Author: Alan Wass

  • Mariah Carey Awarded for 5 Billion Spins on Pandora

    Mariah Carey Awarded for 5 Billion Spins on Pandora

    Pop music legend Mariah Carey is already one of the highest selling female vocalists of all-time and was recently awarded by Pandora for 5 billion plays on the American-based music streaming service.

    When Mariah visited Pandora’s office in New York to chat about new album ‘Caution’ earlier this week, which was released on November 16, she was awarded a plaque by the streaming network for being one of the most played artists and also for having the most played holiday song of all-time.

    Vast Repertoire of Mariah Carey Hits

    The online streaming service has awarded the singer for her head-spinning numbers. Mariah Carey is known for her vast repertoire of classic pop songs throughout the 1990s and early-2000s such as Dreamlover, Hero, and I Know What You Want, just to name a few.

    One of the industry’s leading music streaming services, Pandora, has decided to honor the sultry songstress for getting close to 5 billion spins on their network.

    One of Mariah’s most famous songs, the classic All I Want For Christmas Is You already has over 308 million plays on Pandora and is the all-time leader for holiday songs on the streaming network.

    Other ultra-famous holiday songs on Pandora include Nat King Cole’s “The Christmas Song,” Brenda Lee’s “Rocking Around the Christmas Tree,” and “Have Yourself a Merry Christmas” by Frank Sinatra.

    Highest Selling Female Vocalists

    Mariah Carey is one of the highest selling female vocalists of all-time, selling over 200 million records across the globe since the start of her recording career in the early-1990s. She is the third highest selling female artist of all-time in America, amassing over 60 million certified album sales.

    Mariah Carey signed a ground-breaking $100 million record deal with Sony back in 2000 and was paid $21 million upfront. The deal didn’t work out as expected. She was dropped by Sony a few years later with a $28 million golden handshake after only releasing one album. It was a fantastic piece of business for Carey at the time even though musically it didn’t work out for her.

    The singer also recently made the news after being paid $50 million as an inconvenience fee for breaking up with former billionaire boyfriend James Packer.

    Mariah Carey is a woman of many talents who can make money without even making music. Her latest accolade from Pandora is a sign she still has value in the market today even 35-years after first debuting.

    Featured image from Pixabay.

  • Who Wants to Be a Millionaire Pays out over $100m Since 2002

    Who Wants to Be a Millionaire Pays out over $100m Since 2002

    The worldwide gameshow franchise ‘Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?’ has been making people’s dreams come true since its syndicated debut in 2002. But did you know that the US arm of the popular game show has given away almost $100 million in prize winnings since the turn of the millennium?

    The show celebrated the achievement with a week full of shows, which not only gave away some cool cash prizes but also revisited some of its most famous moments.

    Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? I Do!

    When asked the immortal question–who wants to be a millionaire? Those who answer ‘no’ are either deluded, devolved or devout Buddhists!

    Maybe they should have renamed the show ‘Who Wants to be a Minimalist?’ for Buddhists. Of course, money isn’t the answer to everything, but that depends on what the questions are.

    The quiz show was first aired in Britain back in 1998 and was syndicated in America back in 2002, becoming a major hit across the globe. The syndicated US show has given away $100 million over the past 16 years and celebrated the milestone this week with shows taking place from Monday to Friday.

    The American version of Who Wants To Be a Millionaire? is hosted by Chris Harrison, who was extremely upbeat when talking about the landmark winnings total this week:

    “We’ve given away a grand total of $100 million over the past 16 years. To commemorate that milestone, one of our all-time favorite contestants is about to take another run at that $1 million prize.”

    Favorite Moments from the Show

    Last week’s shows revisited some of the favorite fan moments since the show began. These included the first female millionaire and a pair of kid contestants. A magical Disney cruise vacation was one of the main prizes this week to celebrate the show’s popularity.

    The original Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? show in Britain was first aired in 1998 with Chris Tarrant as its host and has since gone on to show in 160 countries worldwide.

    The rules have remained pretty much the same since its inception 20 years ago. The UK 20-year anniversary of the show took place back in May.

    Do you want to be a millionaire? Do you really need to phone a friend or ask the audience to find out the answer? If so, you’ve completely missed the point.

    Featured image from the Daily Express.

  • David Hockney Becomes Most Expensive Living Artist With $90m Sale

    David Hockney Becomes Most Expensive Living Artist With $90m Sale

    David Hockney has recently become the world’s most expensive living artist with the sale of a portrait for a gargantuan price of $90 million. Although the painting was owned by billionaire Joe Lewis, Hockney is now enjoying the rightful exposure his work deserves.

    Although I’m not much of an art critic or connoisseur, when something sells for $90 million, it makes you stop dead in your tracks and ask the question–what’s it all about?

    Record-Breaking Sale for David Hockney

    David Hockney became the most expensive living artist in the world on Thursday at Christie’s Auction House when his painting that is titled “Portrait of an Artist (Pool with Two Fingers)” sold for an awe-inspiring $90.3 million.

    The previous highest-selling living artist in the world was Jeff Koons, whose orange balloon dog sold for $58.4 million back in 2013. Hockney’s painting has smashed the former record to smithereens, although the portrait was owned by billionaire Joe Lewis who has made a tidy profit from the ground-breaking sale.

    The painting was first created back in 1972 by Hockney who is now 81. It was a portrait of his former lover Peter Schlesinger who is standing next to a swimming pool looking down at another man who is submerged by water. The hilly landscape in the background was said to be inspired by the South of France.

    Billionaire Joe Lewis Profits the Most

    The painting was owned by billionaire Joe Lewis who is worth a reported $5 billion and is the owner of the Tavistock Group. Lewis is an avid art fan and collector who has a vast selection of classics from world-renowned artists such as Picasso and Freund. He apparently has one of the largest privately owned art collections in the world.

    He also currently owns English Premier League football club Tottenham Hotspur and apparently timed the sale perfectly as the prices for Hockney’s work are currently skyrocketing. Another one of David Hockney’s paintings sold in recent months for $28.5 million.

    The new owner of the $90 million painting at the auction is a private collector called Marc Porter.

    As David Hockney is now in his early-80s, no doubt the price of his works will grow even further over the next 20 or 30 years, so this might turn out to be a nice bit of business for Porter.

    Featured image from CNN.

  • P-Diddy’s Ex-Wife Kim Porter Passes Away at Just 47

    P-Diddy’s Ex-Wife Kim Porter Passes Away at Just 47

    The sad news has just surfaced that the former wife of music mogul P-Diddy, Kim Porter has passed away at the tender age of only 47. We mostly like to have fun on this website in regards to the news, but unfortunately, life can sometimes be a dark vacuum.

    There is nothing sadder than someone passing away before their time, especially someone with kids. Life can be cruel.

    What Happened to Kim Porter?

    Kim Porter was the ex-wife of Sean “P-Diddy” Combs and was found dead on Thursday at her home in Los Angeles. She and P-Diddy raised four children together. She was also a respected model and actress and a strong woman of many talents.

    A statement from a Combs family representative said:

    “Sadly, I can confirm the passing of Kim Porter. I ask that you give the families privacy at this time.”

    The death was confirmed by the Los Angeles Country Sheriff’s Office saying that they responded to a death investigation at 11:40 am on Thursday and found Porter unresponsive in her Toluca Lake, California home. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

    Reports Are Saying Cardiac Arrest

    Although reports of the actual cause of the death of Kim Porter are still thin on the ground at such an early time, TMZ has detailed that the emergency 911 dispatch call said it was cardiac arrest.

    The speculation currently doing the rounds online is that Kim Porter was suffering from pneumonia for the past few weeks and could be linked to her passing away. Although speculating at this time is probably unwise and insensitive.

    The couple first married in 1997 and spent 10-years together. They had three kids together while P-Diddy also looked after Porter’s first child that was a product of a previous relationship with another record producer named Al B. Sure.

    Kim Porter and P-Diddy amicably split-up in 2007 when rumors that the record industry kingpin had fathered a child with another woman were rife.

    We wish the family of Kim Porter and P-Diddy all the best at this dark time and hope they get to grieve without too many prying eyes.

    Featured image from The Blast.

  • UK Man Makes #FraudBae Song to Celebrate Stealing His Ex-Girl’s Money

    UK Man Makes #FraudBae Song to Celebrate Stealing His Ex-Girl’s Money

    In a shocking fraud attempt that can only be described as despicable, UK man Michael Fehsenfeld not only stole money from his girlfriend to fund a trip to Paris with another gal but also made a song about it on YouTube called #FraudBae.

    The song had gained approximately 68,000 views on YouTube over the past few days but has now been flagged and removed for copyright violations. The only place you can now hear the song is on reaction videos from other YouTubers.

    What’s the Lowdown?

    When 29-year-old London-native Angel Exford went to the police to inform them that her former boyfriend Michael Fehsenfeld had audaciously stolen her money to take his new woman to Paris for a romantic getaway, little did he know he would be apprehended at the airport.

    When breaking down the facts, the word ‘stolen’ is probably harsh but fair. But the word fraud is definitely closer to the truth.

    Exford claims to have given then-boyfriend Fehsenfeld her bank card to pay a bill when they were out drinking, which he then claimed to have lost along with his wallet. However, the night after, she caught him on Snapchat out on the town even though he was supposedly penniless and proceeded to break-up with him.

    A month later, everything escalated out of control. Exford noticed that $1,300 had been spent from her card on plane tickets, flowers, and hotels.

    Exford’s friends, along with the police, surprisingly turned up at Gatwick Airport on October 5 to face Fehsenfeld about the allegations. Fehsenfeld was arrested and charged with fraud and received a 26-week suspended sentence and was given 150-hours of community service.

    The Making of #FraudBae

    Any decent human being would’ve fallen to their knees to repent their sins and offer total contrition for their scandalous acts. Is that what Michael Fehsenfeld did? Hell no! He made a rap song called #FraudBae on YouTube to brag about his fraudulent activities.

    During the original case, Angel Exford, who is also a dental hygienist, used the tag #FraudBae to shame her ex-boyfriend. However, her ex-bae then used the hashtag against her in snide fashion as the name for the song.

    It really is a despicable way of conducting yourself, but when you see the video, you can’t help but laugh at the scoundrel’s audacity. And he has decent mic skills to be fair.

    But it’s difficult to praise someone who steals from another person, no matter how solid the bars he spits. Karma will no doubt catch up to Fehsenfeld. The universe has a funny way of straightening things out.

    Featured image from The Pulse.

  • Are Australians the Richest People in the World? New Report Says So

    Are Australians the Richest People in the World? New Report Says So

    When we think of the country with the richest people in the world, places such as Monaco, Switzerland or even one of the Scandinavian nations springs to mind. But a new report has concluded that Australians are the wealthiest people in the world.

    When talking about Aussies, it’s easy to get caught up in colloquial stereotypes such as Crocodile Dundee, hats with corks dangling off them, beers, sports, Sheilas, Drongos, and Dingoes, but we’re not going to stoop to that level for cheap laughs!

    Richest People in the World in Meridian Terms

    The Credit Suisse’s 2018 Global Wealth Report was released in October and has unearthed some interesting stats.

    Although Switzerland did actually rank in the report as home to the wealthiest people on the planet if you calculate that by the median, the Aussies come out on top.

    The report shows that if you calculate wealth per adult, Switzerland came in first. But if you take into consideration the median standard wealth of everyday people, which is the fairest way to calculate the figures, Aussies on average are the richest people in the world! Strewth mate!

    The median wealth of the average Aussie per adult is $191,453. It seems that in terms of salaries in comparison with the cost of living, Australians are living very well indeed.

    What About Americans?

    We know that Americans like to come first in everything, but this time you didn’t even make it in the top-10.

    The large wealth disparity in the USA is the major reason America didn’t rank as high as expected. The American dream is an exclusive club. There are way more super-rich people in America than in Australia, but the average Aussie is much wealthier.

    There were some interesting stats in the report in regards to the growth of wealth in Australia:

    “Household wealth in Australia grew at a fast pace between 2000 and 2012 in US dollar terms, except for a short interruption in 2008. The average annual growth rate of wealth per adult was 12 percent, with about half due to exchange-rate appreciation against the US dollar.”

    If you have any Aussie mates, make sure you seize the moment to borrow some cash from them. They are the richest people in the world you flaming galah!

    Featured image from Pixabay.

  • The Girl Who Inherited $30 million from Freddie Mercury

    The Girl Who Inherited $30 million from Freddie Mercury

    It’s believed that Queen lead singer and rock icon Freddie Mercury amassed approximately $70 million over the course of his career. Although Freddie was gay, did you know he left nearly half of his fortune to a woman named Mary Austin?

    The late Freddie Mercury and Queen are enjoying a renaissance with the recent release of the Queen biopic movie ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ that has been doing fantastic at the box office. What many people didn’t realize is that Freddie and Mary Austin were both spiritually married to each other, although not formally.

    The Beginning for Freddie Mercury and Mary

    Freddie and Mary first met in 1969 when she was 19 years old and the soon-to-be star was just 24. Within just a few months of first meeting, the couple moved in together and lived this way for the next six years.

    Austin was quoted as saying that she watched him grow from a fledgling and wannabe singer performing shows at his local college to becoming a superstar. When talking to OK Magazine back in 2000, she talked about that night when she saw Freddie perform at college:

    “That night, I realized that I had to go along with this and be part of it. As everything took off I was watching him flower. It was wonderful to observe.”

    Friends Until the End

    Even though the couple romantically separated in 1975, she remained a close friend and a part of his life right up until the end. She was even there to care for Freddie when he was on his deathbed dying from AIDS.

    In the same OK Magazine interview, she discussed her love for Freddie and her heartache when he passed away:

    “I lost somebody who I thought was my eternal love. When he died I felt we’d had a marriage. We’d lived our vows. We’d done it for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health. You could never have let go of Freddie unless he died — and even then it was difficult.”

    Even Freddie’s close friends say that Mary was the love of his life.

    When he died in 1991, Freddie Mercury left Mary Austin a vast inheritance that included the singer’s 28-bedroom London mansion where she still lives today. It is also reported that he left Mary and her sons half of his fortune, which apparently caused some jealousy with his former band members.

    If you get the chance to watch the new Bohemian Rhapsody movie at theaters, you will get a sneak glimpse into the relationship with Freddie Mercury and Mary Austin.

    Featured image from Famous Biographies.

  • Kim Says Kanye West Likes Trump’s Personality, Not His Politics

    Kim Says Kanye West Likes Trump’s Personality, Not His Politics

    Is Kanye West in bed with wife Kim Kardashian or Donald Trump? It depends what day of the week it is. Kardashian says that Kanye is more of a fan of Trump’s personality than his politics.

    Kim Kardashian reckons that she had a talk with her hubby after his recent trip to the White House to educate him and set him straight on politics.

    Is Kim Saving Kanye West from Himself?

    Although Kanye West and Kim Kardashian should not really be your first reference point when discussing US politics, they have massive sway with the younger generations of today. I might not be a Trump advocate in any way, shape or form, but Kardashian talking about politics makes me dizzy.

    When speaking at a public appearance on Wednesday, Kardashian took some time to dig Kanye out of the political hole he has created for himself. Talking about Kanye, his wife was quoted as saying:

    “He is very not political, actually. He just happens to like Donald Trump’s personality, but doesn’t know about the politics.”

    She elaborated even further to inform us she has “educated” Kanye West on the nuances of domestic politics. She also said that her husband really liked Trump before he made office and still does and that Kanye fights for what he wants to like, even if others oppose that opinion.

    Making America Great Again?

    Some might say that Trump, West, and Kardashian all have no place in politics, and again, I wouldn’t argue with any of that.

    I am personally not a Donald Trump fan or an American. But I believe that you have to accept what the majority vote for. If not, what have you got left? Hillary Clinton soiling her panties every time she sneezes?

    I used to be a liberal until they changed what liberal meant. And I am definitely against the far-left liberals who think that freedom of speech is now not important. Sounds like a bunch of kids complaining because things didn’t go their way and want to change the rules to suit their opinions. It’s the entitled Western culture we live in today.

    One way or another, it’s great to see Kim Kardashian stand up for Kanye West like that with the media, whether she knows what she’s talking about or not.

    Featured image from Hot 100.5 FM.

  • Snoop Dogg – From Long Beach Crips to Hollywood Walk of Fame

    Snoop Dogg – From Long Beach Crips to Hollywood Walk of Fame

    Snoop Dogg is not just a rapper. He’s an institution. The former LA gang member and weed dealer will be honored on November 19 with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

    The world-famous rapper, stoner, actor, philanthropist, television host, and all-around decent dude Calvin Broadus, more affectionately known as Snoop Doggy Dogg, will receive his accolade on the ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live’ Show.

    From the Bottom to the Top

    Whenever someone with a nefarious past from one of the roughest parts of America makes it big, it’s always something to celebrate. Since the early 1990s, Snoop Dogg has risen from the Long Beach Crips gang in Los Angeles to a net worth believed to be in the region of $135 million.

    From his multi-million selling albums such as the seminal and immensely important Doggystyle to his adult movie productions, his award-winning cooking program with Martha Stewart and his myriad of business interests, Snoop has overachieved in magnificent fashion.

    Who would’ve thought that Snoop could have endeared himself to white America so successfully over the past two decades with a spliff in his pimp hand and gun talk in his raps?

    Snoop Dogg Can Do Everything

    Since 1993, Snoop has released 17 albums in his career that have sold a total of 35 million copies across the planet and received almost 20 Grammy Award nominations. It is only fair that he now has his own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

    The producer of Hollywood Walk of Fame, Ana Martinez had some very kind words to say about the rapper and his mass appeal across mainstream America:

    “Snoop Dogg is one of those people who can do anything. He raps, he acts, he hosts a television show, he cooks, and helps community kids with his philanthropic work. He is a man of the ages and we welcome him to our Hollywood Walk of Fame.”

    It’s safe to say that Snoop Dogg has earned his place on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, making something out of nothing, from the ghetto to glamorous. We wish him many more lucrative years making money and making people smile.

    Featured image from Wikipedia.

  • Winter Is Finally Here as Game of Thrones Season 8 Premieres in April

    Winter Is Finally Here as Game of Thrones Season 8 Premieres in April

    As Lord Eddard Stark once promised us, winter is finally here. The last season of Game of Thrones finally has a release date and will set our screens alight with dragon fire when it premieres in April.

    If you’ve been suffering Games of Thrones cold turkey in 2018, you need pine no longer. The final season was expected by fans to screen in 2018 after the seventh season was aired in 2017. However, the show’s creators have rightfully taken their time to ensure the final season does the show and the fans justice.

    Great News for Game of Thrones Addicts

    Whether it’s the grisly murders at the Red Wedding, the explosive Battle of Blackwater Bay, the bloodthirsty Battle of the Bastards, the exponential growth of Daenerys Targaryen and her fire-breathing dragons, or the rebirth of the much-loved and reluctant hero Jon Snow, the White Walkers are here and it really is brown trousers for everyone involved. Especially the fans!

    The HBO fantasy-drama series has broken the mold in terms of capturing the imagination of viewers far and wide with the adaptation of George R.R. Martin’s “A Song of Fire and Ice” novels.

    The show has been lauded by many as one of the three greatest television series ever made, mentioned in the same breath as The Sopranos and Breaking Bad.

    Game of Thrones Season 8 will premiere in April, and here is the teaser that has set the internet alight over the past day or two:

    Will there be an Iron Throne Left to Win?

    As the White Walkers have now broken down the wall and march on Westeros, will the newly acquainted team of Jon Snow and Daenerys ‘Stormborn’ Targaryen with her two remaining dragons be able to fend them off? Probably not!

    Will the current Queen of the Seven Kingdoms Cersei Lannister finally get her comeuppance? Will Brandon Stark get to tell Jon Snow the truth about his royal lineage as the rightful heir to the Iron Throne?

    Questions, questions, questions!

    Talk of the Iron Throne could all be irrelevant if the Night King and the White Walkers get their way. It’s all a complicated business, but with only six episodes left in the final season, we will finally get to see the ‘bittersweet ending’ that George R.R. Martin promised us many years ago.

    Game of Thrones Season 8 is finally coming to a television near you. We just hope you haven’t heavily invested in any of the show’s main characters too much. Because you know how GOT gets down when it comes to protecting our favorites!

    Featured image from BBC News.