Top News:


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.


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

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 …


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


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 …


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

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


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


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

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


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

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