Top News:
Micah Singleton / The Verge:
Facebook has held early talks with the major music labels, future plans may involve the company's video platform — Facebook is talking with music labels, but why? — Facebook has held talks with the major labels about “getting into music,” multiple sources tell The Verge.
Laura Hazard Owen / Nieman Lab:
Scribd found that paying publishers based on how much readers read is too expensive in genres like romance — What Scribd's growing pains mean for the future of digital content subscription models — Netflix earned more than $5 billion in 2014. No wonder companies want to be …
Discussion:
@ylichterman, @laurahazardowen, @niemanlab, Bookseller News, Engadget, The Scribd Blog, Publishers Weekly, Guardian and Smashwords
Bob Lefsetz / The Lefsetz Letter:
Apple Music: too much hype, not enough focus on usability, and requires a credit card up front — Apple Music — Botched launch. Terminal? Probably not, but we expect so much of Apple. We had to listen to Jimmy and Drake testify, but no one focused on usability …
Russell Brandom / The Verge:
Chicago's 9% cloud tax now applies to “electronically delivered amusements” like Netflix — Chicago's ‘cloud tax’ makes Netflix and other streaming services more expensive — The past five years have seen a huge shift in the way we consume media, as brick-and-mortar stores shift to digital subscriptions.
Discussion:
Fortune, @reckless, The Next Web and Chicago
Adi Robertson / The Verge:
VR startup Jaunt unveils 360-degree Neo camera for high-end VR movie production, will lease the device to partners starting in August — Jaunt unveils a high-end camera setup for virtual reality movies — Virtual reality games might have taken the center stage at E3 earlier this month …
Dylan Byers / Politico:
Released State Department email says Pulitzer winner Leslie Gelb promised Hillary Clinton a “veto” over profile of her — Leslie Gelb admits to giving Hillary Clinton advance read on 2009 profile — Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Leslie Gelb says he did not give Hillary Clinton …
Discussion:
Washington Post, Mother Jones, @jrubinblogger, @jpodhoretz, @kerpen, @dylanbyers and Bloomberg Business
Daniel Frankel / FierceCable:
Cable One, a Phoenix-based cable and Internet provider, spins off from Graham Holdings — Cable One officially spins off, enjoys strong first day as M&A target — Cable One has officially spun off from Graham Holdings, with the Phoenix-based MSO's stock spiking as much as 6 percent …
Discussion:
Multichannel News and bizjournals
Joseph Lichterman / Nieman Lab:
Harvard Business Review hopes to grow subscriptions by offering new products at a higher price of of $109/year — Added value: How Harvard Business Review thinks it can add subscribers while getting more expensive — Harvard Business Review is trying to walk a fine line …
Discussion:
Talking Biz News
Reuters:
Sources: FCC to approve AT&T's $48.5B DirecTV acquisition with conditions as soon as next week — U.S. approval of AT&T-DirecTV deal expected as soon as next week: sources — AT&T Inc's (T.N) proposed $48.5 billion acquisition of DirecTV (DTV.O) is expected to get U.S. regulatory approval …
Discussion:
@alinaselyukh
Milton Kent / Washington Post:
Keith Olbermann and ESPN may be heading for another breakup — Stop us if you've heard this before: ESPN and Keith Olbermann may be on the outs. — The Hollywood Reporter is reporting that, as a condition for Olbermann's two-year contract to be renewed, the erstwhile commentator can't do commentary on his ESPN2 show.
Discussion:
TVNewser, Variety, Deadspin, The Big Lead, Deadline, Mediaite and The Daily Caller
Todd Spangler / Variety:
Facebook to begin sharing revenue with video creators like the NBA, Fox Sports, and Hearst from ads in Suggested Videos section; Facebook takes 45% — Facebook Unveils First Way for Video Partners to Earn Ad Revenue — Social giant testing ‘suggested videos’ with video ads; partners include NBA …
Discussion:
Re/code, The Next Web, Ad Age, Digiday, VentureBeat, Marketing Land, Business Insider and Adweek
Benjamin Mullin / Poynter:
Press can't see Hulk Hogan sex tape at trial, judge orders — Hulk Hogan is used to performing for a crowd. In his decades-long career as a professional wrestler, his matches drew thousands of spectators. But thanks to a ruling from a Florida judge, the raciest part of his latest contest will receive less public scrutiny.
Discussion:
Re/code and The Intercept