George Clinton Must Face Trial in P-Funk Royalties Battle With Bernie Worrell Estate: Appeals Court
The U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals reversed a lower‑court dismissal and ordered a trial to decide whether Bernie Worrell’s heirs still co‑own a slice of the Parliament‑Funkadelic catalog. The appellate panel limited the dispute to songs created under a 1976 contract, specifically those recorded between 1976 and 1979. The ruling hinges on whether the statute of limitations for copyright‑ownership claims began in 2020 or decades earlier. The case now returns to the district court unless the parties settle.
Attempting To Turn The Revenue Tide At U.S. Hispanic Media
At the Hispanic Radio Conference in Phoenix, industry leaders convened to address the widening gap between the U.S. Hispanic community’s $4 trillion purchasing power and the modest advertising dollars flowing to Spanish‑language radio. Panelists highlighted that traditional sales pitches are no...
Reservoir Media Inc (RSVR) Q4 2026 Earnings Call Transcript
Reservoir Media reported $42.3 million revenue for the quarter, up 19% YoY, driven by strong publishing and recorded‑music growth. Adjusted EBITDA rose 26% to $17.3 million and the company posted a $5.3 million net profit, reversing last year’s loss. Management highlighted a $70 million...
AudioShake Launches New Copyright Compliance System
AudioShake unveiled its Copyright Compliance System, an end‑to‑end platform that detects, identifies, removes, and documents copyrighted music embedded in mixed‑media files. Early adopters such as ESPN, NFL Films, Jaywalker Music, and the Calgary Flames are already using the modular solution...
Nebraska Public Media Announces Omaha Launch Date
Nebraska Public Media will launch its Omaha signal, KOOO(FM) 101.9 MHz, on June 15. The nonprofit bought the Class C0 station from NRG Media for about $1.2 million, closing the deal on May 13 and airing preview programming since then. The launch adds a full‑power...
NPR News Layoffs More Staff After Federal Funding Cuts
National Public Radio announced a second round of staff reductions, laying off 10 journalists and seeing 18 more leave via voluntary buyouts, trimming roughly 4% of its content division. The cuts target $8 million in savings as the network confronts an...
Townsquare To Participate At Noble Capital Conference
Townsquare Media, a “local first” media company anchored by mid-sized and small‑market radio stations, announced that its executive leadership will attend the Noble Capital Conference on June 3. The conference is a key institutional investor event that draws analysts and fund...
YouTube Tests New Fan Engagement Option for Musicians
YouTube is piloting a "Top Fans" publishing option that restricts exclusive video clips to the top 1 % of a creator’s audience. The beta is limited to musician channels and prevents anyone outside that tier from accessing the content, even via...
The Emerging AI Content Licensing Market Puts News Publishers in a “Double Bind,” A New Report Warns
The Open Markets Institute released a report mapping the nascent AI content licensing market, warning that news publishers face a “double bind” as Big Tech both creates AI products that scrape their sites and controls the licensing platforms. Startups such...
Laura Poitras, Geeta Gandbhir Sound Alarm Over Paramount-WBD Merger’s Impact on Documentary: “Deeply Problematic on Absolutely Every Level”
Oscar‑winning director Laura Poitras and Oscar‑nominated filmmaker Geeta Gandbhir warned that the proposed $110 billion Paramount‑Skydance‑Warner Bros. Discovery merger would devastate the documentary ecosystem. They argued that combining CBS, CNN and HBO under one roof threatens editorial independence, limits access to vital archives,...
Germany Introduces Mandatory Investment Quota for Streamers and Broadcasters
Germany’s cabinet approved the Media Services Investment Obligation Act, mandating that streaming platforms and TV broadcasters allocate at least 8% of their annual revenue to German film production. Providers that invest 12% or more can opt out of certain detailed...
Stan Lee’s Voice Licensed to AI for Commercial Uses, Non-Stan Lee Stories
Stan Lee Universe has partnered with ElevenLabs to license the comic legend’s voice and likeness for commercial AI applications and a new public‑domain audiobook club. The estate will curate monthly releases, starting with classic titles like *Treasure Island*, allowing AI‑generated...
Broadcasters and Streamers: The New Friend Zone?
Broadcasters and streaming platforms are moving from rivalry to strategic partnership, creating hybrid offerings that blend linear TV, OTT, and FAST channels. Major alliances such as TelevisaUnivision with Hulu, Comcast’s NOW TV Latino bundle, and Globo’s consolidation under Globoplay illustrate a new,...
Spanish Singer Ana Mena Signs Management Deal With WK Entertainment
Spanish pop star Ana Mena has signed an exclusive global management agreement with WK Entertainment, adding the multiplatinum artist to the firm’s growing Latin music roster. The deal gives WK oversight of her touring, brand partnerships, media opportunities and international...
NFL-Fueled Sports TV Ad Market to Approach $25 Billion by 2027
Live sports is rapidly eclipsing scripted entertainment as the primary driver of TV advertising spend. eMarketer projects in‑game ad spend to surpass $20 billion in 2027, representing 23% of an $87 billion converged TV market, and to reach $24.8 billion by 2030. The...
Watch Industry Leaders Break Down California’s Film Tax Incentives at The American Pavilion
IndieWire and the American Pavilion hosted a California Day panel at Cannes on May 13, focusing on the state’s film and TV tax credit program. Panelists including California Film Commission director Colleen Bell, New Filmmakers LA founder Larry Laboe, and Film SF’s...
ACR Data Is Invaluable, but only if It Lives Within DSPs
The article argues that automatic content recognition (ACR) data is the single most reliable signal for TV advertising, and its value is realized only when it resides inside a demand‑side platform (DSP). While contextual intelligence and attention measurement add nuance,...
Brightcove Adds New Features to Its AI Suite for Video Advertising
Streaming‑tech provider Brightcove unveiled two AI‑driven features—AI Contextual Ads and Smart Ad Breaks—within its AI Suite for video advertising. AI Contextual Ads scans video scenes against the IAB taxonomy, delivering scene‑level contextual signals to ad servers, while Smart Ad Breaks...
Julie Swidler, Sony Music’s EVP Business Affairs and General Counsel, to Leave Company After 18 Years
Julie Swidler, Sony Music’s Executive Vice President of Business Affairs and General Counsel, will depart the company at the end of June after an 18‑year tenure. Since 2008 she has overseen global legal, business and governmental affairs, guiding major talent...
Exclusive: United Talent Agency Signs Rock Trio The Warning
United Talent Agency (UTA) has signed Mexican hard‑rock trio The Warning for representation across the United States, Mexico and South America. The sisters‑band is currently supporting YUNGBLUD on a U.S. and U.K. tour and will headline a sold‑out show at...
N.E.O. Founder Bertrand Amar Breaks Down the Expensive Reality of Organizing Esports Events
Bertrand Amar, founder of French esports organizer N.E.O., says running a year‑long tournament costs $215,000‑$322,000, while marquee events can exceed $3.2 million. The company has quickly secured rights for high‑profile titles such as Rocket League, League of Legends Game Changers, and the...
How a ‘Server Slam’ Helped ARC Raiders Dominate Twitch Ahead of Its Launch | GamesBeat Summit Recap
Embark Studios partnered with Twitch for a two‑week "server slam" ahead of ARC Raiders' October 2025 launch, flooding the platform with the game. During the first launch week the title accounted for roughly 15% of all gaming content on Twitch,...
‘Headline Season’ Aims to Boost Kuala Lumpur as Concert Capital
Live Nation announced the KL Headline Season, a year‑long 2026 programme that will bring 25 major concerts to Kuala Lumpur. The initiative, developed with Tourism Malaysia, PR Worldwide and CelcomDigi, expects to attract more than 500,000 fans from Malaysia and...
Expedia X IShowSpeed: Why Brands Are Doubling Down on Creators
Expedia has partnered with YouTube star IShowSpeed to target Gen Z travelers through a 12‑hour Caribbean livestream. The collaboration places Expedia’s custom site logo throughout the video, turning the streamer’s adventure into a brand showcase. While the campaign has generated hundreds...
Building Barcelona: The Evolution of Spain's Brightest Games Hub
Barcelona has cemented its role as Spain’s premier games hub, housing 262 studios and more than 5,100 professionals. The sector now accounts for roughly 52% of the nation’s game‑industry revenue, generating about $817 million. Start‑up activity surged 35% over five years,...
‘The Case for Owned Audience’: Another Digital Ad Pitch
Omeda’s 2026 State of Audience in Media report finds publishers now hold a record‑high base of known, addressable audiences, yet many still fail to monetize them. The firm uses the data to push broadcasters toward owned‑media tactics such as email...
NPR, NPM and PRX Collaborate to Expand Revenue Opportunities for Public Radio Stations
NPR, its sponsorship arm National Public Media (NPM), and podcast platform PRX announced a joint effort to let public‑radio stations sell sponsorships for podcasts distributed through PRX’s Dovetail system. The partnership combines NPM’s national sales expertise with Dovetail’s publishing, delivery...
PlayStation Sale Round-Up for North America May 27, 2026
Sony’s North American PlayStation storefront launched a sweeping sale on May 27, 2026, slashing prices on a broad spectrum of titles and bundles. Discounts range from modest 25‑40% cuts on premium editions to deep 70‑90% reductions on select games and...
Brand-Safe -- And Not-So-Safe -- News
Wurl’s analysis of ad‑supported news on FAST channels finds only 36% of news scenes meet full brand‑safety standards, lagging behind non‑news content (54.5% vs 35.7%). Heavy news viewers represent just 3% of streaming users but account for 63% of news...
Paramount Gains Ground in Push for DOJ Approval of Its Warner Bros. Discovery Purchase as Regulators Signal Potential Approval
Paramount is moving closer to securing DOJ approval for its $110 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery after a two‑hour antitrust briefing. The company emphasized a continued commitment to theatrical releases to counter concerns about streaming‑first strategies. Shareholder consent is already in place,...
Bolloré Urges Universal Music Group to Reject Bill Ackman’s $64B Takeover Bid
Chairman Cyrille Bolloré, who controls 28% of Universal Music Group, publicly urged the company’s management to reject Bill Ackman’s $64 billion takeover proposal. Ackman’s Pershing Square bid values UMG at about $64.4 billion, a 78% premium, and would merge the label into...
Jyväskylä City Forms Shared Strategy for Games Sector Development
Jyväskylä’s city government, local universities and the Expa Game Business Cooperative have signed a joint agreement effective Jan 1 2026 to create a unified strategy for the city’s games sector. The plan focuses on boosting student employment, establishing clear education pathways, and...
Small Store, Strong Signal: Radio Gives Local Brand A Major Edge
A Quantilope study commissioned by Cumulus Media/Westwood One found that Henkle’s Ace Hardware in Joplin, Missouri, achieved 47% unaided brand awareness – second only to national chains Lowe’s and Home Depot. Radio advertising lifted aided awareness to 51% among listeners, outpacing...
Paige Nienaber’s Midweek Idea Dump: Blame It On The Dog
Paige Nienaber’s Midweek Idea Dump offers radio stations a playbook of low‑cost, high‑impact promotions, from booking ad packages 120 days in advance to summer‑on‑demand events, bus‑stunt giveaways, and “dog‑eaten” ticket gimmicks. She highlights interactive concepts like the Actors Breakroom, Compliment...
Radio, Podcasting, And The Portuguese Man O’ War
A 2025 Sounds Profitable study defines "Prime" listeners as daily users who rank a channel among their top four media choices. Only 27% of U.S. adults are radio Primes and 6% are podcast Primes, with a mere 1.4% overlap. When...
HYBE’s Weverse Appoints Zooil Yang as President as Superfan Platform Enters ‘Next Phase of Growth’
HYBE’s Weverse Company announced the appointment of Zooil Yang as its new President, effective June 1. Yang, who previously led AXZ after its spin‑off from Kakao, brings extensive experience in platform operations, digital commerce and music streaming. The move comes...
Ampere Analysis Acquires PlumResearch, Accepts Investment From Goldenpeak
Goldenpeak, a newly launched private‑equity firm, has acquired a majority stake in Ampere Analysis, marking its first institutional investment. At the same time, Ampere purchased streaming analytics specialist PlumResearch to broaden its audience‑measurement capabilities. The combined entity will integrate detailed...
Delhi Press Appoints Shailesh Srivastava as COO
Delhi Press has named Shailesh Srivastava, former business head of Reliance Broadcast Network, as its chief operating officer. The appointment is part of a broader transformation to become a multi‑vertical content and experiences company, leveraging advertising, events, IP and subscription...
Saregama MD Vikram Mehra Discusses ‘Dhurandhar’, AI, and More on Earnings Call
Saregama, India’s second‑largest music label after T‑Series, reported a 19% year‑on‑year rise in revenue for the quarter ended March 31, 2026. The company staged its inaugural UN40 festival, added roughly 30 new creators to a roster now exceeding 300 acts, and released...
TV Groups to FCC: Current Parental Ratings System Works Fine
A coalition of television industry groups—including the National Association of Broadcasters, NCTA and the Motion Picture Association—has asked the FCC to retain the decades‑old TV Parental Guidelines. In a joint filing, they argue the voluntary ratings system remains effective, widely...
DStv for R99 per Month
DStv’s Access tier continues to be priced at R99 per month (about $5), offering a streaming‑only option at the same price while the satellite version will rise to R150 ($8) in 2026. The package now includes 89 video channels and...
Inside KG Media’s AI Experiments in the ‘Post-Pageview Era’
KG Media, Indonesia’s largest media group, is tackling the "post‑pageview era" by deploying practical AI solutions that focus on revenue generation, audience insight and brand preservation. The company rolled out an AI‑driven video distribution platform that auto‑matches ads to editorial...
Research: 80% of New Nordic Streaming Subs Are Ad-Supported
The Nordic streaming market now tops 27 million paid subscriptions, adding roughly 3.5 million since spring 2025, driven largely by hybrid video‑on‑demand (HVoD) plans that blend lower fees with ads. About 80% of the new subscriptions are ad‑supported, making HVoD the primary growth...
Future of TV Briefing: How AI Agents Will Figure Into This Year’s Upfront Negotiations
AI agents are becoming a central topic in this year’s upfront negotiations, with major broadcasters such as Disney, Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery exploring how autonomous software can automate ad buying and placement. Advertisers are being asked to consider AI‑driven...
‘No Brainer’: Nine Reportedly Makes A Play For The Exclusive NRL Rights
Nine is reportedly preparing a bid to acquire the entire National Rugby League (NRL) broadcast package from 2028, expanding beyond its current free‑to‑air coverage of three weekly games, the finals and the State of Origin. The offer, based on the...
CRA Digital Audio Revenue Grows, Total Radio Revenue Dips
Commercial Radio & Audio (CRA) members posted a 9.9% rise in digital audio revenue, reaching $25.2 million in Q1 2026, while the broader digital audio market grew 8.3% to $83.6 million. CRA now commands roughly 30% of Australia’s digital audio spend. In contrast,...
Campaign Launches to Save Mometu
A crowdfunding campaign has been launched to rescue independent streaming service Mometu, which announced its shutdown last month. The initiative aims to relaunch the platform as Mometu 2.0 with a tiered access model that includes a free ad‑supported tier, a sub‑$3...
Another DIRECTV Price Hike Is Coming Next Month
DIRECTV announced a price increase for both satellite and streaming plans effective June 25, 2026. Most packages will rise by $5 to $8 per month, with the Sports Only and News bundles each seeing a $5 hike. The adjustment targets entry‑level plans...
Music-Related Legislation Before Congress Right Now: Full List of Bills (UPDATING)
Billboard has compiled a comprehensive list of music‑related bills pending before the 119th Congress, covering topics from AI‑generated deepfakes to ticket‑sale transparency and royalty reforms. The RAP Act, NO FAKES Act, American Music Fairness Act, MAIN and TICKET Acts, among others,...
‘He’s a Machine’: Karl Stefanovic Show Co-Founder on Scaling and Making Money
The Karl Stefanovic Show launched in January and has quickly amassed over 250 videos, delivering 1.38 million YouTube views and 859,000 Spotify streams in April alone. Episode performance ranges from a low of 10,000 views to a peak of 358,000, with...