Hollywood Takeover: Documentary Exposes China’s Grip on Film Industry

In an eye-opening examination, Hollywood Takeover: China’s Control in the Film Industry delves into the complex relationship between Hollywood and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), revealing how China’s influence has shaped the content and narrative of mainstream movies. The documentary highlights instances where Hollywood studios have altered films to cater to the CCP’s preferences, often at the cost of creative freedom and authenticity.

Source: Hollywood Takeover: Documentary Exposes China’s Grip on Film Indus…

Apple Slapped With $2 Billion EU Fine Over ‘Abusive’ Streaming Music App Restrictions 

After a years-long investigation, the European Commission levied a fine against Apple of €1.8 billion — about $1.95 billion — for “abusing its dominant position on the market for the distribution of music streaming apps” to iPhone and iPad users. The EU said Monday its investigation into Apple found that Apple applied restrictions on app developers preventing them from informing iOS users about alternative and cheaper music subscription services available outside of the app, which is illegal under EU antitrust rules.

Source: Apple Slapped With $2 Billion EU Fine Over ‘Abusive’ Streaming Music App Restrictions After Complaint by Spotify; Apple Says It Will Appeal

Google’s AI problems expose deeper industry dilemma

The political crisis surrounding Google AI chatbot and image generator Gemini, which refused to depict white people and changed the race of certain white historical figures, reflects a bigger dilemma facing consumer AI companies. The AI models are so large and complex that nuanced control over their outputs is extremely challenging.

Source: Google’s AI problems expose deeper industry dilemma

Hipgnosis Songs Fund’s assets are now valued at $690 million less than they were before

According to an investor update from HSF’s board, Shot Tower estimates the fair value of HSF’s portfolio (as of March 1, 2024) at between USD $1.80 billion and $2.06 billion (or between $1.74 billion and $2.00 billion after contingent catalog bonuses are deducted). According to the HSF board, the midpoint of Shot Tower’s valuation of HSF is $1.93 billion, which represents a reduction in value of 26.3% vs. that $2.62 billion valuation from Citrin Cooperman (as of September 30).

Source: Hipgnosis Songs Fund’s assets are now valued at $690 million less than they were before. Blackstone must be licking its lips.

Spotify Launches $9.99 Audiobook Subscription Tier

Spotify has added a new audiobook subscription tier, dubbed the Audiobooks Access Tier, offering a slightly less expensive but more limited option for users interested in streaming audiobooks on the platform. The new plan knocks down Premium prices by a dollar, to $9.99, and offers the same 15 hours of listening, but without ad-free music streaming options.

Source: Spotify Launches $9.99 Audiobook Subscription Tier

OpenAI’s Sora isn’t even here yet, and it’s already rattling Hollywood

After a year of rapid evolution following the public debut of ChatGPT, it began to seem as if AI had lost its ability to shock. Then came the Sora demo. In a February 16 unveiling, OpenAI’s text-to-video model instantly produced vivid, photorealistic scenes from complicated prompts, stunning viewers around the world—especially in Hollywood.

Source: OpenAI’s Sora isn’t even here yet, and it’s already rattling Hollywood.

Over 38% of music on TikTok is ‘modified’,: Pex 

According to a new study from Pex, which monitors and analyzes copyrighted content on digital services, TikTok has the most modified audio of all major UGC platforms, including YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram. Pex estimates that comfortably more than a third (38.03%) of all songs found on TikTok were speed or pitch-modified in 2023. Not only that, but Pex estimates that the share of tracks on TikTok that are modified is increasing – up from 24.55% in 2022 to 38.03% in 2023.

Source: Over 38% of music on TikTok is ‘modified’, says study that analyzed 100 million audio tracks on the platform

beatBread Provides $10M in Capital to Indie Labels

beatBread, an AI-based funding platform for artists and independent labels, has announced the signing of a series of funding deals to empower label growth and expansion in 2024. The company has provided over $10 million in capital to a wide range of independent labels, including Too Lost Records, Lynx, Smith Music, and Delta Records in the United States, as well as M.A.D. Solutions, which serves Nigerian and West African artists, and Peral Group, which works with artists in the UK.

Source: beatBread Provides $10M in Capital to Indie Labels

Morph Studio lets you make films using Stability AI–generated clips

Morph Studio, which has its own text-to-video model, just introduced an AI filmmaking platform. The eponymous tool takes the form of a storyboard, where users can create and edit shots by entering text prompts for different scenes and combine them into a cohesive narrative. Undergirding the creation process is Morph’s partnership with Stability AI, though eventually, Morph plans to introduce an array of generative video models for users to choose from.

Source: Morph Studio lets you make films using Stability AI–generated clips | TechCrunch

OpenAI claims New York Times ‘hacked’ ChatGPT to build copyright lawsuit

OpenAI said in a filing in Manhattan federal court on Monday that the Times caused the technology to reproduce its material through “deceptive prompts that blatantly violate OpenAI’s terms of use.” “The allegations in the Times’s complaint do not meet its famously rigorous journalistic standards,” OpenAI said. “The truth, which will come out in the course of this case, is that the Times paid someone to hack OpenAI’s products.”

Source: OpenAI claims New York Times ‘hacked’ ChatGPT to build copyright lawsuit

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