Top News:
Casey Newton / Platformer:
Instagram co-founders Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger launch a waitlist for Artifact, an app with a personalized news feed that will let users discuss articles — EXCLUSIVE: Meet Artifact, a kind of TikTok for text — Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger are back.
Discussion:
@caseynewton, @rebexxxxa, @harrymccracken, @jessicalessin, @obrien, @rafat, @fiene, @platformer, @larakate and @lmatsakis, more at Techmeme »
Leonard Downie Jr / Washington Post:
In interviews with 75+ journalists and media experts, a Washington Post ex-executive editor finds that newsrooms that move beyond “objectivity” can build trust — Leonard Downie Jr., a former executive editor of The Washington Post, is a professor at the Walter Cronkite School …
Discussion:
Nieman Lab, @ewerickson, @conncarroll, @dianacialino, @arifleischer, @monikabauerlein, @sulliview, @allynwest, @karlbode, @nicolevap, @wesleylowery, @tiagodf, @garrenshipley, @brithume, @jeffjarvis, @m_older, @jamesfallows, @lucasgrindley, @chrisgeidner, @_greatdelusion, @froomkin and @washingtonpost
Hannah Murphy / Financial Times:
Sources detail Twitter's nascent moves to facilitate payments, a key to becoming a “super app”, as the company files for regulatory licenses across the US — Company has started applying for US state licences in bid for fresh revenues beyond advertising
Discussion:
Insider, Fortune, @digiphile, @rakeshlobster, @financialtimes, The Indian Express, SiliconANGLE and Social Media Today
Jeffrey A. Trachtenberg / Wall Street Journal:
Penguin Random House CEO Madeline McIntosh is stepping down after four years, making her the third senior executive to leave PRH in the last two months — Madeline McIntosh is third top executive to leave company in past two months — Madeline McIntosh said she is stepping down as chief executive …
Discussion:
Publishers Weekly, Observer, New York Times, The Bookseller and @sarahburnes
Matt Tamanini / The Streamable:
Paramount Global plans to merge its Showtime streaming service with Paramount+'s ad-free tier later in 2023 and call the new offering Paramount+ with SHOWTIME — It's been a long time coming, but later this year, Paramount Global will finally fully integrate the streaming arm …
Discussion:
Axios, The Hollywood Reporter, Deadline, New York Times, Variety, CNBC, @oliverdarcy, IGN, WORLD SCREEN, @judysquirrels, TrekMovie.com, @mattbelloni, @snoodit, @harrymccracken, The Desk, @thr, Broadband TV News, @pkafka, The Verge, @raventbrunner, @willthelandman, @vanthebrand, @loudmouthjulia, @samontv, @ferniecommaalex, @carnage4life, @loudmouthjulia, Variety, CNN, @alexweprin, @kirkwrites79, TVLine, Collider, IndieWire, Media Play News, The A.V. Club, MediaPost, Gizmodo, SlashFilm, The Information, The Playlist, Screen Rant, The Wrap, Adweek, TechCrunch and Ad Age, more at Techmeme »
Anna Nicolaou / Financial Times:
Spotify reports Q4 revenue up 18% YoY to €3.2B and a €270M loss, up from €39M YoY, as operating costs rose 44% YoY; paying subscribers were up 10M to 205M — Music streaming group adds subscribers but is hit by rise in operating expenses — Spotify's losses ballooned …
Discussion:
Spotify, Observer, Billboard, CNET, Variety, @carnage4life, The Verge and Spotify, more at Techmeme »
Anne Kauranen / Reuters:
Finnish, Norwegian, Danish, and Icelandic unions quit the IFJ, accusing the union of undemocratic practices, unethical finances, and other “corruptive activity” — Finnish, Norwegian, Danish and Icelandic unions will quit a global media federation on Tuesday in protest at …
Wall Street Journal:
If the US wins its antitrust Google case, a spinoff is more likely than a sale, valuing the ad businesses at tens of billions and giving advertisers more choice — If government prevails, an asset spinoff is thought to be more likely than a sale — Google spent the better part …
Discussion:
@repjayapal, @davemorgannyc, @sosayslucia, @rr_edmonds, @matthewstoller and Gizmodo
David Satin / The Streamable:
NBCU source confirms Peacock has stopped offering its free tier to new subscribers, though it remains available to existing subscribers — Peacock will no longer offer their free tier for new subscribers, The Streamable has confirmed. Instead, new users who attempt to sign …
Kristin Robinson / Billboard:
How Rick Astley's lawsuit against Yung Gravy may affect interpolation, a technique that avoids the costly and lengthy process of getting rights to music samples — Re-recording classic tracks has become more common for financial and creative reasons, but the “Betty (Get Money)” case may give producers pause.
Discussion:
Boing Boing
Anna Nicolaou / Financial Times:
Sources: UMG is in talks with Tidal and other services to overhaul streaming economics to get artists more money; ideas include pricier “superfan” subscriptions — Group looks into options such as cracking down on bots and adding ‘superfan’ subscriptions
Caitlin Huston / The Hollywood Reporter:
Warner Bros. Discovery signs deals to license some content that it pulled from HBO Max, including Westworld, to Roku and Tubi's free, ad-supported channels — In December, WBD announced it would be licensing bundles of its shows to FAST streaming services.
Discussion:
Reuters, The Streamable, Deadline, Roku, The Wrap, TechCrunch, MediaPost, Variety, The Information, WORLD SCREEN, Media Play News, IndieWire and TVLine