This is a time when you would rather listen to the latest black entertainment news than endure another heated debate about gun laws. A time when you would rather get lost in the latest Hollywood gossip than have to worry about the safety of children while they are in school. And while no one should stick their head in the sand and completely ignore all of the news and current events that will have a direct impact on our lives, there are many days where watching or reading about black entertainment news or scanning a gossip site seems like a very good break.
We live in complicated and divisive times. From the news of the latest school shootings to student protests to the fact that another major winter storm is heading toward the east coast, it can seem like everything on the news is stressful and scary. The fact of the matter is, however, there are other less important stories that can provide a welcome distraction and a chance to spend time thinking about the extraordinary, the funny, and the motivational. If you need a break from the hardest hitting news stories of the day, consider some of these interesting facts:
- The combined revenue for the celebrity gossip industry reaches as much as $3 billion every year.
- With its placement on 120 channels and an audience of 10 million people, the Oprah Winfrey Show grossed $125 million by the end of its first year, of which Winfrey received $30 million. In total, her show aired for 25 seasons, starting in 1986 and running through 2011.
- Tyra Banks is the first African American to be featured on the covers of several major magazines. She was featured on GQ in February 1996, the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue in 1996, and the Victoria’s Secret lingerie catalog on several occasions.
- 6.94 million people in America visited RandB, rap, and hip-hop concerts within a period of 12 months prior to the spring of 2008.
- $500 billion is the amount of annual spending power the hip hop demographics contribute to the nation’s economy every year.
- With an annual income of $300 million between 2014 and 2015, Floyd Mayweather was the highest celebrity earner.
In a time when the evening news can seem very overwhelming, many people look for the distractions that are provided within the black entertainment news industry.
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