Music Review: Lorde enters 'Virgin' territory on her liberated, physical pop album

NEW YORK (AP) — Fans of the New Zealand singer-songwriter Lorde have long commended the artist for her visceral pop craft. To them, her music sounds like freedom. On her new album, “Virgin,” it is as if Lorde is able to hear that freedom, too, writes The Associated Press music writer Maria Sherman in her review. “Virgin” is Lorde’s first studio album in four years. She’s now writing pop hits devoid of any anxious filtering. Musically, “Virgin” threads the needle from her 2017 synth-pop album “Melodrama” to the current moment. And thematically, Lorde’s never been more fluid and feral than on “Virgin,” in her descriptions of gender experience and sexual autonomy.

The best that Bezos’ money can buy: A wedding for the ages in timeless Venice

VENICE, Italy (AP) — The sky itself is no limit for billionaire Jeff Bezos and fiancée Lauren Sánchez, who have traveled into space — and expectations are just about as high for their wedding in Venice. The team of the world’s fourth-richest man has kept details under wraps. Still, whispers point to events spread across the lagoon city, adding complexity and cost. Any desire to dampen the prevailing fever pitch with protests has yet to materialize. Instead, the glitterati are set to party, and the paparazzi jostling for glimpses of the gilded gala. Whatever is in store, it will be a wedding for the ages.

Prosecutor tells jury 'it's time' to convict Sean 'Diddy' Combs as sex trafficking trial near end

NEW YORK (AP) — A prosecutor began two days of closing arguments at Sean “Diddy” Combs' sex trafficking trial by telling a jury that the music mogul used “power, violence and fear” to rule a criminal enterprise for two decades. The closing on Thursday was delivered by Assistant U.S. Attorney Christy Slavik in Manhattan federal court. The defense will get its turn Friday. Afterward, another prosecutor will deliver a rebuttal closing argument before Judge Arun Subramanian instructs the jury on the law so it can begin deliberations. Combs has pleaded not guilty to sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy charges. The trial is in its seventh week.

Lalo Schifrin, composer of the 'Mission: Impossible' theme, dies at 93

Lalo Schifrin, the composer who wrote the endlessly catchy theme for “Mission: Impossible” and more than 100 other arrangements for film and television, has died. He was 93. Schifrin’s son Ryan confirms that Schifrin died due to complications from pneumonia. He died peacefully in his home in Los Angeles, surrounded by family. The Argentine who was also a jazz pianist and classical conductor won four Grammys and was nominated for six Oscars. He wrote the instantly recognizable “Mission: Impossible” theme for the television show in the 1960s. When the franchise jumped to the silver screen with Tom Cruise, Schifrin’s iconic theme went with it.

Home reportedly owned by Brad Pitt was ransacked by burglars, police say

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Police are investigating a break-in at a home reportedly owned by Brad Pitt, who has been on a globe-spanning promo tour for his new movie, “F1.” Los Angeles Police Officer Drake Madison says three suspects broke into the residence through the front window, ransacked the home and fled with miscellaneous property. Pitt reportedly bought the home for $5.5 million in April 2023. A Pitt representative declined comment. The actor has been out of the country on a promotional tour for the “F1” movie. He recently attended the international premiere in London on Monday. The movie will be in U.S. theaters Friday.

Anna Wintour is seeking a new Vogue editor-in-chief but will maintain editorial control

NEW YORK (AP) — Anna Wintour is appointing a head of editorial content at Vogue to manage daily operations while retaining her influential role. On Thursday, Wintour informed staff about the change, which aligns with Condé Nast’s global reorganization of editorial teams. The new role at American Vogue will report directly to Wintour. She will remain chief content officer for Condé Nast and global editorial director of Vogue. The move allows her to focus on overseeing all Condé Nast brands worldwide, except The New Yorker. Wintour is known for modernizing Vogue with celebrity covers and championing emerging designers. Vogue says in a statement on its website the addition of an editorial lead will free up Wintour to serve other titles in her portfolio.

New film academy members include Danielle Deadwyler, Ariana Grande, Jason Momoa, Conan O'Brien

NEW YORK (AP) — The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences invited 534 new members to its organization on Thursday, adding recent Oscar nominees and many more to Hollywood’s most exclusive club. The newest class of Oscar voters includes a number of stars like Dave Bautista, Jason Momoa, Aubrey Plaza, Danielle Deadwyler and Andrew Scott. They, along with filmmakers, below-the-line professionals and executives will bring the film academy's membership total to 11,120, with voting members numbering 10,143. That’s the largest membership ever for the film academy. Since the #OscarsSoWhite backlash, the academy has added thousands of members to swell its ranks and diversify its voting body.

Bill Moyers, the former White House press secretary turned acclaimed TV journalist, dead at 91

NEW YORK (AP) — Bill Moyers, the former White House press secretary who became one of television’s most honored journalists, has died at 91. His career ranged from President Lyndon Johnson’s press secretary to newspaper publisher and senior news analyst at CBS News. But it was for public television that Moyers produced some of TV’s most intelligent and provocative programs. During hundreds of hours on PBS, he proved at home with subjects ranging from government corruption to modern dance, from drug addiction to media consolidation, from religion to environmental abuse. He called himself a “citizen journalist.”

Pete Hegseth attacks old Fox News colleague's reporting on Iran strikes intelligence evaluation

Less than a year ago, Pete Hegseth and Jennifer Griffin were colleagues at Fox News Channel. But on Thursday, as defense secretary, Hegseth attacked Pentagon reporter Griffin at a news conference. He said she was “about the worst,” and that she intentionally misrepresents what President Donald Trump says. Griffin responded by saying that “I take issue with that.” Fox analyst Brit Hume called Griffin a professional and said Hegseth's attack was undeserved. The administration continued to criticize the media Thursday for reporting on an initial evaluation of last weekend's U.S. bombing in Iraq, saying it was investigating who was responsible for leaking that report.

Music history is littered with projects planned, anticipated, even completed — and then scrapped

NEW YORK (AP) — Bruce Springsteen isn't the only musician to complete or launch anticipated album projects, then to see it never see the light of day. Springsteen is releasing the “Tracks II: The Lost Albums” box set with reams of so-called lost music on Friday. There are many reasons for albums to be abandoned. Those include perfectionist or easily distracted artists, nervous record executives, and sometimes material that is literally lost. Dr. Dre, the Beach Boys, Prince, Green Day, Neil Young and others all had their stories. But as Springsteen notes in explaining while one of discs was dropped: “I always put them away, but I don't throw them away.”