Top News:
Natalie Korach / The Wrap:
In a memo, Gannett Chief Content Officer Kristin Roberts says the publisher will stop publishing AP content on March 25 “to invest further in our newsrooms” — The company will end its legacy AP premium subscription beginning March 25, and “redeploy more dollars toward our teams”
Becky Quick / CNBC:
George Lucas backs Bob Iger in the proxy battle between Disney and activist investor Nelson Peltz; sources say Lucas is Disney's largest individual shareholder — - Filmmaker and Hollywood legend George Lucas is endorsing Walt Disney CEO Bob Iger in the bitter proxy battle launched by activist investor Nelson Peltz.
Discussion:
IndieWire, Wall Street Journal, Los Angeles Times, The Wrap, The Hollywood Reporter, Reuters, Fortune, Quartz, @aagave, Deadline, @arkwulf, @rfaughnder, @benmullin, @pooroldrolotony, CNBC Television on YouTube, @scottgustin, @theonlyjordan__, @lordduckvader, @thecriticaldri2, Variety, @beckyquick and Financial Times
Deadline:
Prime Video unveils a slate of 69 new Indian original TV shows and films, and says India had the highest percentage of Prime Members stream Prime Video in 2023g — India has driven subscribers to Amazon than any other country bar the U.S. over recent years, according Head of Prime Video & Amazon MGM Studios Mike Hopkins.
Discussion:
The Streamable, Variety, Bloomberg, WORLD SCREEN and @lucas_shaw
Committee to Protect Journalists:
Poland has reportedly detained four Ukrainian journalists who were investigating Poland's trade with Russia; two were detained on February 27 and two on March 7 — Polish authorities should refrain from detaining members of the press reporting on topics of public interest …
Discussion:
@farnakyboy
Graciela Mochkofsky / New York Times:
The cost of a journalism education has become an insurmountable barrier for just the kind of people the industry needs most; j-schools need to go tuition free — Many uncertainties haunt the field of journalism today — among them, how we can reach our audience, build public trust in our work, and who is going to pay for it all.
Sara Fischer / Axios:
Baltimore Banner CEO Bob Cohn says the outlet is planning a geographical expansion, has 44K subscribers, and half of 2024 revenue will come from subscriptions — - He previously led subscription expansions as president of both The Economist and The Atlantic.
Discussion:
@kyoshino and @dicktofel
Foo Yun Chee / Reuters:
EU DMA hearing: a Meta lawyer says Meta offered to cut its EU monthly subscription for Facebook and Instagram from €9.99 to €5.99 to address regulatory concerns — Meta Platforms (META.O) has offered to almost halve its monthly subscription fee for Facebook and Instagram to 5.99 euros …
Discussion:
MediaPost, Ars Technica, The Verge, Channel NewsAsia, BGR, Digital Markets Act, @ttoboyle, TechCrunch, @kayjebelli and @kayjebelli, more at Techmeme »
New York Times:
Trump sues ABC and George Stephanopoulos for defamation over Stephanopoulos's on-air remarks that Trump had been found liable for raping E. Jean Carroll — The lawsuit stems from the anchor's recent contentious interview with Representative Nancy Mace. — Former President Donald J. Trump filed …
Discussion:
CNN, The Hill, The Wrap, New Republic, Mediaite, Newser, Los Angeles Times, Fox News, Politico, Reuters, Deadline, New York Post, @humb1962, @thatguyinfla, @67sound.bsky.social, @louisjmarinelli, @genuine_rp, @ericabbenante, @comicozzie58, @wizzyprobsii, @clayandbuck, @genuine_rp, @bpaulkelly, @atrupar, @bsbeamer.bsky.social, The Daily Caller, @mommabearjogs, @nancymace, @omunderdal, @cecil_duncan, @muellershewrote, @kari_beach, @karimx1696315, @chesswpigeons, The Daily Beast, @alllwftopic, The Desk, @katekilla.bsky.social, @hudsonrivercroc.bsky.social, @lakewitchhouse.bsky.social, @CarlG@esq.social, @paleofuture.bsky.social and LAW.com
Washington Post:
Drone footage and interviews with witnesses and colleagues raise questions about Israeli justification for striking two members of an Al Jazeera crew — JERUSALEM — On Jan. 7, the Israeli military conducted a targeted missile strike on a car carrying four Palestinian journalists outside Khan Younis, in southern Gaza.
Stuart Dredge / Music Ally:
Spotify: in 2023, 66K artists received $10K+, up from 57K in 2022, with 50%+ from non-English speaking countries, while 11,600 got $100K+, and 1,250 got $1M+ — - Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) — Every year, Spotify updates its Loud & Clear website with new data about its music payouts.
Discussion:
Observer, Variety, @eldsjal, @duboff, @spotifyartists, CMU, Associated Press and Spotify
Patrick Frater / Variety:
Tencent Music reports Q4 revenue down 7% YoY to $971M and a $198M profit; in 2023, paying subscribers rose 21% YoY to 107M and net profit rose 36% YoY to $735M — Net profits at Tencent Music Entertainment, China's largest digital music company, climbed 36% to reach $735 million (RMB5.22 billion) …
Discussion:
Tencent Music
Jesse Whittock / Deadline:
Paramount+ plans to roll out its ad tier in Canada in April and Australia in June 2024, and to launch its Premium plan in Europe this month, starting in France — Paramount+'s international ad-tier plans are coming together. — The streaming service's Basic (with ads) …
Discussion:
The Wrap, Reuters, Paramount+, Broadband TV News, The Hollywood Reporter and WORLD SCREEN