Henna Virkkunen, EVP of the European Commission responsible for tech sovereignty, security and democracy, is upbeat about the E.U.’s ties with the U.S. when it comes to the media and entertainment sectors. Virkkunen underlined the need “to make sure that we have a level playing field,” noting that the EU’s creative sector “is facing many challenges” with the onset of “digitalization and very big online platforms.”
Marketplace
Google admits the open web is in ‘rapid decline’
For months, Google has maintained that the web is “thriving,” AI isn’t tanking traffic, and its search engine is sending people to a wider variety of websites than ever. But in a court filing from last week, Google admitted that “the open web is already in rapid decline.” Google submitted the filing ahead of another trial that will determine how it will address its monopoly in the advertising technology business.
Spotify Boycott Expands—More Than 30 Seattle Artists Leave
Carolyn Brotherton, a musician and former union organizer spearheads the coalition of artists called Seattle Artists Against Spotify. Over 30 local performers, DJs, and record label owners have signed the letter at the time of writing, voicing their concerns for what they dub is Spotify’s “anti-human, anti-art, and “anti-listener” direction. The open letter criticizes Spotify’s business practices, especially around the use of AI generated music.
Source: Spotify Boycott Expands—More Than 30 Seattle Artists Leave
‘Existential crisis’: how Google’s shift to AI has upended the online news model
Publishers – already under financial pressure from soaring costs, falling advertising revenues, the decline of print and the wider trend of readers turning away from news – argue that they are effectively being forced by Google to either accept deals, including on how content is used in AI Overview and AI Mode, or “drop out of all search results”, according to several sources.
Source: ‘Existential crisis’: how Google’s shift to AI has upended the online news model
OpenAI Backs AI-Made Animated Feature Film
OpenAI wants to prove that generative artificial intelligence can make movies faster and cheaper than Hollywood does today. The startup is lending its tools and computing resources to the creation of a feature-length animated movie made largely with AI that is expected to be released in theaters globally next year.
ProRata.ai raises $40M and launches new search tool for publishers
Generative AI startup ProRata.ai has raised $40 million in Series B funding as it prepares to launch a new product for publishers. ProRata.ai’s product, Gist Answers, lets publishers embed custom AI search on their websites. Publishers can show AI-powered summaries and recommendations exclusively based off their own content or showcase content from ProRata.ai’s broader network of 750 publishers.
Source: ProRata.ai raises $40M and launches new search tool for publishers
Google Hires Filmmaker in Residence as It Seeks Wider Adoption of Flow AI Video Tool
Google wants to see its generative AI video tool Flow gain a foothold among creatives, and is bringing a filmmaker in-house to help it do so. The tech giant says that it has brought on filmmaker and creative director Henry Daubrez to work as a filmmaker in residence at Google Labs, where he will create new content using the company’s tools, help shape Flow as a product, and mentor other filmmakers through what the company is calling Flow Sessions.
Source: Google Hires Filmmaker in Residence as It Seeks Wider Adoption of Flow AI Video Tool
Music Industry Must Work With AI Companies Rather Than Fight Them in Court: Charles Goldstuck
AI music is forcing a “high-stakes inflexion point” and presenting the greatest disruption to the legal underpinnings of the music industry’s economic model since Napster — but a revenue-halving overhaul and protracted, unpopular legal battles can be avoided if major music companies get out ahead of judges and lawmakers and negotiate with Suno, Udio and Anthropic, says industry veteran and investor Charles Goldstuck.
Source: Music Industry Must Work With AI Companies Rather Than Fight Them in Court: Charles Goldstuck
Reese Witherspoon Says Women Need to Be Involved in AI: It’s the ‘Future of Filmmaking’
Speaking to Glamour magazine to promote the upcoming fourth season of her Apple TV+ series “The Morning Show,” the Oscar winner said she has made it a priority in her career as a producer to always be “looking forward to how media is evolving and how I can help be part of bringing women along in those emerging industries. And now we’re doing it with AI.”
Nordic collecting societies shutter Polaris licensing hub over changing market demands
The organizations cited the need for bigger scale and international reach amid today’s “increasingly competitive, complex and scale-driven music ecosystem.” Koda, Teosto and Tono said: “[C]ooperation on a Nordic scale is no longer sufficient. The Board of Polaris Hub has accordingly decided to initiate a phased wind down of the venture in an orderly manner around the turn of 2025–2026.”
Source: Nordic collecting societies shutter Polaris licensing hub over changing market demands