This Weekend Gallery Has Subpoena Power

To put the matter simply, we’d advise you to lawyer up. What’s that? Oh, sorry, that was meant for another thread! Um, enjoy these [checks notes] “trade photos with nutty captions.”

Cutting-edge technology isn’t all about humanity-annihilating AI and armored flying robot cars—it’s also about community, and colorful swag. Seen at **WMG**’s innovative Hackathon event are, from left, WMG Managing Director, Warner Music North America, U.K., & Corporate Development **Val Blavatnik**, EVP and Head of Data, Analytics and Transformation **Mitch Shymansky** and CTO **Leho Nigul**. Our insistence that hacks like us should be front and center was roundly ignored.

**Capitol Music Group** chieftain **Tom March**, artist **Josiah Queen**, **Capitol Christian**’s **Brad O'Donnell** and manager Dev Poindexter pose at a **Grammy Museum** event. Tom has a shit-ton of great stats about Josiah. Hit him up on his cell and he’ll reel them off for you. (Rebecca Sapp/Getty Images for The Recording Academy)

Pictured wondering if the nearby bodega had sold out of **Stephen Miller** piñatas are, from left, **Interscope**’s **Laura Carter**, artist Nagalli, Interscope’s **Ramon Alvarez-Smikle** and **Supernova Entertainment**’s **Gustavo Pimentel**.

This hip-hop version of The Avengers was convened to shoot the video for collaborative track “Ya Hit,” the lead single from **Freebandz**/**Epic** giant Future’s forthcoming album. Seen collaborating on a plan to avoid appearing in this gallery are, from left, Future, **Drake**, **Loe Shimmy**, **Travis Scott** and **Sexyy Red**.

The women of **Epic** decided to dress up like **Rick Sackheim** for Halloween, an odd choice because it doesn’t make people want to give you candy—though they might hand you a spreadsheet. In other news, *HITS* editors dressed up like underemployed losers whose wardrobes are composed entirely of old label swag.

At the 2026 Unplugged & Uncorked Wine Dinner at NYC’s **Ziegfeld Ballroom**, which raised a reported $1.3m for **Musicians on Call**, the following people noted it was hard to remember the words to “American Pie” when you’ve had 17 glasses of Argentinian Torrontes: (from left) Musicians on Call President & CEO **Pete Griffin**, **AEG Presents** President of Global Touring **Rich Schaefer**, **The Nordlinger Group**’s **Glenn Nordlinger** and **City Winery** Founder **Michael Dorf**. (Edwina Hay)

Presenting Texas Senator-elect **James Talarico**, 37, seen here demonstrating his support for the arts by posing with a promising Texas musician named **Willie Nelson**. Statehouse rep, teacher and seminarian Talarico’s victory was one of the sweetest droplets in the blue tsunami that just thundered through Congress. In related news, **Ken Paxton** just offered **Kid Rock** a sawbuck if he’d take a selfie with him.

**Beto O'Rourke**, whose work laid the foundation for a blue Texas, is pictured here with another state treasure, singer-songwriter **Davíd Garza**, who demonstrates just how his machine kills fascists. (Spoiler alert: You bash them with the body and then garrote them with the strings.)

Who are these gray foxes? Why, it’s top attorney **Peter Lewit** and **Kobalt**’s **Laurent Hubert** at last week’s **Songwriters of North America** (SONA) gala, where Hubert was honored. Later, 11,973 fictitious artists created with AI totally cleaned out the buffet.

HYBE heroes SANTOS BRAVOS treated their salivating stans to an evening at The Paley Museum, with a performance, red carpet and Q&A session on the menu. Rolling Stone Deputy Music Editor Julyssa Lopez hosted, and every member of the group was dying to ask her what it was like working for Shirley. (Courtesy of The Paley Museum)

At Nashville’s **The Stage** during his *Clean Slate* album release party on Friday, **This Is Hit**/**Broken Bow** artist **Dustin Lynch** realizes that in addition to three chords and the truth, country music is also about being corralled into trade photos by a publicist in a headset. There could be a song in there somewhere. Seen wishing they could aim a bow at us are, from left, **BBR Music Group**/**BMG Nashville**’s **JoJamie Hahr**, Lynch and **BMG Global** President, Frontline Recordings **Jon Loba**. (Kai Gorowsky)

If you came here seeking grittily authentic photos of music-industry peeps gawking at their phones, feast your eyes on the daily work of manager Andre “Dre the Mayor” Hopson, pictured in the first shot with Pusha T, with whom he has a longstanding professional relationship, and in the second with Atlantic up-and-comer Babyfxce E, whom he co-manages with Jamaar Blackwell. Later, everyone got a text from Scott Colom.