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Spotify releases a ranking of the top audiobooks on the platform for the first time, showing A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas was 2024's top book — This is the fifth consecutive year The Joe Rogan Experience has been the top podcast on Spotify.
Discussion:
Variety, @maxwelltani and Business Insider
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Spotify says The Joe Rogan Experience was its top US podcast for the fourth year running, followed by Call Her Daddy, and 33%+ of the top 50 podcasts had video
Discussion:
Spotify, Business Insider and Inside Radio, more at Techmeme »
Sarah Perez / TechCrunch:
Spotify launches Spotify Wrapped, adding an AI podcast of users' 2024 Wrapped created with Google's NotebookLM summarizer, and a Your Music Evolution data story
Spotify launches Spotify Wrapped, adding an AI podcast of users' 2024 Wrapped created with Google's NotebookLM summarizer, and a Your Music Evolution data story
Discussion:
Billboard, Adweek, Fast Company, Business Insider, Mumbrella, Hollywood Life, The Verge, WXIA-TV, WPXI-TV, @tim, 9to5Google, @jappleby, Engadget, @shivlestat, @joannastern, Spotify, UPROXX, Axios, Wired, The Verge, Time, @spotify, @google, @mattrosoff, The Sun, Digital Trends, @variety, The Keyword, PinkNews, @variety, Columbia Journalism Review, Forbes and Metro.co.uk, more at Techmeme »

Three current and seven former Fox employees say Pete Hegseth drank in ways that concerned his colleagues; Fox News did not respond to requests for comment — Ten current and former Fox employees say Trump's pick for defense secretary drank in ways that concerned his co-workers.
Discussion:
Mediaite, The Hill, Columbia Journalism Review, USA Today, Mediaite, The Guardian, Talking Points Memo, Forbes, CNN, Wall Street Journal, ZeroHedge News, @willcain, Axios, WXIA-TV, Hollywood Life, @alanhe, @brianstelter, @brianstelter, @brianstelter, New York Times, Florida Phoenix, @newsjennifer.bsky.social, Orlando Sentinel, @brianstelter, @robsmithonline, Washington Examiner, @kylenabecker, @dbongino, @rlocker12, American Greatness, @kelmej, Raw Story, Newser, @mattgertz, @piersmorgan, @yashar, @alexkoppelman, @willcain, @brendannyhan.bsky.social, BizPac Review, HuffPost, Lawyers, Guns & Money, Rolling Stone, @drewharwell.com, Twitchy, @msignorile.bsky.social, The Gateway Pundit, @janecoaston.bsky.social, Alternet.org, @loisromano.bsky.social, @jamellebouie.net, The Independent, @dandrezner.bsky.social, @andreapitzer.bsky.social, CNBC, @democracydmv.bsky.social, @ndrew.bsky.social, @brianstelter.bsky.social, @brianstelter.bsky.social, @brianstelter@threads.net, @lisalck.bsky.social, The Independent, @volts.wtf, New Jersey Online, @timothysnyder.bsky.social, Daily Kos, @passantino.bsky.social and New Republic

The UK NCA uncovers a Russian money laundering scheme that used crypto to help RT support “the activities of a Russian-language media organisation in the UK” — Multibillion-dollar ring across London, Moscow and Dubai connected cash-rich criminals with sanctions evaders
Discussion:
Wired and The Sun, more at Techmeme »

Guardian and Observer journalists hold a 48-hour strike against a planned sale of The Observer to Tortoise Media; it is The Guardian's first strike in 50+ years — Forty-eight-hour strike, first at Guardian in more than 50 years, to take place on Wednesday and Thursday
Discussion:
Byline Times, New York Times, Press Gazette, London Evening Standard, Tortoise, New Statesman, @danielthomasldn, @dalevince, Variety, RTÉ, @patrickbarkham.bsky.social, National Union of Journalists …, @hirstphotos, NPR, @vicksrb.bsky.social, @lukeharding1968, @urban_seagull, @hcachesshistory.bsky.social, @fisherandrew79, The New European, @saulstaniforth, @picketlinepoets, @pressgazette, @soniasodha, @hannahep, @danielkebedeneu, @msrachelcooke, @mck_beth, @slurmsmackenzie.bsky.social, @msrachelcooke, @shattenstone, @carolecadwalla.bsky.social, Sky News and The Irish Times

FIFA agrees a deal with DAZN to broadcast 2025's Club World Cup in the US, sources say in a deal worth $1B; all 63 matches will be available for free on DAZN — FIFA has agreed a deal with DAZN to broadcast next year's Club World Cup in the United States. — As part of the overall agreement …
Discussion:
Agence France-Presse, @davelee.me, @robharris and Associated Press

Disney unveils an ESPN tile on Disney+, making ~100 live games available for Disney+ subscribers without ESPN+; ESPN is creating two studio shows for Disney+ — ESPN is coming to Disney+. Now, the sports network wants to make sure Disney+ users come to ESPN.

South Korea's press did not acquiesce to President Yoon Suk Yeol declaring martial law, and even right-leaning outlets stood united in criticism of his actions — Journalists criticized the president's attempt to place the press under military control, hardened by years of challenges …

WBD launches a set of always-on channels, including HBO Comedy, HBO Signature for dramas, and HBO Zone for classics, in a test with some ad-free US subscribers — Max is joining the growing list of streaming services that offer 24/7 cable-like channels. On Wednesday, Warner Bros. Discovery announced …
Discussion:
The Wrap, Cord Cutters News and Media Play News

CISAC study: generative AI risks costing music artists ~20% of their revenues by 2028; Abba's Björn Ulvaeus warns that AI “has the power to cause great damage” — ‘Very unfair’ for tech companies to use artists' work without paying them, says pop legend and head of advocacy group
Discussion:
CISAC, Music Ally and Music Business Worldwide

Business Insider hires Steve Russolillo, who has worked for most of the last 17 years at The Wall Street Journal, for the new role of Chief News Editor — I'm excited to announce that Steve Russolillo will be joining Business Insider in a new role, as Chief News Editor.
Discussion:
Steven Russolillo on LinkedIn

Sources: MSNBC President Rashida Jones is mulling an exit after she finishes guiding the organization through Donald Trump's second inauguration in early 2025 — The MSNBC chief, who has led the progressive network since February 2021, is mulling a departure after Donald Trump's inauguration.

Netflix says Netflix Japan passed 10M+ subscribers in H1 2024 and has doubled its subscriber base in the past four years thanks to Japanese-language programming — Netflix's (NFLX.O) subscribers passed 10 million in Japan in the first half of this year with the streaming firm's Japanese …
Discussion:
Benzinga, more at Techmeme »