Tag: News

  • Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis’ election night coat sold at auction for $50,800. Photos show the iconic look.

    Jacqueline Kennedy's purple coat sold at auction 65 years later.
    Jacqueline Kennedy's purple coat sold at auction 65 years later.

    • Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis wore a purple maternity coat on election night in 1960.
    • At the time, she was eight months pregnant with John F. Kennedy Jr.
    • The coat sold at a Sotheby's auction for $50,800 — more than six times its estimate.

    The Kennedys' legacy of style endures through auctions of their historic clothing.

    Even unmentionables tied to the Kennedys remain hot-ticket items — a pair of JFK's underwear sold for $9,100 at an auction in March held by Julien's Auctions.

    One of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis' most memorable looks, the purple wool maternity coat she wore the night John F. Kennedy was elected in 1960, sold for $50,800 at Sotheby's Handbags and Fashion auction on Monday in New York City.

    The coat's designer is unknown, but it remains recognizable as a pivotal moment in her rise to become one of America's defining fashion icons.

    Take a closer look at the former first lady's historic outfit.

    Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis made limited appearances during her husband's 1960 presidential campaign.
    John F. Kennedy and Jacqueline Kennedy in New York City in 1960. Jacqueline Kennedy wears a purple coat.
    U.S. Senator John F. Kennedy, with wife Jacqueline, campaign in New York City sitting on the back seat of an open car, October 1960. Sen. Kennedy is the Democratic presidential candidate.

    Kennedy Onassis was pregnant with John F. Kennedy Jr. at the time, so she only occasionally joined Kennedy on the campaign trail leading up to election night. One such stop took place in New York City in October 1960, where she accessorized the purple coat with a matching hat.

    The coat became an iconic look on November 8, 1960, when Kennedy narrowly defeated Richard Nixon to become the 35th US president.
    JFK and Jacqueline Kennedy on election night in 1960. Jacqueline Kennedy wears a purple coat.
    Senator John F. Kennedy and wife, Jacqueline after his November election.

    Kennedy Onassis stood next to the then-president-elect as he delivered his acceptance speech.

    A photo of her wearing the coat appeared on the cover of the November 21, 1960, issue of Life Magazine.

    The coat featured pleats on the sides, a rounded collar, and six buttons.
    Jacqueline Kennedy wears a purple coat and heels.
    A victorious John F. Kennedy delivers his acceptance speech after the presidential election on November 9, 1960. His wife Jackie stands at his side at the Kennedy Press Headquarters. | Location: Kennedy Press Headquarters, Hyannis National Guard Armory, Hyannis, Massachusetts, USA.

    Kennedy Onassis, who was eight months pregnant on election night, accessorized the coat with strands of pearls and low heels.

    An anonymous consignor with ties to the Kennedy family donated the coat to Sotheby's for auction in 2025.
    Jacqueline Kennedy's purple coat on display.
    Jacqueline Kennedy's purple coat on display.

    According to Sotheby's, Kennedy Onassis shared the coat with a few of her close friends to wear during their pregnancies. The daughter of the last of these women to wear the coat donated it to Sotheby's.

    Sixty-five years later, the wool coat maintains its bright violet hue.
    Jacqueline Kennedy's purple coat on a mannequin.
    Jacqueline Kennedy's purple coat on a mannequin.

    Sotheby's estimated the coat's value at between $6,000 and $8,000. It sold for $50,800, more than six times the high estimate.

    Morgane Halimi, Sotheby's global head of Handbags and Fashion, said the coat captures "both an intimate personal story and a defining moment in American history."
    Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis' purple coat.
    NEW YORK, NEW YORK – DECEMBER 05: The Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis 1960 Election-Night Coat is displayed during a press preview at Sotheby's on December 05, 2025 in New York City. The Luxury Week auctions will take place from December 8 to December 15.

    "The extraordinary response to Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis' election night coat speaks to the enduring power of objects that sit at the intersection of history, emotion, and impeccable design," Halimi said in a statement.

    Read the original article on Business Insider
  • Trump sues the BBC for $5 billion, alleging defamation over January 6 documentary

    Trump sues the BBC for defamation over editing of January 6 speech
    President Donald Trump sues the BBC for $5 billion for defamation.

    President Donald Trump sued the BBC for defamation.

    On Monday night, Trump's lawyers filed a civil complaint in a federal court in Florida and are seeking at least $5 billion in damages from the British broadcaster.

    The lawsuit claims that the BBC has defamed Trump in a Panorama documentary that aired about a week before the 2024 election. The complaint alleges the program presented a "false, defamatory, deceptive, disparaging, inflammatory, and malicious depiction" of Trump.

    The suit's allegations focus on how the documentary was edited with regard to footage of Trump's January 6, 2021, speech near the White House.

    The White House and BBC did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

    This is a developing story; please check back for updates.

    Read the original article on Business Insider
  • ‘SNL’ spoofed Uber Eats Wrapped. Then Uber actually did it for real.

    Episode 1892 -- Pictured: Sarah Sherman during the "Your Year Wrapped" sketch on Saturday, December 13, 2025
    Uber launched YOUBER, a Spotify-style, year-in-review feature for Uber and Uber Eats users, shortly after a satirical "SNL" skit imagining a similar feature.

    • Uber launched YOUBER, a Spotify-style, year-in-review feature for Uber and Uber Eats users.
    • The feature follows an "SNL" skit where a character found out he spent $24,000 on Uber Eats in a year.
    • Uber has a built-in button for users to share their Uber.

    Your Uber spending is coming back to haunt you — for real.

    Just days after "Saturday Night Live" aired a satirical skit about an "Uber Eats wrapped" and the horrors of discovering how much you spent on it this year, Uber made the embarrassment real with a Spotify-style year-end recap.

    On Monday, the company launched a new year-in-review feature called "YOUBER," which compiles users' activity across both Uber and Uber Eats.

    It's unclear if "SNL" knew about Uber's plans before its spoof. It's also unclear how long Uber had the recap in the works, or if it was influenced by the skit. Uber and NBCUniversal did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

    The feature echoes the sketch that aired on Saturday night, which lays bare how quickly people who willingly participate in data tracking recoil when that data reflects something they don't want to know.

    The skit started with an innocuous character who was delighted to find that she was one of Sabrina Carpenter's top global listeners in 2025. Then the skit took an ominous turn when an advertisement claimed to reveal who the characters "really are" this year, featuring an "Uber Eats wrapped."

    One character learned he had eaten more chicken nuggets than 99% of users worldwide. Another was assigned an "Uber Eats age" — a riff on Spotify's "listening age" — only to be told his was "Dead." The humiliation peaked when a character realized he had spent $24,000 on Uber Eats in a year, prompting him to scream into a pillow in response.

    To access the actual feature, which is only available in the US at the moment, look for the "YOUBER" banner in your app, and it will show riders where they went, how often they opted for Uber Comfort, and which restaurants they returned to again and again.

    The feature also assigns users one of 14 "Uber Personality Profiles," including "Do-Gooder" for Uber Electric loyalists, "Rise & Shiner" for early-morning riders, and "Delivery Darling" for customers who "live for deliveries of all kinds."

    And if you don't want to endure your guilt alone, you can always share it. Uber offers a "Share this Story" button directly within the app.

    Read the original article on Business Insider
  • Merriam-Webster just released its word of the year. 2025 words of the year say a lot about the AI world users can’t quit

    Young businesswoman designer feeling exhausted while working on desktop computer in the office.
    2025's words of the year reflect a generation frustrated with job prospects, AI, and online culture.

    • 2025's words of the year reflect a generation frustrated with job prospects, AI, and online culture.
    • Platforms have chosen terms like "fatigue," "AI slop," and "rage bait."
    • For the first time, Dictionary.com chose a word that is also a number as its Word of the Year.

    Everyone is over 2025.

    Various platforms and dictionaries released their word of the year in December, and the choices widely reflect a sense of inescapable uncertainty, exhaustion, and skepticism of the tech world.

    "There's no denying that 2025 has been a year defined by questions around who we truly are," said Casper Grathwohl, President of Oxford Languages, "both online and offline."

    From early-career job seekers stuck in unemployment, to low-quality social media content generated by AI, and workers struggling to keep up with AI, here is a list of words that dictionaries and culture-watchers say encapsulate the zeitgeist of 2025.

    Merriam-Webster: 'Slop'

    The American dictionary publisher chose the four-letter word for a year when AI content oozed into every corner of the internet.

    The dictionary defines "slop" as "digital content of low quality that is produced usually in quantity by means of artificial intelligence," such as "absurd videos, off-kilter advertising images, cheesy propaganda, fake news that looks pretty real, junky AI-written books, 'workslop' reports that waste coworkers' time."

    According to Merrian-Webster, "slop" originally referred to "soft mud" in the 1700s, and later evolved to mean "a product of little or no value" over the next hundred years.

    The word was aptly chosen for a year where musicians and artists are protesting the proliferation of AI-generated tracks mimicking their voices and styles, and surveys show that readers are skeptical of AI-generated content in their news diet.

    "The word sends a little message to AI," said the dictionary. "When it comes to replacing human creativity, sometimes you don't seem too superintelligent."

    Glassdoor: 'Fatigue'

    Workers are tired, according to job search platform Glassdoor.

    The site that allows workers to post reviews of companies they have worked for or interviewed with coined "fatigue" as its word of the year, after the term saw a 41% spike in mentions across the platform in 2025.

    Glassdoor cited how job seekers are growing increasingly frustrated with endless applications that go nowhere, and how emotionally exhausted workers are with the rapid rise of AI.

    When Glassdoor asked professionals if they felt like the news cycle was draining their energy at work, 78% said yes. On top of that, job seekers are becoming increasingly frustrated as more "job huggers" hold onto their positions in a low-hire, low-fire job market.

    In an ironic admonition, Glassdoor wrote, "Yes, things could be better, but they could also be much worse."

    Collins Dictionary: 'Vibe coding'

    "Vibe coding," a term coined by Andrej Karpathy, a prominent AI researcher, refers to the use of natural language prompts to instruct AI to write computer code instead of writing it from scratch.

    Collins said that its word of the year and its contenders mark a "further shift towards a tech-dominated world."

    According to OpenAI's annual enterprise report, code-related queries increased 36% for workers whose primary job is not engineering. Companies like Anthropic also said that its in-house AI, Claude, is now writing 90% of code for its teams.

    Oxford Dictionary: 'Rage bait'

    If you ever feel so angry over online content that you feel compelled to repost it and give the comment section a piece of your mindyou may have encountered the Oxford Dictionary's word of the year: "rage bait."

    Oxford defined the word as "online content deliberately designed to elicit anger or outrage by being frustrating, provocative, or offensive, typically posted in order to increase traffic to or engagement."

    According to Oxford's data, the use of "rage bait" has tripled in 2025 compared to the year before, hinting at "a deeper shift in how we talk about attention — both how it is given and how it is sought after."

    Cambridge Dictionary: 'Parasocial'

    Many people seem unable to quit social media. And that could be largely due to "parasocial" relationships, which Cambridge Dictionary coined as word of the year.

    The term refers to one-sided "relationships that people form with celebrities, influencers, and AI chatbots," Cambridge Dictionary wrote.

    For example, how fans often feel a deep connection to Taylor Swift's lyrics about heartbreak, to the spontaneity of podcast hosts, and the "emotionally meaningful" and "in some cases troubling" connection between users and AI chatbots.

    Business Insider has documented various instances where people become emotionally dependent on an AI model or form long-term relationships with AI girlfriends. The release of AI companions by platforms like Grock, including a flirtatious anime girl, can increase the likelihood of such parasocial relationships.

    Macquarie Dictionary: 'AI slop'

    The Australian English dictionary chose "AI slop" as its top word of the year, highlighting concern over "low-quality content created by generative AI, often containing errors, and not requested by the user."

    The rise of AI-generated content has contributed to longer and more annoying memos at work that don't actually push productivity forward, as well as tricked some news platforms into publishing inaccurate information, such as when the Chicago Sun-Times published an AI-generated summer reading list that matched real authors with books they never wrote.

    "While in recent years we've learnt to become search engineers to find meaningful information, we now need to become prompt engineers in order to wade through the AI slop," said the Macquarie Dictionary Committee.

    Dictionary.com: '67'

    Dictionary.com chose a numeral — the number 67 — as its word of the year, for the first time since the site started naming word of the year in 2010.

    The word, pronounced "six seven" instead of "sixty-seven," experienced a dramatic rise in search volume since the summer of 2025 and increased more than sixfold since June, said Dictionary.com.

    Described as "meaningless, ubiquitous, and nonsensical," Dictionary.com said it thinks this word means "so-so" or "maybe this, maybe that," which makes some sense if you're rating something a six or seven out of 10.

    "If you're a member of Gen Alpha," Dictionary.com added, "maybe you're smirking at the thought of adults once again struggling to make sense of your notoriously slippery slang."

    Read the original article on Business Insider
  • THEN AND NOW: The cast of ‘Newsies’ 33 years later

    newsies then and now christian bale
    Christian Bale is the breakout star of "Newsies."

    • Disney's musical "Newsies" was released 33 years ago, and it was a box-office flop.
    • Years later, the movie is beloved by fans, and it's even been adapted into a Broadway musical.
    • Christian Bale starred in the film as Jack Kelly, and he's now an A-list celebrity.

    In 1992, Disney's movie musical "Newsies" made its debut — and it's since become quite a treasure.

    Loosely based on the true story of the 1899 newsboys' strike in New York City, the film features a crew of so-called newsies as they sing their way through oppression and fight for a fairer working system.

    "Newsies" was a box-office flop when it was first released, reportedly making less than $3 million at the box office, even though it cost over $15 million to make.

    But in the years since, "Newsies" has built up a passionate group of "fansies" and has been adapted into a majorly successful Broadway musical. It has also helped launch the careers of a few young stars.

    Here's what the cast of "Newsies" is up to 33 years later:

    "Newsies" was Christian Bale's first Disney movie.
    Christian Bale Newsies

    In 1992, Christian Bale was 17 years old and had a few acting credits to his name until "Newsies" came along.

    Bale portrayed the film's lead Jack Kelly, one of the ringleaders behind the newsies' strike.

    Bale gave quite a performance singing, dancing, and acting as a rough, 19th-century Manhattan teen fending for himself and his chosen family.

    Bale was the breakout star of the "Newsies" cast.
    christian bale

    "Newsies" wouldn't be Bale's last Disney movie.

    He'd later star in the early-1990s Disney flop "Swing Kids," voice Thomas in 1995's "Pocahontas," and voice Bagheera in 2019's "Mowgli."

    Of course, the actor is perhaps most well known for his roles in "American Psycho," "Ford v Ferrari," and the "Batman" franchise — though he has starred in several other major movies since his "Newsies" days. 

    David Moscow was a star before "Newsies."
    moscow_david2

    David Moscow and Bale had undeniable synergy while starring alongside each other in "Newsies."

    Moscow played David Jacobs, "a mouth with a brain" and a coleader in the fictionalized strike against Joseph Pulitzer and William Randolph Hearst.

    "Newsies" might have been Moscow's first Disney musical, but the young star was no stranger to the big screen, having starred in Tom Hanks' "Big" just a few years prior.

    Moscow has continued acting and has since established himself as a producer.
    David Moscow

    Decades after singing and dancing next to the future star of the "Batman" series, Moscow continues to leave a mark on Hollywood.

    He appeared in 2003's "Just Married" with Ashton Kutcher and Brittany Murphy and produced over a dozen movies.

    Moscow also appeared in 2017's "This Is Christmas" and "One Last Night" — but he's mostly been focusing on behind-the-scenes work.

    "Newsies" was one of Luke Edwards' first major movies.
    luke edwards newsies

    Starring as David Jacob's younger brother, Les, in the musical, Luke Edwards was no stranger to acting when he landed the role.

    Before starring in "Newsies," Edwards had several acting credits to his name, including a role in the cult-favorite '80s comedy "The Wizard."

    You might remember Edwards from 2017's "The Super."
    True Detective

    Edwards has guest-starred on shows like "Without a Trace" and "True Detective," though you might remember Edwards from "American Pie 2" or even "Jeepers Creepers II."

    Edwards has also appeared in "The Super," "Adverse," and "My Friend's Play."  

    Max Casella sang and danced his way into people's hearts.
    Max Casella in a hat and vest as Racetrack Higgins in "Newsies."
    Max Casella as Racetrack Higgins in "Newsies."

    One of the older "Newsies" in the bunch, Max Casella was 24 years old when he officially made his musical debut as Racetrack Higgins.

    Aside from having a few TV roles in the 1980s and early 1990s, Casella had not appeared in a major theatrical production prior to this one.

    He was, however, most well known as the time for his role as Vinnie Delpino on "Doogie Howser, M.D." 

    Casella has continued to act in numerous big projects.
    Max Casella

    Since "Newsies," Casella has gone on to make an impressive resume for himself.

    He's lent his voice to characters in "The Little Mermaid 2," "Dinosaur," and "Courage the Cowardly Dog." He has appeared in over two dozen "Sopranos" episodes, acted in "Leatherheads," and joined "Boardwalk Empire" in 2010.

    I recent years, you might have spotted Casella in "Jackie" alongside Natalie Portman, or on episodes of "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel" and "Tulsa King."

    Gabriel Damon was a teen when "Newsies" debuted.
    Gabriel Damon Newsies

    Although he was only 15 years old when he starred as the spunky Brooklyn newsie Spot Conlon, Gabriel Damon was already quite a seasoned actor with over 30 credits to his name.

    Notably, he was the voice of Littlefoot in the fan-favorite animated film, "The Land Before Time."

    After "Newsies," Damon stepped away from acting.
    Gabriel Damon
    He appeared in an episode of "ER."

    Aside from a few appearances on "Baywatch" and a few one-off roles on shows like "ER" and "Sirens," Damon has shied away from the acting industry.

    His last noted role was in a short in 2006.

    Marty Belafsky's first big movie role was "Newsies."
    Crutchy (Marty Belfasky) and newsboys singing in Newsies

    "Newsies" was Marty Belafsky's first-ever movie role.

    In the musical, he appeared as the goofy but lovable Crutchy.  He was only 16 years old when "Newsies" was released.

    Belafsky has had a few roles since.
    marty belafsky
    He plays a security guard in "America's Sweethearts."

    With roles in "Pearl Harbor" and "Men in Black II," Belafsky has been on the big screen a few times since 1992.

    His last acting credit was in 2013 for the short "Archie Black." For over a decade, he has worked in a different part of the entertainment industry as a media executive. 

    "Newsies" was Arvie Lowe Jr.'s first-ever role.
    arvie lowe jr newsies

    When he appeared as Boots in the 1992 musical drama, Arvie Lowe Jr. was a 12-year-old actor with no other roles to his name. 

    Lowe Jr. appeared on numerous popular TV shows throughout the 1990s and early 2000s.
    Arvie Lowe Jr.
    Arvie Lowe Jr. in 2022 during an interview with Insider.

    After "Newsies" wrapped, Lowe Jr. found himself starring on popular 1990s shows like "Sister, Sister," "Moesha," and "Smart Guy."

    He even starred on the early aughts Disney Channel show "Lizzie McGuire" alongside Hilary Duff.

    Since then, he's had a few minor roles in Hollywood, and he's appeared in a few video shorts and commercials. Lowe Jr. is also a graphic designer. 

    After "Newsies" was released, Ele Keats got a lot of heat from fansies.
    Ele Keats as Sarah in Newsies on the rooftop
    Ele Keats as Sarah.

    Ele Keats had a few acting credits under her belt in Hollywood before landing the role of Sarah Jacobs in "Newsies."

    She played Jack Kelly's love interest, which led to backlash from fans who were unhappy about her kiss with Bale. Some have even referred to her character as the "Destroyer of Dreams."

    Keats has appeared in a few horror films, and she has a jewelry business.
    Ele keats

    Since starring in "Newsies," Keats has had a number of small roles and has even guest-starred on shows like "CSI," "CSI: NY," and "Cold Case."

    In the last few years, she's made a name for herself in the horror-film industry, starring in "Insidious: Chapter 3" and "Ouija: Origin of Evil."

    She also owns Ele Keats Jewelry, which has a showroom in Santa Monica. 

    Bill Pullman was one of the few adults in "Newsies."
    bill pullman

    Actor Bill Pullman played one of the few redeeming adult characters "Newsies" had to offer.

    Previously known for his work in "Spaceballs," among other films, Pullman starred in the Disney musical as passionate journalist Bryan Denton.

    Pullman has had a successful career post-"Newsies."
    Bill Pullman golden globes

    The same year "Newsies" was released, Pullman was featured in "A League of Their Own."

    He has also appeared in "Sleepless in Seattle," "Casper," "Scary Movie 4," and "Torchwood," among many other films.

    In recent years, he also starred on the USA show "The Sinner."  

    Robert Duvall played a publishing mogul.
    newsies robert duvall

    Robert Duvall was quite the villain in the musical, where he appeared as publishing mogul Joseph Pulitzer.

    Prior to "Newsies," he acted in dozens of works — including "The Godfather" and "The Twilight Zone."

    Duvall starred in numerous films after "Newsies."
    Robert Duvall

    After "Newsies," Duvall appeared in projects like "The Apostle," "Deep Impact," "Gone in 60 Seconds," and "Kicking and Screaming."

    He continues to make a name for himself in Hollywood, and recently appeared in "Widows," "Hustle," and "The Pale Blue Eye."

    Correction: December 15, 2025 — An earlier version of this story misstated Luke Edwards' first major role. It was in "The Wizard," not "Newsies."

    This story was originally published in August 2018 and most recently updated on December 15, 2025.

    Read the original article on Business Insider
  • Judge expresses skepticism toward Epstein victim lawsuit against big banks alleging they facilitated sex-trafficking

    Jamie Epstein private jet
    Jeffrey Epstein flew private jets

    • Jeffrey Epstein victims accused Bank of America and BNY Mellon of ignoring red flags.
    • A federal judge expressed skepticism about their lawsuits, saying they were full of "rhetoric."
    • Rakoff gave the lawyers a chance to revise their lawsuits with details from the discovery process.

    A federal judge expressed skepticism about a pair of lawsuits that victims of Jeffrey Epstein had filed against two banks, suggesting he may dismiss them before they have a chance to go to trial.

    At the outset of a Monday afternoon hearing in Manhattan federal court, US District Judge Jed Rakoff unfavorably compared the lawsuits against Bank of America and BNY Mellon to two similar lawsuits he had previously overseen, against JPMorgan Chase and Deutsche Bank. JPMorgan agreed to settle the case for $290 million. Deutsche Bank agreed to settle for $75 million.

    Rakoff said the language in the lawsuits against Bank of America and BNY Mellon — which were brought by the same attorneys and filed in October — was "frequently conclusory" and appeared to lack sufficient detail to demonstrate what the banks did wrong. He called the lawsuits "a model of high-pitched rhetoric."

    "'Knows' without saying by whom is vague. 'Affiliated' without saying what that means is vague," Rakoff told David Boies, an attorney who brought the case. "A lot of that language is in the complaint."

    At the end of the hearing, Rakoff gave the lawyers who brought the lawsuits on behalf of Epstein victims — David Boies, Sigrid McCawley, Brad Edwards, and Brittany Henderson — two weeks to revise their cases with more specific details about their allegations.

    The judge said they would be permitted to use material they had already gathered as part of the discovery process in the case, but should put a hold on additional depositions and subpoenas until he issued a ruling, which he said could come at the end of January.

    The lawsuits allege that Bank of America and BNY Mellon aided in Epstein's sex-trafficking operation by providing him with banking services and then ignoring red flags tied to his transactions.

    Epstein, a well-connected financier, killed himself in jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on criminal sex-trafficking charges. One of his associates, Ghislaine Maxwell, is serving a 20-year prison sentence for trafficking girls to him.

    Monday's hearing was scheduled for the judge to weigh motions to dismiss the two lawsuits outright.

    Charlotte Taylor, an attorney at the law firm Jones Day representing Bank of America, argued the lawsuits consisted of "recycled boilerplate allegations" and that they could not prove the bank provided anything other than "routine banking services" to Epstein and his associates. Felicia Ellsworth, an attorney at WilmerHale, said the plaintiffs couldn't prove anyone at BNY Mellon had the "state of mind" to be found liable.

    Boies told Rakoff that the banks should have noticed enough smoke around the transactions from bank accounts belonging to Epstein and his associates to know there was a fire. Aside from Epstein's 2008 criminal conviction in Florida, he had been dogged by civil litigation for years, Boies said.

    Rakoff expressed skepticism that the pattern of facts alleged in the lawsuit would be enough.

    "Last I checked, that's not enough to survive a motion to dismiss," Rakoff said. "You need to have enough allegations as to specific facts."

    Following the hearing, lawyers for the Epstein victims appeared eager to revise their lawsuits and include the information they obtained through the discovery process. Rakoff said that material may be redacted on the public docket.

    "I think he's giving us a chance," Sigrid McCawley, an attorney at Boies Schiller Flexner, told Business Insider.

    Read the original article on Business Insider
  • Taylor Swift’s ‘The Life of a Showgirl’ is one of her biggest albums on the Billboard 200. Here’s how her others rank.

    Taylor Swift wearing a silver metallic outfit, performing "I Can Do It With a Broken Heart" on the Eras Tour stage.
    Taylor Swift performs during The Eras Tour in Dublin.

    • Taylor Swift's "The Life of a Showgirl" has spent nine weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard 200.
    • It surpasses "Folklore" as her third-longest reign atop the chart.
    • "The Tortured Poets Department" holds the record in Swift's catalog with 17 weeks at No. 1.

    Taylor Swift gave us fair warning in her newest album: "I'm married to the hustle."

    Swift's 12th studio album, "The Life of a Showgirl," not only broke the record for the biggest sales week ever, but it also continued to amass sales and streams in the US for over two months after its release.

    After seven consecutive weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, "Showgirl" returned for its eighth and ninth weeks atop the all-genre album chart.

    The impressive tally comes just one year after Swift set a personal-best chart record with "The Tortured Poets Department." Keep reading for a ranking of her 16 studio albums (including both originals and rerecords) based on their Billboard 200 performances.

    10. "Taylor Swift"
    Taylor Swift debut album cover
    Taylor Swift's debut album, "Taylor Swift," was released in 2006.

    Billboard 200 peak: No. 5

    Swift's self-titled debut is the only studio album in her catalog that hasn't reached No. 1 on the Billboard 200.

    "Taylor Swift" debuted at No. 19 and scaled the chart for more than a year, peaking at No. 5 in 2008.

    9 (tie). "Lover"
    Taylor Swift Lover album cover
    Taylor Swift's seventh album, "Lover," was released in 2019.

    Billboard 200 peak: No. 1 for one week

    Swift's seventh studio album was the first one that she owned outright, thanks to her new label contract with UMG.

    "Lover" was promoted by several singles, including "You Need to Calm Down," "The Archer," and "The Man."

    Four years later, after Swift kicked off the Eras Tour with "Cruel Summer" near the top of the set list, the fan-favorite song climbed to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and remained there for four weeks, becoming the album's biggest hit.

    9 (tie). "Red (Taylor's Version)"
    Taylor Swift Red (Taylor's Version)
    The cover art for "Red (Taylor's Version)" was photographed by Beth Garrabrant.

    Billboard 200 peak: No. 1 for one week

    The extended tracklist for "Red (Taylor's Version)" included the storied extended cut of "All Too Well," a longtime fan-favorite song in Swift's catalog.

    "All Too Well (10 Minute Version)" was released alongside a short film directed by Swift and promoted by a convention-breaking performance on "Saturday Night Live." It became the longest song to reach No. 1 in the history of the Hot 100.

    8 (tie). "Fearless (Taylor's Version)"
    taylor swift fearless taylors version album cover
    "Fearless (Taylor's Version)" was released in 2021.

    Billboard 200 peak: No. 1 for two weeks

    "Fearless" was the first rerecorded album that Swift ever released.

    The "Taylor's Version" series was inspired by the sale of Swift's masters to Scooter Braun in 2019, which she described as her "worst case scenario" in a passionate open letter. Swift decided to remake and rerelease her first six albums in a bid to reclaim ownership of her life's work. (Braun later sold Swift's masters to a private-equity company.)

    In addition to faithfully recreating each tracklist, Swift decided to add never-before-heard songs "from the vault" that were written during the album's original creative process but cut from the final product.

    "I've spoken a lot about why I'm remaking my first six albums, but the way I've chosen to do this will hopefully help illuminate where I'm coming from," Swift explained. "Artists should own their own work for so many reasons, but the most screamingly obvious one is that the artist is the only one who really knows that body of work."

    "For example, only I know which songs I wrote that almost made the 'Fearless' album," she continued. "Songs I absolutely adored, but were held back for different reasons."

    Many were skeptical that the "Taylor's Version" project would be embraced by fans, let alone achieve commercial success.

    Those skeptics were forced to eat their words when "Fearless (Taylor's Version)" began to outpace the original on streaming platforms. According to Billboard, "Fearless (Taylor's Version)" earned more equivalent album sales in its first week of release than "Fearless" earned over the entire next year.

    Four years later, in May 2025, Swift announced that she bought back her masters from Shamrock Capital, giving her complete control over her musical catalog and rendering her "Taylor's Version" project moot.

    8 (tie). "Speak Now (Taylor's Version)"
    taylor swift speak now taylor's version cover
    "Speak Now (Taylor's Version)" was released in 2023.

    Billboard 200 peak: No. 1 for two weeks

    The rerecorded version of Swift's third album featured six songs from the vault, including two duets with Fall Out Boy and Hayley Williams.

    7 (tie). "Reputation"
    taylor swift reputation
    The album cover for "Reputation."

    Billboard 200 peak: No. 1 for four weeks

    "Reputation" arrived after an extended period of silence. Swift's longtime feud with Ye (then known as Kanye West) and Kim Kardashian had reached a fever pitch; in response to a massive social media hate campaign, Swift decamped to London and withdrew from the public eye.

    She returned with a new snake-infested aesthetic and "Look What You Made Me Do," a cheeky lead single that poked fun at her own persona — and quickly shot to No. 1 on the Hot 100.

    Swift also declined to participate in interviews or media appearances while promoting her sixth album. Instead, she relied on a simple tagline: "There will be no further explanation. There will just be reputation."

    7 (tie). "Evermore"
    taylor swift evermore album cover
    Taylor Swift's ninth album, "Evermore," was released in 2020.

    Billboard 200 peak: No. 1 for four weeks

    "Evermore" was surprise-released just five months after Swift's previous album, "Folklore." The two were billed as "sister albums," created under near-identical conditions with the same team of collaborators.

    "To put it plainly, we just couldn't stop writing songs," Swift explained on social media.

    "Evermore" was nominated for album of the year at the 2022 Grammys, but lost to Jon Batiste's "We Are."

    6 (tie). "Speak Now"
    Taylor Swift, Speak Now, original album cover
    Taylor Swift's third album, "Speak Now," was released in 2010.

    Billboard 200 peak: No. 1 for six weeks

    Swift's third album had a lot to live up to, following the blockbuster success of "Fearless."

    In response to skeptics — who questioned whether the teen phenom was relying too heavily on her collaborators — Swift decided to write "Speak Now" entirely by herself. She is the only songwriter credited on the standard tracklist.

    6 (tie). "Midnights"
    taylor swift midnights album cover
    Taylor Swift's 10th album, "Midnights," was released in 2022.

    Billboard 200 peak: No. 1 for six weeks

    Swift's 10th studio album sold over 1 million copies in its debut week, the first to cross that seven-figure threshold since Swift's own "Reputation." (She has now achieved the feat on eight different occasions.)

    "Midnights" also won album of the year at the Grammys, joining "Fearless," "1989," and "Folklore" in the prestigious group of victors. Swift is the only artist in history to win album of the year four times.

    6 (tie). "1989 (Taylor's Version)"
    taylor swift 1989 album cover
    "1989 (Taylor's Version)" will be released on October 27, 2023.

    Billboard 200 peak: No. 1 for six weeks

    The rerecorded version of "1989" was released nine years after the original. Swift added five vault songs to the tracklist, including the fan-favorite closer "Is It Over Now?"

    5. "Red"
    taylor swift red album cover
    Taylor Swift's fourth album, "Red," was released in 2012.

    Billboard 200 peak: No. 1 for seven weeks

    "Red" is Swift's fourth studio album. It featured a mishmash of Max Martin-produced pop bangers ("We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together," "I Knew You Were Trouble") and country-rock breakup anthems ("State of Grace," "Holy Ground").

    4. "Folklore"
    taylor swift folklore album cover
    Taylor Swift's new album cover and additional promo photos were taken by Beth Garrabrant.

    Billboard 200 peak: No. 1 for eight weeks

    "Folklore" marked a sonic departure for Swift, stripping down her favored synth-pop production to reveal introspective reflections and intricate narratives.

    The pandemic-era album was co-produced by Swift, Jack Antonoff, and Aaron Dessner of The National. It received rave reviews from critics and is widely considered her best work to date.

    3. "The Life of a Showgirl"
    Taylor Swift The Life of a Showgirl standard edition album cover
    Taylor Swift's 12th album, "The Life of a Showgirl," was released on October 3, 2025.

    Billboard 200 peak: No. 1 for nine weeks

    Cowritten and co-produced with Max Martin and Shellback, "The Life of a Showgirl" was described by Swift as a snapshot of "everything that was going on behind the curtain" during the Eras Tour.

    The album's nine-week reign at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 brought Swift's total sum atop the chart to 95, extending her record among solo artists.

    Since the Billboard 200 was launched in 1956, only The Beatles have logged more weeks at No. 1 than Swift.

    2 (tie). "Fearless"
    Taylor Swift Fearless original album cover
    Taylor Swift's sophomore album, "Fearless," was released in 2008.

    Billboard 200 peak: No. 1 for 11 weeks

    Swift's sophomore effort had the longest run at No. 1 of any album in the 2000s. "Fearless" has since been certified diamond by the RIAA.

    2 (tie). "1989"
    taylor swift 1989 album cover
    "1989" was released on October 27, 2014.

    Billboard 200 peak: No. 1 for 11 weeks

    Swift's fifth album marked her official pivot from country to pop music, a move that Swift said she had to "really fight — and I mean aggressively fight — to have happen."

    In addition to its double-digit streak atop the Billboard 200, "1989" yielded several hit singles on the Hot 100, including "Shake It Off," "Blank Space," and "Bad Blood."

    1. "The Tortured Poets Department"
    taylor swift the tortured poets department deluxe album cover
    Taylor Swift's 11th album, "The Tortured Poets Department," was released in 2024.

    Billboard 200 peak: No. 1 for 17 weeks

    Swift's 11th studio album, "The Tortured Poets Department," did not leave the No. 1 slot for 12 straight weeks after its debut in April 2024, fending off new releases from stars like Dua Lipa, Billie Eilish, and Zach Bryan.

    The uninterrupted reign of "Poets" was rare for a streaming-era release. It became the first album ever by a female artist to spend its first 12 weeks atop the chart, surpassing a record previously held by Whitney Houston's 1987 blockbuster "Whitney." (The all-time record for a consecutive streak among women is held by Carole King's "Tapestry," which spent 15 weeks at No. 1 in 1971.)

    Swift briefly yielded the top spot to Eminem and Stray Kids before "Poets" notched 13th, 14th, and 15th consecutive weeks atop the chart.

    The album eventually fell to lower positions, but then in December of that same year, it returned for two more weeks at No. 1 after Swift released physical versions of the album's deluxe version, "The Anthology," for Black Friday.

    Read the original article on Business Insider
  • Netflix’s bid to buy Warner Bros. hinges on a key question: Who does it actually compete with?

    Netflix Stranger Things
    "Stranger Things" maker Netflix could face regulatory scrutiny as it looks to buy Warner Bros.

    • Netflix has agreed to buy Warner Bros. in one of the biggest deals in Hollywood's history.
    • Government regulators must decide whether Netflix would be too powerful with key WBD assets.
    • The key question: Who does Netflix actually compete with?

    Would buying Warner Bros. give Netflix too much power?

    The streaming giant is telling regulators it won't, and antitrust experts say the answer ultimately depends on how you define who Netflix competes with.

    Does Netflix compete with only paid streaming services, a market where it dominates? What about the TV dinosaurs it disrupted, or the social video services nipping at its heels? Could sleep even be a competitor, as its cofounder Reed Hastings famously suggested?

    Rival suitor Paramount Skydance has slammed the Netflix-Warner Bros. mega-deal as anticompetitive, arguing that it would harm consumers and Hollywood talent. Netflix is by far the largest paid subscription video streamer, and it would become even stronger with the addition of WBD's studio assets, including HBO and the Warner Bros. library (stocked with fare like Harry Potter and DC Comics).

    Netflix, for its part, is advocating for a definition that considers total US TV viewing time. The streamer, which has expressed confidence in its regulatory case, pointed to this in a letter to its employees on Monday.

    "Even after combining with Warner Bros., our view share would only move from 8% to 9% in the US — still well behind YouTube (13%) and a potential Paramount/WBD combination (14%)," Netflix's co-CEOs wrote on Monday, citing Nielsen data. A Netflix spokesperson referred to those remarks when asked for comment.

    Convincing antitrust regulators of that could be an uphill battle.

    "Antitrust regulators are likely to define the relevant market narrowly," said Anthony Palomba, a business professor at the University of Virginia. "The FTC and DOJ have consistently treated streaming as a discrete competitive arena, separate from linear television, theatrical distribution, or social video platforms."

    Then there's the Trump factor.

    The president has said the Netflix-Warner Bros. deal "could be a problem."

    "They have a very big market share, and when they have Warner Brothers, you know, that share goes up a lot," he said.

    Reuben Miller, the head of antitrust at financial data service Dealreporter, said Netflix's bid would "be challenged and litigated unless Netflix can convince Trump to come down on their side."

    Here's how regulators could determine Netflix's competitive market and, by extension, the future of the media business.

    A Netflix-Warner Bros. marriage would dominate paid streaming revenue

    A Netflix-Warner Bros. combination would be a colossus. Netflix and HBO Max have accounted for 39% of paid subscription streaming revenue in 2025, per S&P Global Market Intelligence.

    Any firm with 30% to 40% market share has historically drawn scrutiny from the US government. If regulators see paid streamers as a distinct market, Netflix's Warner Bros. deal could be in trouble.

    SVOD rev 2025
    Netflix and HBO Max make up 39% of paid streaming revenue in the US this year.

    Consumers may not view social media apps — even when they are watched on a TV screen — as close substitutes for Netflix, Disney+, or Hulu, Palomba said. If so, a Netflix-HBO Max combination could limit choice or lead to price hikes.

    There are few recent parallels to Netflix's Warner Bros. acquisition, Dealreporter's Miller said. One could be Charter Communications, which was allowed to expand its cable operation in 2016, but streamers were in their early days then. Miller said it felt like the government was protecting the nascent streaming industry. However, consumer behavior has changed so dramatically since then that he's unsure if those market definitions would be applicable.

    "The incentive is to start with the assumption that a merger is illegal," Miller added. "They're going to start with as narrow a definition as possible, so they'll probably start with paid streaming. And then the onus is on Netflix to try and get them to expand that market definition."

    If paid and free streaming are competitors, Netflix's case looks better

    Although Netflix is easily the most viewed paid streamer in the US, it's not the top streamer on TV screens.

    That would be free YouTube, whose viewership share has soared relative to Netflix in recent years. At the end of 2022, Netflix and YouTube each commanded 7.5% of viewership on US TVs. But as of October, YouTube commanded a 12.9% share while Netflix took second place at 8%, according to Nielsen.

    Along with its paid peers, Netflix is also battling free streamers like The Roku Channel and Fox's Tubi that are popular among Gen Z.

    When adding free streamers into the marketplace, Netflix and HBO Max together accounted for just over a fifth of US streaming minutes in October, MoffettNathanson analyst Robert Fishman wrote on Monday. While 20% share is powerhouse status, it might not be a dealbreaker from an antitrust perspective.

    Streaming mins Oct MoffNath
    Netflix's streaming minutes share in the US would be well behind YouTube, even with HBO Max.

    In the total TV market, Netflix and Warner Bros. combined would still be small

    Netflix has argued that it's competing against all of traditional TV, not just streamers.

    Its viewership share ranks sixth among TV media distributors, versus its second-place spot in streaming. When measured against cable and broadcast TV, Netflix's 8% share in October was slightly behind the 8.2% share for Paramount, which includes its cable channels and CBS.

    Nielsen Oct 2025
    Netflix is the sixth-largest TV media distributor by parent company, according to Nielsen.

    And since Netflix isn't trying to buy Warner Bros. Discovery's cable networks like CNN, it could argue that it's only adding a fraction of the media conglomerate's viewership time.

    TV time Oct MoffNath
    Netflix could argue that the combination of Paramount and WBD would be even bigger than its own desired deal by one metric.

    Industry insiders and analysts doubt social media will count as competition

    Netflix would undoubtedly love a broad definition of its competitive market that includes TikTok, Instagram, and even video podcasts and video games, which are also spaces where the streamer competes.

    Some media insiders see an ultra-broad competitive landscape as a bridge too far.

    "My clients are not pitching shows to YouTube," a TV agent said.

    Corey Martin of LA-based law firm Granderson Des Rochers said that "to compare Netflix to YouTube, or even TikTok, is like comparing apples and oranges," as are video game companies.

    Consumers tend to think of paid streamers like Netflix or Disney+ when they want to watch movies, TV, or sports, Martin said, but "they don't necessarily think about YouTube or TikTok."

    "Directly, it's hard to say that a video game is competing with a movie, or a video game is competing with the TV, even though they do consume our attention," said Rahul Telang, a business professor at Carnegie Mellon University.

    However, some see truth in the idea of an all-consuming battle for attention.

    Bernstein analyst Laurent Yoon said Netflix may be a leader in long-form video, but others have better sports offerings. Yoon also wrote in a mid-December note that attention has shifted to short-form video on Instagram and TikTok, and even new micro dramas.

    "Critics may claim these are apples and oranges, but we heard the same argument about linear vs. streaming only a decade ago," Yoon wrote.

    Read the original article on Business Insider
  • Only 47 songs have stayed at No. 1 on the chart for 10 weeks or more — here they all are

    Lil Nas X; Olivia Newton-John; Mariah Carey; Shaboozey
    Lil Nas X, Olivia Newton-John, Mariah Carey, and Shaboozey.

    • A small fraction of all No. 1 hits have ruled the Billboard Hot 100 for 10 weeks or more.
    • Mariah Carey's "All I Want for Christmas Is You" holds the record for most weeks atop the chart.
    • Lil Nas X's "Old Town Road" and Shaboozey's "A Bar Song (Tipsy)" are tied for second place.

    The Billboard Hot 100 is widely regarded as the definitive all-genre singles chart in the US.

    Since the chart launched in 1958, over 1,000 songs have reached the coveted No. 1 spot. However, far fewer have remained there for double-digit weeks.

    Mariah Carey's 1994 smash "All I Want for Christmas Is You," which has cyclically returned to No. 1 each holiday season since 2019, recently notched its 20th week atop the chart — breaking a tie with Lil Nas X's "Old Town Road" and Shaboozey's "A Bar Song (Tipsy)" for the longest domination in history.

    Keep reading for a roundup of all 47 songs that have ruled the chart for at least 10 weeks, listed in the order they reached that milestone.

    Listen to the complete playlist on Business Insider's Spotify.

    1. "You Light Up My Life" by Debby Boone
    debby boone

    "You Light Up My Life" was the first song in history to chart at No. 1 for 10 weeks.

    2. "Physical" by Olivia Newton-John
    olivia newton john physical

    "Physical" charted at No. 1 for 10 weeks.

    3. "End of the Road" by Boyz II Men
    end of the road boyz ii men

    "End of the Road" charted at No. 1 for 13 weeks.

    4. "I Will Always Love You" by Whitney Houston
    i will always love you whitney houston

    "I Will Always Love You" charted at No. 1 for 14 weeks.

    5. "I Swear" by All-4-One
    i swear all 4 one

    "I Swear" charted at No. 1 for 11 weeks.

    5. "I'll Make Love to You" by Boyz II Men
    i'll make love to you boyz ii men

    "I'll Make Love to You" charted at No. 1 for 14 weeks.

    7. "One Sweet Day" by Mariah Carey and Boyz II Men
    one sweet day mariah carey
    "One Sweet Day" was released on November 14, 1995.

    "One Sweet Day" charted at No. 1 for 16 weeks, making Boyz II Men the first artist in history to earn double-digit weeks atop the chart with three different songs.

    8. "Macarena (Bayside Boys Mix)" by Los Del Rio
    macarena

    "Macarena (Bayside Boys Mix)" charted at No. 1 for 14 weeks.

    9. "Un-Break My Heart" by Toni Braxton
    toni braxton unbreak my heart

    "Un-Break My Heart" charted at No. 1 for 11 weeks.

    10. "I'll Be Missing You" by Puff Daddy and Faith Evans featuring 112
    i'll be missing you puff daddy
    "I'll Be Missing You" was released on May 23, 1997.

    "I'll Be Missing You" charted at No. 1 for 11 weeks.

    11. "Candle in the Wind 1997/Something About the Way You Look Tonight" by Elton John
    elton john something about the way you look tonight

    "Candle in the Wind 1997/Something About the Way You Look Tonight" charted at No. 1 for 14 weeks.

    12. "The Boy Is Mine" by Brandy and Monica
    the boy is mine

    "The Boy Is Mine" charted at No. 1 for 13 weeks.

    13. "Smooth" by Santana featuring Rob Thomas
    smooth santana

    "Smooth" charted at No. 1 for 12 weeks.

    14. "Maria Maria" by Santana featuring The Product G&B
    Santana Maria Maria

    "Maria Maria" charted at No. 1 for 10 weeks.

    15. "Independent Women, Pt. 1" by Destiny's Child
    independent women pt 1 destiny's child

    "Independent Women, Pt. 1" charted at No. 1 for 11 weeks.

    16. "Foolish" by Ashanti
    ashanti foolish

    "Foolish" charted at No. 1 for 10 weeks.

    17. "Dilemma" by Nelly featuring Kelly Rowland
    Dilemma Nelly Kelly Rowland

    "Dilemma" charted at No. 1 for 10 weeks.

    18. "Lose Yourself" by Eminem
    eminem lose yourself

    "Lose Yourself" charted at No. 1 for 12 weeks.

    19. "Yeah!" by Usher featuring Lil Jon and Ludacris
    usher yeah

    "Yeah!" charted at No. 1 for 12 weeks.

    20. "We Belong Together" by Mariah Carey
    mariah carey we belong together

    "We Belong Together" charted at No. 1 for 14 weeks.

    21. "Gold Digger" by Kanye West featuring Jamie Foxx
    gold digger kanye west

    "Gold Digger" charted at No. 1 for 10 weeks.

    22. "Irreplaceable" by Beyonce
    beyonce irreplaceable

    "Irreplaceable" charted at No. 1 for 10 weeks.

    23. "Low" by Flo Rida featuring T-Pain
    low flo rida

    "Low" charted at No. 1 for 10 weeks.

    24. "Boom Boom Pow" by The Black Eyed Peas
    boom boom pow

    "Boom Boom Pow" charted at No. 1 for 12 weeks.

    25. "I Gotta Feeling" by The Black Eyed Peas
    i gotta feeling

    "I Gotta Feeling" charted at No. 1 for 14 weeks.

    26. "We Found Love" by Rihanna featuring Calvin Harris
    rihanna we found love

    "We Found Love" charted at No. 1 for 10 weeks.

    27. "Blurred Lines" by Robin Thicke featuring T.I. and Pharrell
    blurred lines music video

    "Blurred Lines" charted at No. 1 for 12 weeks.

    28. "Happy" by Pharrell Williams
    pharrell happy

    "Happy" charted at No. 1 for 10 weeks.

    29. "Uptown Funk!" by Mark Ronson featuring Bruno Mars
    uptown funk

    "Uptown Funk!" charted at No. 1 for 14 weeks.

    30. "See You Again" by Wiz Khalifa featuring Charlie Puth
    see you again wiz charlie music video

    "See You Again" charted at No. 1 for 12 weeks.

    31. "Hello" by Adele
    hello adele
    "Hello" was released in 2015.

    "Hello" charted at No. 1 for 10 weeks.

    32. "One Dance" by Drake featuring WizKid and Kyla
    one dance drake

    "One Dance" charted at No. 1 for 10 weeks.

    33. "Closer" by The Chainsmokers featuring Halsey
    closer the chainsmokers music video

    "Closer" charted at No. 1 for 12 weeks.

    34. "Shape of You" by Ed Sheeran
    ed sheeran shape of you

    "Shape of You" charted at No. 1 for 12 weeks.

    35. "Despacito" by Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee featuring Justin Bieber
    despacito music video

    "Despacito" charted at No. 1 for 16 weeks.

    36. "God's Plan" by Drake
    drake god's plan

    "God's Plan" charted at No. 1 for 11 weeks.

    37. "In My Feelings" by Drake
    in my feelings drake

    "In My Feelings" charted at No. 1 for 10 weeks, becoming Drake's third entry on this list. He holds the record for the most solo songs with double-digit weeks atop the Hot 100.

    Drake also holds the record for the most No. 1 song debuts in history.

    38. "Old Town Road" by Lil Nas X featuring Billy Ray Cyrus
    old town road

    After Lil Nas X recruited Billy Ray Cyrus for a remix, "Old Town Road" dominated the Hot 100 for 19 weeks, the most ever for a collaboration. It also became the fastest song in history to be certified diamond and won two Grammy Awards.

    39. "The Box" by Roddy Ricch
    roddy ricch the box
    "The Box" was released in 2019 and re-released as a single in 2020.

    "The Box" charted at No. 1 for 11 weeks.

    40. "Butter" by BTS
    bts butter

    "Butter" charted at No. 1 for 10 nonconsecutive weeks.

    41. "Easy On Me" by Adele
    Adele Easy On Me music video

    "Easy On Me" charted at No. 1 for 10 nonconsecutive weeks, becoming Adele's second song to reach the milestone.

    42. "As It Was" by Harry Styles
    harry styles as it was music video
    "As It Was" was released on March 31, 2022.

    "As It Was" charted at No. 1 for 15 nonconsecutive weeks, the longest reign ever for a British artist.

    43. "All I Want for Christmas Is You"
    mariah carey all i want for christmas is you

    More than three decades after its release, "All I Want for Christmas Is You" returned to No. 1 in December 2022 for its milestone 10th week on top of the chart.

    The holiday hit became Carey's third song to earn double-digit weeks atop the Hot 100, making her the third artist and first woman ever to achieve the feat thrice.

    In 2025, the song experienced another holiday-season surge, earning its 20th total week at No. 1 and setting a record for the longest reign in history.

    44. "Last Night" by Morgan Wallen
    morgan wallen last night music video

    "Last Night" charted at No. 1 for 16 nonconsecutive weeks, despite Morgan Wallen's many controversies.

    45. "A Bar Song (Tipsy)" by Shaboozey
    Shaboozey A Bar Song (Tipsy) official visualizer

    "A Bar Song (Tipsy)," Shaboozey's breakout hit, charted at No. 1 for 19 nonconsecutive weeks, tying "Old Town Road" for the second-longest reign in history.

    46. "Luther" by Kendrick Lamar with SZA
    Kendrick Lamar in the music video for "Luther."
    "Luther" reached No. 1 on the chart dated March 1, 2025.

    "Luther" was released as track three on Kendrick Lamar's album, "GNX," and originally debuted at No. 3 on the Hot 100.

    Shortly after Lamar's Super Bowl halftime show (which SZA joined to perform both "Luther" and their 2018 hit "All the Stars"), "Luther" rose to the top spot, where it remained for 13 consecutive weeks.

    47. "Ordinary" by Alex Warren
    Alex Warren and his wife, Kouvr Annon, in the music video for "Ordinary."
    "Ordinary" reached No. 1 on the chart dated June 7, 2025.

    "Ordinary" was released as the lead single from Alex Warren's debut studio album, "You'll Be Alright, Kid."

    Warren performed the song on the "Love Is Blind" season eight reunion special, which boosted its streaming numbers. It later became a summertime radio hit, reaching No. 1 on the Hot 100 in June 2025, nearly four months after its release.

    "Ordinary" spent nine consecutive weeks atop the chart before rebounding for its milestone 10th in late August.

    Read the original article on Business Insider
  • 3 holiday shopping rules I swear by after two decades investing in small businesses

    A woman uses a computer and iphone to shop and looks down at a credit card to pay.
    Slow spending, gift cards, and reviews are the keys to helping small businesses stay viable after the holidays.

    • KK Hart, an entrepreneur, said shoppers often misunderstand the support that small businesses need.
    • Slow, intentional buying and leaving reviews can meaningfully boost a small brand's revenue.
    • Treat purchases as investments that strengthen small businesses and have an individual impact.

    This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with KK Hart, a 40-year-old multi-entrepreneur and business acquisition expert based in Dallas. It's been edited for length and clarity.

    For the past 20 years of my career, I've supported small businesses. First as a consultant and then, through an unexpected journey, in business acquisition. As a non-institutional investor — which means I use my own money to invest and am not part of a fund or organization — I've purchased and led 10 small businesses, from brick-and-mortar fitness studios to skincare brands such as Ghost Democracy, my most recent acquisition.

    As someone who has seen the inner workings of many businesses, I can say there's a mismatch between what consumers think small businesses need during this time of year and what they actually want. My passion is helping consumers understand how they can improve a small brand's profit margin and long-term viability during the holiday season and beyond.

    Here are three high-impact shopping strategies to try.

    KK Hart wears a light blue t-shirt and stands in a park opening a bottle of serum.
    KK Hart has acquired and led more than 10 small businesses.

    Prioritize slow, intentional purchasing

    Shoppers have been trained to value speed and low cost, but small brands generally can't match that. When you look for the free or one-day shipping, you're asking a small business to compete on money — often at a loss, especially when you consider that logistics costs went up this year for small businesses.

    Instead, I like to encourage people to think of intentionality as the new convenience and prioritize slower shopping. I like to start planning what I might buy for the holiday season at the beginning of the year, so that I can shop more slowly in Q3 and Q4.

    When consumers slow down their purchasing and think more carefully about what they're buying, it leads to less friction and fewer returns, which are a massive cost for retailers. If you go slower, you have a week or two to ask the brand questions, like about their formulation or how they stack up to a competitive brand, and ensure you're making the best purchase for you. People are always surprised to find that small businesses actually respond honestly.

    If you've missed a shipping deadline for a small business this year, go for gift cards. Gift cards are 100% cash flow for a small business, minimize returns, and allow your gift recipient to choose what they actually want.

    Give back to businesses in other ways beyond the holiday season

    The heart of this season is about giving and joy. I can tell you that business owners would like to have a lot of joy year-round — not just during the holiday season.

    Yes, that can mean buying throughout the year and being a repeat customer to the brands you love. The post-holiday rush in January is a cash flow desert for many businesses.

    Support can also look like leaving a review. While there's a lot of emphasis on the dollar amount going to small businesses, feedback can matter just as much. Your purchase in December and your review shortly thereafter could fuel purchases in July and August when things aren't as exciting. That creates more than money in the moment — it gives us a marketing asset all year long.

    Think of your spending as an investment

    Finally, think beyond the items you want to own and focus on how you can make an impact. When you consider what you really want from a product and purchase, you think differently than what's the lowest cost and the most convenient.

    Anytime I spend money, even as a consumer, I like to think about who I'm investing in. It's impactful to put your money into a small business, where it goes directly into a family's pocket and could impact their business for generations to come. When you invest in a brand in this way, you give them more than just your immediate gratification.

    Additionally, it's also good to purchase items on first-party platforms, or a business's direct website, which places the marketplace commission back into the owner's hands. This is often overlooked, but a truly tangible way to make an impact.

    Essentially, you want to go from being a customer to thinking like a capital owner. That was my journey — realizing that the real impact is not in what you buy, but what you can help create with the money you spend.

    Read the original article on Business Insider