the first marquee deal of its independent era after ending an eight-year Netflix first-look pact.

Sports

NBA Players Union Launches Commercial Brand Plyrs Untd

The NBA players union launched Plyrs Untd, a consumer-facing brand replacing Think450, with an Own the Game campaign narrated by Kyrie Irving and featuring Stephen Curry and Jalen Brunson.

Culture

SZA Says AI Models Trained on 238 of Her Songs, Calls Out Diplo Over Suno

SZA posted on Instagram that AI models were trained on 238 of her songs and accused producer Diplo of holding Suno equity to train it on Black artists' work — a claim Diplo's rep did not address.

Culture

Toy Story 5 Posts $160 Million Opening Weekend, a Franchise Record

Toy Story 5 opened to $160 million domestically — the biggest debut in franchise history and the largest of 2026 — for a $312 million global start against a reported $250 million budget.

Daily Roundup

The Daily Roundup: World Cup Monday Slate, Nike Air Max 95 Woven Multi, Toy Story 5's $160M Opening, and Seedcamp's $320M Fund — June 22, 2026

Argentina meet Austria in a World Cup Group J showdown, the Nike Air Max 95 Woven 'Multi' arrives June 24 at $190, Toy Story 5 opens to $160M, and Seedcamp closes a $320M fund.

Culture

2026 BET Awards Set for June 28 as Lauryn Hill Receives Living Legend Icon Award

The 2026 BET Awards air June 28 from the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, hosted by Druski. Cardi B leads with six nominations, and Lauryn Hill receives the inaugural Living Legend Icon Award.

Culture

WSJ Profiles How Charlamagne Tha God Mastered the Modern Media Era

A new WSJ feature charts how Charlamagne Tha God built a media empire beyond The Breakfast Club — the Black Effect Podcast Network, Black Privilege Publishing, Southland Stories, and a reported $200 million iHeart deal.

Culture

Fear of God Unveils Its Essentials Summer 2026 Collection

Fear of God's Essentials Summer 2026 collection turns toward late summer with relaxed American sportswear and workwear — fleece, plaid flannels, and muted 'Concrete' and 'Deep Sea' colorways — out now at FWRD, PacSun, and SSENSE.

Culture

Acquired Podcast Hosts Break Down Disney's Acquisition Strategy in the WSJ

In a WSJ feature, Acquired podcast hosts Ben Gilbert and David Rosenthal lay out Disney's core playbook: acquire the best IP — Pixar, Marvel, Lucasfilm, Fox — then control distribution through streaming.

Culture

André 3000 Releases Wordless Short Film '7 Piano Sketches' on MUBI

André 3000's '7 Piano Sketches,' a wordless short film he co-wrote and co-directed with Graham Mason, is now streaming exclusively on MUBI — a silent-comedy companion to his 2025 instrumental piano EP.