TV best bets for Nov. 25-Dec. 1
Joe Gibbs Bob Lind
Ben Stein
John Larroquette
Tracey Walter
Jonathan Kaplan Charlaine Harris
Bucky Dent Bruno Tonioli Kosar Grossman
Pierce Bush
Jenna Bush Hager
In 1915,
In 1940,
In 1947,
In 1961,
In 1963,
In 1986,
Amy Grant
Bernie
Eric
After more than 12 years, six albums and 10 Grammy
Awards as the star of the Nashville-based Big Machine
Records, Taylor Swift has a new label.
The singer – who became a free agent this month, a year after the release of her latest album, “Reputation” – announced Monday on Instagram that she had signed a multiyear, multialbum agreement with Universal Music
Group and its subsidiary, Republic Records. As part of the deal, Swift, 28, will own her master recordings moving forward, she said.
The terms of the deal were not disclosed.
In photos of a typed note posted to her personal account – a rare, public-facing moment of music business messaging from a star of her stature – Swift added that she had negotiated with digital streaming in mind. The singer said she and Universal agreed that if the company sells any of its equity in Spotify, which went public earlier this year, the money would be distributed to artists.
“It’s really important to me to see eye to eye with a label regarding the future of our industry,” Swift said in her statement. “I feel so motivated by new opportunities created by the streaming world and the ever changing landscape of our industry. I also feel strongly that streaming was founded on and continues to thrive based on the magic created by artists, writers and producers.”
With more than 30 million records sold in the United States, Swift is one of the few artists with the sway to move the industry’s major players toward her. In 2015, just as streaming was taking off, Swift publicly criticized Apple when it said it would not pay royalties during threemonth trial memberships for its new music streaming service; less than 24 hours later, Apple changed course.
Swift has also sparred publicly with
Spotify, removing her catalog from the service for what she said was unfair compensation. Her music returned last year, after Spotify agreed to restrict some music to its paid tier, which pays higher royalties.
Swift also teased new music. “I’m so excited,” she wrote at the end of her note (signing off “love, Taylor”).
“I can’t wait to show you what I’m making next.”
Mark Lanegan
Barbara
DON’T MISS: “Dirty John” – Connie Britton makes a welcome return to television in this harrowing true-crime thriller based on the popular 2017 podcast from Los Angeles Times reporter Christopher Goffard. The series follows a whirlwind romance between Debra Newell (Britton), a Southern California interior designer, and John Meehan (Eric Bana), a charismatic con man, that spiraled into a frightening web of deception, denial and mental terror. The cast also includes Jean Smart. (10 p.m. Sunday, Bravo).
Other bets:
SUNDAY: As we continue to process the departure of Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln), “The Walking Dead” airs its midseason finale. And, of course, the story line delivers a “sur- prising threat” that could doom some of our survivors. (9 p.m., AMC).
MONDAY: Insanity reigns on another season of “The Great Christmas Light Fight.” Among tonight’s contestants is a Florida family that has 72 themed Christmas trees filling the inside of their home from floor to ceiling. (8 p.m., ABC).
MONDAY: “The Truth About Killer Robots” is a revelatory – and eerie – documentary that explores robot-caused deaths, from a factory in Germany to a bomb-carrying police droid in Dallas. Also: a look at more subtle, but pervasive ways that robots affect humanity. (10 p.m., HBO).
TUESDAY: Laugh and call him names all you want, but there’s no denying that “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” continues to be a marquee attraction. The beloved 1964 animated special gets another hollyjolly airing tonight. (8 p.m., CBS).
WEDNESDAY: The annual holiday special “Christmas in Rockefeller Center” returns as they light up that big tree in the Big Apple. The performance list includes Diana Ross, Tony Bennett, Diana Krall, Martina McBride, Pentatonix, Kellie Pickler and more. (8 p.m., NBC).
WEDNESDAY: “A Legendary Christmas with John and Chrissy” is a new special that has John Legend and his wife, Chrissy Teigen, cele- brating the season with family and celebrity friends. Legend also performs songs from his new holiday album. (10 p.m., NBC).
THURSDAY: Break out your mouse ears for “The Wonderful World of Disney: Magical Holiday Celebration.” Gwen Stefani, Meghan Trainor, Brett Eldredge, Andrea and Matteo Bocelli and others perform in a special filmed at the Disney theme parks. (9 p.m., ABC).
FRIDAY: On a new episode of “Blue Bloods,” a video surfaces of cops being harassed by a group of people at a housing complex. It prompts Frank to order a raid to round up anyone with an outstanding warrant – against Garrett’s (Gregory Jbara) advice. (10 p.m., CBS).
FRIDAY: Inspired by a children’s book by Frank McCourt, “Angela’s Christmas” is an animated tale that follows a little Irish girl who causes a bit of a commotion when she attends church and hatches a plan to help baby Jesus stay warm. (Netflix).
SATURDAY: Claire Foy is keeping busy this year, starring in the big-screen films “First Man” and “The Girl in the Spider’s Web.” Now she’s set to make her hosting debut on “Saturday Night Live.” The show’s musical guest is Anderson .Paak. (11:30 p.m., NBC).
Email Chuck Barney at cbarney@bayareanewsgroup .com.