OpenSea, the internet’s largest NFT marketplace, has made a startling revelation that over 80 percent of NFTs minted using its free tool are fake, plagiarized or spam. Earlier this month, the company raised $300 million in funding, reaching a staggering $13 billion valuation as it rode on a claimed 600-fold surge in the trading business.
Source: Over 80 Percent NFTs Made For Free On OpenSea Are Fake, Dupe, Or Spam
The bustling sports NFT collectibles market is about to add another potentially major player. Today, 68-year-old magazine Sports Illustrated announced an alliance with NFT startup OneOf to launch a sports NFT series on Polygon, with an initial lineup of nine sports icons including Muhammad Ali, Wayne Gretzky, and Mia Hamm.
Source: Sports Illustrated, OneOf to Launch NFT Marketplace on Polygon – Decrypt
Readers purchased 825 million copies of print books in the U.S. in 2021—the best-selling year for print books, NPD Bookscan says, since it began tracking data in 2004—and analysts believe young people posting about books on social media played a serious role in those big numbers.
Source: How TikTok Helped Fuel The Best-Selling Year For Print Books
In a nearly ten-minute video uploaded to Instagram, Rogan defends his decision to book contentious guests, apologizes to Spotify for the backlash, and details how the podcast may change in the future. He says he agrees with Spotify’s plan to label episodes that include COVID-19 discussion with content advisories and disclaimers. He also says he wants to “have more experts with differing opinions, right after the controversial ones.”
Source: Joe Rogan defends podcast and apologizes to Spotify for backlash
New York based 300 Entertainment announced the launch of its latest venture: content and film division 300 Studios. The new arm will develop multi-format, feature and episodic content — and already has a debut project under its belt. RACE: Bubba Wallace — a six-episode series that follows the NASCAR driver — will arrive on Netflix in February, during Black History Month and just ahead of Daytona 500.
Source: 300 Entertainment Launches Content and Film Division, 300 Studios
The U.K. competition regulator has formally launched a review of the music streaming business, looking at any possible competition concerns related to the major labels’ dominance of the industry, as well as the integral role that streaming services like Spotify, Apple Music and YouTube play in the booming digital music economy – and how those spoils are shared with creators.
Source: UK Competition Regulator Launches Probe of Streaming Business
Spotify will remove Neil Young’s music from its platform, per his request, following his objections to Joe Rogan’s statements about the Covid-19 vaccine on his Spotify-hosted show. The music is expected to be removed later Wednesday. A rep for Spotify said in a statement: “ We regret Neil’s decision to remove his music from Spotify, but hope to welcome him back soon.”
Source: Neil Young Removes Music From Spotify in Protest of Joe Rogan’s Podcast
San Francisco-based technology firm Feed Media Group (FMG), a B2B music licensing subscription service, has signed a music licensing deal with Beggars Group for its Adaptr product. Adaptr is a subscription-based platform that allows startups to integrate music into their apps.
Source: Beggars Group inks licensing deal with music licensing platform Adaptr
Disney+ will launch in 42 countries and 11 territories this summer, the streamer announced Wednesday. Among the major new markets, the service will launch in South Africa, Turkey, Poland and the United Arab Emirates. No country-by-country launch dates, prices or subscription plans were revealed.