Headlines

Big Tech Is Under Pressure From Emerging AI Giants. How Will This Change Hollywood?

This is no AI illusion. A perfect storm appears to be gathering around the world of generative artificial intelligence that promises to have profound effects on how Hollywood does business. In fact, there’s a fair chance that the generative AI revolution will have a bigger impact on Hollywood from a business and ownership standpoint, even before the technology itself can transform the making of movies and TV shows.

Source: Big Tech Is Under Pressure From Emerging AI Giants. How Will This Change Hollywood?

Once Again, Taylor Swift Heads to A Theater Near You

Taylor Swift is teaming up with AMC Theaters to host release parties across the United States for her latest album. The release party events will take place from October 3 to October 5 across thousands of screens in the United States and across the world. The official release party will play at all 540 AMC Theatres across the United States and additional circuits like Cinemark and Regal, as well as Cineplex in Canada, Cinepolis and Cinemex in Mexico, and various international partners.

Source: Once Again, Taylor Swift Heads to A Theater Near You

China’s DeepSeek developer just revealed the cost of training the AI model 

Chinese artificial intelligence developer DeepSeek spent just $294,000 on training its R1 model, much less than reported for US rivals, it said in a paper that is likely to reignite debate over Beijing’s place in the AI race. The rare update from the Hangzhou-based company – the first estimate it has released of R1’s training costs – appeared Wednesday in a peer-reviewed article in the academic journal Nature.

Source: China’s DeepSeek shook the tech world. Its developer just revealed the cost of training the AI model | CNN Business

Meta Approaches Media Companies About AI Content-Licensing Deals

Meta Platforms has held discussions in recent months with a number of media companies, including Axel Springer, Fox Corp. and News Corp, about licensing their articles for use in its artificial-intelligence tools. Meta, parent of Facebook and Instagram, offers a range of AI-powered products, including a variety of chatbots. Its conversations with media companies have focused on licensing news and other content for use across those products, according to people familiar with the matter.

Source: Meta Approaches Media Companies About AI Content-Licensing Deals

Why The Economist isn’t doing AI deals but has launched on Substack

Many publishers have done deals around the use of their content with ChatGPT owner OpenAI. However The Economist has not signed with OpenAI or any of its competitors. Bradley-Jones explained: “I think we see those products as publishing platforms. That’s fundamentally what they’re trying to create. And why would you license your content in any meaningful volume to a competitor platform?”

Source: Why The Economist isn’t doing AI deals but has launched on Substack

Top music body says AI firms guilty of ‘wilful’ copyright theft

AI companies have sucked up the world’s entire music catalogue and are guilty of “wilful, commercial-scale copyright infringement”, a major music industry group told AFP. The ICMP is one of a number of industry bodies spanning the news media and publishing to target the booming artificial intelligence sector over its use of content without paying royalties.

Source: Top music body says AI firms guilty of ‘wilful’ copyright theft

GEMA to cut ‘on-demand music distribution’ commission to 7% 

Germany’s performance rights organization, GEMA, plans to reduce its commission on all “on-demand music distribution” to 7% from 10% by 2027, a move that is expected to increase annual payouts to music creators by more than EUR €6 million (USD $7 million). The PRO will implement the cut in stages, beginning with a reduction to 9% in January 2026 before reaching the target rate the following year.

Source: German collection society GEMA to cut ‘on-demand music distribution’ commission to 7% by 2027; expects move to boost annual payouts by $7m

Managers contribute USD $974m in value to UK music business, says new report

The research, conducted by RMR Research, Jem Associates, and The Hub, found that each £1 invested in management services generated £8across the broader sector. According to the study, artists, songwriters and producers capture 88% of the total value, equivalent to£627 million ($855m), through increased earnings, productivity and business connections facilitated by their managers.

Source: Managers contribute USD $974m in value to UK music business, says new report

UK Creators Demand PM Recognize Creators’ Human Rights

Ahead of U.S. President Trump’s visit to the United Kingdom, 70-plus of the UK’s biggest creators and creative organizations have issued an open letter calling on the government to protect the rights of UK copyright holders by upholding international human rights standards. With signatures from heavy-hitters including Mick Jagger, Paul McCartney, and Elton John, the letter has also been signed by creative organizations like the News Media Association, UK Music, Pan MacMillan, and Getty Images.

Source: UK Creators Demand PM Recognize Creators’ Human Rights

Disney, Warner Bros. Discovery, NBCU Sue Chinese AI Company MiniMa

Disney, Warner Bros. Discovery and NBCUniversal are taking legal aim at another AI company that they allege is massively ripping off their intellectual property. On Tuesday, the three media companies filed a lawsuit against MiniMax, a Chinese AI company that is reportedly valued at $4 billion, alleging “willful and brazen” copyright infringement.

Source: Disney, Warner Bros. Discovery, NBCU Sue Chinese AI Company MiniMax, Alleging It ‘Pirates and Plunders’ Studios’ Copyrighted Works on ‘Massive Scale’

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