Blog•Feb 20, 2026
Spotify, SeatGeek, and the Expanding Extraction MachineWhen Platform Leverage Meets Ticketing Power
Spotify announced a new partnership with ticketing platform SeatGeek, extending its concert‑discovery tools into the live‑ticket market. The move follows Spotify’s claim of helping artists generate over $1 billion in ticket sales and its $11 billion payout to the music industry in 2025. By routing fans from streaming to ticket purchases, Spotify creates a vertically integrated funnel that could raise antitrust concerns around leveraging, tying and vertical foreclosure. The integration also deepens artists’ reliance on the platform while obscuring revenue and data flows.
By Music • Technology • Policy
Blog•Feb 20, 2026
Transforming Corporate Training with Skippz: A Bright Alternative to Kaltura
Skippz positions itself as a modern, cost‑effective alternative to Kaltura for corporate training, offering unlimited video hosting, interactive learning tools, and AI‑driven accessibility. The platform tackles common pain points such as storage caps, static content, complex administration, and global delivery...
By Programming Insider
Blog•Feb 19, 2026
The Live Nation Case
A federal judge refused to dismiss the DOJ’s antitrust suit against Live Nation and granted summary judgment on the core claim that its promotion and booking activities constitute a monopoly, meaning the facts overwhelmingly favor Live Nation. The case now...
By The Lefsetz Letter
Blog•Feb 19, 2026
NY Mag Deploys Scarcity in Dior-Sponsored Limited Run Book
New York Magazine quietly mailed a limited‑run, Dior‑sponsored book titled “The Parisian Man” to a select group of about 20,000 subscribers in Manhattan and Brooklyn. The digest‑size publication, featuring portraits of 40 French men, is not for sale and was...
By A Media Operator
Blog•Feb 19, 2026
Australian Esports League Joins Forces with Australian Grand Prix for Esports Tournament
The Australian Esports League has teamed up with the Australian Grand Prix Corporation to launch the Victorian Virtual Grand Prix, a student‑focused esports tournament. Primary school pupils will race in‑person on February 28 at Kingsville Primary, while secondary students compete online...
By Esports Insider
Blog•Feb 19, 2026
League of Legends Americas Cup 2026 Format and Schedule Revealed
Riot Games unveiled the inaugural League of Legends Americas Cup, slated for March 4‑8 in São Paulo. The tournament pits the second‑ and third‑place teams from the LCS Lock‑In and CBLOL Cup in a double‑elimination bracket, with opening best‑of‑three matches followed by...
By Esports Insider
Blog•Feb 18, 2026
How Musicians, Marketers Use WhatsApp to Build Fan Communities
Direct-to-fan communication is shifting from optional to essential as social‑media algorithms limit reach. WhatsApp, with over 2 billion users, provides 100% message deliverability and a private‑conversation feel that email and SMS can’t match. Artists like Lorde, The Lathums, Dua Lipa and Sahel Sounds...
By Hypebot
Blog•Feb 17, 2026
Every News Outlet Should Produce a Video Podcast
Simon Owens discusses why every news outlet should launch a video podcast, highlighting The Guardian’s new daily video show as a model. He argues that video podcasts are a low‑cost way to repurpose text journalism, build journalists’ personal brands, and...
By Simon Owens’ Media Newsletter
Blog•Feb 16, 2026
Fan Burner Accounts Vs. Click Farms: Why the Difference Matters More Than Ever
The article clarifies the growing confusion between fan burner accounts and click farms in music streaming. Fan burners are human‑run secondary profiles that amplify organic buzz, while click farms are large‑scale operations that artificially inflate streams. Apple reported disabling roughly...
By Hypebot
Blog•Feb 13, 2026
Blacklyte Reveals Partnership with Six Invitational 2026
Gaming furniture maker Blacklyte has been announced as the official desk and chair sponsor for the Six Invitational 2026, the world championship for Rainbow Six Siege X. Its Athena Pro gaming chair and Atlas Lite desk will be featured on‑stage...
By Esports Insider
Blog•Feb 13, 2026
Netflix US Picks Up ‘Lord of The Flies’ Series Adaptation With Upcoming Narnia Star
Netflix has secured exclusive U.S. rights to a four‑part limited series adaptation of William Golding’s *Lord of the Flies*. Produced by the Eleven Film team behind *Sex Education*, the drama features newcomer David McKenna as Piggy—who will later headline Netflix’s *Chronicles...
By What’s on Netflix
Blog•Feb 13, 2026
Theater Counts: GOAT Tops a Slate of Fresh Films, Arriving as the Weekend’s Widest Release.
The animated sports‑comedy GOAT debuted as the weekend’s widest release, opening in 3,863 theaters. Send Help claimed the top box‑office spot for a second straight weekend, pulling in just over $9 million and reaching a domestic total of $38.18 million. New titles...
By The Numbers (Blog/Analysis)
Blog•Feb 12, 2026
Not Getting Coverage on Your Music Release? It's Not You, It's the System.
Elisa Serrani’s new observatory report shows that the surge in music press releases has outpaced journalists’ ability to process them, turning volume into noise. The Italian market, used as a micro‑cosm, demonstrates a sharp rise in promotional material while editorial...
By Hypebot
Blog•Feb 11, 2026
Superfan Guide: Lessons From KATSEYE, Olivia Dean & Leon Thomas
Grammy Best New Artist nominees KATSEYE, Olivia Dean and Leon Thomas are leveraging Spotify’s native tools to turn casual listeners into active superfans. KATSEYE used a Countdown Page and Clips to make its EP release an interactive event, while Dean...
By Hypebot
Blog•Feb 11, 2026
The Bus Flip: How ‘The Dark Knight’ Used Action to Reveal an Antagonist
Christopher Nolan’s *The Dark Knight* introduces the Joker through a high‑octane bank heist rather than dialogue, using the bus‑flip sequence to expose the villain’s chaotic genius. The opening action reveals the Joker’s meticulous planning, ruthless manipulation of his crew, and...
By No Film School