Top News:
Sam Jones / Financial Times:
Memo: BI CEO Barbara Peng says an internal review found reporting on plagiarism in Neri Oxman's MIT thesis to be rigorous and fair; Axel Springer stands by BI — Owner Axel Springer says it ‘stands by’ publication amid dispute with academic and her husband Bill Ackman
Discussion:
Business Insider, Mediaite, @bgrueskin, @billackman, Wall Street Journal, @carnage4life, @asharma, Associated Press, @epicureandeal, @disabilitystor1, @aaschapiro, @ijbailey, @michaelpleahy, @billackman, @nichcarlson, @nerioxman, @mikeisaac, @mehdirhasan, @mikeisaac, @1991wolfpack, @bondhack, @keitholbermann, @maxwelltani, @disabilitystor1, @benjamin_goggin_@threads.net, @karaswisher@threads.net, @karaswisher@threads.net, The Wrap, @daveleebbg@threads.net, @originalspin@threads.net, @lorakolodny@threads.net, CNN, Talking Biz News, The Daily Beast and Bloomberg
Ananya Bhattacharya / Quartz:
Luminate: Hindi songs' share of the top 10K global tracks grew from 6.1% in 2022 to 7.8% in 2023; English fell from 62.1% to 54.9%, Spanish from 11.8% to 10.1% — Bollywood music and indie musicians — hip-hop artists especially — are fueling the Hindi music streaming phenomena
Discussion:
Luminate, Fast Company, @chartdata, Billboard, @ashleycarman@threads.net and @ashleycarman@threads.net
Max Tani / Semafor:
Apple's September 2023 change to how its Podcasts app automatically downloads episodes dramatically cut the download numbers for some of the biggest podcasts — The News — Apple has quietly tightened its reporting of how many people listen to podcasts, sending shock waves through …
Lucas Shaw / Bloomberg:
Despite nine years of music industry growth thanks to streaming, companies like Spotify and UMG are tightening payouts or laying off employees — After years of a streaming boom, record labels are searching for their next big win. — Last year was brutal for the media business …
Discussion:
Lucas Shaw on LinkedIn and @lucas_shaw
RELATED:
Ted Johnson / Deadline:
Anchors and network correspondents talk about covering the unconventional and an unusual Iowa GOP primary, the differences from 2016, media mistrust, and more — The Iowa caucus on Monday will be like no other — and that was apparent from the start, well before subzero weather raised doubts …
Discussion:
Fox News, @noahshachtman@threads.net, New York Times, @grynbaum, @bencjacobs, @sopandeb, @edokeefe, @nbcnewspr, Politico, New York Post, Associated Press, The Hill, Deseret News, The Atlantic, Los Angeles Times, New Yorker, CBS News, Washington Post, Fast Company, Semafor, Des Moines Register, The Rural Blog and Wall Street Journal
Loni Prinsloo / Bloomberg:
Showmax, available in 50 African countries, relaunches, appoints Andrea Zappia as chair, and partners with Comcast, aiming to generate $1B revenue in five years — - Showmax re-launched its service on Monday to grow audiences — Service is targeting $1 billion in revenues in five years
Discussion:
@iatalkspace
Laura Wagner / Washington Post:
A look at issues at The Messenger, including its reliance on a high-volume publishing strategy, as the outlet lays off staff and struggles to stay afloat — Jimmy Finkelstein had big dreams and a $50 million investment. Eight months after the Messenger's launch, it is laying off staff and struggling to stay afloat.
Discussion:
@ron_fournier, @amyargetsinger, @titivil, @mszafranski413, @rhondaneu, @jeffjarvis and @adammcginnis
Daniel Dylan Wray / The Guardian:
A profile of Blindboy, host and creator of the weekly Blindboy Podcast, which launched in 2017, covers a wide-range of subjects, and is fully listener-funded — He wears plastic bags as an ‘autistic protest’ and makes podcasts about everything from fish fingers to the Baileys sex cult.
Discussion:
@inahill, @senorastacy and @danieldylanwray
Richard Lawler / The Verge:
Nielsen: Peacock's exclusive stream of the NFL AFC Wild Card game was the most-streamed event in US history, with 27.6M total viewers and a 24.6M peak average — The streams we were watching mostly held up, if you saw the game, how was the experience for you?
Discussion:
Deadline, TVLine, Sportico, Sports Media Watch, Media Play News and MediaPost, more at Techmeme »
Bron Maher / Press Gazette:
The Irish Sun appoints Deputy Editor Fiona Wynne as editor, replacing Kieran McDaid, meaning all three national editions of The Sun are now led by women — The appointment means each national edition of The Sun is edited by a woman. — Irish Sun deputy editor Fiona Wynne will replace Kieran McDaid …
Charlotte Tobitt / Press Gazette:
Mirror Editor-in-Chief Alison Phillips plans to step down at the end of January after almost four years, succeeded by Reach Magazines EIC Caroline Waterston — Mirror editor-in-chief Alison Phillips will step down at the end of January after almost six years leading the brand.
Discussion:
The Guardian and The Guardian
Georg Szalai / The Hollywood Reporter:
Q&A with Roxi CEO Rob Lewis on launching the UK-based music video streaming service in the US, licensing deals, generating revenue, key competitors, and more — “Building a global a global music video streaming service is way harder than building a Netflix or Disney+,” says Rob Lewis.