Top News:
Rashi Shrivastava / Forbes:
A profile of music AI startup Suno, valued at ~$2.5B with 2M+ paying users and $300M annualized revenue as of February, as it battles record labels and artists — The music AI startup is battling record labels and angry artists as it upends how millions of people create songs.
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Terrence O'Brien / The Verge:
How music streaming services are adapting to the rise of AI-generated music by labeling, deranking, and demonetizing tracks, using AI detection tools, and more — The use of generative AI in pop music started almost as a gimmick. There was a sense of experimentalism to 2018's I AM AI …
Discussion:
Axios, @ladyjan.bsky.social, Baller Alert, NPR, Mashable and Trusted Reviews, more at Techmeme »
Reuters:
FIFA faces a broadcast crisis for the 2026 World Cup; a Reliance-Disney JV offered just $20M for India rights, and FIFA has yet to announce a China deal — Millions of soccer fans in the world's two most populous nations may not be able to watch the World Cup that starts next month …
Rebecca Davis O'Brien / New York Times:
Sources: the US EEOC is poised to sue the NYT over a white male employee's allegation that he was denied a sought-after promotion because of his race and gender — The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission recently referred a reverse-discrimination complaint by an employee to the agency's legal unit for review.
Discussion:
@kendrawrites.com
New York Times:
Chinese state media: AI-generated Chinese microdramas to be worth $3B+ in 2026, out of a $14B+ total microdrama market, boosted by tools like Seedance 2.0 — This actor was just hitting his stride when A.I.-generated dramas took off and roles disappeared. — This director is thrilled …
Discussion:
Hong Kong Free Press HKFP and The Next Web, more at Techmeme »
Seb Joseph / Digiday:
A look at Baller League, a six-a-side indoor soccer league of creator-managed teams streaming free on YouTube and Twitch and averaging 4M+ views on match day — Baller League has something rare in creator economy business circles: a plan that doesn't end with it becoming a media company.
Discussion:
@simonowens.bsky.social
David Bauder / Associated Press:
A look at the work of photographer Ann Hermes, who has documented 50 newsrooms across the US, many in smaller towns and cities, and hopes to photograph 100 — If you think the life of a journalist is glamorous, take a look at Ann Hermes' photograph of Tom Haley from a winter day in Rutland, Vermont.
Discussion:
American Press Institute and @ndhapple.bsky.social
Deadline:
SAG-AFTRA and AMPTP have “reached a tentative agreement” on terms for a successor contract to their 2023 contracts; the deal is now headed for a board review — Of course, until this is voted on by some 160,000 members of the actors' guild, everything will remain tentative for the time being.
Discussion:
Los Angeles Times, Variety, NBC Los Angeles, ABC7, The Wrap, Bleeding Cool News, The Hollywood Reporter, The A.V. Club and amptp
American Press Institute:
Survey: 57% of US teens and adults, and 81% of teens aged 13 to 17, say they get at least some news and information from influencers or independent creators — The report is the latest study from the Media Insight Project. The Media Insight Poll is a collaboration of The Associated Press-NORC Center …
Discussion:
The Korea Herald
Mark Sweney / The Guardian:
BBC News staff are told they face 15% cost cuts, steeper than the 10% shared previously for the corporation as a whole, in the biggest downsizing in 15 years — Staff warned news operations face 15% cut, above BBC-wide 10% target, as corporation pushes through £600m savings plan
Stephen Battaglio / Los Angeles Times:
CBS News correspondent Anthony Mason is launching and financing YouTube series Alchemy, of which he'll retain full ownership, an unprecedented arrangement — - 6 min Click here to listen to this article — CBS News correspondent Anthony Mason launches “Alchemy,” a YouTube series featuring …
Discussion:
Tubefilter
Scott Feinberg / The Hollywood Reporter:
The Academy tightens rules about AI use for Oscar competitors in 2027, says only human-authored screenplays are eligible, and revises international Oscars rules — The organization also announced changes impacting a host of other categories and its Governors Awards.
Discussion:
NPR, PetaPixel, Cele|bitchy, Oman Observer, PCMag, Bitcoin News, Kotaku, Decrypt, Celebrity Insider, FemaleFirst, The Economic Times, IGN, Esquire, Engadget, Consequence, PC Gamer, France 24, Deadline, Billboard, Los Angeles Times, Screen and The Wrap
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