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Nicki Minaj’s Team Raised Concerns Over Pink Friday 2’s $250K Promo Budget

An internal fight over promotional dollars has flared ahead of the rollout of Nicki Minaj’s Pink Friday 2, part of an ongoing lawsuit over the album’s 2023 campaign.

Minaj’s team called Republic Records’ offer of a $250,000 allowance for a week of promotion in New York “extremely low” in new evidence filed in the case. TMZ reported an email from a member of Minaj’s team that estimated the promotional week would cost at least double that amount. The message apparently warned that hotels and transport alone could gobble up the entire allocation.

The internal budget discussion suggested some of the expected expenditures. The amount included $18,000 for six days of photography and videography and $4,200 for tailoring for the same period. “Travel expenses were another issue raised, with one email asking if Minaj’s son would be traveling with her. The same discussion noted that Minaj’s regular flight rider already cost over $2,000 per leg. The suggested $10,000 travel allowance was considered difficult to work with by comparison.

The emails are now part of a lawsuit filed by 24/7 Productions, a live events company that worked on Minaj’s 2023 Jingle Ball appearances and the New York promotional activities around Pink Friday 2.

24/7 Productions sued Minaj and Pink Friday Productions in March, claiming it fronted more than $275,000 in costs related to the work and never got paid back. Minaj’s team approved the budgets in advance, the company said, and it handled production and logistics for the performances.

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The case is pending in the New York Supreme Court. Minaj has denied personal liability for the alleged debt. In July, she asked the court to dismiss her from the lawsuit personally, saying the agreement in question was between 24/7 Productions and Pink Friday Productions LLC. She said she did not owe any money because any alleged debt was to the company, not to her.

The newly released emails do not establish who is ultimately responsible for the money in question. But they do offer a window into the financial expectations of the promotional campaign for Pink Friday 2, as well as the costs Minaj’s team anticipated for the New York portion of the rollout.

 

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Eminem’s music publisher sues Suno for $41 million in a copyright case over AI music.

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Eminem’s music catalog is at the center of a new legal battle over artificial intelligence, with his publisher, Eight Mile Style, reportedly suing AI music company Suno for $41 million. The lawsuit alleges the company used copyrighted recordings of the Detroit rapper without permission to train its generative music model. Eminem is not said to be named as a plaintiff. Still, the case puts rights associated with some of his most famous compositions at the center of an ongoing debate over how AI companies use existing music.

The lawsuit was filed in federal court in San Francisco, according to AllHipHop. Suno is accused of using copyrighted content from Eminem’s catalog to train its model, and the generated output allegedly resembles his work, according to Eight Mile Style. The publisher reportedly has the rights to 269 of the rapper’s compositions, including “The Real Slim Shady,” “Lose Yourself,” and “Stan.”

The suit lists financial demands, including $150,000 for each composition, and $672,000 concerning the alleged removal of copyright information. The total amount being sought is said to be $41 million. That figure, however, is what the plaintiffs are seeking in damages, and is not to be confused with a sum that has already been awarded in court. The allegations and demands in the lawsuit are only allegations in an ongoing legal dispute.

In a statement made to Billboard, Suno has responded to the accusations. “The company said its purpose is to help people create new and original music, not capitalize on an artist’s name or likeness. It also said it bans unauthorized use of an artist’s work and does not allow prompts that ask for specific artists’ names and songs.

The company said it also uses third-party providers to scan uploaded audio files and lyrics for possible misuse. Suno said the measures are part of an effort to strengthen protections for artists and users, and that it plans to roll out more safeguards. It offers a different description of how the platform handles copyright issues, while the Eight Mile Style lawsuit challenges whether those protections are adequate.

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The dispute raises a complicated question for the music industry: how should copyright law apply to generative artificial intelligence systems trained with existing creative works? The problem is even more difficult when a platform can generate new material that purports to imitate the style or sound of an established artist. Legal battles over AI-generated music, including those involving Suno and others, are one example, such as the one with Eminem’s publisher.

It also raises questions about the relationship between copyrighted recordings, training data, and the material users create through AI platforms. It doesn’t solve those problems of distinguishing the training process from the final output. They are part of the broader legal issues that are fought over in cases like this.

Meanwhile, Eight Mile Style is currently pursuing significant damages for the alleged use of Eminem’s compositions. Suno maintains it has policies and screening mechanisms in place to prevent unauthorized use. The court will need to process the claims according to the law. Until then, the $41 million figure is what is being sought, not a confirmed judgment.

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Nicki Minaj, Drake, Adin Ross and more speculate after alleged Megan Thee Stallion leak

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A leaked recording that appears to mention Nicki Minaj, Drake and streamer Adin Ross has sparked renewed online debate with an alleged Megan Thee Stallion diss track. The audio quickly drew attention over the weekend, with listeners wondering whether it was real or AI-generated. The conversation swung between excitement, skepticism, and speculation, as the recording’s authenticity had not been confirmed at the time of the report.

The alleged leak has brought renewed interest in the history between Megan and Nicki, who had a public rap battle several years ago that became a major talking point. The possibility of another direct shot at Nicki had fans already discussing whether the two artists might be heading toward another chapter of their feud. However, there is no confirmation that the recording is an official Megan song or that the lyrics ascribed to her are real.

Drake and Adin Ross were also dragged into the conversation because of the content heard in the leaked audio. The supposed song apparently includes a line asking which Young Money affiliate was connected to Ross, along with a statement about money being paid through Stake. These allegations remain unconfirmed and should not be treated as fact.

Ross picked up the recording during a Kick stream, where he heard the alleged diss. Akademiks TV captured footage of his reaction on Twitter. Ross said the audio was fake, denied the allegations against him, and said the recording could be a promotion of antisemitism. He also said he had beaten Megan in court before, while still questioning whether the leaked material was authentic.

Ross also said he would forward the alleged recording to his lawyer. The response poured more fuel on the fire online, as the track had already ignited speculation about who it was aimed at and the possibility of a rekindled beef between Megan and Nicki.

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Some social media users have cited copyright takedowns on Twitter as possible evidence the recording is real. Others are unconvinced, saying the audio could have been created by artificial intelligence. Neither response confirms the recording’s authenticity, and the information offered includes no confirmation from Megan or her representatives.

The crux of the story is this indecision. An alleged leak can quickly become a hot topic when it appears to involve big-name artists, but just because it’s being passed around online doesn’t prove that a song is official. AI-generated audio has also made it harder to tell whether a recording is really from the artist whose voice it seems to feature.

For now, the claimed Megan diss is unconfirmed. Ross has publicly questioned its authenticity and denied the allegations attributed to it, while fans continue to debate what the recording means for the relationships involved. Treat the material as a potential leak, not an official Megan Thee Stallion release, until its origin can be verified.

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