Culture & entertainment
Discover facts about culture & entertainment. Small discoveries that change the way you see familiar things.
Culture & entertainment
One songwriter connects Britney Spears to The Weeknd
Max Martin helped write hits including ...Baby One More Time and Blinding Lights. His credits link performers with very different public identities through…
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Why Metallica's bass nearly vanished
On “...And Justice for All,” Lars Ulrich pushed Jason Newsted's bass so low in the mix that it nearly disappears, giving the album its famously hollow sound.
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Fake ice cream can be a model made from frosting
Food stylists can mix frosting and powdered sugar into a scoop that holds its shape for photography. It may stand in when another product, such as a topping,…
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Sea shanties were once tools for heavy labor
Their rhythms helped sailors coordinate strenuous jobs such as pulling ropes and hauling sails.
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Why movie babies often come in pairs
Labor laws limit how long an infant can work under set lights, so productions may cast identical twins and alternate them.
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An idol's dating ban became a dispute over the right to a private life
In a 2016 Japanese case, a court rejected an agency's damages claim against a performer who had dated despite a contractual restriction. The business wanted…
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Hollywood animals get better labor protections than humans
Animal performers must follow limits on working hours, take frequent breaks, and have representatives on set. Human crew members, by contrast, may work…
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Woodstock was far muddier than the legend
Organizers underestimated the crowd, leading to collapsed fences, overflowing toilets, traffic jams, and a serious food shortage.
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Top secret film scripts are heavily watermarked for leaks
Studios can give each actor's script a unique watermark, making it possible to trace a leaked copy back to its recipient.
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This concert kept going for more than 18 days
In 2017, musicians at Ontario's Earl of Whitchurch pub sustained a concert for 437 hours, 54 minutes, and 40 seconds. Performers rotated rather than one band…
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Why classical musicians take beta blockers
Beta blockers slow the heart rate and can reduce the trembling and other physical symptoms of performance anxiety, helping musicians steady their hands during…
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An ordinary egg beat Kylie Jenner on Instagram
In January 2019, an account asked users to make a plain brown egg the platform's most-liked photo. People joined the challenge and overtook Jenner's record.…
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Most podcasts disappear before finding an audience
Many shows stop because creators underestimate the work of keeping up a weekly release schedule.
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Why K-pop idols often share tiny dorms
Agencies say sharing cramped bedrooms and bathrooms builds camaraderie, while also keeping idols under close management control—even after they become…
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Why Van Halen hid a brown M&M clause
The band’s heavy, complex touring rig made safety checks crucial. Brown M&Ms backstage signaled that promoters may not have read the rider—and that other…
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ASMR creators aggressively tap on mundane household objects
Slow taps on wooden blocks, brushes across synthetic sponges, and crinkling plastic wrappers can draw millions of views from people who find the sounds…
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How inflatable pools became a streaming loophole
Some streamers used shallow inflatable pools to get around clothing rules, attracting viewers and digital donations while appearing to lounge in the water.
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A researcher studied why critics love to hate Nickelback
Salli Anttonen analyzed Finnish album reviews from 2000–2014 and found repeated arguments about authenticity: originality, commercial success and whether the…
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Daft Punk made the disguise more famous than their faces
The helmets gave Thomas Bangalter and Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo a public identity separate from their private lives. Interviews, videos, and performances…
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Pinterest is overwhelmingly dominated by suburban mothers
Users turn to it for mason-jar crafts, rustic wedding ideas, and slow-cooker recipes.
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Theater wardrobes use vodka to freshen costumes
Between performances, some wardrobe teams mist suitable garments with diluted vodka to reduce odors when frequent washing would damage the costume. It is a…
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Celine Dion nearly rejected her biggest hit
She thought the song sounded awful and refused to record it until her manager persuaded her to make one demo. That reluctant take became a huge hit.
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Why movie posters from the same genre look alike
Studios reuse familiar genre layouts, such as floating heads or a protagonist staring over a shoulder, so posters quickly signal what kind of movie to expect.
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LinkedIn now harbors extremely annoying corporate influencers
LinkedIn has become a stage for long, emotional posts about mundane work tasks, such as answering basic emails.
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