Variety reports: “On Tuesday, an appeal by Amazon, Google, Pandora and Spotify that seeks to overturn the Copyright Royalty Board’s 2018 decision to raise by 44% the royalties paid to songwriters by streaming services will come before the U.S. Court of Appeals.”
Deadline reports: “Media shares and markets opened higher Tuesday after a sickening plunge the day before saw the DJIA’s worst point loss ever and a rare circuit breaker temporarily halt trading. Walt Disney joined the rally, up more than 3% in mid-morning, shrugging off a report that the conglom’s domestic parks will likely need to shutter on coronavirus fears.”
The Hollywood Reporter reports: “The PGA Tour on Monday unveiled new nine-year U.S. media rights deals with existing partners ViacomCBS’ CBS and Comcast’s NBC Sports and the Golf Channel as well as with new streaming home ESPN+, part of the Walt Disney Co.”
VentureBeat reports: “DoNotPay, the digital lawyer that shot to prominence for its bot that helps drivers appeal parking tickets, has launched a new product aimed at consumers. With the DoNotPay Subscription Sharing Chrome extension, anyone can share access to their online accounts — like Spotify, Netflix, Disney+ — without divulging their password.”
The Hollywood Reporter reports: “Raindog Films, the U.K. production company set up by Colin Firth and former Sony Music CEO Ged Doherty, is planning to expand into TV following an investment from the U.K. Creative Content EIS Fund.”
Billboard reports: “Warner Music Group is continuing its global expansion with the launch of a new affiliate in India.”
The Hollywood Reporter reports: “AMC Entertainment has named television veteran Mark Pearson its chief strategy officer, a newly created position that will include forging alliances with streaming services.”
Variety reports: “Jack Dorsey will continue at helm of Twitter after the company reached an agreement with an activist investor that had been potentially looking to oust the social network’s co-founder. Twitter, in addition to the deal with hedge fund Elliott Management, announced that private-equity firm Silver Lake will make a $1 billion investment in the company.”
Deadline reports: “Signaling ongoing consolidation of the broadcast business, Gray Television has made an $8.5 billion bid for larger rival Tegna, according to Reuters, sending Tegna stock up by more than 30% in premarket trading Friday in what looks set to be an otherwise down market.”
VentureBeat reports: “As Nreal moves closer to the consumer launch of its Light AR glasses, it’s continuing to bolster the wearable’s software capabilities with features that will appeal to end users.”
