On Tuesday (August 13), UnitedMasters confirmed the DEBUT+ tier is now available immediately in “priority markets” including the US, UK, Canada, Nigeria and Brazil. “Making it in music has never been more possible for independent artists, but it still requires the right partner. Founder and CEO Steve Stoute said.
Finance
SAG-AFTRA Strikes Groundbreaking AI Digital Voice Replica Pact With Startup Firm Narrativ
SAG-AFTRA has struck a deal with AI startup Narrativ for audio voice replicas in digital advertising that the union asserts sets “a new standard” for ethical use of the technology and also makes it easy for performers to give consent and get paid. The New York-based Narrativ operates an online marketplace that offers tools to advertisers to create audio spots using AI tools.
Source: SAG-AFTRA Strikes Groundbreaking AI Digital Voice Replica Pact With Startup Firm Narrativ
Big Media Can’t Hide From Hard Decisions on Cable Valuations Any More
The parade of second quarter earnings reports for major showbiz conglomerates made it crystal-clear that there is no more avoiding the 800-pound gorilla on the balance sheets of Big Media. It’s been a long time coming that the valuations long applied to old-fashioned cable channels have to be slashed by double digits.
Source: Hot August Write-Downs: Big Media Can’t Hide From Hard Decisions on Cable Valuations Any More
News Corp has begun legal moves against ‘AI aggressors’, CEO reveals
Thomson said in a statement alongside the financial results: “Our landmark agreement with OpenAI is not only expected to be lucrative, but will enable us to work closely with a trusted, pre-eminent partner to fashion a future for professional journalism and for provenance. Meanwhile, we have begun to take legal steps against AI aggressors, the egregious aggregators, who are predatory in the confiscation of our content. ‘Open source’ can never be a justification for ‘open slather.’”
Source: News Corp has begun legal moves against ‘AI aggressors’, CEO reveals
FT, Atlantic, Axel Springer and Fortune get behind AI start-up’s per-use compensation plan
A new AI start-up has signed deals with several major global news publishers convinced by its plan to share revenue each time their content is used to generate an answer – before it has even launched. The Financial Times, Fortune, Axel Springer and The Atlantic have all agreed to license their content to Prorata.ai.
Source: FT, Atlantic, Axel Springer and Fortune get behind AI start-up’s per-use compensation plan
Google’s Search Business Violates Antitrust Laws, Court Finds In Major Ruling
In a ruling that could have sweeping impact in the digital ad market, a federal judge sided with the government in a landmark antitrust case over allegations that competitors were sidelined and customers got a lower-quality experience on the internet due to the tech giant’s dominance in search. The court pointed to exclusive deals with other companies, like Apple and Samsung, to have Google as the default search engine on their phones and browsers.
Source: Google’s Search Business Violates Antitrust Laws, Court Finds In Major Ruling
CNET to Be Sold to Ziff Davis in Sign of Possible Media Deals to Come
Ziff Davis, a digital media giant that owns other technology-focused brands like Mashable, PCMag and Lifehacker, is buying the company from Red Ventures, Ziff Davis’s chief executive, Vivek Shah, said on Tuesday. Ziff Davis paid more than $100 million for CNET, according to a person familiar with the matter. Red Ventures declined to comment on the deal.
Source: CNET to Be Sold to Ziff Davis in Sign of Possible Media Deals to Come
Meta courts celebs like Awkwafina to voice AI assistants ahead of Meta Connect
Judi Dench, Keegan-Michael Key, and Awkwafina are among multiple “actors and influencers” whose voices could become part of Meta’s AI offering, Bloomberg reported on Friday. The company is apparently working to wrap up deals quickly so it can develop and show off the new voices at its Meta Connect conference in September.
Source: Meta courts celebs like Awkwafina to voice AI assistants ahead of Meta Connect
Songwriters Are Getting Screwed by Streaming Even Worse Than They’d Thought
It is no secret that songwriters are at the bottom of the streaming economy. But a new report shows they receive 9.5% of the average $.004 per stream. Of the over 300 songwriters surveyed for the study, only 10% earn more than $30,000 annually, while over half (54%) earn between $0 and $1,000. Some 67% of the respondents said the “lack of meaningful streaming income” is their primary challenge.
Source: Songwriters Are Getting Screwed by Streaming Even Worse Than They’d Thought, New Study Shows
In Praise of Collective Licensing
Ask almost any publishing CEO his or her sales, sales growth, net profit, returns percentage, advance write-offs, marketing expenditure, and much else, and they’ll know the answers. But ask how much a company has earned worldwide from collective licensing income through reproduction rights organizations (RROs), and that CEO won’t have a clue—and may not even know what an RRO is.