Top News:
Todd Spangler / Variety:
Spotify reports Q2 revenue of €1.89B, up 13% YoY, with MAUs up 29% YoY to 299M, premium users up 27% to 138M, and ad-supported MAUs up 31% to 170M — In addition, ad revenue fell 21% — which Spotify blamed on the coronavirus pandemic — but the drop wasn't quite as bad as forecast.
Discussion:
TechCrunch, Ad Age, The Wrap, Business Wire, Fast Company, VentureBeat, Variety, @markdistef, The Wrap, @thr, 9to5Mac, @kerrymflynn, @lucas_shaw and Spotify, more at Techmeme »
Frank Pallotta / CNN:
AMC and Universal agree to shorten the theatrical window for films to 17 days, or 3 weekends, before Universal can release them onto premium on-demand platforms — New York (CNN Business)Universal and AMC are mending their frayed relationship in a deal that not only reverses the theater chain's ban …
Discussion:
Deadline, Fortune, Hollywood Reporter, Variety, The Wrap, MediaPost, Multichannel News, Too Much TV Newsletter, @markharrisnyc, @mrbeaks, @aaroncouch, @hkanji, @frankpallotta, @fb_bmb, @johngary, @tinch, @mattdonnelly, @bmccandless, @annemariebridy, @loudmouthjulia, @rfaughnder, @frankpallotta, @owillis, @ethan_anderton, @labuzamovies, @loudmouthjulia, @lucas_shaw, @richlightshed, @loudmouthjulia, @loudmouthjulia, The Week, Forbes and CNBC, more at Techmeme »
Justin Kroll / Deadline:
Lionsgate and BuzzFeed announce a motion picture partnership for a slate of socially relevant and high-concept feature films, with plans to launch in 2021 — EXCLUSIVE: Lionsgate and BuzzFeed are partnering on a new venture to develop, produce and distribute a multi-picture slate …
Discussion:
@laura_kramer, @awallenstein and The Wrap
Marc Santora / New York Times:
Turkey passes law extending sweeping powers over social media platforms, ordering those with 1M+ DAU to open offices in the country and store user data locally — The legislation extends control over social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.
Discussion:
@rudawenglish, @m_clem, @senmarkey, @satariano and @chrchristensen, more at Techmeme »
What's New in Publishing:
Digital Spy, UK's biggest TV and movies website, launches its first digital magazine, available exclusively on Apple News+ in the UK, US, Canada, and Australia — The #1 entertainment website in the UK unveils interactive magazine custom-designed for Apple News+
Discussion:
Digital Spy
Alex Ritman / Hollywood Reporter:
British Film Institute unveils details of a £30M recovery fund for struggling independent cinemas across the UK — The financial lifeline for COVID-19 hit indie exhibitors is part of the U.K. government's $2 billion arts and culture recovery fund. — The British Film Institute …
@kerrymflynn:
Access Intelligence, which owns AdExchanger and others, announces layoffs and furloughs affecting 35 staffers and the folding of Folio into AdMonsters — News: Access Intelligence, which owns several B2B media brands including PRNews, Cablefax and AdExchanger, announced a mix of layoffs and furloughs today. 35 staffers were affected (about 16% of staff). Also, Folio is being folded more into the AdMonster brand
Discussion:
@pbannist, @tonysilber and @seangriffey
MediaPost:
Condé Nast's healthcare advertising unit introduces Obsidian, a cookie-less audience tracking tool available through CitizenNet, its marketing service — Conde Nast's unit for healthcare advertising last week touted its new technology to track its digital audience without using cookies …
Matt Gertz / Media Matters for America:
After Trump praised doctor promoting COVID-19 “cures”, right-wing media rushed to defend her from the reporters and social platforms allegedly silencing her — Here's how the right-wing media's obsession with conspiracy theories and the antimalarial drug hydroxychloroquine resulted in “demon sperm” trending on Twitter.
Discussion:
Mediaite, The Daily Beast and @oliverdarcy
Eric Tucker / Associated Press:
Sources: Russian intelligence services are using a trio of English-language websites by an information agency called InfoRos to spread disinfo about COVID-19 — WASHINGTON (AP) — Russian intelligence services are using a trio of English-language websites to spread disinformation …
Erik Hayden / Hollywood Reporter:
Talent agency CAA says it will lay off about 90 agents and execs and furlough about 275 assistants, of whose health plan premiums will still be paid in full — The Century City-based firm had been the last of the major talent agencies to undergo staff cuts.
Discussion:
Deadline, @yashar, @mmonticolo, @erinsk8, @danielleweisber, Publishers Lunch, @richlightshed and The Wrap
Olga Kharif / Bloomberg:
At least three streamers banned or suspended from Twitch and Facebook following accusations of sexual harassment have moved to YouTube — When a handful of streamers were recently banned or suspended by the live-streaming platforms Twitch and Facebook following accusations of sexual harassment, their careers didn't end.
Discussion:
@lucas_shaw
Karlene Lukovitz / MediaPost:
WarnerMedia says that 23% of HBO Max users are between 18 and 24 and that Friends is the most watched show on the streaming service — Although not providing any actual data, WarnerMedia yesterday released a few more statements about the performance of its two-month-old HBO Max streaming service …
Discussion:
Multichannel News
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