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Drake launches legal action against UMG and Spotify for allegedly using bots, payola, and more to inflate Kendrick Lamar's Not Like Us, a track attacking Drake — Drake has initiated legal action against Universal Music Group (UMG) and Spotify over allegations that the two companies conspired …
Discussion:
The Independent, Associated Press, New York County Supreme Court, Variety, AV Club, Rolling Stone, The Wrap, @desusnice, @daviddennisjr.bsky.social, @phil_lewis_, New York Daily News, @mford.bsky.social, @mannyfidel, @annaknicolaou, @myfakeironlung.bsky.social, Sandra Rose, @annaknicolaou, @janecoaston, Bossip, Los Angeles Times, Stereogum, Entertainment Weekly, @casey_evans_, UPROXX, @kashana.bsky.social, @brianzisook, @_zeets, @joshgondelman, @dragonflyjonez, @hebennigatu, @fadamgotdajuice, @billdonahue.bsky.social, @darrylc.bsky.social, @theneedledrop, @wowthatshiphop, CBS News, @markroebuck.bsky.social, @mikemadden.bsky.social, @nhoodpublicist, @wowthatshiphop, @wickednfine, @skrappy83, Digital Music News, TMZ.com, @mrmedina, @dragonflyjonez, @big_business_, People, @arianfoster, theJasmineBRAND, @umg, @_zeets, @variety, @gothamhiphop, @phil_lewis_, @engineeringbae.bsky.social, @britticisms.bsky.social, Music Business Worldwide, The Verge, Forbes, Deadline, Consequence, Fox News, Just Jared and Oh No They Didn't!, more at Techmeme »

Sources: NBC's new deal with Macy's to keep the Thanksgiving Day Parade on NBC and Peacock has an average annual fee of $60M+, up from ~$20M in the current deal — Macy's and NBC near pact that would raise the spectacle's annual average price to $60 million.
Discussion:
New York Post, The Wrap, @bsdtectr.bsky.social, @wsj.com, Benzinga, TVNewsCheck and Just Jared

Filing: Disney agrees to pay $43.25M to settle a 2019 lawsuit over pay equity for up to 14,000 female Disney employees; the trial was set to begin in May 2025 — We now know how much Disney is writing a check for to end the pay equity class-action suit that has loomed over the company for the past five years.
Discussion:
CNN, Wall Street Journal, @rwhelanwsj, Variety, @barkjack_, The Wrap and TVNewsCheck

Sources: CVC Capital Partners and a major European broadcaster, thought to be France's Groupe TF1, are among those considering a takeover of the UK's ITV — The commercial broadcaster is back on alert for takeover approaches as financial and industry players evaluate offers which could lead …
Discussion:
The Guardian, Reuters, The Times, Deadline, City A.M., Advanced Television, Bloomberg and RTÉ

Conservative video streaming platform Rumble hires Guy Beahm, aka Dr Disrespect, to lead Rumble Gaming; RUM rises 13%+ to its highest level since May 2024 — - Amazon's Twitch platform banned Guy Beahm four years ago … Guy Beahm will stream both free and premium content on the platform …
Discussion:
Investing.com, Dexerto, Dexerto, Sports Illustrated, Metro.co.uk, @brndxix, Kotaku, Insider Gaming, @airbagged, @dickmasterson, @nameismattt, @gamingonrumble, @wendlertv, @aukeeno, @drdisrespect, @rumblevideo, @chrispavlovski, @tsmviss, @thequartering, @soltek, @dinkathemuslim, @1xtitan, @toolmantimlwc, @ir0ktv, @mothxunknown, @guybeahm, The Verge, The Daily Dot, Rumble, @drdisrespect, Reclaim The Net, Benzinga, Forbes and Comic Book

Italian private equity firm Bending Spoons plans to take cloud video management and monetization platform Brightcove private in a deal valued at $233M — Brightcove, a cloud platform that helps businesses manage and monetize video content, is being taken private by Italian technology company Bending Spoons …

SCOTUS seeks the US government's views in the $1B copyright fight between Cox Communications and Sony, Warner Music, Universal Music, and other music companies — - Sony among companies suing Cox over customer song downloads — Appeals court tossed out big 2019 jury award against Cox
Discussion:
Music Business Worldwide, Billboard, MediaPost, RedState and Reuters

Press freedom groups send six questions to the Scott Trust over The Observer sale, including why there is only one bidder and why staff can't speak out freely — The chair of the Scott Trust has offered to meet a consortium of press freedom groups which has raised concerns over the sale of The Observer.
Discussion:
UnHerd, @jemimahsteinfeld.bsky.social, @brianone.bsky.social, Telegraph and The Times

Elon Musk appears to confirm that posts containing links in their main text are deprioritized on X, saying it is to stop “lazy linking” — Elon Musk confirmed that posts containing links in their main text are deprioritized on X in a revelation that renews criticism that the platform …
Discussion:
@paulg, @skdh, @elonmusk, @stevesi, @paulg, @katienotopoulos.bsky.social, @dcurtis, @nickadobos, @binarybits, @drethelin, @snazzylabs, Business Insider, TechCrunch, Motley Fool, @seyitaylor, @almostmedia, @melsengem.bsky.social, @stuartbuck1, The Independent, @phl43, @clawrence, @markbrooks, @designationsix.bsky.social, @alicekeeler.com, @kwanza.bsky.social, @mikeshenderson.bsky.social, @andrewlseidel.bsky.social, @deadendgg.bsky.social, @mattnavarra.com, @laurenmeidasa.bsky.social, New Republic, @romansphoto.bsky.social, @ernie@writing.exchange, HuffPost and Althouse, more at Techmeme »

Public figures are asking their PR advisers to reach out to podcasters like Joe Rogan and other right-leaning platforms after Trump's success in the US election — The News — Corporate executives and other public figures emerged from this month's election with a new task for their handlers …
Discussion:
@dannygroner.bsky.social, @cbalfe and Jaime Medovitch Smith on LinkedIn

A look at Disney's plans to compete with Netflix in standup comedy through Hulu, emphasizing quality over quantity while largely avoiding controversy — Under the Hulu banner, the company says it will offer quality over quantity while largely avoiding controversy. Many comedians are ready to give it a shot.
Discussion:
TVNewsCheck, Deadline and IndieWire

A UK House of Lords committee warns that UK news coverage is at risk of “fracturing irreparably” within 10 years as people rely on “dubious online sources” — Lords communications committee calls on government to take steps to avert ‘two-tier’ media environment
Discussion:
Press Gazette, HoldtheFrontPage and UnHerd