Top News:
Lucas Shaw / Bloomberg:
Bill Simmons says he has agreed to a new Spotify contract and will continue his show for at least two years; he'll also serve as Spotify's head of talk strategy — Bill Simmons is sticking around at Spotify. — The podcast host and media executive said in a statement Wednesday …
Jay Peters / The Verge:
An arbitrator instructs a former Meta employee to stop promoting and publishing her book alleging company misconduct; publisher Flatiron Books earlier objected — An arbitrator has instructed the book's author and its publishers to stop publishing the book, though it's unclear how much authority the arbitrator has to do so.
Discussion:
NBC News, The Wrap, @kathmschmidt@threads.net, Engadget, NBC10 Philadelphia, @badmikeyt@threads.net, Reuters, @kalihays1@threads.net, @anildash@threads.net, @andymstone@threads.net, @sheeraf.bsky.social, @kalihays1@threads.net, @mmasnick.bsky.social, @lisadubbels@threads.net, @digiphile.bsky.social, @anildash@threads.net, New York Times, @chafkin.bsky.social, @kalihays1@threads.net, @thebrianpenny@threads.net, Vanity Fair and Business Insider, more at Techmeme »
Max Tani / Semafor:
Email accidentally sent to newsroom: NPR dissuaded All Things Considered anchor Ari Shapiro, a prominent gay staffer, from attending a corporate Pride event — The Scoop — National Public Radio dissuaded one of its most visible gay employees from attending a corporate LGBTQ Pride event …
Katie Deighton / Wall Street Journal:
Food delivery startup Wonder acquires the media company Tastemade, sources say for around $90M, the latest step in its effort to create a mealtime “super app” — Wonder CEO Marc Lore hopes the company will one day offer AI-powered autonomous food ordering for all three meals of the day
Ruth Marcus / New Yorker:
Ruth Marcus explains why she quit WaPo, not wanting to tell readers “what Jeff Bezos thinks I should think”, and publishes her spiked column in The New Yorker — Owner Jeff Bezos wants to transform the Opinions section of the paper, where I worked for forty years.
Discussion:
@davidfolkenflik, @aurich.bsky.social, @rockerdoc.bsky.social, @rationaldoge@hachyderm.io, @mffisher, @chriscillizza.bsky.social, @anneapplebaum.bsky.social, @karaswisher.bsky.social, Media Nation, @benjaminwittes.bsky.social, Fox News, @benmullin, CNN, Nieman Lab, @WarnerCrocker@mastodon.social, @giladedelman.bsky.social, The Wrap, @therockyfiles.bsky.social, @mikebaker.bsky.social, The Independent, @ruthmarcus.bsky.social, @chaykak.bsky.social, @drewharwell.com, @dicktofel.bsky.social, The Nation and Associated Press
Saleah Blancaflor / Adweek:
SiriusXM undergoes another round of layoffs after reportedly cutting about 100 jobs in January; source: cuts affect the product and technology group primarily — Layoffs primarily impact the product and technology group within the operations department, sources say.
Discussion:
Billboard, Cord Cutters News, WTKR-TV, The Desk, Radio Ink, Digital Music News, Inside Radio, The Ankler and Reuters
Aisha Malik / TechCrunch:
Snapchat introduces AI video Lenses, powered by Snap's in-house generative video model, available to subscribers of the $16/month Snapchat Platinum tier — Snapchat is introducing its first ever video generative AI Lenses, the company told TechCrunch exclusively.
Discussion:
9to5Mac, Snap Newsroom and The Verge, more at Techmeme »
Chris Welch / The Verge:
Sources: Sonos has abandoned plans to release a streaming video player, which was set to be the company's major hardware launch in 2025 — The device, codenamed Pinewood, was set to be the company's major hardware launch in 2025. … Sonos has abandoned plans to release a streaming video player …
Discussion:
Engadget, The Desk, Ars Technica, PCWorld, Digital Music News, Streaming Better, 9to5Mac and @welch.bsky.social, more at Techmeme »
Colby Hall / Mediaite:
A US judge dismisses former Fox News producer Jennifer Eckhart's 2020 claims that Fox News didn't properly investigate rape allegations against ex-host Ed Henry — A federal judge ruled in favor of Fox News' motion for summary judgment to dismiss Jennifer Eckhart's 2020 claims …
Discussion:
Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Deadline and The Wrap
Benoit Berthelot / Bloomberg:
French publishers and authors sue Meta for allegedly training AI on their books without consent, saying they have evidence of “massive” copyright breaches — SNE, the trade association representing major French publishers including Hachette and Editis, along with authors' association SGDL …
Discussion:
@ivalaine.bsky.social, Associated Press, The Bookseller, TechCrunch and Fortune, more at Techmeme »
Bron Maher / Press Gazette:
The Guardian agrees to pay Spectator Associate Editor Douglas Murray “substantial” damages for a column's claim Murray spoke in favor of far-right summer riots — Guardian News and Media has agreed to pay Spectator associate editor Douglas Murray “substantial” damages to settle a libel claim.
Discussion:
The Daily Caller, The Daily Wire and Mediaite
Jacob Gallagher / New York Times:
A profile of fashion magazine i-D, acquired by model Karlie Kloss in 2023; EIC Thom Bettridge aims to restore “the spirit of what it was but for right now” — The art and fashion worlds convened at Rick Owens's austere Left Bank house to celebrate the relaunch of Karlie Kloss's i-D Magazine.
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