AP Entertainment SummaryBrief at 6:22 p.m. EDT | Entertainment

• Madonna leads the 2026 MTV Video Music Award nominations with a total of 11 nods. • If she wins all 11 categories, she will tie with Beyoncé and Taylor Swift for the most VMA wins in history.

• Movie theaters are increasingly diversifying their programming with "alternative content," specifically leaning on concert films from global superstars like Taylor Swift and BTS. • This strategy expands beyond music to include sports events, such as F1 races and World Cup games, as well as live broadcasts from Broadway and the West End.

• The Taipei Music Expo (TMEX) 2026 will take place from August 27 to 30 at the Taipei Music Center under the theme "Tune in to Taiwan. Sync with Asia." • The event will feature "JAM JAM ASIA," a showcase across seven stages on August 29 and 30, featuring over 80 musical acts from 14 different markets.

• The Chaoshan-dialect film "Dear You" has expanded its overseas release, premiering in Thailand on August 6 and Indonesia on August 7. • The expansion follows the movie's previous box-office success in China and earlier screenings in Singapore and Malaysia.

• Madonna has secured the lead for the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards nominations, continuing a streak of nominations spanning every decade of her career. • To celebrate her 68th birthday on August 16, 2026, an interactive installation titled “C’mon Meet Me On The Dancefloor” was launched at Outernet London.

• The Taipei Music Expo (TMEX) 2026 is scheduled to take place from August 27 to 30, operating under the theme "Tune in to Taiwan." • The event combines a four-day professional industry market with the JAM JAM ASIA festival, featuring headliners such as HYUKOH, Taeko Onuki, Asian Dub Foundation, and Accusefive ft. Mayday Masa.

• Tourism is experiencing a significant recovery across East Asia, driven by a surge in demand and improved accessibility. • Key growth drivers include the implementation of visa reforms, the expansion of air links, and the targeting of more diverse traveler markets.

• Indian authorities blocked the release of a biopic about activist Jaswant Singh Khalra, which aimed to expose real-life police abuses. • In response to the censorship, local villagers and activists launched a grassroots movement to ensure the film's message reached the public.

• Eurovision will launch its first-ever Asian edition on Saturday, November 14, 2026, with the event hosted in Bangkok. • The competition will feature a confirmed line-up of 10 participating countries and has already released an official trailer.

• The European Union is revising its General Block Exemption Regulation (GBER) to ease state aid rules, specifically prioritizing small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), innovation, and social inclusion. • The move aims to simplify how member states provide subsidies to small media outlets without requiring lengthy approval processes from the European Commission.

• Film Independent is expanding the Spirit Awards by introducing two new categories: Best International First Feature and a Digital Creator Award. • The Digital Creator Award targets storytellers producing original work for digital-first platforms, with the winner receiving a $25,000 unrestricted grant.