Top News:
Sam Machkovech / Ars Technica:
YouTube stars Fine Brothers rescind plans to trademark terms and license assets related to their “react” videos after backlash — Fine Bros back down, rescind trademark claim on the word “react” — Claim was for “programs... in the field of observing, interviewing groups of people.”
Discussion:
Fine Brothers Ent., Tech Times, Business Insider, CraveOnline, Techly, Gizmodo, The Verge, The Next Web, Mashable, Tech Times, The Drum and Polygon
Dee Lockett / Vulture:
Recording Industry Association of America starts counting on-demand streaming audio and video toward certifying albums as gold or platinum sellers — The RIAA Finally Bows to Streaming, Making 17 Artists' Albums Go Gold and Platinum — This is huge. — Call it the Anti effect, or just call it getting hip to the times.
Discussion:
RIAA, CraveOnline, Fortune, The Next Web, International Business Times, Complex, NPR, Complex, Billboard, Wall Street Journal, The Verge and Business Insider
Tatiana Siegel / Hollywood Reporter:
Studios reexamine strategy as Netflix and Amazon shift Sundance focus to streaming rights instead of theatrical release, buy 6 high-profile films each — Sundance Wrap: Why Netflix and Amazon Dominance Matters — The streaming giants scored a combined 12 high-profile acquisitions.
Alexandra Steigrad / WWD:
The American Society of Magazine Editors Crowns The Atlantic Magazine of the Year at Ellies — The magazine industry gathered Monday night for the 50th annual National Magazine Awards or “Ellies,” which were held at the Grand Hyatt in Midtown East in New York.
Discussion:
Ad Age, @asme1963, @mlcalderone, @mollyesque, @alexismadrigal, @joshuatopolsky and FishbowlDC
Douglas MacMillan / Wall Street Journal:
Sources: Yahoo's Marissa Mayer to unveil cost-cutting plan that includes up to 15% staff reduction, closure of some units — Yahoo's Marissa Mayer to Unveil Cost-Cutting Plan — Yahoo Chief Executive Marissa Mayer is expected to unveil a plan on Tuesday aimed at slashing the Internet company's costs …
Discussion:
New York Times, Benzinga, GeekWire, Fortune, New York Post, Fast Company, Bloomberg Business, Business Insider, CNNMoney, Variety, USA Today, Deadline and @binarybits
Georg Szalai / Hollywood Reporter:
SiriusXM reports Q4 earnings of $135M; adds 2.28M new subs, highest growth since 2007 — The satellite radio company controlled by John Malone's Liberty Media added 2.28 million net new subs and continues to add 1.4 million in 2016. — Satellite radio giant SiriusXM Radio …
Discussion:
PR Newswire, RTTNews and Benzinga
Press Association:
UN investigation into Julian Assange detention to report findings Friday, may rule he is being held in UK illegally — United Nations panel could rule in favour of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange — Julian Assange has been in the Ecuadorean embassy in London for more than three years.
Discussion:
Justice for Assange, Sputnik International and globalnews.ca
Joshua Brustein / Bloomberg Business:
Most online publishers hesitate to take action against ad-blockers for fear of upsetting readers — Why Most Websites Look the Other Way on Ad Blockers — Online publishers rage against ad blockers, but they're not doing much about them yet. — Randall Rothenberg doesn't want anyone …
Brandt Ranj / Business Insider:
Sesame Street partners with a VC, will invest up to $1 million in a bunch of startups — It has already been a big year for Sesame Street, which as of January is brought to you by the letters H, B, and O. — But the well-known children's program is now adding something new and seemingly odd to the mix: venture capital.
Discussion:
TechCrunch, Fast Company, Wired, @a33or45, Fortune, @brooke, @psyoko, @paperkary, @collabfund, The Next Web and The Verge
Lucia Moses / Digiday:
BuzzFeed clients increasingly seek proof that distributed and native ads work; sources say the news organization missed revenue growth goal last year — With a bet on a platform strategy, BuzzFeed faces business challenges — BuzzFeed has mastered the art of distributed publishing …
Discussion:
@karaswisher, @mathewi, @digitalshields, @pkafka, @lpolgreen, @gmoreira001 and mUmBRELLA
Amanda Connolly / The Next Web:
Instagram launches 28-part thriller series, Shield 5, posting 15-second clips daily — Instagram kicks off its very own 28-part thriller series — Instagram has made its first foray into the world of filmmaking, launching its very own 28-part thriller series.
Discussion:
CNET, EW.com, CraveOnline, Look, Collider, BelfastTelegraph.co.uk, The Express TribuneThe …, Digital Spy and Digital TV Europe
Facebook:
Facebook says it's now using feedback from user surveys in News Feed when selecting stories, warns some Pages will lose referral traffic — News Feed FYI: Using Qualitative Feedback to Show Relevant Stories — The goal of News Feed is to show you the stories that matter most to you.
Discussion:
Ad Age, The Drum, @mikeisaac, Tech Times, GeekWire, Engadget, Adweek, Mashable, Tech Insider, ZDNet, @rasmus_kleis, VentureBeat, SlashGear, SocialTimes, The Next Web, @gaberivera, @kevinroose and TechCrunch