The Man Behind the Grammys Gives Us the Inside Scoop
Expect the #TimesUp and #MeToo movements to be heard at this weekend’s Grammy Awards.
“Artists, particularly music artists, are more than music and lyrics,” the show’s executive producer Ken Ehrlich told Cheddar. “We feel it’s important to be a forum for that, as long as it’s responsible and it stays within the limits of what the FCC says you can’t say on TV.“
Celebrities have used this awards season as a platform to speak out against sexual harassment, starting with wearing all-black attire and #TimesUp pins at the Golden Globes earlier this month.
For the Grammys, artists will sport white roses, a statement reportedly started by Roc Nation senior vice president Meg Harkins and Interscopes Karen Rait.
But it won’t all be about politics. Ehrlich didn’t spill any details about the widely-discussed first act for the 60th annual ceremony, but he teased that it’s “something you don’t want to miss.”
“The opening number is not [host] James Corden,” he confirmed. “They’re are artists that have been on our show before, but they’re doing something that you’ve never seen before.”
For full ointerview [click here](https://cheddar.com/videos/grammy-awards-returning-to-new-york-city).
Two of naturalist Charles Darwin’s notebooks that were reported stolen from Cambridge University have been returned, two decades after they disappeared.
Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy makes a heartbreaking plea to the U.N. Security Council, so much Elon Musk news, and an actual fox attacks a lawmaker this time. Here is all the news you Need2Know for Wednesday, April 6, 2022.
Mattel’s Hot Wheels 2022 Legend Tour will be coming to New York City after a tour of 14 countries and five continents. The company is also launching Hot Wheels into the NFT space with the Hot Wheels Garage allowing users to customize digital cars. Richard Dickson, president and COO of Mattel, joined Cheddar News to talk about the tour and the efforts the iconic brand is taking to stay relevant in the digital age. "I think as you look at what's successful brands and toy brands in particular in this particular chapter are going to be about nostalgic brands that have longevity," he said. "We're generational in the context of our portfolio."
The pandemic has seen a historic shift in brand loyalty.
Since the beginning of COVID-19, more than 75% of shoppers have changed their buying habits, and 39% have switched brands or retailers entirely, as inflation and supply shortages have forced them to rethink their purchases, according to McKinsey. Barbara Connors, VP of Commercial Insights at 84.51°, breaks down this shift in brand loyalty and how brands are adapting to it.
Despite headwinds from COVID-19, Omni Hotels and Resorts has been able to stay on track, with many new properties in the works. The hotel and resorts chain has also seen a 50% uptick in revenue across all of its locations compared to its levels in 2019. Peter Strebel, President & CEO of Omni Hotels & Resorts, joined Cheddar to talk about how Omni was able to emerge from the pandemic stronger than ever, and give insight into the expected summer travel surge.
April is World Autism Month. Pamela Dixon, director of clinical services and inclusion at Autism Speaks, joins Cheddar News to discuss the importance of supporting people with autism this month and beyond.
Netflix has created a listing of movies, each around 90 minutes long, to appease users who might be looking for less of a time sink. This comes after a recent SNL sketch featuring Pete Davidson pleading for more "Short A** Movies" in a rap song.
