Top News:
Jessica Bursztynsky / CNBC:
Carlos Watson says Ozy Media is not shutting down after having “good conversations” with investors and advertisers and Friday's announcement was “premature” — - Ozy Media isn't shutting down, CEO and co-founder Carlos Watson told CNBC on Monday.
Discussion:
@todayshow, New York Times, Axios, @sarafischer, Nieman Lab, CNN, Ad Age, @sarafischer, @mccarthyryanj, Defector, @brianstelter, The Hollywood Reporter, @alexweprin, TODAY.com, @sarafischer, Variety, @sarafischer, @sarafischer, @alexweprin, @sarafischer, @squawkcnbc, @digitalshields, @bmorrissey, Quartz, Substack, @alexyoung, @millie, @jeremymbarr, @brianstelter, @goldietaylor, Vanity Fair, @marisakabas, @sarafischer, @sarafischer, The Wrap, @phkeane, @benyt, @sherman4949, @danprimack, @brianstelter, @alexweprin, @jayrosen_nyu, @cnbc, @craigsilverman, @tomgara, bookforum.com, @juddlegum, @joefav, TVNewser, @digitalshields, @sherman4949, @nycjim, @kerrymflynn, Forbes, Variety, Insider, nexttv.com and Mediaite
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Eugene S. Robinson / Look What You Made Me Do:
Ozy's former editor-at-large recalls Carlos Watson's abusive management style and says there was a white Ozy and a Black Ozy, where employees were treated worse — “And in regards to your little music thing...” It was both a dressing down, very possibly Dressing Down #37, and a pep talk.
Discussion:
@annamerlan, @byjoelanderson, @brosandprose, @imgarysuarez, @jdesmondharris, @isabelslone and @kausmickey
Craig Silverman / @craigsilverman:
[Thread] A look at why Ozy failed as a paid media company and has become a perfect, cautionary illustration of paid versus earned media — The Ozy Media meltdown has a lot of lessons. As the reporter who caught them buying junk traffic in 2017, I'm biased. But I see it as a perfect, cautionary illustration of Paid versus Earned media. So: a 🧵 on why Ozy failed as a paid media company — and why it matters.
Discussion:
Mediaite, @espiers, @craigsilverman, @jayrosen_nyu, @pomeranian99 and New York Times
Sara Fischer / Axios:
Sources: Ozy inflated its numbers by buying most of its social media following and viewership for some shows, then used the numbers in pitches to TV networks
Sources: Ozy inflated its numbers by buying most of its social media following and viewership for some shows, then used the numbers in pitches to TV networks
Discussion:
The Wrap, Associated Press, American Press Institute, AdExchanger, @chronotope, The Daily Beast, @craigsilverman, @coopintn, @balakrishnanr, @johnqbarrett, @jrosenbaum, @ziadramley, @dabeard, @saramorrison, @martinsfp, @emilybell, @sarafischer, @axios, @axios, @axios, @axios, @axios, @jayrosen_nyu and @sarafischer
Ben Smith / New York Times:
How the charm of Ozy's chief, Carlos Watson, helped persuade investors into putting millions toward a media dream before conducting sufficient due diligence
How the charm of Ozy's chief, Carlos Watson, helped persuade investors into putting millions toward a media dream before conducting sufficient due diligence
Discussion:
Axios, Columbia Journalism Review, @craigsilverman, TODAY.com, insideradio.com, @benyt, @craigsilverman, @talkopan, @ketanj0, @youngsinick, Today in Tabs, @lyssaslounge, @byjoelanderson, The Commercial Experience, @heerjeet, @nkulw, @jamesrbuk, @rameeztase, RAIN News, @trungtphan, Newser, @benyt, @sarafischer, New York Magazine, @benyt, @rolandsmartin, Boing Boing, @craigsilverman, @reckless, @mattwelch, @jduffyrice, @jdesmondharris, @chrisecrowley, @jeremymbarr, @craigsilverman, @craigsilverman, @craigsilverman, @craigsilverman, @craigsilverman, @craigsilverman, @craigsilverman, @craigsilverman, @geedee215, @jodyavirgan, @amlwhere, @gentlemanstimes, @lpolgreen, @daveweigel, @jeremymbarr, @felixsalmon, @donlday, @justinjm1, @jessicalessin, @akbarth3great, @jswatz, @annehelen, @jswatz, @bendwalsh, @escarry, @sharonwaxman, @aymanm, @oliverdarcy, @davepell, @sonnybunch, @ccadelago, @vivian, @benyt, Media Voices, YouTube and Tourist Trapp
Todd Spangler / Variety:
Disney says Hulu president Kelly Campbell has left after less than two years in the role — Campbell's departure was announced to staff by Rebecca Campbell, Disney's chairman of international operations and direct-to-consumer. Kelly Campbell's direct reports at Hulu will report to Rebecca Campbell …
Discussion:
@mattbelloni, @mattbelloni, @masasoncap, @mattbelloni, @jbflint, @richlightshed, Deadline, @benmullin, @laceyvrose, nexttv.com, Hollywood Reporter and Adweek
RELATED:
Wall Street Journal:
Sources: Kelly Campbell was upset about losing some oversight, including over Hulu's scripted content, amid Disney's restructurings and cost-saving measures — Campbell had been with Disney-controlled streaming platform for just over four years — Kelly Campbell, the president …
Jessica Toonkel / The Information:
Sources: The Athletic lost around $100M between 2019 and 2020, exceeding its $73M in revenue over the same period — Digital sports news firm The Athletic hemorrhaged nearly $100 million cash between 2019 and 2020, according to a presentation prepared for investors, exceeding the $73 million …
Discussion:
@jessicalessin, @amir, @sizpatel and @amir
Sarah Whitten / CNBC:
Members of the IATSE union, representing backstage movie and TV workers, authorize a strike after trying to negotiate a larger streaming revenue share and more — - Hollywood's backstage union workers voted to authorize an industry-wide strike. — This vote comes after months …
Discussion:
Variety, nexttv.com, Los Angeles Times, Variety, ScreenRant, Deadline, 101.9fm The MIX, @michaelkenken, @msnbcunion, dot.LA, @gideonresnick, @sarahwhit10, @aherman2006, @jfreewright, @johnfetterman, @lucas_shaw, @iatse, @brianstelter, Adweek, @scriptsbyjames and CBS Los Angeles, more at Techmeme »
Daniel Lippman / Politico:
Seven foreign journalists fired from USAGM during former CEO Michael Pack's term sue the agency for breach of contract and wrongful termination — Seven foreign journalists working for the U.S. Agency for Global Media who were fired by the Trump administration have sued the agency for breach of contract and wrongful termination.
Discussion:
@dlippman
Jay Troop / Next Big Sound:
Music analytics service Next Big Sound, which Pandora acquired in 2015, to shut down on November 1 as its team moves over to Pandora's Artist Marketing Platform — It's been a wild ride. After 12 years of tracking music data across hundreds of thousands of artists and hundreds of billions of streams, it's time to say goodbye.
Discussion:
Billboard, Hypebot, Complete Music Update and musically.com
Sam Shead / CNBC:
Filing: TikTok's European revenue grew 545% YoY to $170.8M in 2020 as losses soared to $644.3M, up from $118.7M in 2019; headcount grew to 1,294 from 208 — - TikTok's turnover in Europe grew 545% to $170.8 million last year as advertisers upped their spending on the platform …
Discussion:
@sam_l_shead and @joemccann, more at Techmeme »
Max Willens / Digiday:
News app Newsbreak, which claims 45M MAUs, hires Snap's Xana O'Neill as head of original content as it tries to boost its nearly 3,000-strong creator program — After about a year of trying to get into the original content business, Newsbreak is unofficially starting over.
Discussion:
@ckrewson
Charlotte Tobitt / Press Gazette:
Filings: The Spectator doubled pre-tax profits to £1.6M in 2020, as turnover rose 15% to £16.3M and subs grew 40%, compensating for lost newsstand and ad sales — The Spectator more than doubled its pre-tax profits in 2020 as a 40% boost to subscriber numbers balanced out challenges …