1 00:00:14,200 --> 00:00:17,279 Speaker 1: Welcome to Daily Variety, your daily dose of news and 2 00:00:17,320 --> 00:00:22,400 Speaker 1: analysis for entertainment industry insiders. It's Tuesday, September thirtieth, twenty 3 00:00:22,400 --> 00:00:26,159 Speaker 1: twenty five. I'm your host, Cynthia Littleton. I am co 4 00:00:26,320 --> 00:00:30,240 Speaker 1: editor in chief of Variety alongside Ramin Situta. I'm in LA. 5 00:00:30,400 --> 00:00:33,040 Speaker 1: He's in New York, and Variety has reporters around the 6 00:00:33,040 --> 00:00:37,559 Speaker 1: world covering the business of entertainment. In today's episode, Variety's 7 00:00:37,640 --> 00:00:41,680 Speaker 1: Jennifer Moz explains the fifty five billion dollar buyout deal 8 00:00:41,920 --> 00:00:44,640 Speaker 1: that we'll see Electronic Arts be taken over by three 9 00:00:44,720 --> 00:00:49,600 Speaker 1: private equity firms, and music reporter Tanya Garcia discusses Bad 10 00:00:49,640 --> 00:00:54,000 Speaker 1: Bunny super Bowl halftime show gig and why it's significant 11 00:00:54,040 --> 00:00:57,120 Speaker 1: for the Puerto Rican superstar at this moment in time. 12 00:00:58,240 --> 00:01:00,160 Speaker 1: But before we get to that, here are a you 13 00:01:00,280 --> 00:01:02,880 Speaker 1: headlines just in this morning that you need to know. 14 00:01:03,880 --> 00:01:07,120 Speaker 1: Daniel Eck has been bumped upstairs at the streaming giant 15 00:01:07,160 --> 00:01:12,440 Speaker 1: he founded, Spotify, has named two new co CEOs, Gustave 16 00:01:12,760 --> 00:01:18,720 Speaker 1: Saunderstrom and Alex Norstrom. Eck will serve as executive chairman. 17 00:01:19,800 --> 00:01:22,520 Speaker 1: He founded the company in two thousand and six at 18 00:01:22,560 --> 00:01:27,279 Speaker 1: the age of twenty three. A synthetic starlet named Tilly 19 00:01:27,360 --> 00:01:31,360 Speaker 1: Norwood has Hollywood in a tizzy. In all seriousness, the 20 00:01:31,560 --> 00:01:34,759 Speaker 1: anger in the industry, stirred up by a Dutch woman's 21 00:01:34,800 --> 00:01:38,520 Speaker 1: brazen effort to launch an AI actress has the creative 22 00:01:38,560 --> 00:01:41,679 Speaker 1: guilds in the industry and many more people fired up 23 00:01:41,720 --> 00:01:45,920 Speaker 1: and angry. This is going to fuel more legislative efforts 24 00:01:45,959 --> 00:01:49,280 Speaker 1: to force disclosure when AI tech is used in content. 25 00:01:50,800 --> 00:01:54,360 Speaker 1: Versant has set an eleven year rights deal with the WNBA. 26 00:01:55,200 --> 00:01:57,960 Speaker 1: Versant is the new company about to be formed after 27 00:01:58,120 --> 00:02:04,760 Speaker 1: NBC Universal spins out USA Network, MSNBCCNBC and other linear 28 00:02:04,840 --> 00:02:09,400 Speaker 1: cable channel. Steel is separate from NBC Universal's Mega NBA packed. 29 00:02:09,960 --> 00:02:13,799 Speaker 1: It's great news for the WNBA. More TV money brings 30 00:02:13,800 --> 00:02:17,359 Speaker 1: the players another step towards parody with the mail players. 31 00:02:17,560 --> 00:02:20,639 Speaker 1: Another thing that is giving Hollywood fits is President Donald 32 00:02:20,680 --> 00:02:24,120 Speaker 1: Trump's pledge to impose a one hundred percent tariff on 33 00:02:24,280 --> 00:02:28,480 Speaker 1: movies shot outside the United States. All of these fast 34 00:02:28,520 --> 00:02:31,440 Speaker 1: moving stories and so much more can be found on 35 00:02:31,520 --> 00:02:39,720 Speaker 1: Variety dot com. Right now, now we turn to conversations 36 00:02:39,720 --> 00:02:42,720 Speaker 1: with Variety journalists about news and trends in show business. 37 00:02:43,520 --> 00:02:48,200 Speaker 1: Jennifer Moss Variety's business writer for TV and Gaming unpacks 38 00:02:48,240 --> 00:02:52,080 Speaker 1: the fifty five billion dollar buyout offer fielded for Electronic 39 00:02:52,280 --> 00:02:56,320 Speaker 1: Arts by two big private equity players plus Jared Kushner's 40 00:02:56,400 --> 00:03:00,720 Speaker 1: Affinity Partners. EA was founded in nineteen eighty to buy 41 00:03:00,800 --> 00:03:05,040 Speaker 1: Trip Hopkins and a handful of other former Apple employees. 42 00:03:05,720 --> 00:03:09,480 Speaker 1: Nearly forty five years later, EA found itself in the 43 00:03:09,560 --> 00:03:13,040 Speaker 1: awkward position of being too big for another gaming heavyweight 44 00:03:13,120 --> 00:03:16,000 Speaker 1: to acquire, but not big enough on its own to 45 00:03:16,040 --> 00:03:18,720 Speaker 1: compete head to head with the biggest of the big 46 00:03:18,760 --> 00:03:27,880 Speaker 1: in the space, Microsoft, Sony and Nintendo. Jennifer Mozz, thanks 47 00:03:27,919 --> 00:03:31,200 Speaker 1: for taking time out, big news on your beat. And 48 00:03:31,240 --> 00:03:35,040 Speaker 1: there'd definitely been sale rumors around Electronic Arts for a while, 49 00:03:35,640 --> 00:03:38,640 Speaker 1: but nonetheless the deal that came to fruition still had 50 00:03:38,640 --> 00:03:41,840 Speaker 1: plenty of surprise elements. Let's start at the very top. 51 00:03:42,120 --> 00:03:44,880 Speaker 1: What do you think is most significant for the gaming 52 00:03:44,920 --> 00:03:48,520 Speaker 1: business about this deal? That has an unusual structure. It's 53 00:03:48,520 --> 00:03:51,200 Speaker 1: not typical M and A. It's a couple of private 54 00:03:51,240 --> 00:03:55,440 Speaker 1: equity companies coming together to do a fifty five billion 55 00:03:55,480 --> 00:03:59,000 Speaker 1: dollar buyout. EA will be going private. What's the what 56 00:03:59,080 --> 00:04:01,280 Speaker 1: are you hearing in circles about all this. 57 00:04:01,360 --> 00:04:03,520 Speaker 2: There's a lot of shock just because this is such 58 00:04:03,520 --> 00:04:06,080 Speaker 2: a big deal and it's such a big change, and 59 00:04:06,560 --> 00:04:09,960 Speaker 2: it's definitely the biggest private buyout in this space evering 60 00:04:10,040 --> 00:04:13,200 Speaker 2: for the most part, at this point, the big dogs 61 00:04:13,280 --> 00:04:17,360 Speaker 2: are PlayStation owned by Sony, Xbox owned by Microsoft, and 62 00:04:17,400 --> 00:04:21,839 Speaker 2: then Nintendo, and those are companies that also have consoles 63 00:04:21,880 --> 00:04:24,000 Speaker 2: attached to them, And then when we look at someone 64 00:04:24,040 --> 00:04:26,760 Speaker 2: like EA, the closest comparison is like a Take two 65 00:04:26,800 --> 00:04:31,479 Speaker 2: Interactive or Ubisoft, where those don't have consoles attached to them. 66 00:04:31,720 --> 00:04:35,320 Speaker 2: They're big publishers and they're publicly traded, but they don't 67 00:04:35,360 --> 00:04:38,919 Speaker 2: have the same scale that a Nintendo or PlayStation or 68 00:04:38,960 --> 00:04:41,320 Speaker 2: Microsoft have because they don't have a console tied to. 69 00:04:41,240 --> 00:04:45,800 Speaker 1: Them, very much like vertical integration in television. That's a 70 00:04:45,800 --> 00:04:48,720 Speaker 1: significant difference from other giants in this space. What are 71 00:04:48,760 --> 00:04:50,800 Speaker 1: some of the biggest franchises that EA has? 72 00:04:51,080 --> 00:04:54,640 Speaker 2: Madden is a huge one for them In sports in general, 73 00:04:54,640 --> 00:04:57,279 Speaker 2: EA Sports as a division has so many. They have 74 00:04:57,560 --> 00:05:01,920 Speaker 2: college football, they have Madden, they have within the larger 75 00:05:01,920 --> 00:05:05,840 Speaker 2: EA Sports, they have what was previously known as PIFA. 76 00:05:05,920 --> 00:05:09,560 Speaker 2: They have NHL games, they have PGA games. On top 77 00:05:09,600 --> 00:05:12,320 Speaker 2: of that, they have the SIMS which I love, which 78 00:05:12,440 --> 00:05:17,200 Speaker 2: has spanned many iterations over many years. And then Battlefields 79 00:05:17,360 --> 00:05:19,480 Speaker 2: is the big, big one for them. They've had multiple 80 00:05:19,480 --> 00:05:22,239 Speaker 2: Battlefield games. This is the first one in a little while. 81 00:05:22,480 --> 00:05:26,919 Speaker 2: Battlefield six comes out in October and that's a huge. 82 00:05:26,600 --> 00:05:29,520 Speaker 1: One for that. So the deal announced Monday morning involves 83 00:05:29,600 --> 00:05:34,120 Speaker 1: three major partners, the Public Investment Fund or PIF, which 84 00:05:34,120 --> 00:05:37,960 Speaker 1: already had a stake in EA, silver Lake, which is 85 00:05:38,000 --> 00:05:41,640 Speaker 1: the parent company of Endeavor, and TKO is the home 86 00:05:41,720 --> 00:05:46,080 Speaker 1: of UFC and WWE the acronym soup here. And then 87 00:05:46,279 --> 00:05:49,359 Speaker 1: the third, a smaller partner in the larger deal, is 88 00:05:49,480 --> 00:05:55,040 Speaker 1: Jared Kushner's Affinity Partners, so an interesting mix of personalities. 89 00:05:55,240 --> 00:05:58,640 Speaker 1: Kushner's comment even says that he's a gamer and now 90 00:05:58,680 --> 00:06:02,120 Speaker 1: his young kids are gamers. The buyers were effusive about 91 00:06:02,160 --> 00:06:05,800 Speaker 1: Andrew Wilson and very explicit that he will continue as CEO. 92 00:06:06,640 --> 00:06:08,960 Speaker 1: Egon Durban, who is the one of the leaders of 93 00:06:09,000 --> 00:06:13,160 Speaker 1: silver Lake and his quote called Wilson a quote extraordinary 94 00:06:13,200 --> 00:06:17,119 Speaker 1: CEO who has doubled revenue, nearly tripled EBADAH, and driven 95 00:06:17,160 --> 00:06:20,760 Speaker 1: a fivefold increase in market cap during his tenure, which 96 00:06:20,800 --> 00:06:23,800 Speaker 1: is going on a little more than ten years. What 97 00:06:23,960 --> 00:06:26,600 Speaker 1: is Wilson's reputation in the gaming business. Do you think 98 00:06:26,640 --> 00:06:28,760 Speaker 1: the EA employees will be happy that he's going to 99 00:06:28,800 --> 00:06:32,599 Speaker 1: stick around, at least for the near term. Absolutely. 100 00:06:32,720 --> 00:06:35,320 Speaker 2: None of this was about thinking that EA was being 101 00:06:35,400 --> 00:06:38,480 Speaker 2: run poorly. Wilson is very highly respected. 102 00:06:38,600 --> 00:06:39,360 Speaker 1: It's hard to. 103 00:06:39,400 --> 00:06:42,800 Speaker 2: Be a gaming company CEO and not have some critics, 104 00:06:42,839 --> 00:06:45,520 Speaker 2: But on the whole, he's considered very competent and very 105 00:06:45,520 --> 00:06:46,000 Speaker 2: good at. 106 00:06:45,839 --> 00:06:48,479 Speaker 1: His job, and the partners have said they expect this 107 00:06:48,640 --> 00:06:52,080 Speaker 1: deal to close fairly quickly in June of next year. 108 00:06:52,440 --> 00:06:54,800 Speaker 1: What do you think people in gaming are going to 109 00:06:54,839 --> 00:06:59,120 Speaker 1: be really watching for during this merger closing, During the 110 00:06:59,240 --> 00:07:02,040 Speaker 1: sale closing process, which won't be as public as if 111 00:07:02,080 --> 00:07:04,880 Speaker 1: EA was going to continue as a public company. What 112 00:07:04,960 --> 00:07:06,680 Speaker 1: do you think that the industry is going to be 113 00:07:06,720 --> 00:07:09,760 Speaker 1: watching for as it goes through this sale process. 114 00:07:09,840 --> 00:07:11,320 Speaker 2: But for the most part, I think it'll be more 115 00:07:11,320 --> 00:07:15,120 Speaker 2: of a consumer conversation surrounding if this delays any games 116 00:07:15,160 --> 00:07:20,080 Speaker 2: for whatever reason, If this shifts titles around, we know 117 00:07:20,200 --> 00:07:22,760 Speaker 2: Andrew Wilson will still be in charge. If they keep 118 00:07:22,760 --> 00:07:25,440 Speaker 2: on schedule with everything they have dated, and if they 119 00:07:25,480 --> 00:07:28,080 Speaker 2: start to date more things soon. Game companies like to 120 00:07:28,200 --> 00:07:31,960 Speaker 2: be very, very strategic and careful when they're going to 121 00:07:32,080 --> 00:07:33,920 Speaker 2: now doubt be the main thing people. 122 00:07:33,720 --> 00:07:39,520 Speaker 1: Are looking at. Certainly, no shortage of activity in this area. Jenny, 123 00:07:39,560 --> 00:07:47,840 Speaker 1: thank you for being on the case. Of course. Now 124 00:07:47,840 --> 00:07:51,160 Speaker 1: we turn to Tanya Garcia, Variety music reporter and our 125 00:07:51,280 --> 00:07:55,080 Speaker 1: chief Bad Bunny correspondent. Bad Bunny is going to the 126 00:07:55,120 --> 00:07:58,440 Speaker 1: Super Bowl, and Tanya explains why that's a big deal 127 00:07:58,520 --> 00:08:02,040 Speaker 1: for him and his legion of fans. Donia Garcia, thank 128 00:08:02,120 --> 00:08:04,800 Speaker 1: you so much for joining me today. Thank you for 129 00:08:04,840 --> 00:08:08,360 Speaker 1: having me. I'm so excited. Big news for an artist 130 00:08:08,360 --> 00:08:11,760 Speaker 1: that you have covered in depth for Variety, including with 131 00:08:11,880 --> 00:08:15,920 Speaker 1: your fantastic cover story in June. Listeners, if you didn't 132 00:08:15,960 --> 00:08:19,960 Speaker 1: read it, literally stop everything. Go find the first week 133 00:08:19,960 --> 00:08:23,440 Speaker 1: of June issue of Variety. You cannot miss the cover. 134 00:08:23,560 --> 00:08:26,760 Speaker 1: The photo is so great. But so the big news 135 00:08:26,920 --> 00:08:30,160 Speaker 1: from Monday was Bad Bunny is going to grace the 136 00:08:30,160 --> 00:08:34,479 Speaker 1: Super Bowl in February. February eighth up in northern California 137 00:08:34,480 --> 00:08:37,400 Speaker 1: at Santa Clara Stadium where the forty nine Ers play. 138 00:08:37,679 --> 00:08:39,400 Speaker 1: We'll see if the forty nine ers will be in 139 00:08:39,440 --> 00:08:41,280 Speaker 1: the Super Bowl. That would be super cool for them. 140 00:08:41,720 --> 00:08:44,400 Speaker 1: DONI if for somebody who's covered Bad Bunny, you put 141 00:08:44,480 --> 00:08:47,760 Speaker 1: him into context for you know, for listeners and fans 142 00:08:47,760 --> 00:08:52,120 Speaker 1: that may not know the significance of what he's meant 143 00:08:52,120 --> 00:08:55,200 Speaker 1: to reggaeton, what he's meant to Puerto Rico, especially in 144 00:08:55,200 --> 00:08:57,640 Speaker 1: the last couple of years. From your trips to Puerto Rico. 145 00:08:57,679 --> 00:09:00,680 Speaker 1: You tell me the entire island is by behind him. 146 00:09:00,800 --> 00:09:02,880 Speaker 1: So what was your first thought when you got the 147 00:09:02,880 --> 00:09:04,000 Speaker 1: word of the Super Bowl news? 148 00:09:04,280 --> 00:09:07,800 Speaker 3: Oh my god, even you just recounting everything now, my 149 00:09:07,880 --> 00:09:10,640 Speaker 3: heart is racing and I've been talking about this news 150 00:09:10,679 --> 00:09:14,640 Speaker 3: NonStop ever since we got it. It's an incredibly solid 151 00:09:14,760 --> 00:09:19,040 Speaker 3: and strategic move on behalf of jay Z and Rock Nation, 152 00:09:19,200 --> 00:09:22,200 Speaker 3: who are obviously in charge of organizing the entertainment for 153 00:09:22,240 --> 00:09:26,920 Speaker 3: the halftime show the Super Bowl. Bad Bunny is internationally recognized. 154 00:09:27,000 --> 00:09:31,360 Speaker 3: He's a global superstar that sings in Spanish, and the NFL, 155 00:09:31,440 --> 00:09:33,240 Speaker 3: you know, over the last few years, has poured in 156 00:09:33,280 --> 00:09:36,040 Speaker 3: a lot of resources and time and money and attention 157 00:09:36,559 --> 00:09:41,480 Speaker 3: into attracting a more international audience. So this is such 158 00:09:41,480 --> 00:09:44,520 Speaker 3: a solid move and it's incredibly exciting move for many reasons. 159 00:09:45,200 --> 00:09:47,559 Speaker 3: And I'm just buzzing about it super exciting. 160 00:09:47,800 --> 00:09:50,080 Speaker 1: I could see it. But you're right. I love that 161 00:09:50,160 --> 00:09:52,800 Speaker 1: your first point was about the larger strategy here for 162 00:09:52,840 --> 00:09:56,000 Speaker 1: the NFL, which is very true. NFL fans know that 163 00:09:56,200 --> 00:09:58,680 Speaker 1: they play overseas games. Oh at least once or twice 164 00:09:58,679 --> 00:10:00,400 Speaker 1: a year, We're going to see more than It seems 165 00:10:00,480 --> 00:10:02,760 Speaker 1: very clear that this is just a stroke of genius. 166 00:10:02,800 --> 00:10:04,960 Speaker 1: People that will not watch one minute of the Super 167 00:10:04,960 --> 00:10:08,120 Speaker 1: Bowl will come to watch his halftime show, no question, 168 00:10:08,559 --> 00:10:11,000 Speaker 1: and the several hundred million people that are sitting there 169 00:10:11,000 --> 00:10:13,800 Speaker 1: watching the halftime show are going to know these hit 170 00:10:13,880 --> 00:10:17,800 Speaker 1: songs that are out there. Does not achieve that level 171 00:10:17,840 --> 00:10:21,880 Speaker 1: of global sales without having immense popularity among a range 172 00:10:21,880 --> 00:10:25,120 Speaker 1: of demographics and audiences. He's probably the only artist that 173 00:10:25,160 --> 00:10:28,080 Speaker 1: could hit all those points for the NFL and for 174 00:10:28,160 --> 00:10:31,240 Speaker 1: the fans all at once. You'd mentioned Jay Z obviously. 175 00:10:31,280 --> 00:10:34,120 Speaker 1: I know he's famously now been an advisor to the NFL, 176 00:10:34,160 --> 00:10:36,040 Speaker 1: But do you have a cendy that he was the 177 00:10:36,120 --> 00:10:38,240 Speaker 1: champion of getting Bad Bunny up there? 178 00:10:38,559 --> 00:10:41,400 Speaker 3: Bad Bunny he started his career in trap music and 179 00:10:41,480 --> 00:10:44,720 Speaker 3: hip hop, and he has always been very honest about 180 00:10:44,880 --> 00:10:48,280 Speaker 3: who his inspirations were. I can't imagine what it was 181 00:10:48,320 --> 00:10:50,120 Speaker 3: like for him to get that call from Jay Z 182 00:10:50,679 --> 00:10:53,080 Speaker 3: giving him, you know, the green light that he that 183 00:10:53,160 --> 00:10:56,600 Speaker 3: he's able to do this. I do think that it's 184 00:10:56,880 --> 00:11:00,240 Speaker 3: again like it's a really smart move on behalf of 185 00:11:00,720 --> 00:11:05,360 Speaker 3: this team. Earlier this month, another reggaeton icon, Carol g 186 00:11:05,679 --> 00:11:08,720 Speaker 3: was contracted to do the halftime show in Brazil for 187 00:11:08,800 --> 00:11:12,720 Speaker 3: the Kansas City Chiefs and the LA Chargers game, and 188 00:11:12,800 --> 00:11:16,160 Speaker 3: it was a great move. That performance was everywhere. Bad 189 00:11:16,200 --> 00:11:21,000 Speaker 3: Bunny is a streaming juggernaut, like most streamed artists globally 190 00:11:21,080 --> 00:11:25,120 Speaker 3: for consecutive years. It makes perfect sense that the NFL 191 00:11:25,200 --> 00:11:29,000 Speaker 3: would host him as they're sort of polishing their international appeal. 192 00:11:29,200 --> 00:11:31,600 Speaker 1: And of course, the other thing that just makes this 193 00:11:31,720 --> 00:11:36,000 Speaker 1: so timely in a heartbreaking way, is that Bad Bunny, 194 00:11:36,400 --> 00:11:38,920 Speaker 1: part of coming into his own as an artist, as 195 00:11:38,920 --> 00:11:41,880 Speaker 1: a Puerto Rican as somebody who has the courage of 196 00:11:41,920 --> 00:11:45,240 Speaker 1: his convictions, has said, I will not record in English. 197 00:11:45,280 --> 00:11:47,320 Speaker 1: I sing in Spanish and that is the language I 198 00:11:47,360 --> 00:11:51,800 Speaker 1: will sing in. And that's a big statement on multiple levels. 199 00:11:52,240 --> 00:11:54,520 Speaker 1: Also a big statement was what he said earlier in 200 00:11:54,559 --> 00:11:58,520 Speaker 1: the year, which utterly heartbreaking. Bad Bunny is not booking 201 00:11:58,600 --> 00:12:02,080 Speaker 1: tour dates in the U United States because he is 202 00:12:02,200 --> 00:12:05,880 Speaker 1: concerned about ice raids at his concerts. Just want to 203 00:12:05,960 --> 00:12:09,000 Speaker 1: let that sink in. This is where America is right now. 204 00:12:09,160 --> 00:12:12,480 Speaker 1: It breaks my heart. It's just mind boggling to think 205 00:12:12,520 --> 00:12:15,400 Speaker 1: that the person could be invited onto one of the 206 00:12:15,440 --> 00:12:19,240 Speaker 1: biggest stages in the world is and is courted for 207 00:12:19,320 --> 00:12:22,800 Speaker 1: that gig, but many of his fans in certain cities 208 00:12:23,200 --> 00:12:25,679 Speaker 1: are living in fear, whether they are citizens, whether they 209 00:12:25,679 --> 00:12:27,160 Speaker 1: are undocumented citizens. 210 00:12:27,240 --> 00:12:31,079 Speaker 3: It's a stark contrast to what's happening to Latinos and 211 00:12:31,160 --> 00:12:34,120 Speaker 3: really to several communities of color across this country. It 212 00:12:34,200 --> 00:12:35,760 Speaker 3: makes perfect sense for him. 213 00:12:35,600 --> 00:12:36,559 Speaker 1: To agree to do this. 214 00:12:37,160 --> 00:12:39,560 Speaker 3: I've seen a lot of rhetoric since this news came 215 00:12:39,600 --> 00:12:41,640 Speaker 3: out about his decision to not bring to toward the 216 00:12:41,720 --> 00:12:44,320 Speaker 3: United States. Why would he choose to say yes to this? 217 00:12:44,480 --> 00:12:46,120 Speaker 1: But to me, it's. 218 00:12:46,080 --> 00:12:48,760 Speaker 3: Extremely obvious why he would say yes. A variety broke 219 00:12:48,800 --> 00:12:51,800 Speaker 3: the news that he wasn't going to do any US states. 220 00:12:52,200 --> 00:12:56,000 Speaker 3: He said that the US was to him, quote unquote unnecessary, 221 00:12:56,720 --> 00:12:58,960 Speaker 3: and he later went on to admit, as you say, 222 00:12:59,040 --> 00:13:02,160 Speaker 3: he had a fear that these ice raids would target 223 00:13:02,200 --> 00:13:02,959 Speaker 3: his concerts. 224 00:13:03,800 --> 00:13:05,800 Speaker 1: And the answer there. 225 00:13:05,760 --> 00:13:08,000 Speaker 3: Of why would he would choose to do it. It's 226 00:13:08,040 --> 00:13:12,880 Speaker 3: pretty simple. He is a politically charged artist. His latest 227 00:13:13,000 --> 00:13:16,959 Speaker 3: Latin Grammy nominated album De Bethiadama's Photos, which translates to 228 00:13:17,040 --> 00:13:19,920 Speaker 3: I should have taken more photos, is all about fighting 229 00:13:20,360 --> 00:13:23,200 Speaker 3: to preserve his Puerto Rican heritage in the face of 230 00:13:23,679 --> 00:13:27,720 Speaker 3: erasure threats. It's against all bigotry, and most of all, 231 00:13:27,840 --> 00:13:32,360 Speaker 3: it's done in the spirit of cultural celebration. And so 232 00:13:32,720 --> 00:13:35,400 Speaker 3: I'm really excited because we can expect to see some 233 00:13:35,520 --> 00:13:36,280 Speaker 3: of these motives. 234 00:13:36,880 --> 00:13:37,920 Speaker 1: It's about to see the Puerto. 235 00:13:37,800 --> 00:13:41,040 Speaker 3: Rican flag, elements of Latin culture all over that field 236 00:13:41,320 --> 00:13:42,360 Speaker 3: on February eighth. 237 00:13:42,800 --> 00:13:48,640 Speaker 1: It's super exciting and it's meaningful. It's representation. It's meaningful. Tanya. 238 00:13:48,679 --> 00:13:51,079 Speaker 1: I know you have grown up like meat in southern 239 00:13:51,160 --> 00:13:53,680 Speaker 1: California and it's very, very hard to see what is 240 00:13:53,679 --> 00:13:56,520 Speaker 1: happening on the streets of La things I never thought 241 00:13:56,880 --> 00:13:59,120 Speaker 1: I would see. I want to end this on a 242 00:13:59,160 --> 00:14:01,520 Speaker 1: positive note. I think you have made a couple of 243 00:14:01,520 --> 00:14:04,160 Speaker 1: recent trips to Puerto Rico to see Bad Bunny in 244 00:14:04,240 --> 00:14:07,600 Speaker 1: his residency. Tell me what the vibe is like in 245 00:14:07,600 --> 00:14:10,160 Speaker 1: Puerto Rico and what it meant to you to see 246 00:14:10,240 --> 00:14:11,920 Speaker 1: him in his hometown. 247 00:14:12,679 --> 00:14:14,960 Speaker 3: Oh my god, it it meant the world because you 248 00:14:15,000 --> 00:14:19,840 Speaker 3: can read and absorb media from this island, about this island, 249 00:14:19,840 --> 00:14:22,760 Speaker 3: from Bad Bunny, from so many different places. But it's 250 00:14:22,760 --> 00:14:24,840 Speaker 3: one thing to read about it, and it's another thing 251 00:14:25,040 --> 00:14:27,160 Speaker 3: to be there in person and to speak with the 252 00:14:27,240 --> 00:14:30,960 Speaker 3: locals and to really kind of capture how much meaning 253 00:14:31,440 --> 00:14:32,480 Speaker 3: this artist. 254 00:14:32,600 --> 00:14:33,560 Speaker 1: Has brought to them. 255 00:14:34,120 --> 00:14:38,200 Speaker 3: He's been able to really personify Puerto Rican pride in 256 00:14:38,200 --> 00:14:42,560 Speaker 3: a way that is so palpable to anybody, doesn't matter 257 00:14:42,560 --> 00:14:48,120 Speaker 3: where you're from. Going to that show, it felt borderline spiritual, 258 00:14:48,640 --> 00:14:51,760 Speaker 3: the collectiveness that he brings for the people of his island. 259 00:14:51,800 --> 00:14:55,960 Speaker 3: And I'm looking forward to seeing that translated on that 260 00:14:56,000 --> 00:14:59,080 Speaker 3: football field, because that whole performance is going to be 261 00:14:59,240 --> 00:15:03,560 Speaker 3: entirely in Spanish, and that within itself sends a powerful 262 00:15:03,720 --> 00:15:08,480 Speaker 3: and incredibly meaningful message on behalf of Latino's generally everywhere. 263 00:15:09,080 --> 00:15:12,120 Speaker 1: There's no question it's a choice by the NFL, and 264 00:15:12,240 --> 00:15:14,600 Speaker 1: I think it's a good one. This is why we 265 00:15:14,640 --> 00:15:17,080 Speaker 1: need artists, and this is why we need people that 266 00:15:17,160 --> 00:15:19,840 Speaker 1: have clout and to stand up for themselves and who 267 00:15:19,840 --> 00:15:22,200 Speaker 1: they represent and what they believe in. This will be 268 00:15:22,200 --> 00:15:25,280 Speaker 1: a really interesting cultural moment I know we will be 269 00:15:25,360 --> 00:15:28,440 Speaker 1: talking more about it. Tanya, thank you so much for 270 00:15:28,520 --> 00:15:32,160 Speaker 1: making those tracks to Puerto Rico and delivering that cover story. Folks, 271 00:15:32,200 --> 00:15:36,720 Speaker 1: the cover photo is so great. It is truly suitable 272 00:15:36,720 --> 00:15:40,200 Speaker 1: for framing. It's framed in Tanya's office. Thank you so much. 273 00:15:46,040 --> 00:15:48,600 Speaker 1: As we close out today's episode, here's a few things 274 00:15:48,600 --> 00:15:52,760 Speaker 1: we're watching for. Jimmy Fallon launches an unscripted series on 275 00:15:52,920 --> 00:15:57,760 Speaker 1: NBC tonight on Brand. Fallon describes it as Shark Tank 276 00:15:58,000 --> 00:16:01,680 Speaker 1: meets The Apprentice meets Project Run. It looks like fun 277 00:16:01,720 --> 00:16:05,360 Speaker 1: for those of us that obsess over marketing messages and 278 00:16:05,440 --> 00:16:09,040 Speaker 1: the Great Austin City Limits Music Showcase series returns to 279 00:16:09,120 --> 00:16:13,720 Speaker 1: PBS for season fifty one on Saturday night, October fourth. 280 00:16:14,440 --> 00:16:18,720 Speaker 1: Phineas makes his first solo appearance on that legend Phineas 281 00:16:18,760 --> 00:16:22,120 Speaker 1: will make his first solo appearance on that legendary stage 282 00:16:22,160 --> 00:16:25,800 Speaker 1: to kick the season off. Before we go, congrats to 283 00:16:25,880 --> 00:16:29,840 Speaker 1: Duty Schwab. She's been named Chief People Officer of UTA. 284 00:16:30,640 --> 00:16:34,400 Speaker 1: She is a human resources alum of Apple and Disney. 285 00:16:35,280 --> 00:16:38,520 Speaker 1: And one more thing before we go, Happy birthday, Mary 286 00:16:38,480 --> 00:16:43,480 Speaker 1: Anne Lyttleton. I miss you. Thanks for listening. This episode 287 00:16:43,640 --> 00:16:47,560 Speaker 1: was written and reported by me Cynthia Littleton, with contributions 288 00:16:47,600 --> 00:16:51,920 Speaker 1: from Jennifer mas and Tanya Garcia Stick's next hick Picks. 289 00:16:52,360 --> 00:16:54,920 Speaker 1: Please leave us a review at the podcast platform of 290 00:16:54,960 --> 00:16:58,320 Speaker 1: your choice, and please tune in tomorrow for another episode 291 00:16:58,360 --> 00:16:59,240 Speaker 1: of Daily Variety.