Top News:
Ted Johnson / Deadline:
In a memo, Bari Weiss and Tom Cibrowski announce the closure of CBS News Radio on May 22 and attendant layoffs; CBS News Radio was founded in 1927 — CBS News Radio, with origins that trace back to the founding of the network nearly a century ago, will be shut down on May 22.
Discussion:
The Wrap, TheDesk.net, Los Angeles Times, New York Post, Radio & Television …, Townhall, @timkarr.bsky.social, The Guardian, 77 WABC, @davidaxelrod, @notaaroncraig.bsky.social, @treycallaway.bsky.social, @harrymccracken@mastodon …, Cord Cutters News, Raw Story, @willmckinley.bsky.social, @brianallenc.bsky.social, Radio Ink, @jbarro, @mccarrennews, @sovernnation, Newser, @paholder@mastodon.social, @cmclymer, @dilanesper, @karenattiah.bsky.social, WTOP News, @tvreporter, Showbiz411, @jaredlholt, @maxwelltani, @brianstelter, @brianstelter, Mediaite and Barrett Media
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Ted Johnson / Deadline:
In a memo to CBS News staff, Bari Weiss and Tom Cibrowski announce layoffs; source: cuts will affect about 6% of staff, or around 60 to 70 employees — CBS News announced a new round of layoffs on Friday, the latest for the news division under the network's new parent Paramount Skydance.
Discussion:
CNN, The Hill, Wall Street Journal, Raw Story, Fox News, New York Times, New York Post, Reuters, Adweek, Mediaite, Poynter, The Hollywood Reporter, San Francisco Chronicle, Advanced Television, The Post Millennial, @michaelnaphys.bsky.social, Axios, ZeroHedge News, Washington Post, Daily Caller News Foundation, Business Insider, The Wrap, Washington Times, @gigibsohn, Cord Cutters News, @maxwelltani, @alexsteigrad, NewsMax.com, The Independent, @brianstelter, @byjoelanderson, @huntermw, @jeremymbarr, Barrett Media, Variety and Bloomberg
The Hollywood Reporter:
Nexstar says it has closed its Tegna acquisition after the DOJ and FCC approved it; CEO Perry Sook says Nexstar is grateful to Trump and the FCC's Brendan Carr — The megadeal is being challenged by eight states, but DOJ and FCC approval Thursday allowed the deal to close.
Discussion:
Variety, Awful Announcing, Associated Press, CNBC, Columbus Business Journal, TV Tech, Washington Post, Seattle Business Journal, Nexstar Media Group, Inc., Dallas Business Journal, MediaPost, Poynter, @acosta, Policyband, NewsMax.com, St. Louis Business Journal, @_newsbae, Inside Radio, @agomezfcc, Advanced Television, Newser, @brianstelter, @brianstelter, NewsBlues.com, TheDesk.net, Washington …, Barrett Media, Reuters, Texas Monthly, MarketWatch, Los Angeles Times, TheDesk.net, Newsweek, NPR, Politico, The Hill, Barrett Media, The A.V. Club, The Wrap, Reuters, @notaaroncraig.bsky.social, KHOU-TV, Bloomberg and New York Times
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Ted Johnson / Deadline:
The FCC approves the sale of certain local broadcast TV stations from Tegna to Nexstar, granting a waiver from a cap limiting how many stations can be owned
The FCC approves the sale of certain local broadcast TV stations from Tegna to Nexstar, granting a waiver from a cap limiting how many stations can be owned
Discussion:
NBC News, Pressing Issues, Reporters Without Borders, Committee to Protect …, NY State Attorney General, C21Media, @superwuster, @mrsdeborahlynn.bsky.social, TVNewsCheck, @fcc, @brendancarrfcc, Daily Press, New York Times, CBS News, UPI, TheDesk.net, TheDesk.net, @agomezfcc.bsky.social, Reuters, Cord Cutters News, Bloomberg, Radio & Television …, @agomezfcc.bsky.social, WVEC, Los Angeles Times and Free Press Action Fund Feed
David Shepardson / Reuters:
Eight US states, including CA, CO, and NY, sue to block Nexstar's proposed $3.54B merger with Tegna on antitrust grounds; DirecTV files a separate suit
Eight US states, including CA, CO, and NY, sue to block Nexstar's proposed $3.54B merger with Tegna on antitrust grounds; DirecTV files a separate suit
Discussion:
Press Association, The Streamable, @upbeachbum.bsky.social, Politico, @dorismatsui.bsky.social, MS NOW, Washington Examiner, CNN, @jeffjacksonnc, @jeffjacksonnc, NBC News, @davidshepardson, CNN, Telecompaper, US District Court, Eastern District of California, TV Tech, @agrobbonta.oag.ca.gov, Deadline, BIG by Matt Stoller, @agrobbonta, Cord Cutters News, All Rise News, The Wrap, Yahoo Finance, Blockonomi, Bloomberg Law, Bloomberg, Associated Press, Barrett Media, The Hollywood Reporter, Deadline, Radio & Television …, doj.state.or.us, @ddayen.bsky.social, Variety, The Wrap, WXIA-TV, TheDesk.net, Cord Cutters News, The Hill, Free Press Action Fund Feed, @notaaroncraig.bsky.social, @nateraymond.bsky.social, State of California, Fingerlakes1.com, Wall Street Journal and Reuters
Benjamin Mullin / New York Times:
In an interview, Jonah Peretti discusses using subscriptions to AI products, events, the sale of some of BuzzFeed's assets, or a joint venture to save BuzzFeed — Jonah Peretti, the founder of BuzzFeed, created a viral hitmaker for the millennial generation.
Discussion:
WAVY.com, The Hill, @hshaban, @dankennedy.net, @jtes and @anupkaphle
Sarah Perez / TechCrunch:
WordPress.com says it will now allow AI agents to draft, edit, and publish content on customers' websites, as well as manage comments, update metadata, and more — Web hosting platform WordPress.com is embracing AI agents, a decision that could change the look and feel of the web.
Alexandra Alter / New York Times:
Hachette cancels the US release of the novel Shy Girl and is discontinuing its UK edition after readers claimed the author relied heavily on AI to write it — Its publisher, Hachette, will not release the novel in the United States and will discontinue its U.K. edition, citing its commitment to …
Discussion:
The Guardian, Futurism, The Indian Express, BBC, Lawyers, Guns & Money, @v3lvetnocturne.bsky.social, The Bookseller, @jfruh.bsky.social, @lacarlos.bsky.social, Wall Street Journal, @jasondiamond.bsky.social, New York Times, @thelincoln.bsky.social, @janerosenzweig.bsky.social, @Nikolas@federated.press and r/horrorlit
Sean Hollister / The Verge:
Google is running a “small” experiment replacing news headlines in search results with AI-generated ones, after adding the feature in Google Discover in January — We're seeing Verge headlines rewritten by Google AI. … Since roughly the turn of the millennium, Google Search has been the bedrock of the web.
Discussion:
@annaecook.com, Louisa Frahm on LinkedIn, Digital Trends, Search Engine Land, @ashleybardhan.bsky.social, @bobbyallyn.bsky.social, @grigs@front-end.social, @miasato.bsky.social, @wtfis2bdone.bsky.social, @seanokane.bsky.social, @davidnir.com, @munin@infosec.exchange, @jtemple.bsky.social, @kleinman.bsky.social, @theverge.com, @reckless.bsky.social, @seanhollister.bsky.social, @seamoosi.bsky.social, @thomaswilburn@hachyderm.io, @mhoye@cosocial.ca, BMI, EasternEye and MediaNama, more at Techmeme »
Cecilia D'Anastasio / Bloomberg:
Memo: Roblox is planning to take a share of revenue from sponsorships in its games and is overhauling advertising policies beginning May 4 — Roblox Corp. will take a share of revenue from sponsorships in its games as part of a major overhaul of its advertising policies.
Laura Hazard Owen / Nieman Lab:
A study testing four AI chatbots on 2,267 news stories in English and French: ChatGPT credited news outlets 1% of the time, Gemini 6%, Grok 7%, and Claude 16% — “ChatGPT, one of the most widely used models, covered distinctive content in 54% of responses but almost never credited the originating newsroom.”
Discussion:
@bug_gwen@mastodon.online and Bloomberg
Alyssa Ray / The Wrap:
The ProPublica Guild, representing ~150 employees, voted 92% in favor of a strike authorization after negotiating for over two years for its first contract — “Our union stands united in supporting ProPublica Guild's efforts to win a fair and just contract,” Susan DeCarava, president of The NewsGuild of New York, adds
Discussion:
Publishers Weekly and NewsGuild of New York
Matt Grobar / Deadline:
Warner Music Group and Netflix strike a multiyear first-look deal for documentaries about WMG artists and songwriters; WMG partners with Unigram for production — Unigram, run by Amanda Ghost and Gregor Cameron, will serve as the production arm for WMG's longform programming …
Discussion:
Reuters, Billboard, Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Music Business Worldwide and Media Play News
Arthur Mensch / Financial Times:
Mistral CEO proposes a revenue-based levy for AI model providers in the EU, to be invested in “new content creation and supporting Europe's cultural sectors” — A revenue-based charge would protect the livelihoods of copyright holders and bring legal certainty
Discussion:
Tech.eu, @justinhendrix.bsky.social, France 24 and Le Monde, more at Techmeme »
Stuart Dredge / Music Ally:
Sony Music exec Dennis Kooker says the company has sent 135K+ takedown notices for deepfakes of its artists, but sees opportunities in AI with proper licensing — - Email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email — The IFPI launched its latest Global Music Report this morning in London …
Discussion:
TechRadar, BBC, CMU and Digital Music News
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Murray Stassen / Music Business Worldwide:
IFPI: global recorded music revenues hit $31.7B in 2025, up 6.4% YoY, total streaming revenue surpassed $22B, and users of paid music subscriptions reached 837M
IFPI: global recorded music revenues hit $31.7B in 2025, up 6.4% YoY, total streaming revenue surpassed $22B, and users of paid music subscriptions reached 837M
Discussion:
@aramsinn.bsky.social, @aram@aoir.social, Ricardo Castanheira on LinkedIn and Billboard
