Jay Z suing former Tidal execs for inflated subscriber numbers

Remember all the hoo-hah about Tidal, the streaming service owned by some of music's wealthiest performers, which was going to revolutionize the flailing industry and make sure artists got paid?

TMZ.com reports that Jay Z is suing the former owners and execs of Tidal for $15 million, claiming they inflated their subscription numbers like a Thanksgiving Day Parade balloon.

According to reports, Jay Z was told the streaming service had 540,000 subscribers but now believes the number was much lower.

Jay's stake cost him $56 million.

Tidal now has 3 million subscribers.

So they say.

"I Saw The Light" director Marc Abraham, speaking at a screening of his Hank Williams biopic in Los Angeles last weekend, says the perception of his casting as Tom Hiddleston - now best known for his portrayal of the villain Loki in Marvel Studios films - as the lead has changed since he originally cast him way back in 2009.

When I first cast him, people were like, 'Who is Tom Hiddleston?' " Abraham told Tattle Comics Guy and L.A. correspondent Jerome Maida. "Then, when Thor came out (in 2011), everyone was like, 'It's cool you got Tom Hiddleston.' Then, after The Avengers came out, everyone was like, 'How the hell did you get Tom Hiddleston!' "

Another Marvel Studios star, Elizabeth Olsen, plays Williams' first wife, Audrey, and it's clear this is not a typical musical biopic, where the female lead stands by her man.

"From every source I referenced, besides the film she put together to rehabilitate her reputation, it's pretty fair to say Audrey was a wench," Abraham said. "Williams famously said that, 'It's hell having a wife that wants to sing.' It's really hell to have a wife that wants to sing but can't."

See Steven Rea's review of "I Saw the Light" on Page 25.

Voluptuous Philly celebrity Amber Rose released her MuvaMoji emoji line in the Apple App Store on Wednesday.

The curvaceous emojis are very Amber.

London's Daily Mail says one includes getting legs waxed and armpits lasered - what, no Brazilian? - and one has Amber as a nurse putting on a rubber glove.

Many believe that emoji is a reference to the Twitter war over whether former boyfriend Kanye West enjoyed a well-placed finger every now and then.

The app says it has over 900 original, Amber-chosen emojis.

There are LGBT emojis, sexy emojis even a Bill Cosby emoji.

Amber's not a fan.

* Speaking of Cosby, the National Museum of African American History and Culture has changed its tune with regard to the Cos.

In a statement Thursday, founding director Lonnie Bunch reversed the museum's earlier claim that it would display items related to Cosby without explaining his legal problems.

The Washington Post reported that Bunch described the museum's "interpretation" of Cosby as "a work in progress" that will continue to evolve "as new evidence and insights come to the fore."

"Visitors will leave the exhibition knowing more about Mr. Cosby's impact on American entertainment, while recognizing that his legacy has been severely damaged by the recent accusations," Bunch said. "This is not an exhibition that 'honors or celebrates' Bill Cosby, but one that acknowledges his role, among many others, in American entertainment."

The museum opens Sept. 24 on the National Mall.

* It's going to be "Power Players Week" on Jeopardy from May 16-20 and the syndicated favorite has lined up comedian Louis C.K., Mad Men creator Matthew Weiner, author Jonathan Franzen, Sen. Al Franken, CNN hosts Kate Bolduan and Anderson Cooper, conservative commentator S.E. Cupp, political analyst David Gregory, Washington Post journalist Jonathan Capehart, ABC legal correspondent Sunny Hostin, former MSNBC host and academic Melissa Harris-Perry, 60 Minutes correspondent Lara Logan, Republican strategist Ana Navarro, MSNBC political analyst Michael Steele and Meet the Press host Chuck Todd as contestants to ask the questions.

The winner of each game will earn at least $50,000 for charity. The losers will earn $10,000 - and the disgust of former fans who now know they know nothing about "Potpourri."

- Daily News wire services contributed to this report.

gensleh@phillynews.com
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