Top News:
Axios:
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.
Matthew Belloni / Puck:
Source: after a backlash on social media, Warner Bros. Discovery 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 …
Discussion:
The Wrap, @thr, Yahoo Life, The Messenger, @johndilillo, SlashFilm, @animated_antic, Screen Rant, Rolling Stone, @charlescmann, @snarkysteff.bsky.social, Forbes, The Hollywood Reporter, @carnage4life@mas.to, Gizmodo, The Playlist, @phil_lewis_, UPROXX, Collider, ComingSoon.net, Consequence, Cord Cutters News and Fly! Pow! Bye!
Brooks Barnes / New York Times:
Marvel's The Marvels, which cost ~$300M to make and market, netted just $47M in weekend ticket sales in the US and Canada, 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. — The once-superheroic Marvel Studios is now merely mortal.
Discussion:
Variety, @nickmenakos, @stephenking, @mattbelloni, Collider, @virtualbri@mastodon.online, @johndilillo, @marvel, BBC, CNBC, EW.com, Deadline, Collider, Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, CNN, Associated Press, The A.V. Club, The Wrap, MediaPost, The Playlist, Bloomberg, Rolling Stone and The Messenger
Tara Conlan / The Guardian:
The BBC faces a listener backlash, Ofcom concerns, 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:
Media Voices, @matlockhare, @mslaura_brown, @davidlloydradio and @nickfromupnorth
Justin Baragona / The Daily Beast:
Jason Donner, a former Fox News Capitol Hill reporter, sues the network, alleging he was fired for opposing Fox's “false coverage of the January 6 insurrection” — Donner, who spent 12 years at Fox News, is now suing the network under D.C.'s human-rights statutes, alleging wrongful termination.
Discussion:
The Desk, @justinbaragona, @justinbaragona, New York Times, @jordanonrecord, Associated Press and Mediaite
Tim Ingham / Music Business Worldwide:
Warner Music and Universal join Deezer's “artist-centric” royalties model in France, which includes a “double boost” to artists who get 1,000+ streams per month — News follow's Deezer's announcement of the new model with Universal Music Group in September...
Discussion:
Variety, Billboard and Digital Music News
Larisha Paul / Rolling Stone:
USA Today appoints its first Beyoncé reporter, working out of the Gannett-owned Tennessean's Nashville newsroom, 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:
@ichoseviolences, @bylarisha, Deanna Fry on LinkedIn, @Tergenev@mastodon.social, @myfamny, The Hill, MediaPost, USA Today and The Messenger
Adam Gabbatt / The Guardian:
The Wall Street Journal, CNN, and The Washington Post have all appointed British bosses in the past 12 months; The Times and other UK outlets plan US expansions — Will Lewis's helming of the Washington Post comes after the Wall Street Journal and CNN hired other UK talent as top brass
Discussion:
@janebsinger, @nejsnave and @kielkontrovers@mastodon …
Bron Maher / Press Gazette:
Analysis: in 2022, Mail Online had the most partially and fully upheld IPSO complaints, with seven, followed by The Times, Express, and Mirror, with three each — However IPSO's annual report, using a different timeframe, puts Times and Telegraph top. — Mail Online had the most upheld …
Max Tani / Semafor:
Courier Newsroom, a network of liberal news sites, expands ahead of the 2024 US election with new contributors, newsletters, video series, op-eds, and podcasts — The Scoop — An emerging partisan news organization on the left is seriously gearing up to impact the 2024 election.
Discussion:
@lucy_ritz, @markjacob16, @couriernewsroom, @melissaryan, @couriernewsroom, @bradyqg, Melissa Ryan on LinkedIn and @kylewilsontharp
Matt Flegenheimer / New York Times:
How Russell Brand built an army of fans with his conspiracy-minded podcast, whose guests, like Tucker Carlson, remain loyal even after the sexual assault claims — The British entertainer built an army of fans with his conspiracy-minded podcast. Now, amid sex-assault claims against him, they've become his whole world.
Leah Nylen / Bloomberg:
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