TikTok To America

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TGIF, Future Party. While everyone is buzzing about the new TikTok deal (more on that below), another deal — if we may be so bold — of equal importance was finalized yesterday: the casting of the new Air Bud dog. Golden retrievers Charlie and Summer were chosen from 5,000 contenders for best embodying the “athleticism, charm, and heart” of Buddy — the pup every millennial wanted as a kid. Talk about scoring major nostalgia points.

The long wait over TikTok’s fate in the US is nearly done — President Trump just signed an executive order approving a consortium of buyers to take over an American version.

The Big Picture: The TikTok saga has had more twists than an M. Night Shyamalan movie. After Congress passed a law to ban the app, public pushback made an outright ban politically risky — triggering months of high-stakes dealmaking and geopolitical tension. With an agreement essentially finalized, one thing is clear: TikTok is here to stay.

Now, all eyes are on China for the final sign-off.

Behind The Code: President Trump has extended the already-delayed TikTok ban another 120 days as the deal gets finalized.

The Future: The deal reportedly includes a new algorithm “leased” from ByteDance and will operate “under US control.” But here’s the most interesting wrinkle: despite previous reports, American users won’t need to download a new TikTok app — avoiding the confusion of competing versions.

Trend Watch: All eyes are now on China to publicly sign off on the deal — a move that, if it happens, could pave the way for similar agreements involving sensitive tech like AI and robotics.

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Hallwood Media signed a $3 million contract with an upcoming R&B artist named Xania Monet… who happens to be mostly AI-generated.

Why It (Doesn’t Hit): AI-generated artists are now officially upon us. While most labels backed out of signing Xania — whose real identity is Mississippi-based songwriter Telisha “Nikki” Jones — Hallwood Media’s willingness to put her on its roster could give other labels the go-ahead to make similar deals if she’s embraced by fans and brings in significant streaming revenue.

Behind The Music: What is Hallwood getting from signing Xania Monet?

Final Mix: Despite the controversy, Xania Monet has 9.8 million streams on US services, and her top single, “How Was I supposed to Know?,” has popped up on three Billboard charts. There’s no denying that she has a following, which is why her manager is now fielding publishing offers and is even planning a live performance (expect holograms to be involved).

Next Generation: With Spotify cracking down on AI-generated spam, labels may need to ensure any deepfake artists they sign pass a clear quality litmus test — potentially putting their investments in real human artists at greater risk.

42.6% of you voted Neutral in yesterday’s poll: How do you feel about special guests at concerts?

“I’m sure some guests are a surprise and a party. But I’ve seen so many nepo appearances. Just icons insisting we want to listen to their kids sing.”

“Let me backtrack a bit — I love them when they’re thoughtful… special guests who are there that night because they live in that city or state, were raised there, or have recorded something together in the past… not just planted fluff.”

“I prefer when it’s actually unexpected. When it becomes as routine as Taylor Swift having surprise guests at every stop on the 1989 tour, it inevitably leads to disappointment if the night before or after yours gets what you personally deem a ‘better’ guest artist. My favorite surprise moments I’ve witnessed were Cardi B joining Megan Thee Stallion at MSG and Hozier bringing out Lucy Dacus at her Radio City Music Hall show.”

Let’s keep the conversation going. Join our Poll Of The Day newsletter, so your opinions can shine. Discover how your views line up with your peers’, check out cool insights, and have some fun. It’s data with personality.

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