Latest news with #PrivateEyes'
Perth Now
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
Daryl Hall believes that he helped break down racial barriers in music
Daryl Hall believes that he blazed a trail for modern artists. The 78-year-old singer found fame as the lead vocalist in duo Hall and Oates - alongside John Oates - during the 1970s and 1980s and considers himself a "pioneer" for helping to destroy racial barriers in music. Daryl told Classic Pop magazine: "I was one of those pioneers in breaking down those barriers between Black music and white music, whatever that means. "My earliest success was on Black radio in America. I had to break into the white pop world in America. That was secondary, after the fact. So that's where my roots are. That's where my initial success started." The 'Maneater' vocalist added: "I think it had a lot to do with me as a singer and my background. "Being from Philly, a very colourblind area, helped me be able to break those barriers down. Luckily, I figured out how to do it." Daryl is now performing solo as he finds himself embroiled in an legal battle with John after he sued his musical partner in 2023 to prevent him from selling their stake in publishing company Whole Oats Enterprises and admits that he feels less constrained playing alone. He explained: "I really was restricted. When I was (performing) with John on stage, we had this rule that we couldn't play any other work than what we did under the Hall and Oates name. "And it was very restrictive to me, because I love all those solo songs - I wrote most of them - but there was a lot that I had been doing over the years that I couldn't play. I had no outlet. "So now, I'm completely liberated and it's much more fun." Daryl also believes that his soulful singing voice has gotten better with age. The 'Private Eyes' hitmaker explained: "Well, with age and maturity, my voice has mellowed and kind of opened up in a way. I had maybe more high note facility as a young guy. You know, I could sing into the stratosphere. Now, I've lost a little of that, but I've gained other things. "I'm basically a soul singer, and I think my voice is more appropriate sounding to my emotions and my soulful thing than it used to be when I was a young kid. "So, it came from wisdom and experience. And a few whiskeys, too."
Yahoo
24-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Blue Ant Media Going Public Through Reverse Takeover Of Boat Rocker Media
Canada's Blue Ant Media will go public after completing a deal for listed compatriot Boat Rocker Media. The agreement will see the Michael MacMillan-owned Blue Ant listing on the Toronto Stock Exchange through a reverse takeover of Boat Rocker, whose management is concurrently buying out its studios business. More from Deadline Mike Myers Joins Canadian Election Campaign & New PM With True North & "Elbows Up" Battle Cry Against Trump Jason Priestley & Cindy Sampson Reprise Roles In 'Private Eyes' Spinoff 'American Pie' Actress Jasmine Mooney Describes "Deeply Disturbing" 12-Day Detention At I.C.E. Facilities Boat Rocker, which makes the likes of The Great Canadian Baking Show, is already listed on the TSX, and the agreement will see it acquiring all outstanding shares in Blue Ant in exchange for subordinate voting shares in the resulting business. Once the deal closes, the company will be renamed Blue Ant Media Corporation and, subject to regulatory approval, begin trading on the TSX, with Blue Ant shareholders owning about 73.5% of the company and Boat Rocker shareholders taking the rest. MacMillan, who founded Blue Ant, will be the CEO, with Brad Martin the chairman. The reverse takeover – in which a privately-owned company buys a listed one – allows the acquirer to list on the stock market without holding a traditional IPO. The deal, based on a share price of C$2.25 per Blue Ant share, is a 125% premium on Boat Rocker's closing price on Friday. Also part of the agreement, Blue Ant will inherit three Boat Rocker producers in Canada – Insight Productions, Jam Filled Entertainment, and Proper Television, which collectively delivered C$118M in revenue in 2024, based on unaudited results. Blue Ant is headquartered in Toronto, and has offices Los Angeles, New York, Washington, London, Sydney, and Singapore. It generated C$196M in revenues in the fiscal year ending August 31, 2024, a 16% increase year-over-year, and made C$18M in net income. The new-look Blue Ant will receive C$25.5M as a minimum cash balance and working capital, around $11.6M from The Initial Group's ownership of Boat Rocker and several other financial guarantees. Fairfax Financial Holdings, a Blue Ant shareholder, has agreed to support the offering through a C$20M backstop commitment, which would reduce the ownership stakes of Blue Ant and Boat Rocker shareholders if completed. It will also buy Boat Rocker's minority interest in The Initial Group for around C$17M. 'This is an opportunistic moment for Blue Ant to go public, paving the way for long-term value creation,' said MacMillan. 'We are confident that this transaction will unlock significant value for all shareholders. Through the combination of our public listing, a strengthened balance sheet, and significant net cash post-transaction, we believe that we are strategically positioned for profitable global growth, both organically and through M&A.' Best of Deadline How To Watch 'Wicked: Part One': Is The Film Streaming Yet? All The Songs In 'Severance' Season 2: From The Who To Ella Fitzgerald 2025 TV Series Renewals: Photo Gallery Sign in to access your portfolio
