Over the last nine months, Roblox has partnered with Zara Larsson, Royal Blood, Ava Max, Why Don’t We and Lil Nas X on music experiences such as virtual concerts (where artists perform as avatars) and new-release launch parties (where, like KSI’s performance, the artist beams in on a video screen), all spearheaded by Roblox global head of music Jon Vlassopulos.
Source: Roblox’s Music Play: ‘Hundreds’ of Daily Concerts, Building a Digital Vegas & NMPA Lawsuit
The issues with Hollywood’s past adaptations of video games are myriad, but the biggest problem that has plagued such titles since the days of “Super Mario Bros.” is that the source material hasn’t offered narratives strong enough to survive the loss of interactivity, according to Polygon editor-in-chief Chris Plante.
Source: How the Future of Entertainment Will Be Forged Between Hollywood and Video Games
Movie studios are increasingly experimenting with shorter release windows or even simultaneous theatrical and digital premieres. This is good news for consumers, who have more choice. This drastic decision is also changing the piracy landscape, which worries some stakeholders. However, we caution everyone from jumping to conclusions.
Source: Simultaneous Releases Make Movie Piracy More (& Less) Appealing * TorrentFreak
Apple has a new offer for publishers: join Apple News, and it’ll only take 15 percent out of your in-app purchases and subscriptions instead of 30. Publishers can apply to Apple’s News Partner Program to take that bargain, but they have to agree to Apple’s requirements, which naturally benefit Apple and go beyond just maintaining a channel in Apple News.
Source: Apple will take a smaller cut of publishers’ sales if they join Apple News
The Crypt will collect, curate and showcase collectables across art, literature, music, photography, sculpture and digital media. NFTs are digital assets that represent real-world objects, such as photos, videos and digital art. Many artworks on The Crypt are available for immediate purchase or live auction.
Source: The Crypt: NFT art museum for the digital age opens online
MakersPlace, which auctioned Beeple’s art for $69.3M, has raised $30M for its digital art marketplace that uses nonfungible tokens (NFTs). The company will use the funds to acquire additional talent and scale the business in existing markets while exploring new ones. NFTs have become a big hit this year, with roughly $164 million in sales during the past week alone.
Source: MakersPlace raises $30M for NFT digital art marketplace
From today in the US, podcasters can use Anchor to directly charge fans a subscription anywhere between $0.49 per month and $150 per month. Spotify won’t take a bean of that subscription price (minus payment processing fees) until 2023, when the company says it plans to implement a 5% commission on subscription revenue.
Source: Spotify is giving podcasters perks that will make independent music artists very jealous
While Sony was light on talent at its CinemaCon presentation, its executives got thunderous applause for passionately defending theatrical exclusivity at a time when other studios have released films day-and-date on streaming. “Debuting movies simultaneously in theaters and at home is devastating to our collective businesses,” Sony Motion Picture Group President Josh Greenstein told the attendees at Caesar’s Palace.
Source: Sony Vows to Protect Theatrical Exclusivity: ‘It’s the Window, Stupid!’
John Fithian, the chief of the National Association of Theater Owners, is here to reiterate one thing: Moviegoing is not dead. “I applaud artists who refuse to accept the false narrative that movie theaters are a thing of the past and that the future will be one in which every movie is consumed at home,” Fithian said. “These leading creatives know better, and they are on the right side of history.”
Marvel has released its first NFT Digital Comic Collectibles for sale on VeVe. The American media franchise announced in a release: “Following Marvel Entertainment’s successful, officially licensed NFT digital collectibles based on Spider-Man and Captain America, we’re excited to reveal, starting August 19, VeVe will be launching the inaugural series of classic Marvel Comics as NFTs!.”
Source: Marvel Launches First NFT Digital Comic Books On Veve | Bitcoinist.com