Top News:


The Block sells an 80% stake to Singaporean VC Foresight Ventures, valuing the crypto outlet at $70M and freeing the business from its financial ties to FTX — Crypto media company The Block sold a majority stake to Singaporean venture capital firm Foresight Ventures in a deal valuing the crypto outlet at $70 million.


Source: after a social media backlash, Warner Bros. plans to let the filmmakers of Coyote vs. Acme shop the movie to other potential distributors — In a surprising about-face, Warner Bros. executives will allow the filmmakers of Coyote vs. Acme, a $70 million live action/CGI hybrid Looney Tunes film …
Discussion:
The Wrap, Forbes, @charlescmann, The Hollywood Reporter, Rolling Stone, UPROXX, Gizmodo, Yahoo Life, @johndilillo, SlashFilm, @animated_antic, Screen Rant, @snarkysteff.bsky.social, @carnage4life@mas.to, The Playlist, @phil_lewis_, Collider, ComingSoon.net, Consequence, Fly! Pow! Bye!, The Verge and Vanity Fair


Warner Music and Universal joined Deezer's “artist-centric” royalties model in France, which includes a “double boost” to artists who get 1,000+ streams a month — News follow's Deezer's announcement of the new model with Universal Music Group in September...
Discussion:
Variety, Billboard and Digital Music News


The BBC faces a backlash, concerns from Ofcom, and potential legal action over controversial local radio cuts, including sharing programs across 39 stations — Exclusive: fallout includes anger from listeners, potential legal action and concerns from Ofcom
Discussion:
@matlockhare, @nickfromupnorth, @davidlloydradio and @mslaura_brown


Courier Newsroom, a network of liberal news sites, expands ahead of the 2024 election with a new slate of video series, newsletters, podcasts, and more — The Scoop — An emerging partisan news organization on the left is seriously gearing up to impact the 2024 election.
Discussion:
@melissaryan, @lucy_ritz, @markjacob16, @couriernewsroom, @couriernewsroom, @bradyqg, Melissa Ryan on LinkedIn and @kylewilsontharp


USA Today appoints its first Beyoncé reporter, working out of the Nashville newsroom for the Gannett-owned Tennessean, after hiring a Taylor Swift reporter — Meet journalist Caché McClay, who will work out of the Tennessean's Nashville newsroom as she delves into the inner workings …
Discussion:
The Messenger, The Hill and USA Today


Marvel's The Marvels, which cost ~$300M to make and market, netted just $47M in US and Canada ticket sales over the weekend, the lowest ever for a Marvel movie — “The Marvels” cost about $300 million to make and market and arrived to $47 million in domestic sales.
Discussion:
Variety, Collider, @nickmenakos, The Hollywood Reporter, CNN, CNBC, BBC, EW.com, @stephenking, @mattbelloni, The A.V. Club, The Wrap, Variety, Collider, @johndilillo, @marvel, Deadline, MediaPost, The Playlist, Bloomberg, Rolling Stone and The Messenger


Reach Chief Digital Publisher David Higgerson says that “there is no plan to replace journalists with social media influencers”, after the company cut ~450 jobs — Comments given by CEO Jim Mullen to The Telegraph prompted confusion and anger among staff.
Discussion:
@davidhiggerson, @mattgoodingtm, @davidhiggerson, @davidhiggerson, @jnkappers, @paulbreeden2 and @davidhiggerson


Ofcom Chair Michael Grade describes the BBC's license fee as a “regressive tax”, and calls for the BBC to strengthen its governance and complaints mechanisms — Michael Grade wants more transparency in how the UK's state broadcaster handles complaints
Discussion:
@danielthomasldn, The Guardian and City A.M.


A look at efforts by South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol to silence journalists in the name of fighting disinformation, including lawsuits and criminal probes — He calls fake news an enemy that threatens democracy. Critics of President Yoon Suk Yeol say he is silencing journalists in the name of fighting disinformation.
Discussion:
The Kyiv Independent and Fox News


Google pays Apple 36% of the revenue the internet giant earns from search ads through Safari, per the US v. Google testimony of Alphabet's main economics expert — - Revenue sharing amount was supposed to remain confidential — Google witness disclosed number during antitrust trial in DC
Discussion:
MediaPost, @jason_kint, @pranavdixit, @bigtechontrial, The Verge, @schizanon@mas.to, @leah_nylen and 9to5Mac, more at Techmeme »


The Guardian launches The Long Read Magazine, a print magazine available via The Guardian bookshop and some newsstands for £12.99 — The Long Read Magazine manages to live in two worlds: the bookshelf and newsstand.
Discussion:
@davidedgarwolf, @sophieelmhirst, @gdnlongread, @pressgazette and @davidedgarwolf