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EU Slams Google $2.7bn Fine

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Google The European Commission found that the U.S. tech giant denied “consumers a genuine choice” by using its search engine to unfairly steer them to its own shopping platform.

Regulators said that Google must change its behavior within 90 days or face additional penalties.

“What Google has done is illegal under EU antitrust rules,” said Margrethe Vestager, the bloc’s top antitrust official. “It denied other companies the chance to compete on the merits and to innovate. And most importantly, it denied European consumers a genuine choice of services and the full benefits of innovation.”

Google said in a statement that it tries to show ads in ways that are helpful for buyers and sellers.

“We respectfully disagree with the conclusions announced today,” a Google spokesperson said. “We will review the Commission’s decision in detail as we consider an appeal, and we look forward to continuing to make our case.”

The Commission said that Google acted illegally by giving priority placement in search results to its own shopping service, while relegating results from rivals to areas where potential buyers were much less likely to click.

It could have fined Google as much as 10% of its annual sales, or roughly $9 billion.

Vestager said Google’s competitors could claim compensation in national courts within the EU. She said hundreds of companies, including some based in the U.S., complained about the way Google displayed its shopping service.

Shares in Google parent company Alphabet dropped by 1.2% in premarket trading.

Tuesday’s fine dwarfs the previous EU record antitrust penalty of €1.06 billion ($1.2 billion) imposed on Intel in 2009. Intel has been fighting to overturn that decision ever since.

Google’s regulatory headache in Europe doesn’t end with the online shopping case, which dates back to 2010.

The EU has also accused the Silicon Valley titan of abusing its market position by imposing restrictions on Android device manufacturers and mobile network operators.

It is also investigating the company’s ad placing service, AdSense.

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Davido kicks as producer Napji calls him out over unpaid royalties

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Davido, the Nigerian singer, has reacted to a claim by Napji, the music producer, that he has yet to complete his payment for “royalties and publishing”.

In an X post on Tuesday, the producer claimed the singer has yet to pay him fully for producing three songs off his 2020 album ‘A Better Time’.

Napji, who claimed to have produced ‘Fem’, ‘Jowo’, and ‘Sunlight’, added that he would release more details soon.

“I am Napji, producer behind Fem, Jowo and sunlight on @davido album (A better time) which was released 13th November 2020,” he wrote.

“I was paid an advance of 500 thousand naira for each of the songs. I will be releasing more information as I seek to collect my royalties & publishing.”

In his reaction, Davido, who neither denied nor confirmed the claim, hurled insults at Napji.

The Afrobeats star had faced similar accusations in the past.

In August 2023, Alabi Adetutu, the Nigerian model, accused Davido of owing her for her role in ‘Wonder Woman’ visuals.

In 2022, Dammy Krane, the singer, also called out Davido to pay him for his contribution to the hit song ‘Pere’.

Krane said despite co-writing the 2017 hit song — which featured Rae Sremmurd and rapper Young Thug — “Davido is yet to pay my outstanding fee”.

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Tyla praises Tems for opening door of global recognition for female artistes in Africa

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Tyla, the South African singer, says Tems, the Nigerian songstress, paved the way for global recognition of female African artistes.

The music stars recently joined forces on ‘No.1’, a song off Tyla’s self titled album.

In a recent interview on Kiss Fresh FM, Tyla described Tems as an “amazing” singer who opened doors for African female artistes globally.

She also expressed gratitude for the opportunity to collaborate with her.

“Amazing. Tems is so talented. She is literally a force. I am so honoured to have worked with her. She has opened so many doors for us,” she said.

“We made such a beautiful song with such a beautiful message. It is a song for the girls and it is made by the girls.”

In 2023, Tyla revealed Tems inspires her as an African artiste.

In response, Tems graciously accepted the accolades, and expressed confidence that Tyla is similarly empowering young South African girls through her music.

“Man, it is an honour, I am very very, 100% sure that she’s inspiring many many many many South African babe, many girls around the world as well”, she said.

Both artistes have continued to enjoy fame globally for their talents.

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Music producer Dr Roy calls out Mercy Chinwo over unpaid debt (Video)

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A Nigerian music producer identified as Dr Roy in a video breaks into tears as he narrates his ordeal while working with gospel singer Mercy Chinwo.

The middle-aged Nigerian music producer tearfully calls out gospel singer Mercy Chinwo over unpaid debt.

Dr Roy made this call out while featuring as a guest on the audio-visual podcast “The Honest Bunch: hosted by media personality Nedu and co-podcasters.

According to Dr Roy, he used to work with gospel singer Mercy Chiwno till 5 am then wake up by 7 am everyday in a back to back manner.

Speaking further, Dr Roy asserts that he produced, Excess Love, Omekannaya, Regular, Receive it and more for Mercy Chinwo and she never paid him.

Dr Roy further breaks into tears while on the podcast as he stressed that he was working hard while with Mercy Chinwo thinking he would make millions to feed his family but she left her with nothing but unpaid debt.

He noted that there was a time he informed Mercy Chinwo that his father had a stroke and she should assist him but she responded by saying “Make I no worry, he would be fine.”

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Bodex F. Hungbo, SPMIIM is a multiple award-winning Nigerian Digital Media Practitioner, Digital Strategist, PR consultant, Brand and Event Expert, Tv Presenter, Tier-A Blogger/Influencer, and a top cobbler in Nigeria.

She has widespread experiences across different professions and skills, which includes experiences in; Marketing, Media, Broadcasting, Brand and Event Management, Administration and Management with prior stints at MTN, NAPIMS-NNPC, GLOBAL FLEET OIL AND GAS, LTV, Silverbird and a host of others

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