Latest news with #financialstruggles
News24
19 hours ago
- Entertainment
- News24
Senior Oat opens up about financial struggles - ‘I just want bookings'
Senior Oat's soul-stirring melodies once lit up the airwaves, resonating deeply with fans who found solace in his music. His 2022 anthem 'All in You' became a beacon of hope for many. So, where has the talented artist been? After a long period of being quiet, Senior Oat recently broke his silence, bravely sharing a candid post on his Facebook page about his financial struggles and how difficult it has been for him to score gigs or bookings, sparking widespread concern. Read more | 'It represents healing' - Cici opens up about her new album Mafadi 'Albert' Mogale, popularly known as Senior Oat, is a South African deep and soulful house music producer and DJ from Limpopo. He rose to fame in 2022 with his hit single 'All in You' featuring Kemy Chienda, a song that took the nation by storm. Speaking with Drum, he opened up about the harsh realities of the industry, his journey, the emotional toll of his struggles, including the lessons he learned along the way, and what's next for his career. How are you feeling given your circumstances and challenges? I'm okay, and I'm hopeful that everything will work out, so I can safely say I'm fine. This has been ongoing for quite some time, but I just didn't expect it to escalate this quickly. I thought I had it under control. 2022 was my biggest year with the 'All in You' single, and I thought that was my breakthrough, but after that, things started going south for me. I haven't been getting gigs or bookings. We were and still are begging for bookings. What made you take the hard decision of posting about your financial struggles? I was just hit by the reality of how things have turned and decided to pour my heart out. I didn't even tell my manager that I was going to post that, but it was just my emotions. I woke up one morning, I think it was around 3 or 4 AM, and I posted that as I asked myself if I bottle this, how long will I be able to do that? Rather, I ask for help because people won't know if I keep quiet. I poured my heart out on that post, then I went to sleep. When I woke up, it had garnered a lot of reactions from people than I had imagined, and many were sharing it. I'm not looking for donations or financial handouts. And this is not because of pride or anything, but just my work ethic. I want to work for my comeback doing what I love, and I have no problem with people getting donations, but I would prefer putting in the work, and that would be achieved by getting gigs. As a deep or soulful house DJ, do you feel like the industry has shifted in a way that's making it harder for artists in your genre to get bookings? In my opinion, the deep house community almost feels like a 'cult', I'm saying this in the sense it's not too saturated but here people know people, they know each other and when there's gigs, they book each other based on their relationships, and if you don't have any connections, you will not get bookings. Additionally, most deep house DJs don't view my music as deep house, and I think that's where the problem is. They don't think I make music worthy of being labelled as 'deep house,' according to them. There was even a debate on my music, as they say or call my music 'deep house lite,' and maybe in their eyes, I'm diluting what they've been working hard to achieve for this genre. What do you think artists need to do to stay relevant in today's music industry, especially when it comes to bookings? After the 'All in You' era, I haven't released that much music, and I also think that was due to the pressure I was getting back then, it was too much as people expected my next album or single to do similar or even better in numbers than 'All in You,' and I think I let fear and the pressure consume me back then, yes I still released music, but not better than 'All in You'. I think for anyone to get bookings or consider getting booked, you need to have more music out there. But for you to stay relevant, you must not be scared to be different and be who you are. Don't get pressured by the rising numbers of artists, but instead make sure you find your niche and master it. And not everyone's going to be a fan of your music, but make sure to take care of your supporters by giving them music that will feed their soul, and that's how you will stay relevant. What are some of the lessons you've learnt in the industry? One of the many lessons I've learned is not to be too trusting in this industry. You can work with someone for 4 - 5 months, and they'll betray you in the 6th month. Also, it hit me amidst all this that I haven't been taking my career as a 'career.' I just took it as a hobby and that's what got me here now. I'd give out favours because I trusted and knew people, they would just come to me when they were hosting shows to ask me to perform at their events and promise to pay me, and I'd take their word because I know them, but when it's time to pay, they'd not deliver on their end of the bargain. Now, I've decided to take my career as seriously as it is and have limitations to the favours I give out, because when you're going through the darkest of days, you're alone. Do you have any new music or collaborations on the works currently? Yes, I have a new EP single coming out this Friday called 'The purge,' and then an album slated for late September. During the creative process of my EP and the album altogether, the overarching theme of forgiveness has been a guiding force in this process and work. I have learned to forgive, heal, and move on, and I have poured all my heart and soul into my upcoming projects. Do you have any message of hope to anyone going through a hard time? In my 2022 single 'All in You,' I say, 'When I look into the mirror, it's Your grace I see, it's Your mercy I see, it's Your love I feel. To anyone going through something, do not give up. Faith is very important. Always keep your eyes fixed on God. Continue doing what you love but keep God in mind. And if you have a dream, chase it, for as long as you've dreamed about it, you can achieve it with hard work and God by your side.
The Sun
a day ago
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Kids TV star admits he's ‘struggling to pay rent' after being underpaid for huge hit shows
DRAKE Bell has admitted he's "struggling to pay rent" after being underpaid for his huge hit shows. Kids TV star Drake, 39, opened up about his financial struggles in a new interview, claiming his work with Nickelodeon hasn't provided the long-term security many people assume. 5 The actor shot to fame on The Amanda Show and later became a household name thanks to Drake & Josh, which ran for three years and remains hugely popular in reruns. But despite the show's lasting success, Drake says he's far from wealthy - and is still worried about how to pay the bills. Appearing on The Unplanned Podcast, he said public assumptions about his wealth couldn't be further from the truth. He said: 'That's the perception of the world, it's always been this way. It's like, you know, 'Oh, you made a Folgers Coffee commercial. You must live in a mansion in Hollywood. Like, I saw you on TV. You're rich.' 'That's far from the case. And especially, which is the bummer for most of us on Nickelodeon, we don't get residuals for our shows.' Drake said that unlike the contracts seen by many adult stars, his Nickelodeon deals involved one-off payments. This means he doesn't earn anything when his shows air today - even as they continue to reach new audiences via streaming and syndication. He said: "If I had a fair contract, I'd be seeing money from that work now." He pointed to the cast of Friends as an example of how different things could've looked. Drake added: 'The Friends cast at the peak was making a million dollars an episode. You make 13 episodes that year, you make $13,000,000. You make 20 episodes that year, you make $20,000,000, right? Drake Bell tells Today Show kept his 'child sex abuse a secret' because he was afraid of the reaction 'But right now, each cast member of Friends just in syndication alone is making over $20,000,000 a year, and they're not filming a show every week. "They're not going to work, but they're playing their show and they're using their likeness and they're doing all this, so they get paid for it.' Even as his own show lands in the Netflix top 10, Drake says he's figuring out how to cover rent, continuing: 'Netflix just bought it, it's top 10 on Netflix, and I gotta figure out how to pay my rent this month." 'And some fat cat with a cigar is just sitting up at the top of Viacom just going [chuckles]. What do you call it? It's just like getting high on child labor.' He added that many people don't realise how little control young performers have behind the scenes: 'People don't understand how the business works, the business side of this. They just see what the perception is on Instagram and social media and all the glitz and the glamour of Hollywood. 'We're putting in all of this work. This corporation is making billions with a 'B' off of us, and we're being compensated for the week of work, cool, but that's it. 'And forever, in perpetuity, it literally says in the contract, across universes and galaxies and planets.' Drake also alleged that he experienced sexual abuse while working on set, saying the challenges he's faced as an adult are the result of deep-rooted issues within the industry. He said: 'It's a lot of evil, corrupt people. That's the only thing, that is the answer. There's no other answer. 'Do everything that they do to us mentally and emotionally, and then throw us to the wolves. And we're like, okay, cool. I got rent this month. There are three channels doing marathons.' Drake's finances aren't the only part of his past under scrutiny. In 2021, he was sentenced to two years' probation and 200 hours of community service after pleading guilty to child endangerment involving a teenage fan. The case involved a girl who met Drake online when she was 12 and later attended one of his shows in Ohio at 15. In court, she accused him of grooming her from an early age and of sexually abusing her. However, Drake wasn't charged with any sexual offences. Speaking about the case last year, he denied any abuse and said he only pleaded guilty because he was in no position to fight a legal battle. 'I responded on some DMs and was incredibly irresponsible and got myself into conversations that I shouldn't have had,' He said on the Not Skinny But Not Fat podcast: "I responded on some DMs and was incredibly irresponsible and got myself into conversations that I shouldn't have had. 'I ended up finding out that I was talking to someone that I shouldn't have been talking to, and it snowballed into these allegations that were not true, and it just turned into this big thing.' Drake said he pleaded guilty because he had just become a father and couldn't afford a drawn-out trial. He claimed: '[I] ended up pleading guilty, because financially I was just devastated, and I had just had a son and I didn't want to put my family through all of this anymore. 'I ended up going through the process the way that I did. Very regretful.' He said he wasn't aware of the girl's age when they first interacted online, and once he found out, he claims he ended communication. 'I was doing everything I could to kind of keep my distance,' he said. Drake also insisted that some of the most serious claims were investigated and found to be untrue. He said: 'A lot of the things she said about sending inappropriate pictures and things like this, it was able to be investigated and show that none of that existed.' Still, he admitted fault for having the conversations in the first place, saying: 'I did have those conversations and I took responsibility for that.' Reflecting on his past decisions, Drake said: 'There's just so much that I've had to deal with, and through that, like I said, not having the tools or not knowing how to process things, I made a lot of decisions in my life that I shouldn't have made and hurt a lot of people. 'But now, where I am in my life now, I think that I'm finally at a place where I can process and deal with this through therapy that I've been through and actively going through, unearthing all of these things and being able to face them head on for really the first time in my life.' 5 5 5 5
Daily Mail
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Real Housewives of New Jersey star risks new war with Teresa Giudice as she makes scathing remarks about her money problems
Teresa Giudice 's financial struggles have been brought up aimong the Real Housewives of New Jersey cast, despite the show being on pause. In March, it was reported that the Real Housewives of New Jersey star and her husband Luis 'Louie' Ruelas owed over $3 million in New Jersey state taxes. To date, Teresa, 53, has since paid off a $303,889 tax lien issued against her earlier this year, and Louie, 50, has paid off a December 2024 tax lien of $163,523. The amount in remaining taxes owed is $2,569,842, which stems from a March state tax lien filed against Louie, according to judgments seen by Daily Mail. Speaking to the Daily Mail on Tuesday at a Bella magazine event, RHONJ star Margaret Josephs, 58, shared how the cast is reacting to the 'unfortunate' news of the couple's money problems. 'I think everybody's used to unfortunate things, and no one wants anything bad. Regardless of how anybody feels about her, no one wants to see a sinking ship,' Margaret said, as she attended Bella magazine's cover party, Shorechella. Margaret is well known for her tense relationship with Teresa, and is especially close with Melissa Gorga, Teresa's estranged sister-in-law. When asked for her reaction to her costar's money issues, she insisted, 'I feel sorry for her, truthfully. No one wants that, and I hope she gets out of it. 'Truthfully, it's an unfortunate circumstance for that to happen [to] her again.' She continued: 'I mean, it sucks...I mean, what am I going to say? It sucks. I wish she would've made better choices in her partner in life, but I feel bad. 'I don't want anything bad for her. I never did.' Teresa married Louie in August 2022, almost a year after they got engaged, in an over-the-top wedding that was filmed as part of special episode. When asked if Louie has been positive for her life, Margaret responded, 'Obviously not!' 'I hope he helps get out of everything,' she added. However, she continued: 'I really don't even think about them truthfully until someone asks me. I try not to.' To date, Teresa has since paid off the $303,889 tax lien issued against her, and Louie has paid off his December 2024 tax lien of $163,523. The remaining taxes owed is $2,569,842, which is from a March state tax lien filed against Louie, according to judgments seen by Daily Mail After the news broke about Teresa and Louie's new legal problems, fans suspected that Teresa had 'learned nothing' from her previous marriage after she and her former husband Joe Giudice were sentenced to prison after pleading guilty in 2014 to 41 counts of bank, mail, wire and bankruptcy fraud. Joe also admitted to not filing a tax return from 2004 through 2008. Teresa ultimately spent 11 months in federal prison before Joe spent 41 months in prison. He was then deported to Italy in 2019 - but is now living in the Bahamas. He has been begging for President Donald Trump to pardon him so he can be reunited with his four daughters - Gia, 24, Gabriella, 20, Milania, 19, and Audriana, 15 - back in the United States. The mom-of-four has yet to address her tax problems and instead shut down an interview with Chicago's WGN-9 News on June 20, as seen in a viral video. When one of the hosts asked her, 'How is it that a family doesn't pay their taxes for years?' a visibly angry Giudice said: 'Okay, I'm done now.' She then fumbled to hang up her phone, and the perplexed hosts wondered, 'She didn't like that question! Isn't that part of the show?' 'I would love to have taught her crisis PR because I'm really good at it,' Margaret remarked, while adding that Teresa 'should have answered' the question. 'I think she could have handled the interview better,' she said. 'I would have handled it differently.' The fashion designer noted that she has not been in touch with Teresa since the season 14 finale, which aired on August 4, 2024 - followed by the nontraditional reunion, in which the divided cast filmed in separate rooms. 'We ended things on a very unfortunate note,' she told the Daily Mail as she insisted that they would not be on good terms again. 'I think our ship has sailed. Again, I don't want anything bad for her and her family. I hope they move on happily, but I think our ship has sailed,' she shared. RHONJ fans are still wondering what will happen to the future of the show since the cast - or potential new cast - has not begun filming. During an interview with The View on June 3, Andy Cohen revealed that the show 'was really on a deep pause,' but said they've since been 'actively' casting and 'looking at the future of what that will be.' It's unclear at this time who, if any, will be returning for the next season or if the show is going to be rebooted. Last season followed the lives of Margaret, Teresa, Melissa, Rachel Fuda, Dolores Catania, Danielle Cabral and Jennifer Aydin along with friend of the show, Jackie Goldschneider. Margaret told Daily Mail that she has 'referred some people' to casting producers for the next season of RHONJ, but insisted 'there's no update' Margaret told Daily Mail that she has 'referred some people' to casting producers, but 'there's no update.' However, she will be attending BravoCon in November in Las Vegas along with the other confirmed RHONJ stars Teresa, Melissa and Dolores.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Matador Restaurant Group files for bankruptcy
Matador Restaurant Group, a Del Taco franchisee operating 22 outlets, has declared bankruptcy amidst financial struggles. The South Carolina, US-based company reported assets and liabilities each between $1m and $10m, alongside more than $2.7m in merchant cash advance (MCA) debts. Matador's owner, Red Door Brands, manages other food chains including Little Caesars and Arby's. But they have not faced similar financial issues and will undergo separate bankruptcy proceedings, as reported in RestaurantBusinessOnline. Each filing pointed to the Del Taco operations and the MCA financing as the root of their problems. Court documents reveal that the Del Taco restaurants began struggling in late 2024 due to 'company growth, an unexpected decline in sales and rising operational costs.' The company resorted to MCA financing as a temporary solution to address cash flow problems, based on the advice of its brokers. MCA providers in the case of Matador have recently intensified collection efforts, with several creditors asserting their interests through UCC-1 [Uniform Commercial Code] financing statements and one placing a lien on the company's accounts. This action has complicated the brand's operations, prompting the bankruptcy filing to halt collections and facilitate reorganisation. In February 2025, Del Taco signed an agreement to open ten outlets in Indiana. The following month, Del Taco abruptly closed almost all its restaurants in Colorado, US, without unveiling details of its decision. These closures, undertaken by franchisee Newport Ventures, are reportedly due to bankruptcy proceedings involving the franchisee. In June 2025, the chain announced plans for a significant expansion into the Louisville, Kentucky area through a five-store development deal with new franchisee and local restaurant operator Karan Pandher, marking the chain's first entry into the Louisville market. "Matador Restaurant Group files for bankruptcy" was originally created and published by Verdict Food Service, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Sign in to access your portfolio
Reuters
15-07-2025
- Business
- Reuters
Avelo Airlines to close US West Coast base amid backlash over deportation flights
July 14 - Avelo Airlines, a Texas-based budget carrier, said on Monday it will close its base at Hollywood Burbank Airport as it struggles financially, amid calls to boycott the airline over its decision to operate deportation flights under a contract with the Trump administration. Avelo signed a contract with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security in April to transport migrants to detention centers inside and outside the U.S. The company said it will reduce its operation at the airport to one aircraft until December 2 and then close the base which currently serves 13 routes. Avelo said the protests and its contract with DHS did not have any effect on its decision to close the base and have not impacted its business. "We believe the continuation service from (Burbank) in the current operating environment will not deliver adequate financial returns in a highly competitive backdrop," the company said in a statement. Avelo said it had made several changes over the past few years to its West Coast operations but they did not produce the results necessary to continue presence there. The company has faced a backlash from employees and customers due to its partnership with the DHS. Protests have cropped up across the country from outside the Burbank Airport to their hub in New Haven, Connecticut, calling on the airline to end its partnership with the DHS and for customers to boycott the carrier. Nancy Klein, from Hollywood, California, said she has organized seven protests in collaboration with activist groups CA27Indivisible and East Valley Indivisible in Southern California and believes the company's decision to end their service at the airport is partially due their calls to boycott the airline. "This change in Avelo's business operations is some evidence that being on the right side of history, while being principled and persistent, can make a difference," Klein said in a statement. Klein said she is planning the next protest against the carrier at Burbank Airport on July 27.
