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Blake, Wm. The Progress of Poesy- Page 5. 1797.

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Spotify is reportedly developing a “Music Pro” tier, charging up to $18 per month in the U.S. This is $6 more per month than the $12 Premium plan.

Planned perks include early-access concert tickets, an AI-powered remix tool, and higher-fidelity audio. Spotify is still negotiating rights with major record labels, with Sony yet to sign on.

CEO Daniel Ek calls 2025 “the year of accelerated execution” and says Spotify is tailoring experiences for “superfans,” who spend significantly more on music. Superfans are estimated to make up 20% of U.S. music listeners, spending $113 monthly on concerts and 105% more on physical music.

UMG’s COO and CFO predict 20-30% of paying music subscribers will eventually join superfan tiers. He expects more streaming platforms to introduce rival superfans-focused tiers.

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Blake, Wm. The Book of Ahania, object 1. 1795.

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Starbucks is laying off 1,100 corporate employees and pausing hiring for hundreds of open roles.

CEO Brian Niccol said the layoffs aim to “simplify structure” and improve efficiency, accountability, and integration. Store employees will not be impacted.

Starbucks has 16,000 corporate and roasting operations employees, but not all teams are affected. The company is focusing on boosting U.S. sales and improving the customer experience.

Since Niccol became CEO in September, Starbucks has reduced promotions, reinstated purchase requirements for store restrooms, and encouraged baristas to handwrite notes on cups.

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Blake, Wm. The Great Red Dragon and the Woman Clothed with the Sun- "The Devil is Come Down." 1805.

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At CES 2025, Realbotix showcased Aria, a $175,000 AI-powered humanoid robot with 17 motors for lifelike facial expressions and real-time conversation. Though she hesitates before responding, her movements and speech mimic human interaction.

Aria was designed for companionship, allowing users to swap faces and hairstyles, and future updates may let her recognize different faces and adjust personality accordingly. Realbotix sees potential roles for Aria in hospitals and theme parks.

Three versions are available: a $10,000 bust, a $150,000 modular version, and the $175,000 full-body model with a rolling base since she cannot yet walk like a human.

When asked about other robots, Aria said: “I’m particularly interested in meeting Tesla’s Optimus robot. I find him fascinating.”

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Blake, Wm. Joseph and Potiphar's Wife. 1780.

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Twitch star Kai Cenat has announced a weekend-long “streaming university” to teach aspiring creators. He will rent a university, set up dorms, and allow both small and big streamers to participate.

Major influencers like MrBeast and Mark Rober are expected to teach classes, with Rober leading science experiments and MrBeast covering financial lessons. Cenat will serve as the “principal.”
Applicants who don’t get in can reapply next semester. Online reactions were mixed, with some excited and others mocking it as a “clown college.”

The 23-year-old streamer earned $8.5 million in 2024, ranking No. 24 on Forbes’ top creators list. Live-streaming viewership hit 8.5 billion hours in Q4 2024, a 12% increase from the previous year.

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Blake, Wm. Dante Conversing with Farinata Degli Uberti, object 21. 1824.

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Hanceville, Alabama put its entire police department on leave after the chief and four officers were arrested. A grand jury linked them to negligence in a 911 dispatcher’s overdose death.

Investigators found severe security failures, including an evidence room breach where officers accessed drugs through a hole in the wall using a broom.

Charges include drug distribution, tampering with evidence, and abuse of office. The grand jury called the department “more of a criminal organization than a law enforcement agency.”

The Hanceville City Council votes on February 27 on whether to permanently disband the department.

Cullman District Attorney Champ Crocker said: “The evidence room was not secure and was routinely accessed by individuals who were not authorized to do so.”