Top News:
Lucas Shaw / Bloomberg:
The music industry is entering a cycle of consolidation, driven by a slowdown at the major labels, the growing market for independents, and the rapacity of PE — The music industry is entering new era, one driven by a slowdown at the major labels, the growing market for independents and the rapacity of private equity.
Discussion:
@lucas_shaw, @lucas_shaw and @lucas_shaw
Financial Times:
Similarweb: Bluesky's US and UK app usage grew ~300% to 3.5M DAUs after November 5; Threads has 1.5x Bluesky's DAUs in the US, down from 5x before November 5 — Social media giant's Threads app makes changes as smaller competitor to X surges — Meta's Threads is losing ground …
Discussion:
The Verge, The Desk, Ian Betteridge, @digiphile@threads.net, The Colorado Sun, @jaypeters.11@threads.net, The Guardian, Twitchy, @metasynthesis.net, @carnage4life.bsky.social, @diwanow.com, @crowslabyrinth.com, @ronfilipkowski.bsky.social, @adrianweckler.bsky.social, @malmer.com, @jburnmurdoch.bsky.social, @kevin-indig.bsky.social, @emilprotalinski.bsky.social, @warnerdavid.bsky.social, @lekevicius.com, @mikebeas.com, @jamesshelley.com, @chadbourn.bsky.social, @keithedwards.bsky.social, @jburnmurdoch.bsky.social, @chickenpuppet.bsky.social, New York Times, TechCrunch, Wired and Engadget, more at Techmeme »
Reporters Without Borders:
Investigation: how hack-for-hire Appin tried silencing 15+ outlets since 2022 over articles, newsletters, and podcasts covering Appin's “ethical hacking” — Whether based in the US, Switzerland, France or India, any media outlet investigating the “ethical hacking” of Appin …
Discussion:
Reporters Without Borders on YouTube and @rsf_inter, more at Techmeme »
Max Tani / Semafor:
Sources: CNN is considering making network anchor Kaitlan Collins its chief White House correspondent and relocating her show from New York to DC — The Scoop — CNN's leadership says it doesn't want to go back to its wall-to-wall 24-hour coverage of Donald Trump when he returns to the White House in January.
Manuel Roig-Franzia / Washington Post:
An interview with Alsu Kurmasheva of RFE/RL, a seasoned editor and broadcaster who spent months in a Russian prison before being released in a prisoner swap — Russian authorities put Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty's Alsu Kurmasheva behind bars, but they couldn't outsmart her.
Discussion:
Freedom of the Press … and Voice of America
Peter White / Deadline:
Fox and Hulu extend their content partnership, including in-season streaming rights for Fox's programming; sources: the deal is worth $1.5B over four years — The two companies have struck a new multiyear content partnership that includes in-season streaming rights for Fox's programming slate.
Discussion:
Comic Book, Cord Cutters News, Media Play News, Advanced Television, The Desk and IndieWire
Shawn Musgrave / The Intercept:
A US federal court allows The Intercept's claim that the DMCA stops OpenAI from stripping a story's title or byline but dismisses its claims against Microsoft — In an order on Friday, a federal court rejected OpenAI's effort to toss a lawsuit filed by The Intercept over using its journalists' work …
Discussion:
The Information, Observer and CNBC
Andrew Deck / Nieman Lab:
Experts expect a surge in FOIA requests in Trump's second term, causing more delays and lawsuits; FOIA.gov: as of Q3 2024, the backlog of requests reached 222K+ — The law itself is likely to stand, but experts expect a surge in requests, longer delays, and more court dates.
Discussion:
Jason Leopold on LinkedIn, @mvtopic, @mvtopic, @decka227 and @mvtopic
Eliav Breuer / Jerusalem Post:
Israel approves a proposal that government bodies refrain from engaging with Haaretz or placing ads in the paper, after controversial remarks from its publisher — This decision came “in light of the recent statements by the publisher of ‘Haaretz’, Amos Schocken, who expressed support …
Peter Kafka / Business Insider:
Q&A with Chris Balfe, CEO of Red Seat Ventures, which has helped Tucker Carlson and Megyn Kelly set up their podcast and streaming businesses and sell ads — - It used to be that leaving Fox News or other big media outlets was the end of your career. — Not anymore.
Brian Steinberg / Variety:
Sources: NBCUniversal Vice Chairman Bonnie Hammer plans to leave the company at the end of the year; she has been with the company since 2004 — Bonnie Hammer, a legendary TV executive who has had a hand in popular programs ranging from “This Old House” and “Zoom” to “Monk” and “Mr. Robot …
Discussion:
David Vogler on LinkedIn, The Hollywood Reporter, The Wrap, TVNewsCheck and Deadline
Jonathan Stempel / Reuters:
A New York judge finds Sirius XM liable for a difficult subscription cancellation process; Sirius says it will appeal but abide by a new “click-to-cancel” rule — A New York state judge found Sirius XM Holdings (SIRI.O) liable in New York Attorney General Letitia James' lawsuit accusing …
Discussion:
Inside Radio, The Drive, Deadline, Digital Music News, @claeshs.bsky.social, Variety, The Verge, Billboard and Forbes