Top News:
Clare Malone / New Yorker:
A look at Puck, its founder Jon Kelly, and his vision for an outlet for and about “moguls”; source: Puck hopes to raise a $15-20M Series B in early 2023 — The media startup Puck is aiming to build a business by covering power and wealth from the inside.
Shawn McCreesh / New York Magazine:
The NYT union has sent a letter to the paper's CEO and publisher threatening a daylong walkout on December 8 if they don't come to terms on a new labor contract — This morning at 8 a.m., New York Times publisher A.G. Sulzberger and CEO Meredith Kopit Levien received a letter from Bill Baker …
Christopher Grimes / Financial Times:
Sources: Florida lawmakers are working on a compromise that would essentially let Disney keep its special tax district, after they voted to dissolve it in April — Lawmakers seek compromise preserving theme park operator's right to run private government — Florida lawmakers are working …
Discussion:
Mediaite, Forbes, The Hill, @imillhiser, Fortune, New York Post, IndieWire, @aaronblake, @meidastouch and @carlosgsmith
Chris Roush / Talking Biz News:
In a memo, Bloomberg Media CEO M. Scott Havens says Bloomberg.com has more than 450K subscribers and year-to-date revenue is up 20% YoY, with ad revenue up 25% — Bloomberg Media CEO M. Scott Havens sent out the following on Thursday: — Greetings all. — Although a bit delayed …
Thanks:@talkingbiznews
Herb Scribner / Axios:
Filing: Alex Jones has filed for personal bankruptcy in Texas; Jones and Free Speech Systems have been ordered to pay $1.5B in damages to Sandy Hook families — Alex Jones filed for personal bankruptcy in Texas on Friday, according to a court filing.
Discussion:
Washington Post, New York Times, The Wrap, Wall Street Journal, The Hill, Associated Press, CNN, RADAR, Financial Times, Al Jazeera, Newser, UPI, Bloomberg, New York Post, Fortune, NPR, New York Daily News, Insider, Gizmodo, The Verge, New Republic, The Daily Beast, The Guardian, @axios, FreidomReport, Rolling Stone and New York Magazine
Kristin Robinson / Billboard:
Triller removes music catalogs for UMG, WMG, Sony Music and Merlin after Sony filed a lawsuit claiming Triller failed to make payments worth “millions” — Following Sony's lawsuit, one label source says “millions” in unpaid royalties are the issue. Triller denies this, saying the app is “reassessing” label deals.
Discussion:
@wordsbykristin, Music Business Worldwide, @taylorlorenz and Rolling Stone, more at Techmeme »
Justin B. Smith / @justin_b_smith:
Memo: Justin Smith says Sam Bankman-Fried doesn't hold shares of Semafor, but if his interest converts to equity, he'll have a single-digit minority stake — I sent the following memo to our staff today regarding Sam Bankman-Fried and his investment in @Semafor. https://twitter.com/...
Discussion:
@teddyschleifer and Daring Fireball
Wall Street Journal:
A look at Disney's restructuring efforts under former CEO Bob Chapek; sources: McKinsey consultants explored centralizing marketing, annoying top content execs — Tension flared over plans to take control of marketing, other decisions away from content chiefs — From Robert Iger to Steve Jobs, Why Companies Bring Back Their CEOs
Discussion:
@rwhelanwsj, New York Post, @mgsiegler, @mediaevan, Insider, @amlivemon, @simonkhalaf, @jbflint, @hshaban, @tvgrimreaper, @automaticzen, @asharma, @kenmoriyasu, @aagave and @jbflint
Nellie Andreeva / Deadline:
Internal email: Jeff Blackburn, Amazon's SVP of Global Media & Entertainment, is retiring in January after 25 years with the company — Jeff Blackburn, a 25-year Amazon veteran, who was the prime architect of the company's expansion into streaming, will be retiring in January.
Discussion:
Variety, Los Angeles Times, The Wrap, Bloomberg and The Hollywood Reporter
Sarah Ellison / Washington Post:
The Washington Post has laid off Sarah Kaufman, one of the last full-time dance critics in the US; as of 2015, there were two full-time critics remaining — The Washington Post has laid off Pulitzer Prize winner Sarah L. Kaufman, one of the last full-time dance critics in the country …
Discussion:
@chris__richards, @bernstein, @damonlinker, @jsf, @molliekatzen, @zinoman, @misssoniarao, @jadabird, @sulliview, @mrdavidjays, @jbenton, @timothynoah1, @sdkstl, @hankstuever, @ionarts and @lauracappelle
Reuters Institute:
Ravish Kumar, a leading TV anchor in India for NDTV, resigns in protest as the Adani Group seems poised to take over the independent news channel — As billionaire Gautam Adani takes over Indian TV channel NDTV, senior news anchor Ravish Kumar tendered his resignation with this speech
Discussion:
@rasmus_kleis, @neelkamaltoi, Scroll.in, The Times, Deadline and Newslaundry
Ted Johnson / Deadline:
Memo: CNN CEO Chris Licht outlines changes amid layoffs, including restructuring some beats to cover the US “more broadly”; CNN Digital will have no impacts — CNN Worldwide Chairman and CEO Chris Licht outlined the network's changes as the network went through a significant round of job cuts.
Discussion:
Poynter, @oliverdarcy, CNN and IndieWire
RELATED:
Brian Steinberg / Variety:
Sources: CNN will no longer produce live programs for HLN and will simulcast CNN This Morning; layoffs include CNN correspondent Chris Cillizza
Sources: CNN will no longer produce live programs for HLN and will simulcast CNN This Morning; layoffs include CNN correspondent Chris Cillizza
Discussion:
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Jon Blistein / Rolling Stone:
CNN faces a $17M lawsuit from Freeplay Music accusing it of using hundreds of songs in international broadcasts without acquiring licenses or paying proper fees — Freeplay Music, an online production music library, is seeking $17 million from the cable news giant
Discussion:
Billboard, Complete Music Update and Digital Music News