Top News:
Dylan Byers / NBC News:
Spotify launches Renegades: Born in the USA, an exclusive, eight-episode podcast with Barack Obama and Bruce Springsteen as co-hosts — Barack Obama and Bruce Springsteen are making a podcast. — Spotify on Monday announced the launch of “Renegades: Born in the USA,” …
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Chris Welch / The Verge:
Spotify says it will launch a subscription later this year called HiFi that will offer “CD-quality, lossless audio”; Spotify currently tops out at 320kbps audio — Your turn, Apple Music — Spotify is going hi-fi. Well, “HiFi.” It's taken longer than competitors like Tidal …
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Todd Spangler / Variety:
Spotify says it will launch in 80+ new markets in the coming days, expanding from 93 markets, making the service available to 1B potential new users — Spotify unveiled plans to launch in 85 new markets over the next few days, areas that represent more than 1 billion potential new listeners, according the company.
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@eldsjal, Ad Age, Bloomberg, CNET, @kerrymflynn, @lucas_shaw, TechCrunch, @dbricej and @lucas_shaw, more at Techmeme »
Sarah Perez / TechCrunch:
Spotify says it will test paid podcast subscriptions in the US this spring through a new feature in Anchor
Spotify says it will test paid podcast subscriptions in the US this spring through a new feature in Anchor
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Spotify
Sarah Perez / TechCrunch:
Spotify will launch an audio advertising marketplace, the Spotify Audience Network, and plans to offer podcasts on its self-serve ad platform Spotify Ad Studio
Spotify will launch an audio advertising marketplace, the Spotify Audience Network, and plans to offer podcasts on its self-serve ad platform Spotify Ad Studio
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@sarafischer, AdExchanger, Spotify and Adweek, more at Techmeme »
Brian Stelter / CNN:
Networks like ABC, CBS, and NBC, sticking to “both sides-ism”, still let GOP leaders spread the “Big Lie” that Trump won the election with little or no pushback — (CNN Business)A version of this article first appeared in the “Reliable Sources” newsletter.
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ABC:
Australia says Facebook agreed to reinstate news content in Australia in the coming days after the government promised amendments to its proposed media bill — We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Australians and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we live, learn, and work.
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Alex Barker / Financial Times:
Microsoft says it will work with Europe's four largest news publishing lobbying groups to “mandate payments” for content used by “gatekeepers”
Microsoft says it will work with Europe's four largest news publishing lobbying groups to “mandate payments” for content used by “gatekeepers”
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BBC, The Guardian, Wall Street Journal, @rasmus_kleis, Yahoo Finance, Protocol, Engadget, @robpegoraro, Engadget, @yathinkn, @klyngec, @carolinwehrhahn, @jason_kint, @rcostaricardo, @newsceo, @mattyglesias, @gaberivera, @benedictevans, @epc_angela, @stevesi, MediaPost, @jbenton, Press Gazette, Reuters and Marketing BS …, more at Techmeme »
Pamela McClintock / Hollywood Reporter:
Following Warner Bros., Hollywood studios are increasingly concealing their box office grosses, citing hybrid releases due to theater closures — In the latest twist, Searchlight Pictures didn't provide any numbers at all for ‘Nomadland’ when the Oscar hopeful expanded nationwide over the Feb. 19-21 weekend.
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@tatianasiegel27, @brentalang, @anoushasakoui, @thr and @melsil
Nieman Lab:
Facebook's Australian news ban may leave it operating like WeChat, with news provided by platform-specific content houses posting tons of low-quality articles — Last week, in response to Australia's proposed media bargaining code, Facebook effectively halted all posting of links …
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Washington Post, CNBC and Herald Sun
The New York Times Company:
NYT: Maggie Haberman will take on a new beat and join Washington bureau's investigative/enterprise team and still track the post-Trump scene with Politics desk — Elisabeth Bumiller, Dick Stevenson and Patrick Healy share Maggie's new role, which will span investigative/enterprise in Washington and Politics.
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@brianstelter, @ericliptonnyt, @sollenbergerrc, @timothynoah1, @juliehdavis, @jswatz, @dylanbyers and @froomkin
Los Angeles Times:
Investigation finds non-profit HFPA, which runs Golden Globes, makes substantial payments to members, as questions persist about its ethics and legitimacy — It appeared to be a moment of triumph in the long, tumultuous story of the Hollywood Foreign Press Assn.
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Brendan Brady / ANTENNA:
Analysis: The Office drove 3.9x sign-ups to Peacock vs average December weekend; Netflix churn rate was not impacted as <1% of Netflix subs signed-up to Peacock — After finding a second life as a cultural phenomenon on Netflix, The Office returned home to NBCU's Peacock on January 1, 2021.
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The Streamable, Observer and @ballmatthew
Kathryn Hopkins / WWD:
Hearst says O, The Oprah Magazine will get a new name and a paywall on its website, as the magazine hires a new general manager and shifts to quarterly print — Hearst also revealed that the publication's name will be changed and a paywall is to be introduced.
Discussion:
@kerrymflynn, Daily Front Row and @jkosner
Kelsey McKinney / Defector:
Internal memo: Slate indefinitely suspended The Gist host Mike Pesca over a Slack discussion; sources: he argued for the use of the N-word in some cases — Mike Pesca, host of Slate's daily podcast, The Gist, has been suspended from the company indefinitely according to an internal memo sent …