Universal Music Group, TikTok, Music Licensing Deal — (Pavlo Gonchar/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images; Photos from left: Gabby Jones/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

October 8, 2025

Universal Music Group Silently Launched Influencer Marketing Hub

Creators can participate in the app through direct briefs for specific campaigns with guaranteed fees, or challenge-based competitions where performance metrics determine payment.

Universal Music Group is elevating its influencer marketing strategy with a new app designed to centralize and manage all of its promotional content creation in one platform.

Quietly launched in the United Kingdom in September 2024, Universal Music Group’s new House of Carmen app enables the entertainment powerhouse to collaborate directly with content creators, eliminating the need for third-party intermediaries.

The platform, set to expand to Germany before hitting the United States, allows Universal to manage relationships with micro-influencers (individuals with at least 1,000 followers on TikTok, Instagram, or YouTube) and creators, handling everything from outreach and campaign tracking to payment processing.

“As creator marketing has continued its growth trajectory, we realized there was a real need to bring it in-house,” Janey Stride, director, Commercial and Creative Innovation at Universal Music UK, told Music Business Worldwide. “Somewhere we could house a global creator database, appropriately categorize creators, effectively and directly communicate with them, deliver prompt payment for activity, and integrate all of our data sources to enable effective and timely analysis of campaigns. House of Carmen is our answer to this.”

Creators can participate in the app through direct briefs for specific campaigns with guaranteed fees, or challenge-based competitions where performance metrics determine payment. The gamified format encourages creators to compete for top-performing content tied to Universal’s artist roster and new releases.

The app’s debut highlights the music industry’s growing shift toward creator marketing and away from traditional celebrity endorsements to more grassroots influencer collaborations.

The low-key rollout occurred as the app operated in “stealth mode” while UMG established the necessary legal and tax compliance frameworks to support multiple markets. Its reach is set to expand even further, with new functionality allowing entire talent agencies and their full creator rosters to be onboarded, not just individual influencers.

Donald Trump, Black, female reporter — (Photo: Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons)

by Mitti Hicks

October 8, 2025

Trump Administration Threatens No Back Pay For Furloughed Employees Amid Shutdown

Interestingly enough, it was President Donald Trump who signed a law in 2019 that guaranteed retroactive pay after a shutdown.

It has been a longstanding policy that federal furloughed employees will receive back pay during a government shutdown. The Trump administration, however, is warning that there is no guarantee that furloughed workers will receive back pay by the end of the first week of the shutdown, according to a White House memo.

Interestingly enough, it was President Donald Trump who signed a law in 2019 that guaranteed retroactive pay for federal employees after a shutdown. The memo, prepared by the Office of Management and Budget, now says that the law does not apply to employees who have been temporarily asked not to report to work.

“Depends on who we’re talking about,” Trump told reporters on Tuesday.

There are approximately 750,000 employees who are currently working without pay. The current shutdown began on Oct. 1, as Senate Democrats and Republicans failed to reach an agreement on reopening the government.

Why Democrats and Republicans Are In A Shutdown Standoff

Democrats are hellbent on a resolution to address healthcare, particularly with the Affordable Care Act (ACA), widely known as Obamacare. Democrats are demanding short-term funding to extend ACA subsidies, which will help reduce health plan costs for families.

Enhanced premium tax cuts under the ACA are slated to end at the end of 2025. Since the introduction of the improved premium tax credits, KFF reports that enrollment in the Healthcare Marketplace has more than doubled from 11 million people to over 24 million, who receive enhanced premium tax credits. If these tax credits expire, some plans will more than double in cost.

Republicans, however, say they want “clean” legislation that addresses only the federal budget.

In the OMB’s memo, first reported by Axios, Democrats were criticized for their role in the shutdown, despite Republicans’ control of both the House and the Senate. The OMB states that the 2019 law, known as GEFTA, is being misinterpreted. Sources told the publication that, based on their interpretation of the law, furloughed employees are not automatically entitled to compensation.

Some analysts argue that the memo is a threat by the Trump administration to strong-arm Democrats into passing the federal budget. That could be risky for Democrats. OMB Director Russ Vought, a key author of Project 2025 that Trump said he knew nothing about during his 2024 Presidential campaign, touted that the administration is withholding as much as $28 billion in infrastructure and energy-related projects in mostly Democratic states as a result of the shutdown.

Bank of America, employee, disabled client — (Photo: vladans/Getty Images)

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

October 8, 2025

Georgia’s Judicial Watchdog Urges Removal Of Fulton County Judge Who Illegally Jailed Witness

The report detailed multiple infractions on Williams' part, including ethical violations and unlawful detainment.

A judicial panel in Georgia has recommended the removal of a Fulton County judge for multiple counts of professional misconduct, including illegally jailing a witness.

The Georgia Judicial Qualifications Commission has accused Superior Court Judge Shermela Williams of several violations in her handling of cases. In a 66-page report released Oct. 2, the commission listed the allegations against Judge Williams, recommending that the courts remove her in light of these findings.

According to the Georgia Gazette, the three-person panel delved deeper into its investigation of Williams. They detailed how Williams often delayed multiple cases that disrupted the lives of those depending on her rulings.

“From a man who was hungry and homeless and could not get necessary medical treatment, to a mother who mightily struggled financially for almost three years awaiting a child support ruling, to a father whose entire relationship with his children for years was a single ten-minute FaceTime call per week, the consequences were significant and outsized,” summarized the report. These parties were denied the certainty, stability, and relief that they deserved from the judicial system.”

One case in particular included the “inexcusable” jailing of 21-year-old Molly Dennis in October 2023, who was a witness in her parents’ divorce case. The panel emphasized how Williams recklessly jailed the young woman despite knowing of the investigation into her rulings.

“Either she just did not care, or that was her best behavior,” added the panel.

While the Fulton County judge acknowledged her wrongdoing in detaining Dennis, she testified that the effort was intended to serve as a lesson for her. The panel described the ordeal as a grave example of Williams’ misuse of her power, also emphasizing how their inquiry with the judge led to further deflection and deception.

“Given the level of untruthful testimony Judge Williams offered throughout, we are left with little option but to seek the ultimate sanction of removal. A judge that cannot be trusted to tell the truth cannot be trusted to remain in office.”

Williams also reportedly used her status as a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. to persuade another judge to favor her uncle in his child custody case. Despite the findings, the controversial Judge Williams did not take calls for her removal lightly.

Williams’ lawyers have asserted that she will challenge the case built against her. The attorneys stated that her removal would result in a significant loss to Fulton County and the voters who appointed her. Williams has served in the role since 2021.

“If the Supreme Court adopts the Panel’s recommendation, Judge Williams’ removal would be against the will of the voters and a loss to the citizens of Fulton County,” stated her legal team.

If pursuing the challenge, Williams will have to convince the Supreme Court of Georgia to let her stay on the bench.

LeBron James, Beverly Hills, mansion — (Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

October 8, 2025

LeBron James ‘Decision’ Announced Extended Partnership With Hennessy

'Our first collection was about a shared pursuit of excellence and boundary pushing, and this new limited edition is another chapter in that story.'

Instead of a retirement announcement with all the hype around LeBron James’ “The Second Decision,” the Los Angeles Lakers player has announced the latest collaboration with the Hennessy brand.

In a promo released Oct. 7, the future NBA Hall of Famer recreated the scene from his announcement from his special, The Decision, when he decided to join the Miami Heat in 2010 to join fellow basketball stars, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh. In the new clip, he “announced” that he is taking his talents to . . . Hennessy.

The Decision has been made. Cheers to year 23.@KingJames #HennessyxLeBron #TheSecondDecision #HennessyVSOP pic.twitter.com/WnXMZTiEPS

— Hennessy (@Hennessy) October 7, 2025

The Hennessy V.S.O.P Limited Edition by LeBron James will be available in select markets in October, furthering the partnership that James has had with the cognac brand since 2024.

“It’s an honor to continue this partnership with Hennessy. Our first collection was about a shared pursuit of excellence and boundary pushing, and this new limited edition is another chapter in that story. The design features my crowning gesture, which is special for me and stands for celebration and connection. That’s what this bottle is made for.”

Due to the teaser clip posted earlier this week, fans speculated that LeBron was possibly going to announce his retirement from the game, setting off a price surge for the Lakers’ last home game of the season against the Utah Jazz.

Before LeBron posted that announcement on social media, the lowest price for one ticket for that game, taking place April 26, 2026, was listed at $82, according to Vivid Seats. After word got out, that amount shot up to $850 for a single ticket.

LeBron will be entering his 23rd NBA season, which will break former Toronto Raptors’ Vince Carter’s record of 22 seasons, which he currently shares with him.

The Lakers will start their regular season on Oct. 21 against their Western Conference rival, the Golden State Warriors, at Crypto.com Arena.

rapper, Birdman, Cash Money, Cash Money's Birdman — (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

October 8, 2025

Cash Money Records Verzuz No Limit Records Battle Set For Vegas Show

No word yet on who will participate.

Two legendary independent hip-hop labels based in New Orleans, Cash Money Records and No Limit Records, will face off in the Verzuz Battle arena.

This battle marks the return of the Verzuz series, which pits recording artists against each other for bragging rights, and was started by music producers Swizz Beatz and Timbaland

The highly matchup will take place Oct. 25 in Las Vegas at ComplexCon.

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No details have been released regarding who will participate, but the rich rosters of both labels promises to yield a star-studded line-up.

Cash Money Records has featured artists like Birdman, Lil Wayne, Juvenile, Turk, and Mannie Fresh. Drake, Nicki Minaj, DJ Khaled, and Busta Rhymes were also on the roster at one time.

The No Limit Records roster has included Master P, Silkk the Shocker, Mia X, Mystikal, Snoop Dogg, and Choppa.

The battle is scheduled to start at 8 p.m. and is expected to last until 10 p.m Anyone interested in attending can visit www.complexcon.com for more information.

For those unable to attend in person, the battle will be streamed live on social media via Instagram Live (@verzuztv), YouTube (Verzuz Official Channel), as well as the Triller App and website.

ComplexCon will take place Saturday, Oct. 25, and Sunday, Oct. 26, at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

Firefighter, lawSuit , Racist Harassment, Noose — (Photo: LorenzoT81/Getty Images)

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

October 8, 2025

Jayvon Givan’s Family Demands Investigation Into His Alleged Suicide By Hanging ‘This Is A Coverup’

A family is demanding answers regarding Jayvon Givan’s alleged suicide and the police-ordered cremation they only learned about more than a year later.

The family of Jayvon Givan is demanding answers and a reopening of the investigation into his death, which police ruled a suicide without their knowledge.

Police reports state that Givan was found hanging by a metal chain from a commercial building in Corrales, New Mexico, on Sept. 17, 2024. But, it wasn’t until Oct. 1, 2025, over a year after his death, that his twin sister, Jaivryon Walker from Kansas City, filed a missing persons report in Albuquerque and learned the police had sat on his case file the entire time.

Now the family has received support from local advocacy groups to demand a full investigation, including answers on why Givan was cremated without their knowledge.

“That is not negligence. And it’s not a rumor like we’ve heard people online say. This is a cover-up,” organizers from Building Power for Black New Mexico, Millions for Prisoners New Mexico, Albuquerque Save the Kids, and the SouthWest Solidarity Network told The Kansas City Defender.

After reviewing police reports, researchers allege that the Albuquerque police had no intention of properly investigating Givan’s death. However, amid public outcry over the racial implications surrounding deaths by hanging, the department now plans to conduct a thorough investigation.

“I am arranging for an independent review to look into the initial investigation of Mr. Givan’s death,” APD Chief Harold Medina said in a statement. “Our field officers rely on medical investigators to determine the cause and manner of death, which informs the department’s decision to pursue a criminal investigation. While this death appears to be a death by suicide, the fact that it involved a hanging is enough reason for further scrutiny.”

Police reported that Givan was wearing a hospital bracelet when found, indicating a recent medical visit. His last known address was an emergency housing shelter in Santa Fe. At the time of his death, he had an active warrant for conspiracy to commit armed robbery linked to a Cricket Wireless theft investigation, accused of stealing phones to exchange for cash at Eco ATMs.

However, his twin sister, Jaivryon Walker of Kansas City, is suspicious about her brother’s alleged suicide.

“I feel like if he was going through something, he would have reached out to me,” his sister said.

The reports make no mention of any attempt to contact Jayvon’s family in Kansas City. The only person listed in the “Relationships Addendum” is Martin Ulloa, whose connection to Jayvon is marked as “UNKNOWN.”

Walker says Detective Lorenzo Apocada, who finally called the family on Oct. 1, offered almost no information and later refused to return their calls. When another detective eventually called to deliver the news, the family says they received vague answers to basic questions about the autopsy and photos of Givan’s body, which police had cremated without their knowledge.

”He just said that his body was cremated and that we could get the police report online,” Jada said. “He never gave us any details. He never said, ‘Hey, I’m gonna be sending you over some photos so you can identify him.’ My cousin was literally identified from the name, only name, and birthday.”

Organizing groups have rallied behind Givan’s family to demand a transparent investigation into his death, which they are ruling as a lynching pending a final investigation.

”This department concealed the lynching of a Black man for over a year, and had the audacity to label it a ‘suicide.’ We reject that narrative outright,” a statement from the advocacy groups reads. “Black people do not hang themselves in public in America. We know this because the history is written in blood. From Reconstruction to Jim Crow to right now, police and coroners have covered up racial terror by calling it ‘self-inflicted.’ These are not isolated incidents; they are continuations of state-sanctioned violence.”

Organizers have demonstrations planned, in addition to putting pressure on the Albuquerque Police Department. I

f you or someone you know is struggling with thoughts of suicide, help is available. Call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline in the U.S.) or use the 988 Lifeline Chat via 988lifeline.org.

Remy Ma, papoose, network — (Photo: Ruben Diaz Jr./Flickr)

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

October 8, 2025

Remy Ma Launches New Hip-Hop Centered Streaming Platform ‘Remy Network’

Remy Ma is stepping into the highly competitive streaming market with the launch of her hip-hop-focused platform, Remy Network.

Remy Ma is amplifying hip-hop culture into the new age with the launch of an official streaming platform designed to celebrate the art form.

On Oct. 7, the Grammy-nominated rapper unveiled Remy Network, a new digital platform that celebrates hip-hop culture through film, television, and storytelling. Co-founded with Roberto “Rush” Evans, a former Monami Entertainment executive, and Steven Ward, the platform will offer a diverse lineup of content, including scripted series, documentaries, reality shows, sports, concerts, and finance-focused self-empowerment programming—creating a comprehensive hub that embodies the rhythm, hustle, and spirit of hip-hop.

“Everything I’m building now comes from a place of purpose 🙏🏽,” Remy Ma said in an Instagram statement. “Remy Network isn’t just another streaming service — it’s a home for creativity and collaboration 🎨🤝. This network is about giving our community a stage 🎤🗣️ to tell our stories our way, and making sure those stories are seen and valued 👁️💫.”

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Remy Network will operate as a free, ad-supported (AVOD) service, featuring FAST channels (Free Ad-Supported Streaming Television) and providing viewers with curated shows at no subscription cost. OTTera, a global leader in OTT and FAST solutions, will handle the network’s distribution and monetization across platforms and devices, ensuring smooth delivery and revenue growth opportunities, the platform shared.

With its launch, Remy Network aims to transform the way hip-hop culture is showcased on streaming platforms, offering a global platform for culturally rich content. The network also presents advertisers with brand-safe, high-impact opportunities to connect with diverse and passionate audiences.

The network expands Remy Ma’s growing portfolio of hip-hop-focused ventures, including her 2022 launch of the all-female battle rap league, Chrome 23. Since its debut, Remy has leveraged the platform to spotlight and empower female emcees in the traditionally male-dominated battle rap scene.

Old Lady Gang, Kandi Burruss, Atlanta, Keith Lee — (Photo: Prince Williams/WireImage)

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

October 8, 2025

Kandi Burruss Joins Production Of August Wilson Revival Starring Taraji P. Henson And Cedric The Entertainer

Kandi Burruss will produce the Broadway revival of August Wilson’s Joe Turner’s Come and Gone, starring Taraji P. Henson and Cedric “The Entertainer.”

Kandi Burruss has joined the production team for the upcoming Broadway revival of August Wilson’s Joe Turner’s Come and Gone, starring Taraji P. Henson and Cedric “The Entertainer.”

Led by Brian Anthony Moreland, the Grammy and Tony Award-winning actress, singer, and songwriter, joins Golden Globe and four-time Emmy winner Debbie Allen, who will direct the stage play slated to open in Spring 2026, Playbill reports. Burruss’s addition to the Moreland-led production comes as no surprise, as the two have previously collaborated on several major Broadway projects, including Othello, starring Denzel Washington and Jake Gyllenhaal, the recent revival of The Wiz, the Tony-nominated The Piano Lesson, and Thoughts of a Colored Man.

“I’m thrilled to be joining the producing team of Joe Turner’s Come and Gone, which will mark my fifth Broadway show,” Burruss said in a statement. “Eternal gratitude to the team as I look forward to being a part of this journey and can’t wait for people to witness the greatness that is Taraji P. Henson and Cedric ‘The Entertainer’ on the Broadway stage.”

The play will mark the Broadway performing debut for Henson, an Emmy-nominated actress and Tony-nominated producer, who will star alongside Cedric “The Entertainer,” who will be making his Broadway return after his 2008 debut in American Buffalo. The two screen stars will portray married couple Bertha and Seth Holly.

Set in 1911, Joe Turner’s Come and Gone unfolds in a Pittsburgh boarding house run by the steadfast Seth and warm-hearted Bertha. Together, they operate their boarding house as a haven for Black travelers navigating the challenges of the Great Migration. Among them is Herald Loomis, a man searching for his lost wife and for the self he lost during seven years of illegal enslavement under “Joe Turner.”

Written by August Wilson around 1984 and premiering in 1986, the play is the second installment in Wilson’s Pittsburgh Cycle, a series of 10 plays each exploring a different decade of 20th-century African American life in his hometown of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

“We are truly honored to return to August Wilson’s legacy,” Moreland said in an earlier statement. “Joe Turner’s Come and Gone is Wilson’s seminal masterpiece—an unflinching exploration of pain, identity, and hope. With Debbie Allen’s visionary direction and this extraordinary cast, the entire company will present a performance that resonates deeply and lingers in the hearts and minds of all who experience it.”

Trump, Chicago, National Guard — Donald Trump Photo: Alex Wong/Getty Images/Brandon Johnson Photo by Trent Sprague/Chicago Tribune/Tribune News Service via Getty Images

by Sharelle B. McNair

October 8, 2025

Chicago Mayor Signs ‘ICE Free Zones’ Legislation Amid Threats Of Raids, Leaving White House Upset

The announcement comes after actions of ICE agents have gone viral, showcasing their roughness with incident bystanders and alleged illegal immigrants.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents have set up shop in Chicago, as the Trump administration claims they were needed. Mayor Brandon Johnson has created “ICE Free Zones” in an effort to protect city property and private businesses from the agency’s enforcement actions, FOX 32 reports.

Johnson signed an executive order limiting federal immigration agents from staging enforcement actions in schools, libraries, parks, and various city-owned spaces. It also gives privately owned establishments the right to voluntarily participate in a network that touches city limits, protecting residents from ICE operations without a valid warrant.

“Today, we are signing an executive order aimed at reigning in this out-of-control administration. The order establishes “ICE free zones,” Johnson said during an Oct. 6 press conference.

“That means that city property and unwilling private businesses will no longer serve as a staging ground for these raids.”

https://twitter.com/CalltoActivism/status/1975217255454830643

The announcement comes after the actions of ICE agents have gone viral, showcasing their roughness with incident bystanders and alleged illegal immigrants. The raids have taken over neighborhoods of the Windy City, resulting in vicious confrontations with residents and having elected officials like Alderman Jessie Fuentes detained. She was arrested after questioning federal agents inside a hospital.

ICE arrested Chicago Alderman Jessie Fuentes inside a hospital emergency room—simply for asking them to show a warrant for a man they detained. pic.twitter.com/hVgJC5nvIg
— Mike Nellis (@MikeNellis) October 3, 2025

ICE agents have even attacked members of the clergy. Rev. David Black was struck in the head with a pepper ball as he stood in front of a Chicago-area ICE facility praying.

Rev. David Black stood in front of a Chicago-area ICE facility and began to pray.

The masked ICE agents on the roof responded by firing pepper balls, with one striking him in the head https://t.co/rmj4ywLXhI pic.twitter.com/0NLfGlWYz6
— philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) October 8, 2025

Each ICE Free Zone business will be equipped with signage reading: “This property is owned and/or controlled by the City of Chicago. It may not be used for civil immigration enforcement, including as a: Staging area, processing location or operations base.”

Not too long after the announcement was made, the White House released its own statement condemning the move, calling it “a disgusting betrayal of every law-abiding citizen” and accusing Johnson of shielding “depraved, violent criminal illegal aliens.” “This sick policy coddles criminal illegal alien killers, rapists, and gangbangers who prey on innocent Americans,” the statement read, including mugshots of detained criminals.

However, Johnson, an avid critic of President Donald Trump, says his order is a defensive tactic aimed at protecting due process and civil liberties. “The order builds a broad civic shield that limits the reach of harmful enforcement practices. It strengthens neighborhood solidarity and it reaffirms Chicago’s role as a welcoming city,” the mayor said.

“The fact is, we cannot allow them to rampage throughout our city with no checks or balances. Nobody is above the law. If we break the law, you should be held accountable. If Congress will not check this administration, then Chicago will.”

Angel Reese, — (Photo: David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images)

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

October 8, 2025

Angel Reese Now Global Ambassador For Juicy Couture

'I grew up loving the brand, so representing Viva La Juicy and co-designing my own collection has been incredible,' Reese said in a statement.

WNBA star Angel Reese is leaning further into the fashion industry with her latest deal.

She is now a Global Ambassador and Creative Collaborator with Juicy Couture. The two parties have released a new apparel collection called “Angel Couture.” Reese says she co-designed the pieces.

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“I grew up loving the brand, so representing Viva La Juicy and co-designing my own collection has been incredible,” Reese said in a statement obtained by Women’s Wear Daily. “Juicy Couture has always been about confidence and having fun with fashion. Now with Angel Couture, I wanted to bring that same energy forward with pieces that are fearless, fun, and make you feel unstoppable.”

The collection features Juicy’s signature velour tracksuits in colorways such as black, light blue, and shades ranging from light pink to deeper pink. The collection also features knitwear and fleece sets, as well as blinged-out crop tops and oversized tees that can be dressed up or down.

“A limited-edition collection that blends court-side confidence with our iconic glam,” the website said. “Think luxe velour, sparkling heritage logos, and an unapologetic attitude in every piece. From pink tracks made for stand-out moments to sleek black glam—this collaboration celebrates game-changers.”

Items in the collection ranges from $65 to $139. Wearers of the “Viva La Juicy” fragrance will also see the WNBA All-Star face featured in its campaign.

Reese, 23, is paving her way in the fashion scene, with her collaboration with Reebok making waves in the footwear industry.