| 1. WOODSTOCK 50 FINDS NEW FINANCIAL BACKER: Woodstock 50 has found a new financial backer after the event was cancelled by Dentsu Aegis. Organizers of the troubled festival have partnered with Oppenheimer & Co., a New York-based investment bank and financial services company. Rolling Stone: “While Oppenheimer’s investment provides a much-needed lifeline for organizers, it hardly mitigates all of the issues needed to secure that the festival will occur. Organizers still have to secure a number of crucial permits, including a mass-gathering one from the New York State Department of Health, before tickets can go on sale. In an interview with Sirius on Thursday, Lang assured listeners that a new ticket on-sale date would be announced soon. A rep for the New York State Department of Health told Rolling Stone this week that nothing had changed with regard to the status of Woodstock’s petition for a mass-gathering permit. Last week, a justice of the New York State Supreme Court ruled that Dentsu was not legally allowed to cancel the fest, as it had announced it had on April 29.” 2. PREAKNESS FEATURES JOCKEY-LESS HORSE: Jockey Mark Casse and his horse War of Will won the Preakness on Saturday, in a race that also featured a riderless horse. The uncommon occurrence follows the Kentucky Derby, where the favorite, Maximum Security, was disqualified for interference. Associated Press: “All the while, Bodexpress—after ejecting Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez—kept running around the Pimlico track and did an extra lap. An outrider tried to swoop in at the top of the stretch and corral Bodexpress, but the horse sped up and passed a few competitors near the finish line and kept going. Technically, Bodexpress gets a did-not-finish. … It was yet another bizarre scene in a Triple Crown season full of it. Two weeks ago at the Kentucky Derby, apparent winner Maximum Security was disqualified for interfering with War of Will, and Country House elevated to first in the only on-track disqualification in the race’s 145-year history. Casse was just thankful War of Will was healthy and decided to take his shot in the Preakness even though Maximum Security and Country House didn’t run.” 3. WHITNEY HOUSTON ESTATE TO LAUNCH HOLOGRAM TOUR: The estate of Whitney Houston has received many pitches for entertainment ventures since the singer died in 2012, and now the estate, which is run by the late singer’s sister-in-law Pat Houston, is ready to launch numerous projects. These include a hologram tour, a potential Broadway musical, and an album of unreleased songs. The New York Times: “The estate’s first project is the hologram, which would join a growing list of laser-generated posthumous singers who have gone on tour, including Maria Callas, Roy Orbison, and Frank Zappa. The Whitney hologram, already under development, will perform hits like ‘I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)’ and ‘The Greatest Love of All’ backed by her original band and backup singers — including her brother Gary, Pat Houston’s husband.” | 