Mediagazer: Hipgnosis plans to sell 29 music catalogues, including Shakira, Kaiser Chiefs, and Nelly songs, to a Blackstone-owned fund for $465M, to strengthen its finances (Daniel Thomas/Financial Times)

4:50 PM ET, September 14, 2023

Top News:

Sources: Disney has held exploratory talks about selling its ABC network and TV stations to Nexstar Media Group, which now has 200 owned or partner TV stations — Walt Disney Co. has held exploratory talks about selling its ABC network and TV stations to local broadcaster Nexstar Media Group Inc. …

Discussion: The Hill, Reuters, 9to5Mac, Next TV, Deadline, The Wrap, Cord Cutters News and The Desk

Axios:

Sources: audience and ad measurement company VideoAmp laid off ~10% of its workforce last week, or 40+ people, just before announcing it raised a $150M Series G — Media measurement firm VideoAmp quietly laid off about 10% of its workforce last week, Axios has learned. … VideoAmp now has about 400 employees.

Discussion: Ad Age and VideoAmp

Joe Flint / Wall Street Journal:

Nielsen names Karthik Rao, a 23-year veteran of the company, as CEO, succeeding David Kenny, who will become executive chairman — Karthik Rao succeeds David Kenny at the top of the ratings firm as competition grows and measurement grows more complex — Nielsen is shaking up its leadership …

Discussion: Insider Intelligence, Radio & Television …, Adweek, RAIN News, Variety, Inside Radio, @nielsen, Axios, @bristei, Ad Age, Nielsen, WORLD SCREEN and MediaPost

Emma Roth / The Verge:

TikTok and Billboard launch the TikTok Billboard Top 50 Chart to track the most popular songs on the platform each week in the US — TikTok is partnering with Billboard to launch a top 50 chart that tracks the most popular songs on the platform. Topping the chart right now is Sexyy Red with …

Discussion: MediaPost, Billboard, Billboard, TechCrunch, Variety, Forbes, The Messenger, TikTok, Forbes and TMZ.com

Kyle Wiggers / TechCrunch:

Pixis, which offers AI tools for brands to run and monitor marketing campaigns, raised an $85M Series C1 led by Touring, taking its total funding to $209M — Pixis, an AI-powered platform for brands to monitor and orchestrate their marketing campaigns, today announced that it raised $85 million …

more at Techmeme »

Charlotte Tobitt / Press Gazette:

Newsquest reports 2022 revenue up 6% to £150.6M, says it has passed 65K paying digital subscribers and ~50% of its advertising revenue now comes from digital — Digital now makes up almost half of ad revenues, and digital subs have surpassed 65,000. — Regional news publisher Newsquest grew …

Alex Weprin / The Hollywood Reporter:

Linda Yaccarino hires media executives for X's sales teams, including former TNT and TBS GM Brett Weitz as X's head of content, talent, and brand sales — Yaccarino also unveiled a new sales leadership team, including former NBCUniversal and Dow Jones executives.

Discussion: MediaPost, Variety, The Wrap, The Messenger, Deadline and The Information

Carolyn Giardina / The Hollywood Reporter:

Generative AI company Metaphysic claims its new system can help actors navigate the AI likeness rights, and says early users include Tom Hanks and Anne Hathaway — The generative AI tech firm announced a new toolset on Thursday and revealed multiple actors who are using its products.

Discussion: National Review

Victor Tangermann / Futurism:

Microsoft's Start news website published a garbled, seemingly AI-generated obit for former NBA player Brandon Hunter, headlined, “Brandon Hunter useless at 42” — Former NBA player Brandon Hunter passed away unexpectedly at the young age of 42 this week, a tragedy that rattled fans …

Discussion: Awful Announcing, New York Post, @jbenton, @philco78, @baldur@toot.cafe, @staringispolite, @dsmith_tucson, @edlockwood87, @vtanger, @jmhaigh, @bydankoller, @futurism, @michaelroston, Reuters, UPI, The Hill, The Messenger, Vibe and Fox News

Virginia Chamlee / People:

Fox News adds Lawrence Jones as a co-host of Fox & Friends, starting September 18, making him the youngest Black co-host on cable news — Fox News is expected to announce during its Thursday morning ‘Fox & Friends’ broadcast that Jones, 30, will become the latest addition to the weekday hosting team

Discussion: TVLine, Mediaite, Los Angeles Times, Fox News, TV Insider, Deadline, The Wrap, The Hollywood Reporter, @blackamazon, @lawrencebjones3, The Hill and The Messenger

Matthew Keys / StreamTV Insider:

In a US House hearing, lawmakers expressed frustration over rising pay TV prices and blackouts, and industry experts called cable and broadcast rules outdated — Federal lawmakers this week expressed their frustration over rising cable and satellite television prices and numerous programming blackouts …

Janko Roettgers / Lowpass:

Amazon adds IAP back to Prime Video for Android, letting users buy VOD rentals and more, after removing IAP from its apps in 2022 to avoid Google's 30% fee — Next up: The Kindle app, maybe? — Some news from the someone-must-have-struck-a-deal department: Amazon is once again allowing users …

Discussion: 9to5Google and The Verge, more at Techmeme »

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Bloomberg:
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Daniel Thomas / Financial Times:
Hipgnosis plans to sell 29 music catalogues, including Shakira, Kaiser Chiefs, and Nelly songs, to a Blackstone-owned fund for $465M, to strengthen its finances

Discussion: Billboard, Reuters and Music Business Worldwide

Bron Maher / Press Gazette:
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Futurism:
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Discussion: Plagiarism Today, @shivvyshiv.bsky.social, @kbeninato@mstdn.party, @kphipps3000, @charlescmann, @samuelaadams, @jhoffman, @thehighsign, @dceiver, @jon_christian, @pierogipowered.bsky.social, @dell.bsky.social, @baldur@toot.cafe, @Lazarou@mastodon.social and @tante@tldr.nettime.org

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