This newest indication of an aggressive video embrace just recently came to light, though in many respects, Spotify’s visual-media ambitions have long been clear. A growing selection of video podcasts, short clips, and music videos are already live on the platform, which is also placing a greater emphasis than ever on profitability and operational efficiency.
Source: Spotify Video Buildout Continues With Seven-Figure Offers: Report
House Judiciary members sent a letter to the Copyright Office requesting an examination of concerns related to performing rights organizations (PROs). In the letter, signed by the committee’s chairmen Rep. Jim Jordan and Rep. Darrell Issa as well as member Rep. Scott Fitzgerald, two particular areas of concern are addressed: the “proliferation” of new PROs and the lack of transparency about the distribution of general licensing revenue.
The White House released a statement today outlining commitments that several AI companies are making to curb the creation and distribution of image-based sexual abuse. The participating businesses have laid out the steps they are taking to prevent their platforms from being used to generate non-consensual intimate images (NCII) of adults and child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
Source: White House gets voluntary commitments from AI companies to curb deepfake porn
Six of the top 50 news websites in the UK are asking people to “consent or pay” if they don’t want to hand over their data for advertising. The “consent or pay” model arrived in the UK this summer after first being introduced by European news titles including Bild and Der Spiegel in Germany. Among UK publishers The Times has put the highest price on opting out of sharing data, at £6.99 per month, ahead of News UK stablemate The Sun’s “Pay to Reject” offering on £4.99.
Source: ‘Consent or pay’: Why UK news websites are getting tough with readers over data
Spotify stock has received multiple bullish assessments from analysts as it continues to target efficiency and profitability. To this point in September, these bullish Spotify stock positions have come from UBS, Wells Fargo, and Zacks Equity Research. the optimistic views appear to underscore confidence in the music streaming giant’s current business model. As highlighted, that model, defined by significant layoffs, multiple podcast cancellations, and a heightened focus on near-term profitability, has taken center stage in 2024.
Source: Spotify Stock Draws Bullish Analyst Assessments Amid Profit Push
In a letter to the agencies, the senators explained their position that the latest AI features are hitting creators and publishers while they’re down. As journalistic outlets experience unprecedented consolidation and layoffs, “dominant online platforms, such as Google and Meta, generate billions of dollars per year in advertising revenue from news and other original content created by others. New generative AI features threaten to exacerbate these problems.”
Source: Senate leaders ask FTC to investigate AI content summaries as anti-competitive
Users will get their first chance to try Adobe’s AI model for video generation in just a couple months. The company says features powered by Adobe’s Firefly Video model will become available before the end of 2024 on the Premiere Pro beta app and on a free website. Adobe says three features — Generative Extend, Text to Video, and Image to Video — are currently in a private beta, but will be public soon.
Source: Adobe says video generation is coming to Firefly this year
SB 1047, which passed the California State Assembly and Senate in late August, is now on the desk of California Governor Gavin Newsom — who will determine the fate of the bill. While the EU and some other governments have been hammering out AI regulation for years now, SB 1047 would be the strictest framework in the US so far. Critics have painted a nearly apocalyptic picture of its impact, calling it a threat to startups, open source developers, and academics.
The expanded agreement builds on a long-standing relationship between the two companies and, according to Tuned Global Managing Director Con Raso, marks “a significant milestone” for Tuned Global and the companies it works with. “Music licensing is an essential part of integrating music into various platforms, and this partnership provides an integrated solution for our clients, giving them direct access to UMG’s extensive repertoire,” said Raso.
Source: Universal strikes global licensing deal with B2B music streaming tech provider Tuned Global
San Francisco-based blockchain-powered music platform Audius, which says it has 6 million monthly users, has signed a global licensing deal with music publisher Kobalt. The deal gives Kobalt-signed songwriters access to Audius’ decentralized marketplace, providing them with a potential new revenue stream, the companies said in a statement on Tuesday. Audius’ blockchain-powered marketplace offers music fans a way to engage with their favorite artists and support them via US dollar payments and its own crypto token, $AUDIO.