Horizon Blockchain Games Raises $3.75 Million and Debuts SkyWeaver Online Trading Card Game

July 17, 2019

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VentureBeat reports: “Horizon Blockchain Games has raised $3.75 million in seed funding and it has unveiled its debut blockchain game, SkyWeaver, which offers true ownership of digital cards. The Toronto-based game company is treading in a familiar area for blockchain game companies, such as CryptoKitties, in using blockchain — the transparent and secure decentralized ledger technology — to create one-of-a-kind, verifiable collectibles in digital form for gamers.”

Spotify Pacts With Disney to Launch Hub With Music From Movies, TV Shows

Staff Report

July 17, 2019

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Variety reports: “Fans of Disney movies and TV shows can now dive into a dedicated music hub on Spotify, featuring seven playlist sections with top hits from Disney animated favorites and music from Pixar, Marvel and Star Wars films.”

Sony Corp. Restructures Music Division

Staff Report

July 17, 2019

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Hollywood Reporter reports: “Sony Corp. is putting both Sony Music Entertainment and Sony/ATV Music Publishing under the new umbrella of Sony Music Group, which Sony Music’s CEO Rob Stringer will helm as chairman. The move is effective Aug. 1, according to an internal Sony memo obtained by Billboard, and represents a significant structural change for the Tokyo-based conglomerate.”

FaceApp Responds To Privacy Concerns

Staff Report

July 17, 2019

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TechCrunch reports: “FaceApp, the AI-powered selfie-editing app that’s been having another viral moment of late, has now responded to a privacy controversy that we covered earlier here.”

Apple to Invest in Original, Exclusive Podcasts: Report

Staff Report

July 17, 2019

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Billboard reports: “Apple is reportedly planning to fund exclusive, original podcasts for its listening platform — as competition around the potentially lucrative podcast industry heats up.”

First Look Media’s Topic Plans to Launch Subscription VOD Service

Staff Report

July 17, 2019

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Variety reports: “Can Topic execute a solid pivot into premium video? The digital storytelling outlet of Pierre Omidyar’s First Look Media thinks it can put together a niche Netflix-style subscription-video service curated to appeal to young ‘culture cravers.’”

Ubisoft Reveals Over 100 Games For Its Uplay+ Subscription Gaming Service For September

Staff Report

July 16, 2019

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VentureBeat reports: “Ubisoft revealed a list of more than 100 games that will be available on Uplay+, the subscription gaming service that will debut on September 3. First unveiled at the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3 2019) in June, Ubisoft said it will offer more than 4,000 hours of gameplay for the single-player versions of the titles alone. It will charge $15 a month for Uplay+.”

Landr Raises $26 Million For AI-Powered Music Creation Tools

Staff Report

July 16, 2019

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VentureBeat reports: “Landr, a Montreal-based startup developing an AI-powered creative platform for musicians, today announced that it has closed a $26 million series B funding round led by Sony Innovation Fund, microphone manufacturer Shure, and state-owned financing corporation Investissement Québec and Fonds de solidarité FTQ.”

Disney Hires Former PlayStation Portfolio Boss To Head Up Games Licensing

Staff Report

July 16, 2019

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gamesindustry.biz reports: “Disney has made a key appointment that should significantly boost its video games strategy, bringing in a former PlayStation exec into the fold. John Drake spent five years at the platform holder working on, and eventually leading, Sony’s portfolio and content acquisition efforts.”

HBO Sets New Single Season Emmy Nom Record With 137 & Beats Netflix

Staff Report

July 16, 2019

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Deadline reports: “Last year Netflix for the first time ever beat HBO in noms, 112 to 108, but in the end both took home 23 wins total. This year, HBO took the Emmy nom crown back and set a new network nom record for a single season with 137 Emmy noms. Netflix counts 117 noms today.”

Digital Media Wire