Latest news with #RCA
Indian Express
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
11-year-old Taylor Swift knocked on every Nashville door, had them slammed in her face; now she writes the rules
Taylor Swift has changed the pop culture game for the foreseeable future. Today, she's the force even presidential hopefuls wait on for an endorsement, given her influence on youth and the massive power she holds to sway millions with one powerful post. But her rise wasn't some overnight sensation with one song blasting off the charts. It's been 19 years already since the 'Cruel Summer' singer stepped into the business, and while many know her early songs were bedroom tracks she wrote in high school—over breakups and the chaos of growing up—it didn't just catch a label's eye that easily. Before the Grammys, before the record-breaking tours, before she was Taylor Swift, she was just an eleven-year-old knocking on the doors of Nashville, the place she now calls home. Her refusal to sing anything she didn't write made her walk away from multiple deals… until the right one came along, Scott Borchetta's Big Machine Records. 19 years ago today, Taylor Swift released her first single 'Tim McGraw'. Also read: Body found near Taylor Swift's home identified: Who was Eric Wein, the 13th victim of the Rhode Island's serial killer havoc? Taylor Swift was just eleven when her parents, Scott and Andrea, realised their daughter was different. They sold their family home in Wyomissing, Pennsylvania, and moved to Tennessee to be closer to Nashville, the land of country music. Her father took a job there, and her mother gave up her own career to manage Swift's. They would watched her fill notebooks with lyrics and perform at county fairs, all for one shot at Music City. Swift soon flew to Nashville with demo CDs, singing karaoke tracks that, in her own words, made her sound like a chipmunk. Her mom stayed in the car with her younger brother while Swift went door to door on Music Row asking for a record deal. ''Hi, I'm Taylor. I'm eleven. And I want to be a country music singer. Could you please pass my CD to the right person?'—that's how she introduced herself. Nobody called back. Some even shut their door, saying 'girls won't make it', but rejection didn't crush her. She came back home, realised karaoke wouldn't cut it, and picked up a 12-string guitar. Her parents said her hands were too small for it, but she practised till her fingers bled, taped them up, and kept going. By 12, she had already written 'The Outside' and a Christmas song that ended up on her early releases. At 13, Taylor Swift landed a development deal with RCA. A big breakthrough was on the line, but when they wanted her to record songs she didn't write, she walked away. The now 14-time Grammy winner was dead set on only singing what she wrote. Soon after, she signed with Sony/ATV Publishing, becoming the youngest to do so in Nashville. Taylor's middle school days were rough, while other kids talked about quizzes, dressed up, and played around, she wrote music. She once said industry rejection felt kinder than what she faced in middle school. When she met Scott Borchetta, he wanted to sign her, but had just left Universal. She signed anyway. No big building, no fat budgets, Swift and her mom used to sit on the floor stuffing promo CDs into envelopes for radio stations. Back then, Swift was hands-on with a social media platform called MySpace, pre-Instagram, pre-Twitter era, replying to fans herself. When her first single didn't hit on radio, she took it online. Her page blew up. Her team used that fan response to prove to the radio that the audience was already there. Even after breaking through, she stayed close to her fans, signing autographs until the last person went home smiling. By 2008, she wasn't just opening for Rascal Flatts, she was outselling most of the industry. Her mom said, 'She never once said she wanted to be famous. Her happiest moments are after writing a killer song. If that's where she finds joy, she'll be just fine.'
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Root Cause Analysis (RCA) and Critical Thinking Training Course: Effective Tools and Techniques to Identify and Resolve Core Issues (ONLINE EVENT: July 15, 2025)
Enhance problem-solving skills in the pharmaceutical industry with our one-day Root Cause Analysis (RCA) and critical thinking course. Discover, optimize decision-making, and manage regulatory inspections. Gain CPD hours and certification. Dublin, June 16, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Root Cause Analysis and Critical Thinking Training Course" training has been added to offering. This one-day course introduces delegates to different RCA and critical thinking problem-solving tools and techniques which are then applied throughout a series of highly interactive and practical exercises putting these theories into practice to apply a systematic end-to-end process for analysing problems and decision making. Root Cause Analysis (RCA) is the process of discovering the root causes of problems to identify solutions. When used with critical thinking, the ability to think clearly and rationally, understanding the logical connection between ideas this provides a highly effective method for identifying the source of faults, failures, decision-making, and undesired outcomes for processes. This approach is extremely effective when used by the pharmaceutical and associated healthcare industries to solve problems. In addition, RCA procedures with the application of critical thinking are an increasing focus by regulatory inspectors. Often organisations waste a great amount of time and money in fixing the symptoms of a problem, rather than the problem itself. Using Critical thinking applied to RCA will enable you to solve problems far quicker, and much more effectively. This training course is part of a collection of trainings which focus on leadership, innovation, strategy, communication, finance, problem solving and conflict management, to name a few key areas. Benefits of attending Apply best practice tools and techniques to identify, and document the root causes of problems Propose and evaluate solutions to prevent problems recurring and manage regulatory inspection findings Communicate your findings and recommendations to colleagues and senior management Gain an overview of the increasing importance of RCA and critical thinking skills for pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical and associated healthcare sectors Understand the critical thinking and application to RCA Be aware of key tools and approaches to apply critical thinking to RCA for pharmaceutical and associated healthcare industries Who Should Attend: Anyone working in the pharmaceutical, biopharma, medical device and veterinary industries who wants to maximise RCA and critical thinking skills, particularly applied to problem solving and decision making including the following: Managers responsible for process and quality improvements Professionals working in R&D and production Quality managers, internal and external auditors, inspectors Line managers and supervisors Anyone involved in managing customer and/or supplier/CMOs, CRO relationships Problem solving team members and leaders Product or process designers Operational and production professionals Certifications: CPD: 6 hours for your records Certificate of completion Key Topics Covered: Background and defining RCA and critical thinking Steps in RCA and applying critical thinking Preventive/Mitigating problems Preventive action Risk analysis Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA) Diagnosing RCA RCA Methodologies Brainstorming Ishikawa Diagrams Five "Why?"s Is/is not Process maps Critical Thinking Overview of background Define critical thinking, decision making and problem-solving and understand the differences Examine types of decisions & problems in the pharma industry Understand the focus of critical thinking in ICH Designing Quality Applying critical thinking to thinking questions to go beyond checklists Tools and approaches for critical thinking to use in the pharmaceutical and associated healthcare industries including RED thinking outside the box ways to improve your critical thinking Speakers: Laura Brown Pharmaceutical QA and Training Consultant University of Cardiff Dr Laura Brown MBA, BSc,PhD, is a Pharmaceutical QA and Training Consultant, Course Director for the MSc in Clinical Research, School of Pharmacy at the University of Cardiff. She has more than 20 years' experience of quality assurance in the pharmaceutical industry and has worked for several companies, including GSKs Hoechst Marion Roussel, Farmitalia and Phoenix International. She has a particular expertise in quality assurance including risked based approaches to quality systems, data Integrity and project management in the pharmaceutical industry. She regularly writes on pharmaceutical regulatory issues including "The Planning of International Drug Development", in the Clinical Research Manual, Euromed and the "Impact of Brexit", RQA Journal 2017. For more information about this training visit About is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. CONTACT: CONTACT: Laura Wood,Senior Press Manager press@ For E.S.T Office Hours Call 1-917-300-0470 For U.S./ CAN Toll Free Call 1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900
Sydney Morning Herald
11-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Sydney Morning Herald
Serial killer thriller or shark movie? Actually it's both
DANGEROUS ANIMALS ★★★ (MA15+) 98 minutes It's impossible not to admire the skill with which this outlandish serial killer-cum-shark movie has been made, even as you're struck with its silliness and derivativeness. Jai Courtney is the archetypal Aussie bloke, all swagger and thongs and flapping button-open surf shirt, his overly assertive bonhomie threatening any moment to tip over into outright hostility. Hell, he's even called Bruce Tucker; echoes there of Monty Python's Australians sketch (g'day, Bruce; g'day Bruce etc), and a dark joke about shark food (Bruce being the name of the mechanical shark in Jaws). Unfortunately, jokes are otherwise a little thin on the ground in Dangerous Animals, as screenwriter Nick Lepard and director Sean Byrne lean heavily into the terror and the gore, with little by way of leavening humour. It's probably the biggest failing in a film that otherwise delivers plenty of generic thrills while also carving a unique identity within its familiar watery terrain. Tucker is a fisherman on the Gold Coast who takes tourists out on his trawler to dive with sharks. He tosses chum into the water, then lowers his customers into it, inside the safety of a shark cage. That, at least, is the promise. The reality is he's more interested in lowering them tethered and unprotected into a pool of blood, to which the sharks – makos, bulls, white pointers – will flock and feed in a frenzy. With his ancient RCA video camera trained on the scene, he will record for posterity their last moments. 'It's the greatest show on earth,' he mutters darkly as a victim is torn to shreds. There's a distinct echo of John Jarratt's Mick Taylor about Tucker, and of Wolf Creek about the film as a whole. The same disdain for tourists and foreigners. The same sense of the self as an apex predator. The same sadistic pleasure in the dismemberment of a body, not for food but for fun. The Gold Coast has money in this film, but Tourism Australia, you can rest assured, does not. A variety of innocents cross Tucker's path over the course of the film, but American Zephyr (Hassie Harrison) – a loner, a surfer, a former foster child with no attachments to speak of – is the one with whom Tucker most senses an affinity.
The Age
11-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Age
Serial killer thriller or shark movie? Actually it's both
DANGEROUS ANIMALS ★★★ (MA15+) 98 minutes It's impossible not to admire the skill with which this outlandish serial killer-cum-shark movie has been made, even as you're struck with its silliness and derivativeness. Jai Courtney is the archetypal Aussie bloke, all swagger and thongs and flapping button-open surf shirt, his overly assertive bonhomie threatening any moment to tip over into outright hostility. Hell, he's even called Bruce Tucker; echoes there of Monty Python's Australians sketch (g'day, Bruce; g'day Bruce etc), and a dark joke about shark food (Bruce being the name of the mechanical shark in Jaws). Unfortunately, jokes are otherwise a little thin on the ground in Dangerous Animals, as screenwriter Nick Lepard and director Sean Byrne lean heavily into the terror and the gore, with little by way of leavening humour. It's probably the biggest failing in a film that otherwise delivers plenty of generic thrills while also carving a unique identity within its familiar watery terrain. Tucker is a fisherman on the Gold Coast who takes tourists out on his trawler to dive with sharks. He tosses chum into the water, then lowers his customers into it, inside the safety of a shark cage. That, at least, is the promise. The reality is he's more interested in lowering them tethered and unprotected into a pool of blood, to which the sharks – makos, bulls, white pointers – will flock and feed in a frenzy. With his ancient RCA video camera trained on the scene, he will record for posterity their last moments. 'It's the greatest show on earth,' he mutters darkly as a victim is torn to shreds. There's a distinct echo of John Jarratt's Mick Taylor about Tucker, and of Wolf Creek about the film as a whole. The same disdain for tourists and foreigners. The same sense of the self as an apex predator. The same sadistic pleasure in the dismemberment of a body, not for food but for fun. The Gold Coast has money in this film, but Tourism Australia, you can rest assured, does not. A variety of innocents cross Tucker's path over the course of the film, but American Zephyr (Hassie Harrison) – a loner, a surfer, a former foster child with no attachments to speak of – is the one with whom Tucker most senses an affinity.
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
COR Q1 Earnings Call: Specialty Expansion, RCA Impact, and International Softness Highlight Results
Healthcare distributor Cencora (NYSE:COR) met Wall Street's revenue expectations in Q1 CY2025, with sales up 10.3% year on year to $75.45 billion. Its non-GAAP profit of $4.42 per share was 7.9% above analysts' consensus estimates. Is now the time to buy COR? Find out in our full research report (it's free). Revenue: $75.45 billion vs analyst estimates of $75.7 billion (10.3% year-on-year growth, in line) Adjusted EPS: $4.42 vs analyst estimates of $4.10 (7.9% beat) Adjusted EBITDA: $1.32 billion vs analyst estimates of $1.22 billion (1.7% margin, 7.6% beat) Operating Margin: 1.4%, in line with the same quarter last year Market Capitalization: $55.09 billion Cencora's first quarter results were shaped by broad-based strength in its U.S. Healthcare Solutions segment, with management attributing growth to rising demand for specialty medications and higher utilization across health systems and specialty physician practices. CEO Bob Mauch highlighted the company's investments in end-to-end pharmaceutical services and deepening partnerships with providers as pivotal to this performance. The recent integration of Retina Consultants of America (RCA) was cited as a key contributor to gross profit margin expansion, with CFO Jim Cleary noting, 'RCA does add meaningfully to gross profit margin and operating margin… it is a higher-margin business than our core distribution business.' Management also pointed to ongoing productivity initiatives and a smaller-than-expected COVID-19 headwind as supporting factors. Looking ahead, Cencora's outlook is informed by its positioning in specialty pharmaceuticals, expectations for continued growth in the U.S. market, and ongoing integration of recent acquisitions. Management anticipates slower revenue growth in the second half of the year, citing tougher comparisons for GLP-1 products and biosimilar competition in mail-order channels. CFO Jim Cleary explained, 'We anticipate our growth will be at the bottom end of the respective ranges,' reflecting these headwinds but also suggesting potential margin benefits from product mix shifts. The company remains focused on expanding value-added services, strengthening specialty offerings across sites of care, and leveraging its data-driven insights to support both biopharma partners and healthcare providers. Management cited several operational and strategic developments as primary drivers of both quarterly results and the company's evolving competitive positioning. Specialty segment momentum: The company's specialty business, including physician practices and health systems, drove broad-based growth, supported by continued investments in services and wraparound offerings such as group purchasing organizations (GPOs) and management service organizations (MSOs). RCA integration impact: The acquisition of Retina Consultants of America contributed to margin expansion due to its higher profitability profile compared to Cencora's core distribution operations. The accounting treatment of RCA's minority interest also resulted in a higher-than-expected EPS contribution. GLP-1 product dynamics: GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) medications remained a significant revenue driver, though management noted a sequential decline from the prior quarter and minimal profit contribution. The company expects GLP-1 growth rates to moderate in upcoming quarters. International market softness: The International Healthcare Solutions segment experienced subdued demand, particularly in global specialty logistics and consulting related to clinical trials. Management described this as a market-wide issue and adjusted guidance downward to reflect slow recovery in these areas. Broad-based provider growth: Cencora reported growth across its specialty provider verticals, including oncology and retina, with management emphasizing robust positioning across community practices and health systems rather than concentration in any single sub-segment. Cencora's forward outlook is shaped by shifting specialty drug dynamics, international market uncertainty, and continued strategic investments in higher-margin services. Specialty and biosimilar expansion: Management expects specialty pharmaceuticals and biosimilars to remain key growth drivers, with continued investment in value-added services for both biopharma manufacturers and provider partners. The company's MSO and GPO offerings are designed to deepen relationships and capture a greater share of specialty market growth. International segment headwinds: The company anticipates ongoing weakness in its International Healthcare Solutions segment due to soft clinical trial activity and slower-than-expected recovery in global specialty logistics. Management revised down operating income expectations for this segment, citing industry-wide delays in clinical trial starts and subdued demand for consulting services. Product mix and margin effects: Shifts toward higher-margin specialty products and reduced contribution from lower-margin high-priced mail-order products are expected to benefit consolidated operating margins, partially offsetting slower top-line growth. Management noted that these mix effects will likely drive operating income growth above revenue growth, especially in the U.S. segment. Looking forward, the StockStory team will monitor (1) U.S. specialty drug utilization trends and the pace of biosimilar adoption, (2) the trajectory of international clinical trial activity and any signs of a rebound in specialty logistics, and (3) further integration milestones for RCA and the expansion of high-margin MSO services. The evolution of tariff policy and its potential effects on pharmaceutical supply chains will also be an important area for scrutiny. Cencora currently trades at a forward P/E ratio of 17.6×. At this valuation, is it a buy or sell post earnings? See for yourself in our full research report (it's free). Market indices reached historic highs following Donald Trump's presidential victory in November 2024, but the outlook for 2025 is clouded by new trade policies that could impact business confidence and growth. While this has caused many investors to adopt a "fearful" wait-and-see approach, we're leaning into our best ideas that can grow regardless of the political or macroeconomic climate. Take advantage of Mr. Market by checking out our Top 5 Strong Momentum Stocks for this week. This is a curated list of our High Quality stocks that have generated a market-beating return of 183% over the last five years (as of March 31st 2025). Stocks that made our list in 2020 include now familiar names such as Nvidia (+1,545% between March 2020 and March 2025) as well as under-the-radar businesses like the once-small-cap company Exlservice (+354% five-year return). Find your next big winner with StockStory today. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
