According to Luminate’s 2023 Year-End Music Report, fully 158.6 million tracks each received 1,000 or fewer plays on audio streaming services in 2023. That number amounts to a whopping86.2% of the 184 million music tracks that Luminate measured on audio streaming services at the close of last year via ISRCs. Even more tellingly, a total of 45.6 million tracks received zero plays in 2023.
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Gaming voice actors blindsided by ‘garbage’ union AI deal
Prominent voice actors say they weren’t told about a landmark deal setting out how voices generated by artificial intelligence (AI) can be used in games. It has been struck by US actors’ union Sag-Aftra and AI firm Replica Studios. The union says it guarantees “fully informed consent and fair compensation” for its members. But many voice artists, who have long been concerned AI will replace them, have reacted with fury with one calling the deal “garbage.”
Source: Gaming voice actors blindsided by ‘garbage’ union AI deal
Getty Images launches a new GenAI service for iStock customers
Getty Images, the stock media company, announced a new service this week at CES 2024 that leverages AI models trained on Getty’s iStock stock photography and video libraries to generate new licensable images and artwork. Called Generative AI by iStock, the service, powered in part by tech from Nvidia, has been designed to guard against generations of known products, people, places or other copyrighted elements, Getty claims.
Source: Getty Images launches a new GenAI service for iStock customers | TechCrunch
OpenAI Under Scrutiny as EU Unpacks Microsoft Deal
The European Commission is weighing whether to launch an in-depth investigation into Microsoft’s $10 billion investment in OpenAI, maker of ChatGPT and other leading AI systems. At issue are EU merger rules. If the regulators find that the companies breached competition laws, it could lead to a full-scale probe and potential restrictions on the partnership.
Source: OpenAI Under Scrutiny as EU Unpacks Microsoft Deal – Decrypt
SAG-AFTRA Signs Deal With Voiceover Studio for AI Use in Video Games
SAG-AFTRA signed a deal on Tuesday with an AI voiceover studio that sets terms for the use of artificial intelligence in video games. The union announced the deal with Replica Studios on Tuesday at CES in Las Vegas. Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, the union’s executive director, said that the terms include informed consent for the use of AI to create digital voice replicas, as well as requirements for the safe storage of digital assets.
Source: SAG-AFTRA Signs Deal With Voiceover Studio for AI Use in Video Games
OpenAI will open its custom ChatGPT store after months-long delay
While custom GPTs built by OpenAI are available through the explore tab of ChatGPT Plus, the store would let users share and monetize their GPTs. OpenAI has said it plans to figure out a way to pay GPT creators based on how much their AI agents on the store are used, but it has not released any other details about the plan.
Hollywood’s Box Office Recovery Needs Rewrite
Spotify France Preps Price Increase Amid ‘Streaming Tax’ Rollout
Spotify and others had pushed for both a voluntary-contribution system as well as a model wherein the tax would be spread out among radio stations, physical sales, and more. But with the efforts having failed to bring about the desired result, Antoine Monin, Spotify’s MD for France and Benelux, made clear earlier in December that his company may well pass on the new charge to subscribers.
Source: Spotify France Preps Price Increase Amid ‘Streaming Tax’ Rollout
After a Year of Pullback, Podcast Industry Hopes to Regroup In 2024 — With an AI Boost
Going into 2024, podcasting executives remain incredibly bullish on growth in the sector, with an eye to creating multiple revenue streams for creators and using artificial intelligence and video to expand the audience. While the podcast sector faced some pullback in the past year, Wondery CEO Jen Sargent and Conal Byrne, CEO of the iHeartMedia Digital Audio Group, say they believe there’s still room for the medium to expand
Source: After a Year of Pullback, Podcast Industry Hopes to Regroup In 2024 — With an AI Boost
Spotify and Deezer slam French government’s plans to introduce a ‘music streaming tax’ in the market
Music streaming services have raised concerns over the French government’s proposed tax on music streaming services. Amongst the companies slamming the new plans is Spotify, which has warned that such a move may lead to the company deprioritizing France in the future. Antoine Monin, the Director General of Spotify France, expressed his dismay, labeling the tax a “monumental strategic error, which goes against the issues of economic, cultural and European technology”.
Source: Spotify and Deezer slam French government’s plans to introduce a ‘music streaming tax’ in the market