Top News:


Los Angeles Times managing editors Sara Yasin and Shani O. Hilton have exited less than two weeks after executive editor Kevin Merida resigned from the paper — UPDATED, 11:42 AM: Two more top editors have resigned from the Los Angeles Times ahead of a new round of planned layoffs.
Discussion:
@katie_robertson, @maxwelltani, @megjameslat, New York Times, @meridak, Los Angeles Times, @maxwelltani, The Wrap, @brianstelter, @megjameslat and @lucas_shaw


Netflix film chairman Scott Stuber plans to leave to start a production company; Netflix's Chief Content Officer will oversee films until a replacement is found — - Executive built streaming service's film studio as chairman … Stuber will stay on as global film chairman at least until …
Discussion:
Variety, Screen Rant, Deadline, New York Times, @lucas_shaw, @tim_bays, Los Angeles Times, IndieWire, @mattbelloni, @pkafka@threads.net, The Wrap and Reuters


The 2024 GOP primary races are failing to lure news audiences back, with ratings down, as media execs reckon with the lack of a “Trump bump” to save ad budgets — The News — For one week every four years, the DoubleTree hotel in downtown Manchester, New Hampshire …

Memo: Verizon chief content officer Erin McPherson, who helped make distribution deals with Netflix, Disney+, and others, is leaving at the end of February — Erin McPherson, senior vice president and chief content officer at Verizon who spearheaded the telecom giant's content and distribution deals …


Apple will pay up to 10% more per play in Apple Music royalties for tracks where a Spatial Audio version is available, starting with January's payouts — Apple Music is now encouraging artists with a financial incentive to make their music available in Spatial Audio, which offers …
Discussion:
TechCrunch, Billboard, The Verge, Rolling Stone, TechCrunch, @shobhitnerd, AppleInsider and Music Business Worldwide, more at Techmeme »


A look at the challenges Amazon Prime Video faces as it plans to show ads, including attracting large brands that don't already sell products on Amazon — The e-commerce giant must provide more high-quality content and court advertisers that don't sell products on its platform, experts say


Nexstar launches the NewsNation Audio Network to offer “ready to air audio clips” from the news network for participating radio stations and audio platforms — Nexstar Media Group's cable news network NewsNation is branching into the audio business.
Discussion:
The Desk, Radio & Television …, RADIO ONLINE, @chistodotme, @thedeskdotnet and NewsNation


ElevenLabs, which uses AI tools to create and edit synthetic voices, raised an $80M Series B co-led by a16z, Nat Friedman, and Daniel Gross at a $1B+ valuation — There's a lot of money in voice cloning. — Case in point: ElevenLabs, a startup developing AI-powered tools to create …


Union staffers across Condé Nast brands plan a 24-hour walkout on Jan. 23, coinciding with Oscar nominations, to protest alleged unlawful bargaining practices — More than 400 workers at Vanity Fair, Vogue, Condé Nast Entertainment, Bon Appétit and other brands are walking …
Discussion:
@bootsriley, @condeunion, The Wrap, Variety, @erik_hayden, @condeunion and @katiekilkenny7


Sources: popular YouTuber MrBeast is nearing a deal for a reality-competition show with Amazon's Prime Video; the deal is reportedly worth around $100M — MrBeast, the massively popular YouTube creator known for big-money giveaways and outlandish stunts, is nearing a deal for a reality-competition show …
Discussion:
The Verge, Puck, WNCT, Tubefilter, The Messenger and Cord Cutters News


Sony sends a termination notice to Zee Entertainment to call off the $10B merger between its Indian media unit and Zee, citing unmet conditions as the reason — Japan's Sony Group (6758.T) said on Monday it has sent a termination notice to Zee Entertainment (ZEE.NS) to call off a $10 billion merger …

Nearly two months after pulling its Surviving Barstool series from YouTube over censorship claims, Barstool Sports announces a deal with Rumble; RUM jumps 30%+ — Nearly two months after pulling its popular Surviving Barstool series from YouTube over claims of censorship, Barstool Sports has a new video home.
Discussion:
Rumble, Reclaim The Net, Bloomberg, Sportico, @rumblevideo, The Messenger and Barrett Media, more at Techmeme »