NECROT Signs To METAL BLADE RECORDS
Oakland death‑metal trio NECROT has officially signed with veteran label Metal Blade Records, aligning the band with a 45‑year legacy of extreme‑music support. The deal coincides with NECROT’s inclusion on the 2026 Decibel Magazine Tour, featuring 30 dates across the United States and Canada. The band, celebrating 15 years together, will use the partnership to promote a forthcoming album and expand its global footprint. Their debut LP previously reached No. 29 on Billboard’s Hard Rock chart, underscoring their rising profile.
Dynamite Songs Hires Claudia Namukasa as Catalogue Manager and Charlotte Hancock as Rights Acquisition Manager
Dynamite Songs, the UK‑based independent publisher, has appointed Claudia Namukasa as Catalogue Manager and Charlotte Hancock as Rights Acquisition Manager to bolster its rights‑management and acquisition capabilities. Namukasa arrives from PRS for Music with licensing expertise, while Hancock joins from...
Accounts in Transit: Matter Picks Up Clear Channel Outdoor
Matter has been appointed agency of record for Clear Channel Outdoor, tasked with expanding the out‑of‑home giant's earned media, social and thought‑leadership footprint. Marino will lead branding and executive storytelling for Hillpointe, a Sun Belt multifamily developer seeking greater market...
NPR Distribution Highlights New Adaptable Receiver
NPR Distribution’s vice president Badri Munipalla announced at the Public Radio Engineering Conference a next‑generation ContentDepot Edge receiver, a low‑latency terrestrial solution for live broadcast distribution. The Edge platform, currently in pilot, adds station‑to‑station sharing, geo‑targeted delivery, richer metadata and...
DRM in the Media and Entertainment Market, 2026-2030 & 2035 - Featuring Strategic Analysis of Google, Microsoft, Irdeto, Apple, Vitrium...
ResearchAndMarkets released a report forecasting the digital rights management (DRM) market in media and entertainment to rise from $3.97 billion in 2025 to $4.75 billion in 2026 and $9.56 billion by 2030. Growth is driven by expanding OTT video consumption, rising piracy concerns,...
Tech Creators Are Getting the Star Treatment at a New Talent Management Firm
Reign Maker Group has launched Kernel Management, a talent agency focused exclusively on tech creators such as YouTube’s Tech with Tim. The firm aims to connect creators with AI and software brands, offering sponsorships that can exceed $1 million for long‑term...
Instagram Sets Out Its Stall as a ‘Music Superfandom’ Platform
Instagram is positioning itself as a "music superfandom" platform, backed by a Luminate‑commissioned report that finds 58 % of music superfans use the app and 32 % of daily music engagers qualify as superfans. Meta’s experimental activation program delivered an average 10 %...
The Elder Scrolls Online Is Coming To PC Game Pass With Xbox Play Anywhere Support
Bethesda announced that The Elder Scrolls Online will debut on the Xbox PC Game Pass on June 2, 2026, with Xbox Play Anywhere support allowing console owners a free PC version. The launch coincides with Season Zero: Dawn and Dusk, which begins April 2...
Shane Knotts Promoted to SVP, Global Royalties at Sony Music Publishing
Sony Music Publishing announced the promotion of longtime executive Shane Knotts to Senior Vice President, Global Royalties. Based in Nashville, Knotts will continue overseeing the Global Royalty Center while adding responsibility for data accuracy, royalty matching, and AI‑driven automation. The...
TikTok to Let US Creators Sell Personalized Videos In-App Through Its New Cameo Partnership
TikTok announced a partnership with personalized‑video service Cameo, enabling U.S. creators to sell custom video messages directly inside the app. The integration adds a seamless sign‑up flow and a “Cameo” search button, allowing fans to request videos that start at...
R99 DStv Deal to Keep Showmax Subscribers From Bolting
MultiChoice is offering Showmax users a 12‑month DStv Stream Compact subscription for R99/month (≈ $5.35), a 67% discount from the regular R299 (~$16.15). The promotion aims to retain subscribers as Showmax will shut down on 30 April. Migration is not automatic; users...
PocketGamer.biz Podcast: Data Doesn't Solve Problems - Decisions Do
In a PocketGamer.biz podcast, GameAnalytics’ Falko Boecker argues that data alone won’t solve studio challenges; decision‑making does. He distinguishes data maturity from sophistication and highlights how many developers get stuck when trying to adopt a full‑funnel view. Boecker stresses that...
France 24 Launches BMW In-Car App with Dotscreen
France 24 has introduced a dedicated in‑car app for BMW Group vehicles in Europe and the United States, using Xperi’s TiVo infotainment platform. Developed by Dotscreen, the app delivers live streams, video bulletins and on‑demand news in French, English, Arabic and...
NIP Sign xKacpersky in Permanent Deal
Ninjas in Pyjamas announced that Polish AWPer Kacper “xKacpersky” Gabara’s nine‑month loan from ENCE has been converted into a permanent contract extending through 2026. The 19‑year‑old finished 2025 as NIP’s highest‑rated player, highlighted by a 1.46 rating at the Budapest...
Spectator Made £6.6m Loss in Year Paul Marshall Paid £100m for Title
British weekly The Spectator posted a pre‑tax loss of £6.6 million ($8.4 million) for 2024 after Sir Paul Marshall’s Old Queen Street Ventures paid £100 million ($127 million) for the title. The 15‑month sale process cost the magazine £11.4 million ($14.5 million), turning a £2.6 million profit...
Agency Faces ‘£100,000’ Legal Costs From Mail and Telegraph over £200 Pictures Claim
A UK news agency, Central European News (CEN), is being sued by The Daily Mail and The Telegraph for failing to pay fees for two images, each valued at less than £200 (≈$250). The publishers have incurred roughly £100,000 (≈$125,000)...
Move Over, Sabrina Carpenter: Pringles Has a New Chip-Made Love Interest
Pringles has launched a new 60‑second commercial titled “Pringlelina: A Love Story,” a sequel to its Super Bowl ad featuring Sabrina Carpenter. The spot follows a male protagonist who assembles a female partner entirely from Pringles chips, continuing the brand’s...
Future Share Price Plummets After Warning Google Traffic Loss Has Worsened
Future plc’s shares tumbled 28% to $3.58, valuing the company at roughly $339 million after the publisher warned that Google‑driven traffic losses have accelerated. Audience metrics fell 20% in the first half of the fiscal year, echoing a similar drop in...
The 13% Problem: Why Identity Accuracy Is Advertising?s Blind Spot
The advertising industry’s reliance on identity signals is exposing a costly blind spot: IP‑based targeting on connected TV delivers only 13‑16% accuracy. As media ecosystems fragment across streaming, mobile and linear TV, inconsistent identifiers cause brands to waste up to...
Crimson Desert Has Sold Through 4 Million Copies Worldwide
Pearl Abyss announced that its open‑world action RPG Crimson Desert has sold over 4 million copies worldwide, just a week after passing the 3 million mark. The title is available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC, and the company is actively developing a...
The Singles Economy: How Music Is Being Marketed Differently
Music labels are abandoning full‑album drops for film soundtracks in favor of staggered single releases, a move designed to stretch audience buzz and maximize per‑track revenue. Recent Bollywood films such as *Dhurandhar: The Revenge* have released one or two songs...
UKTV Appoints Newman as Chief Commercial Officer
UKTV announced Jonathan Newman as its new Chief Commercial Officer, expanding his remit to include advertising, distribution, content funding and UKTV Ventures. David Swetman joins as Director of Content Partnerships & Sales, leading a newly created CPS team for the UK...
UnVEIL the World Is the Latest to Fall Into the End-of-Service Pit, Shutdown Set for May 31, 2026
NetEase Games and Shueisha Games announced that the mobile tactical RPG unVEIL the world will cease operations on May 31, 2026, less than a year after its limited Japan‑only launch. The title, first revealed in September 2022, entered closed beta...
RMK Management Turns the Agency Reel on Its Head with a Horror Short That’s Worth Watching
Australian talent and crew agency RMK Management launched a seven‑minute horror short titled *The Voice Over* as its showreel, featuring the full spectrum of its represented talent. The darkly comedic film serves as a proof‑of‑concept for RMK’s cross‑disciplinary model, allowing...
BAFTA and Cannes Lions Grand Prix-Winning Duo Smith & Foulkes Sign with SEDONA Productions in Australia and New Zealand
Australian production house SEDONA announced that acclaimed directing duo Smith & Foulkes have signed for commercial representation across Australia and New Zealand. The pair, celebrated for the Honda Grrr spot that won Cannes Lions Grand Prix, a BAFTA, an Annie and an Oscar...
Italy: WWE Now Live on Netflix
Netflix has secured exclusive live streaming rights for WWE in Italy, replacing Discovery+ and DMAX. The deal covers WWE's flagship shows—RAW, SmackDown and NXT—as well as all Premium Live Events, starting with WrestleMania 42 on April 18‑19. Italian viewers will receive localized...
SAFE SPACE STUDIOS by Nilkamal Homes and Tgthr Give Creators a Home for Content
Nilkamal Homes, partnered with tgthr., has launched SAFE SPACE STUDIOS, converting its retail stores into free, after‑hours content‑creation studios for digital creators. The initiative debuted at the Bengaluru flagship store and will roll out to other Indian cities. Creators can...
How BBH India Used a 30-Year-Old DDLJ Tune to Sell the Skoda Kushaq
BBH India anchored Skoda Kushaq’s "Easy to Love" platform with the iconic mandolin riff from the 30‑year‑old film Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, pairing it with mustard‑field visuals to evoke a universal love story. Creative chief Parikshit Bhattaccharya said the track was chosen not for...
Spectrum Reach Leans on Seamless Entertainment, Data
Jason Brown, newly appointed EVP of Charter’s ad‑sales arm Spectrum Reach, has accelerated the unit’s AI and automation agenda, highlighted by the launch of the internal planning platform Architect. The tool aggregates linear, streaming and third‑party inventory to deduplicate exposure...
Comcast-Scripps Fight Tees Off
A carriage dispute between Scripps and Comcast erupted on Tuesday evening after their distribution agreement expired, prompting Comcast to drop Scripps stations from Xfinity lineups. The blackout affects 19 Big Four network affiliates and 21 independent stations across Comcast’s footprint,...
Carriage
Hemisphere Media Group’s WAPA+ FAST channel has launched on Dish and Sling Freestream, delivering free, ad‑supported programming to the Puerto Rican community. The channel offers live news, entertainment, sports, and lifestyle content, highlighted by the new NotiCentro America newscast aimed...
ITV Acquires Up The Jammers Docuseries
ITV Sport is debuting a six‑part documentary series, “Up The Jamme,” on ITV4 and ITVX this April. The series follows entrepreneur Barrie Drewitt‑Barlow’s recent multi‑million‑pound (≈ $3 million) purchase of non‑league side Maldon & Tiptree FC and his first year of ownership....
McCauley Named Head of Development at Poison Pen
Poison Pen Studios, the ITV Studios‑backed transatlantic scripted label, has appointed Fern McCauley as Head of Development, succeeding her role as Head of IP Acquisitions. McCauley will oversee development of both British and U.S. dramas, including the upcoming ITV series “Adultery”...
‘Heartbreak High’ Final Season Debuts at No. 1 in Australia and New Zealand on Netflix
The third and final season of Netflix’s Australian reboot *Heartbreak High* launched at No. 1 on the platform’s Top 10 English‑language lists in both Australia and New Zealand, and entered the global Top 10 at position 10 with 2.4 million views in its first week. The...
New Overhead Network System Enables National Signal Extension
An innovative overhead network system using tethered high‑altitude aerostats will extend 5G broadcast capability across the UK, allowing rapid deployment of private networks for live productions. The project, led by the Scandinavian Centre for Aerial Methodology with the Southern Kraków...
Acast Signs Abbie Chatfield Podcast in Multi-Year Deal
Acast has inked a multi‑year exclusive partnership with Australian media personality Abbie Chatfield, bringing her podcast “It’s A Lot” back to the platform. The show already attracts over 500,000 monthly listens and has amassed nearly 40 million downloads since its 2020...
Are Media Taps Rachel Fountain as Head of Vodcasts
Are Media has created a new Head of Vodcasts position and appointed Rachel Fountain to lead it, signaling the publisher’s accelerated push into video‑led storytelling. Fountain, a former ABC, News Corp, Deadset Studios and Nine executive and founder of Fountain...
Meet Shabana Azeez, Who Plays Dr Victoria Javadi in The Pitt
HBO Max’s medical drama The Pitt has become the platform’s most‑watched series, bolstered by five Primetime Emmys, two Golden Globes and four Critics Choice Awards. The show’s second season features Shabana Azeez as Dr. Victoria Javadi, a medical student who...
Iconic Las Vegas Strip Destination Closes without Warning
After more than a decade on the Las Vegas Strip, White Castle announced the abrupt closure of its Strip and Henderson outlets on March 30, 2026. The chain, known for its mini sliders, will continue operating at its Jean location...
Inside Clix Gaming’s Creator-Powered Business Strategy
Cody “Clix” Conrod, a veteran Fortnite star, has launched Clix Gaming, a brand‑centric business built around his creator persona. The new venture aims to transform his massive follower base into a diversified media empire, extending beyond gameplay to original content,...
‘The Weight’ Filmmaker Padraic McKinley Inks With Range Media Partners
Padraic McKinley, the director of Sundance‑premiered “The Weight,” has signed with talent agency Range Media Partners. The film, starring Ethan Hawke and Russell Crowe, was acquired by Vertical, screened at Berlin, and is set for a September 18 theatrical release...
Family Life Expanded To Two Keystone State Counties
Family Life Radio announced the acquisition of an FM station in Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, extending its broadcast footprint into two Keystone State counties. The deal transfers ownership from longtime local broadcaster Lynn Deppen, with broker Michael J. Bergner facilitating the...
Amazon Live FAST Channel Joins Samsung TV Plus Lineup With Suite Of Shopping Features And Content
Amazon Live, a shopping‑focused FAST channel, is now part of Samsung TV Plus, the free streaming service that reaches more than 100 million monthly active users. The integration brings Amazon’s live‑shopping formats, celebrity hosts and original series to Samsung’s smart‑TV ecosystem. Viewers...
TuneIn Adds Distribution Deal with NBC Sports Radio
Stingray‑owned TuneIn has signed a distribution agreement with Comcast’s NBC Sports Radio, adding the network’s 24/7 audio feed to its platform. Beginning this week, TuneIn will stream daily studio shows such as “Pro Football Talk Live,” “The Dan Patrick Show,”...
Cruz and Cantwell Unwell With Carr Over Nexstar Deal
Senators Ted Cruz and Maria Cantwell have written to FCC Chairman Brendan Carr demanding clarification on the commission’s inconsistent handling of major media transactions. Their letter targets the staff‑level approval process that cleared Nexstar Media Group’s $4.5 billion merger with TEGNA....
Sea of Thieves Direct: Rare Scraps Three-Act Season Structure, Previews New Content, Including Free for All Custom Seas
Rare announced that Sea of Thieves will abandon its three‑act seasonal structure beginning with Season 20, responding to player backlash over bite‑size content pressure. The upcoming season also introduces Custom Seas as a free‑to‑play feature, removing the previous subscription barrier and allowing any...
NATPE Shutters For A Second Time
The National Association of Television Program Executives (NATPE) filed for bankruptcy in 2022 after scrapping a planned Bahamas conference, marking the end of its long‑standing Miami event at the Fontainebleau. Brunico Communications acquired the brand and announced a revival called...
J. Cole Says Streaming Undervalues Music, Creates Surface-Level Critique: ‘There’s No Barrier of Entry’
Hip‑hop icon J. Cole told the Lost in Vegas YouTube channel that music streaming’s flat‑rate model devalues songs by removing the financial commitment that once drove deeper listener engagement. He contrasted today’s unlimited catalog with the era of buying CDs or...
Epic Decline
Epic Games announced layoffs of about 1,000 employees, primarily senior art and design staff, signaling deeper troubles for its flagship title Fortnite. The game’s active user base has plateaued, while rivals like Roblox continue to grow, and platform fees from...
‘Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man’ Remains Atop Netflix Movies List With 19.4 Million Views in 2nd Week
Netflix’s "Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man" remained the platform’s top‑ranked English‑language movie for a second consecutive week, pulling 19.4 million views in the week of March 23 after a debut week of 25.3 million. The film outperformed other releases such as "War Machine" and "Anaconda,"...