Report: Shakira to Sign $30-$60 Million Deal With Live Nation and Sony

Shakira is close to inking a deal with Live Nation and Sony to release her next three albums, according to the New York Post. Shakira's new deal will have the two companies teaming up to release new music together while sharing profits from sponsorships, merchandising and recorded music. Sony is expected to handle distribution.

Reports on the deal's amount vary, with The Hollywood Reporter citing an agreement around $30 million while the Post pegs the amount closer to $60 million.

In 2008, Shakira left Sony for a 10-year deal with Live Nation estimated between $70 million and $100 million. She released her last album, Sale el Sol, in 2010.

source: rollingstone.com

Dunkin’ Donuts Introduces Pork Donuts

Just as Dunkin’ Donuts announced it has signed a deal with NBA megastar LeBron James to help promote the doughy brand in Asia, they also announced that they’ll be introduced pork donuts over in China in an attempt to satiate local tastes. Unfortunately, these “savory donuts“ aren’t the only ones Dunkin’ Donuts are working on, as CEO Nigel Travis puts it, they have “a range of other savory products that [they] have been testing and introducing country by country.” This reminds us of those Meat Munchkins.

On top of the pork donuts, Dunkin’ Donuts said they are working on milk and tea bagels with a pork floss topping for release in China as well.

It hasn’t been announced as to whether or not LeBron James will be directly promoting pork donuts, but if you happen to be in China and see LeBron taking a big bite out of some donuts with shredded pork on top, it wouldn’t be a surprise considering he’s now the Asia brand liaison, and China is a pretty large part of Asia. If you’re wondering exactly why a basketball star is the brand liaison for a donut chain, aside from his huge fanbase in China, the chain is called Dunkin’ donuts, after all.

source: http://www.geekosystem.com/dunkin-donuts-pork-donuts-china/

European regulators reported set to OK Google-Motorola deal

European regulators are set to approve Google's plans to acquire Motorola Mobility Monday, according to Reuters.

That could coincide with the timing of U.S. regulators okaying the deal. On Wednesday, the Wall Street Journal reported that the Justice Department would likely approve the $12.5 billion acquisition next week.

The Reuter's article, citing "two people with knowledge of the matter," reported that the European Union's approval would be "unconditional." Rivals had been pushing for restrictions to prevent Google from unfairly promoting its products.

Last month, European regulators set next Monday as the date that it would decide the matter. The date is a month later than the commission had originally planned, a delay caused by regulators seeking more time to review additional documents that Google had submitted to support the deal.

Google announced its plans to buy Motorola last August. While Google makes Android, the mobile operating system used on Motorola's phones, the company had never before been in the hardware business. The deal was driven in large part by Google's interest in beefing up its relatively meager patent portfolio with Motorola's trove of intellectual property.

Google intends to run Motorola as a separate company. Motorola has said that it expects the deal to close early this year.

source: http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-57374862-93/european-regulators-reported-set-to-ok-google-motorola-deal/?tag=mncol