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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, Entertainment Weekly, New York County Supreme Court, CBS News, @theneedledrop, theJasmineBRAND, Associated Press, The Wrap, @daviddennisjr.bsky.social, @phil_lewis_, New York Daily News, Rolling Stone, @mford.bsky.social, @mannyfidel, @annaknicolaou, @myfakeironlung.bsky.social, Sandra Rose, @annaknicolaou, @janecoaston, Bossip, Los Angeles Times, Stereogum, UPROXX, @kashana.bsky.social, @brianzisook, @joshgondelman, @fadamgotdajuice, @billdonahue.bsky.social, @darrylc.bsky.social, @wowthatshiphop, @markroebuck.bsky.social, @mikemadden.bsky.social, @wickednfine, @skrappy83, TMZ.com, @big_business_, @arianfoster, Variety, @phil_lewis_, @engineeringbae.bsky.social, Music Business Worldwide, The Verge, Forbes, Deadline, Consequence, Fox News and Oh No They Didn't!

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., Bloomberg, Advanced Television and RTÉ

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:
The Wrap, New York Post, @bsdtectr.bsky.social, @wsj.com, Benzinga, TVNewsCheck and Just Jared

As Elon Musk posts memes about buying MSNBC, sources say one liberal billionaire expressed interest in buying the channel; Comcast is not looking to sell MSNBC — Elon Musk has called MSNBC “the utter scum of the Earth.” He has said the channel “peddles puerile propaganda.”

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 …
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MediaPost, @paulg, @romansphoto.bsky.social, @mikeshenderson.bsky.social, @skdh, @elonmusk, @stevesi, @paulg, @designationsix.bsky.social, @katienotopoulos.bsky.social, @dcurtis, City & State New York, @nickadobos, @kwanza.bsky.social, @binarybits, New Republic, The Daily Dot, @laurenmeidasa.bsky.social, @drethelin, @deadendgg.bsky.social, @snazzylabs, Business Insider, @andrewlseidel.bsky.social, Motley Fool, @seyitaylor, @almostmedia, @melsengem.bsky.social, @stuartbuck1, The Independent, @ernie@writing.exchange, @phl43, @clawrence, @mattnavarra.com, @markbrooks, @alicekeeler.com, Althouse, HuffPost and Benzinga, more at Techmeme »

Trade body data: copyrighted music revenue was $45.5B in 2023, above cinema box office spending of $33.2B in 2023 and $41.9B in 2019; record labels made $28.5B — Annual revenues from copyrighted music hit almost $46bn last year, against $33.2bn for cinema

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:
Deadline, IndieWire and Comic Book

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:
HoldtheFrontPage and UnHerd

Internal email: the UK's Reach plans to merge staff at The Daily Mirror and celebrity magazine OK! to cut costs, but the move won't result in cutting of roles — Merging of daily newspaper and celebrity magazine employees is latest move by owner, Reach, to cut costs

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:
Variety, Wall Street Journal, The Wrap, TVNewsCheck, @barkjack_ and @rwhelanwsj

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

NBC News launches its 24/7 streaming service NBC News Now in Latin America in two of its biggest markets, Mexico and Brazil — NBC News' 24/7 streaming platform, NBC News Now, is launching in Mexico and Brazil, Latin America's biggest markets, as it continues to expand across the world.
Discussion:
The Desk and TVNewsCheck