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KEXP, a Seattle‑based non‑profit radio station, is overhauling its audio playout and asset management infrastructure across nine studios. The legacy Dalet Galaxy system is being replaced by OrangeLogic’s cloud‑based OrangeDAM for digital asset management and Broadcast Radio’s Myriad 6 on‑prem playout platform. To meet the station’s unique need for a million‑track library searchable and playable within three seconds, KEXP built custom DMI software that syncs metadata from MusicBrainz and integrates cloud and on‑prem libraries. The project, slated for completion in Q2 2026, also adds three remote studios, giving DJs the ability to curate live programming from anywhere while maintaining manual traffic control for Seattle and Bay Area markets.
Research firm Ampere Analysis reports that female gamers constitute 48% of the global gaming population, roughly 922 million players across 21 markets. Despite near parity, women are underrepresented on consoles and PC, favoring narrative‑driven, single‑player and mobile experiences. The study identifies...
TeamTO, a veteran European animation studio, announced the creation of TeamTOKO Animation, an anime‑inspired production division dedicated to original 2D and 3D series and feature films. The new unit operates as a distinct, creator‑led creative hub while the studio maintains...
The March 2016 audio‑industry roundup highlights a surge in streaming growth, financing activity, and subscriber milestones. Spotify secured a $1 billion debt facility tied to an IPO and hit 30 million users, while Tidal celebrated three million subscribers amid legal disputes. SoundCloud launched...
Google announced a major overhaul of its Play Store fee structure following its settlement with Epic Games. The standard in‑app purchase commission drops from 30% to 20%, with an extra 5% service charge applied in the EEA, UK and US....
Mometu, a free ad‑supported streaming service for independent cinema, has launched the nine‑month Mometu Short Film Showdown. The competition curates up to 25 genre‑specific short films each month, streaming them for 30 days and returning 85% of generated ad revenue...
Curtis Sliwa, former WABC host and recent mayoral candidate, is joining iHeartMedia’s WOR 710 AM for a new morning drive show with veteran broadcaster Larry Mendte, debuting March 9 from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. The program, titled “Curtis Sliwa and Larry Mendte...
Jeff Warshaw, CEO of Connoisseur Media, filed a 37‑page opposition to Soros Fund Management’s motion to strike, alleging a verbal agreement that would have granted him a 5% profit share or the CEO role at Audacy. Warshaw contends the fund...
A FirstLook survey of over 250 senior AA and AAA studio leaders reveals that 93% cannot reliably forecast a game’s commercial success before launch, despite tracking extensive pre‑launch data such as wishlists and trailer views. The study shows a stark...
Charlie Puth has been appointed Chief Music Officer of AI music platform Moises. Moises, backed by $52 million total funding and a recent $40 million Series A led by Connect Ventures, claims over 70 million users across 33 languages. The startup differentiates itself...
StreamGuys is rolling out major upgrades to its Ultra‑Low Latency Streaming (ULLS) platform, adding native iOS support and dynamic pre‑roll ad insertion. The enhancements let fans in stadiums hear synchronized play‑by‑play commentary on mobile apps without the traditional broadcast delay....
Bob Palmeter’s “Life FM” has sold its Fairfield, Iowa FM translator to a major religious broadcast ministry. The translator, which rebroadcasts Life FM’s programming to the Fairfield area, will now be controlled by one of the world’s largest faith‑based media...
The U.S. Trade Representative released its 2025 Notorious Markets Report, naming digital and physical venues that facilitate large‑scale music piracy. The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) praised the spotlight on illicit services such as bulletproof ISPs, cyberlockers, stream‑ripping sites,...
Google has launched its Video Reach Campaign (VRC) Non‑Skip ads globally, targeting connected‑TV screens, while YouTube mobile users are encountering persistent overlay ads that cannot be dismissed. The ads stay visible despite repeated taps on “Dismiss,” prompting Reddit complaints and...
Sony Music Publishing has elevated Michael Riggs to Senior Vice President of Licensing & Income Tracking, expanding his oversight to licensing, sync administration, global income tracking, and client audit teams. Based in Nashville, Riggs will focus on strengthening tracking operations...
Storyoscopic Films and Thailand’s Indochina Productions have formed a Bangkok‑based joint venture called BKK Films. The partnership will produce genre‑driven movies starring Asian protagonists, leveraging Storyoscopic’s development expertise and Indochina’s production infrastructure. Its inaugural slate includes the gangster‑action film “7...
The FCC is poised to modernize its local ownership limits for broadcast stations, prompting a wave of waiver requests from existing licensees. Broadcasters argue they are the only logical buyers for stations in markets where they have already reached current...
Creator‑led companies like Donut Media are reshaping digital video advertising by building an integrated, 360‑degree ad stack that spans long‑form YouTube, short‑form social, podcasts and real‑world activations. The firm sells custom‑branded segments, 45‑ to 60‑second host‑read pre‑rolls and official partnership...
Podscribe’s February 2026 rankings confirm that Crime Junkie, The Daily and The Mel Robbins Podcast remain the three most‑reached shows, collectively pulling roughly 30 million listeners. Breakout performers such as Money Rehab and Kill Tony surged dramatically, reshuffling the top‑ten. Spotify stayed the leading publisher in both audio...
Netflix’s documentary "The Perfect Neighbor" has crossed 50 million views since its October 2025 debut and saw streaming numbers more than triple in the two weeks following its Oscar nomination. The film also secured Best Documentary honors at the Independent Spirit Awards...
London‑based creator agency NewGen has signed Twitch star xQc to a social publishing services agreement, brokered with Evolved Agency. The partnership will repurpose xQc’s live streams and YouTube videos for distribution on additional platforms, aiming to broaden his audience and...
Key-United, the joint venture between Key Networks and United Stations Radio Networks, has hired two senior sales executives. Rosanne Tipton joins as Vice President of Sales and Brand Partnerships, while Robbie Eisen becomes Director of Strategic Research and Planning. Both...
Fixated, a creator management firm, has acquired Elevate, a subscription‑focused monetization platform, to broaden its community and revenue infrastructure. The deal follows a $50 million Eldridge Industries investment earmarked for M&A, marking Fixated’s second acquisition this year after buying gaming‑centric Ellify....
Walt Disney is turning the Super Bowl from a single‑day spectacle into a year‑long media franchise called “The Year of the Super Bowl.” The move leverages the $800 million advertising haul from one game to launch continuous ESPN features such as...
Audible announced a new nonfiction podcast slate that merges Wondery’s investigative series with its own offerings, featuring season 5 of “Dr. Death,” season 5 of “Over My Dead Body,” and the upcoming “OnlyFantasy” series on OnlyFans. The rollout follows Amazon’s...
Indie developer asobism has launched Live Hard, Die Hard, a real‑time strategy game that blends split‑screen combat with medical treatment. The title is now globally available on Android and iOS for $4.99. Players navigate a four‑week preparation cycle, juggling base...
Sony Interactive Entertainment announced it will cease porting its major single‑player PlayStation 5 titles to PC, keeping games like Ghost of Yotei and the upcoming Saros console‑exclusive. Online‑only titles such as Marathon will still be available on Windows, while externally published...
Gamescom 2026 has broken exhibitor registration records for the third consecutive year, with a 15% increase over 2025 and participants from more than 40 countries. The event will feature pavilions from 23 nations and introduces a new Gamescom Business Ticket...
Banijay Entertainment and All3Media, both backed by private equity, announced a definitive merger that will combine their production assets under a single entity. The deal creates one of the world’s largest independent television and digital content houses, spanning scripted, unscripted...
Co‑op Live in Manchester has opened Europe’s first AI‑driven, frictionless self‑serve market, built with Oak View Group, AiFi and Boxbar Tech. Shoppers tap a cashless card, pick items, and leave while computer‑vision cameras track each purchase. The system is designed...
Audible introduced the Read & Listen feature, letting users see synchronized text while listening to audiobooks within the Audible app. The tool differs from Whispersync by keeping both formats in a single interface, though users must purchase both the ebook and audiobook....
German public broadcasters ARD and ZDF will overhaul their linear TV portfolio under a reformed national broadcast treaty, shutting down ARD alpha, tagesschau24 and ONE by December 31 2026. The restructure consolidates remaining services into three jointly‑operated channels—phoenix for news, neo for...
The UK games trade body TIGA is urging the government to boost the Video Games Expenditure Credit (VGEC) in the upcoming Autumn Budget, proposing a 53% credit rate for projects with budgets up to £23.5 million. It also recommends expanding qualifying...
The Canterbury Tales attraction in Canterbury city centre has reopened after a six‑year Covid‑induced shutdown, under new owners Lewis Hunt and Mica Dougan. The venue now features state‑of‑the‑art hologram projections, immersive soundscapes and personalized rooms that adapt language and music...
The Akron Zoo announced a $21 million, 16‑acre expansion of its Pride of Africa exhibit, the largest project in its 73‑year history. The plan adds a state‑of‑the‑art indoor‑outdoor giraffe habitat where guests can feed the animals, alongside new enclosures for wildebeests,...
Microsoft has been granted a set of patents describing AI‑driven “help sessions” that can take over a player’s controls when they become stuck. The system uses machine‑learning to detect difficulty, prompts the user, and then hands control to either a...
Ziggo Sport has secured a four‑year extension of its Dutch broadcast rights to UEFA’s flagship club competitions, keeping the Champions League, Europa League and Conference League through the 2030/31 season. The package will be delivered across six linear channels, 20...
Gardens by the Bay announced Wetlands by the Bay, a 5‑hectare expansion slated for phased opening from late 2028. The development will feature a teamLab immersive art experience that blends indoor installations with outdoor kayak tours across restored wetlands. Over...
The Trump administration is reviewing Tencent’s gaming investments for potential national‑security risks. Senior officials are assessing the Chinese conglomerate’s stakes in Riot Games, Epic Games, Supercell and other Western studios. The review comes amid heightened U.S.–China tensions and just before...
Paramount announced a $111 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, paying $31 per share—a 150% premium to the pre‑talk price. The deal includes a $7 billion regulatory fee and a $2.8 billion breakup fee for Netflix, which withdrew its bid. Combining Paramount, CBS,...
ElevenLabs, a leader in generative AI for voice, speech, music and video, is gearing up for the 2026 NAB Show where it will demo its latest offerings. The company highlights breakthroughs in controllability and consistency that move AI from experimental...
NEP Europe has relaunched its OB unit as EU‑03, a software‑centric mobile production truck designed for 1080p HDR live events. The upgrade fully adopts SMPTE ST 2110, allowing broadcasters to run license‑based, scalable workflows that blend software and hardware. Based in...
Swiss media group CH Media will embed German streaming service RTL+ into its oneplus platform on 23 March 2026, creating a bundled offering that also includes Paramount+ and a slate of Swiss originals. The integration delivers selected RTL+ titles—reality, drama and family...
FreeWheel’s Voice of the Viewer study shows that 85% of European streaming users watch ad‑supported tiers, with 83% satisfied overall. Content choice drives satisfaction, cited by 73% of respondents, while 47% exclusively use ad‑supported plans and 49% deliberately chose them....
The BBC has appointed Storm Fagan as its chief technology and product officer, tasking her with leading the newly created BBC Media Tech division. The unit will consolidate product and technology teams from the broadcaster and BBC Studios into a...
The Handball-Bundesliga has appointed Dyn Media to take over the technical development of its international streaming service, HBL TV, starting summer 2026. The league’s OTT platform, already available in over 80 countries, will expand to more than 100 markets where...
Prose Ventures has launched the AI Music Creators Accelerator, an eight‑week program that supports human musicians using generative AI tools. The inaugural cohort presented a diverse demo day on February 27, streamed publicly on Twitch and later on YouTube. Founder...
Create Music Group announced a $450 million financing round that lifts its valuation to $2.2 billion. The capital structure blends debt and equity, while the founding team retains majority ownership. Minority investors include Ares Management, Flexpoint Ford and 2 Mile Capital. The raise follows...
University researchers warn that newsrooms partnering with prediction‑market and betting platforms risk eroding public trust. Recent deals let election, policy and geopolitical odds appear alongside reporting at outlets such as the AP, CNBC, CNN and Dow Jones. Similar financial ties...
CD Projekt Red announced that Cyberpunk 2077 will join Xbox Game Pass on March 10, accessible to Premium and Ultimate subscribers on Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S. The title will arrive with all post‑launch updates, including the Edgerunners content, and supports...
