Top News:
Emily Flitter / New York Times:
How local US government officials increasingly retaliate over unfavorable coverage by revoking hometown newspapers' lucrative contracts to print public notices — When coverage upsets them, towns and counties are revoking newspapers' lucrative contracts to print public notices. — Reporting from Delhi, N.Y.
Ben Smith / Semafor:
Internal presentation: ~70% of the Los Angeles Times' $232.5M projected 2023 revenue is coming from print, which executives used to explain plans to cut 70 jobs — Progressive media activists, rattled by the collapse of a generation of youth-oriented digital news outlets like Vice and BuzzFeed News …
Discussion:
Semafor, @maxwelltani, @stufalk, @tvmojoe, @jamesoliphant, @beachwoodreport, @stufalk, @phil_rosenthal and @jeffjarvis
Brooks Barnes / New York Times:
After Elemental had the worst opening in Pixar's 30 year history, some argue Disney may have weakened the Pixar brand by using its films as “just Disney+ food” — The original animated film took in $29.5 million at the box office, by far the worst opening in Pixar's three-decade history.
Discussion:
Variety, @tvgrimreaper, BGR, @lucas_shaw, Forbes, The Wrap, ComingSoon.net, Looper and SlashFilm
RELATED:
Thomas Germain / Gizmodo:
Some publishers say they have seen a sharp drop in Facebook traffic since May 2023; Echobox: the share of traffic to publisher sites from Facebook fell ~50% YoY — With no communication from the company, publishers relying on Facebook traffic are at the mercy of the inscrutable algorithm, and they say it's punishing them.
Discussion:
@saptarshinath, @coswise, @thomasgermain and @mattnavarra, more at Techmeme »
Ben Smith / Semafor:
The organizers of Cannes Lions, the ad industry's top awards, tell juries to steer clear of politics and advocacy in favor of more commercially-minded campaigns — The Scoop — The organizers of the advertising industry's top awards ceremony have quietly instructed juries to steer clear …
Discussion:
Ad Age and @semaforben
Alexandra Bruell / Wall Street Journal:
Black-owned media investor Group Black strikes a deal with NBCU to sell ads in Peacock shows popular among Black audiences, keeping the majority of the revenue — Some marketers have sought ways to invest more advertising dollars in Black-owned media — Comcast's NBCUniversal said Group Black …
Discussion:
MediaPost, @kerrymflynn, @alexbruell and The Hollywood Reporter
Todd Spangler / Variety:
Spotify signs a deal with Trevor Noah for a weekly podcast, available on multiple platforms, set to launch later in 2023, signaling a commitment to podcasts — The weekly podcast will blend Noah's “signature humor and razor-sharp wit with his global perspective to deliver a unique …
Discussion:
The Hill, Adweek, Billboard, The Wrap, Axios, Podnews, @eldsjal, @brianstelter, Spotify, Deadline, The Hollywood Reporter, Sydney Morning Herald and Nitter
Alexandra Sternlicht / Fortune:
A look at Kick, a live streaming service launched in March 2023 with lax moderation and gambling company ties, that lets creators keep 95% of subscriber revenue — Video game streamer Tyler Blevins, known as “Ninja” — Video game streamers, who display their prowess in real time playing …
Discussion:
Music Ally and Deadline
Podnews:
Spotify executive Bill Simmons calls Harry and Meghan “grifters” after their $20M deal ends with 12 episodes; sources say their staff did some of the interviews — Archewell, the podcast company owned by Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, will not have its contract renewed with Spotify.
Discussion:
@jodyavirgan, New York Post, CNN, @mgobronxblue, Poynter, Metro, The Guardian, @loldev3, @buckgenoiii, @sona_here, @ishmaelrjohnson, @yoda, @seanmbailly, @mikegolicjr, @jerseydeanne, @chewithblingon, @sonnybunch, The Sun, The Wrap, @itsthebrandi, @edsbs, @garycaffrey, Mediaite, @josephzucker, @owgrstan, @tweets_by_zo, @votenanocratic, Global News, @bleez17, @newmethos, @terryfuck45, @cockybovine, @drewbutler, @kontra402, @natalieweiner, UPROXX, @adamsinger, @moorehn, @r0wdy_, @imryan, @snarkyredhd, @chronotope.aramzs.xyz, Sky News, CNBC, Variety, Awful Announcing, Fortune, TMZ.com, The A.V. Club, Deadline, New York Daily News, Decider and SheKnows
Sabrina Ortiz / ZDNet:
Vimeo announces AI tools to automate parts of the video creation process, including an AI script generator, a teleprompter, and a text-based video editor — Have you ever had a great video idea that you just never got to because of how much work was involved?
Discussion:
The Verge, Gizmodo, @anjsud, Vimeo.com, Inc., @anjsud and TechCrunch, more at Techmeme »
Ashley Carman / Bloomberg:
Source: Spotify plans a more expensive “Supremium” tier with HiFi audio, audiobooks, and more, launching outside the US later in 2023; Premium costs $9.99/month — Spotify Technology SA is planning a more expensive subscription option that's expected to include high-fidelity audio …
Discussion:
TechCrunch, AppleInsider, The Verge, Music Business Worldwide, @ashleyrcarman, 9to5Mac and BGR, more at Techmeme »
Patrick Coffee / Wall Street Journal:
Celebrities, including aging star athletes, are signing deals to put AI duplicates of themselves into ad campaigns, helping brands de-age them, among other uses — Using AI-generated duplicates, brands also benefit, using stars in ways they never could before
Discussion:
@textually, @chetmitchell@masto.ai, @falcongrovepro and Shelly Palmer, more at Techmeme »
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