Britney Spears Sells Rights to Music Catalogue

FILE PHOTO: Singer Britney Spears arrives at the 2016 MTV Video Music Awards in New York, US, August 28, 2016.  REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz/File Photo/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Singer Britney Spears arrives at the 2016 MTV Video Music Awards in New York, US, August 28, 2016. REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz/File Photo/File Photo
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Britney Spears Sells Rights to Music Catalogue

FILE PHOTO: Singer Britney Spears arrives at the 2016 MTV Video Music Awards in New York, US, August 28, 2016.  REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz/File Photo/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Singer Britney Spears arrives at the 2016 MTV Video Music Awards in New York, US, August 28, 2016. REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz/File Photo/File Photo

Pop star ‌Britney Spears has sold her rights to her music catalogue to independent music publisher Primary Wave, the ​latest artist to strike a deal for her work.

Entertainment site TMZ, citing legal documents it had obtained, first reported the news, saying the "Oops!... I Did It Again" and "Toxic" singer had signed the deal on December 30.

According to Reuters, it quoted sources as saying it ‌was "in the ‌ballpark" of Canadian singer Justin ​Bieber's ‌reported $200 ⁠million ​agreement to sell ⁠his music rights to Hipgnosis in 2023.

A person familiar with the situation said news of the Spears and Primary Wave deal was accurate. No further details were given.

Primary Wave, which is home to artists ⁠including Whitney Houston, Prince and Stevie ‌Nicks, did not ‌immediately respond to a request for ​comment. Spears has ‌not commented publicly.

The 44-year-old, one of ‌the most successful pop artists of all time, has topped charts around the world, starting off with "...Baby One More Time" in 1998. The ‌deal includes her songs such as "(You Drive Me) Crazy", "Circus", "Gimme More" and "I'm a Slave ⁠4 ⁠U", TMZ said.

Spears' ninth and last studio album, "Glory", came out in 2016.

In 2021, she was released from a 13-year court-ordered conservatorship set up and controlled by her father, Jamie Spears. The arrangement had governed Spears' personal life, career and $60 million estate from 2008 until it was terminated in November 2021.

Spears follows artists such as Sting, ​Bruce Springsteen and Justin ​Timberlake who have struck deals to cash in on their work.



Alleged Rihanna Mansion Shooter Charged with Attempted Murder

The exterior of Rihanna's residence is shown Monday, March 9, 2026, in Beverly Hills, Calif. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
The exterior of Rihanna's residence is shown Monday, March 9, 2026, in Beverly Hills, Calif. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
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Alleged Rihanna Mansion Shooter Charged with Attempted Murder

The exterior of Rihanna's residence is shown Monday, March 9, 2026, in Beverly Hills, Calif. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
The exterior of Rihanna's residence is shown Monday, March 9, 2026, in Beverly Hills, Calif. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)

A woman alleged to have shot up the luxury Los Angeles home of global megastar Rihanna was charged Tuesday with attempted murder.

Prosecutors in the city said Ivanna Lisette Ortiz, 35, had opened fire at the sprawling estate on Sunday.

Aerial footage after the attack showed bullet holes in a gate at the property, which Rihanna shares with rapper A$AP Rocky and the couple's three children.

Ortiz, who is from Florida, has previously been involuntarily committed and lost custody of her then 10-year-old child, entertainment news outlet TMZ reported.

A Facebook page that appears to belong to her includes a number of videos and posts that refer to celebrities including Rihanna, Kim Kardashian and Cardi B, according to AFP.

One post tags Rihanna, whom she challenged "to say something to me directly instead of sneaking around like you talking to me where I'm not at."

In another video, she claims Rihanna wants to kill her.

Ortiz was charged with one count of attempted murder, 10 counts of assault with a semiautomatic firearm, two counts of shooting at an inhabited dwelling and one count of shooting at an inhabited vehicle.

She was ordered to be held on $1.875 million bail and instructed to have no contact with the Barbados-born singer.

Ortiz is next expected to appear in court on March 25.

Police officers previously said an AR-15-style assault rifle was used in the incident, which happened in the middle of day on Sunday while Rihanna was reportedly in the home.


Australian Katie Perry Wins Trademark Spat Against Singer Katy Perry

Katy Perry. (AFP)
Katy Perry. (AFP)
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Australian Katie Perry Wins Trademark Spat Against Singer Katy Perry

Katy Perry. (AFP)
Katy Perry. (AFP)

Australian designer Katie Perry has won the right to sell clothes under her name, claiming victory Wednesday in a years-long trademark spat with US pop megastar Katy Perry.

Designer Katie Perry accused her far more famous namesake of trademark infringement, arguing she had claimed the "Katie Perry" brand before the singer became a global sensation.

But songstress Katy Perry said her music had already gone "viral" as the designer started selling clothes around 2008 and sought to have the Australian trademark scrubbed out.

An Australian court agreed with the singer, ruling in 2024 the clothing trademark should be cancelled.

But Australia's High Court has now ruled in favor of the local designer on appeal, finding there was unlikely to be any risk of "confusion" between the two.

A representative for the singer told AFP that despite the legal action she "has never sought to close down" the Australian business.


Oscar Nominee Chalamet Woos Chinese Fans Days Before Best Actor Bid

French-American actor Timothee Chalamet (L) and American film director Josh Safdie pose upon arrival on the red carpet for screening of their film “Marty Supreme” in Beijing on March 10, 2026. (AFP)
French-American actor Timothee Chalamet (L) and American film director Josh Safdie pose upon arrival on the red carpet for screening of their film “Marty Supreme” in Beijing on March 10, 2026. (AFP)
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Oscar Nominee Chalamet Woos Chinese Fans Days Before Best Actor Bid

French-American actor Timothee Chalamet (L) and American film director Josh Safdie pose upon arrival on the red carpet for screening of their film “Marty Supreme” in Beijing on March 10, 2026. (AFP)
French-American actor Timothee Chalamet (L) and American film director Josh Safdie pose upon arrival on the red carpet for screening of their film “Marty Supreme” in Beijing on March 10, 2026. (AFP)

Oscar nominee Timothee Chalamet answered to "sweet tea" and praised a table tennis champion as he wooed Chinese fans on Tuesday in Beijing, days before the Academy Awards.

The 30-year-old actor is in Asia promoting Best Picture hopeful "Marty Supreme", in which he plays a 1950s table tennis champion consumed by grand ambitions.

Loosely based on a true story, and benefiting from the Franco-American actor's unique viral campaign, the A24 film directed by Josh Safdie ("Uncut Gems") has become an unlikely global hit.

At an indoor red carpet event, Chalamet delighted fans by calling China's table tennis world no. 1 Sun Yingsha "an amazing player" after earlier purchasing a poster of the reigning world champion from a local shop.

The sport -- which Chalamet spent several years mastering in preparation for the film -- is hugely popular in China.

Dozens of fans squeezed past each other for autographs and selfies with the three-time Best Actor nominee, known affectionally as "tiancha", which means sweet tea.

The rare visit to China by a prominent American actor comes as Hollywood looks to cash in on the country's box office.

China recorded 51.8 billion yuan ($7.5 billion) in ticket sales last year, challenging North America's box office of $8.6 billion.

"I feel like the movie could be as well received here as it was in the States, you know. Hopefully," Chalamet told reporters at the carpet -- colored the same shade of orange the actor has sported across his "Marty Supreme" press tour.

Chalamet also visited Japan and the southwestern Chinese city of Chengdu where he was filmed playing table tennis with silver-haired locals.

His Asia tour also comes as he has angered fans over viral comments suggesting "no one cares" about ballet or opera.

"Marty Supreme" officially opens in Chinese cinemas on March 20.