Variety reports: “As Facebook leans into sports, non-scripted and select scripted properties, it’s increasingly looking to an army of creators rather than A-list celebrities to tap into all three target areas as they grow businesses on the Watch platform.”
Hypebot reports: “While Warner Music Group and now UMG’s announcements that they will file for an IPO are not especially surprising, indications in WMG’s filing that an increase in streaming prices could soon be coming was far less expected.”
Variety reports: “Roku, in announcing strong 2019 holiday-quarter results, gave a bit of a flex in claiming it was a key part of Disney Plus reeling in 26.5 million customers in Q4.”
Variety reports: “Spanish-language broadcaster Univision has entered sales talks with an investor group that includes Searchlight Capital Partners and Wade Davis, the former chief financial officer of Viacom, according to a report in The Wall Street Journal.”
Hollywood Reporter reports: “As Universal Music Group plots an initial public offering, a move invariably meaning making all sorts of representations to investors about the financial health of its business, the company continues to find itself on the defensive over a 2008 backlot fire that resulted in substantial damages to its vault.”
TechCrunch reports: “Instagram is changing its advertising rules to require political campaigns’ sponsored posts from influencers to use its Branded Content Ads tool that adds a disclosure label of “Paid Partnership With”.”
Hollywood Reporter reports: “Back in 2013, when Dylan Collins went fundraising for his kid-safe tech startup, SuperAwesome, he was surprised by the lack of interest. “No one really was interested in having a conversation about digital privacy in Silicon Valley,” says the CEO. “We realized that kids were a blind spot for most of the big technology companies.” Ultimately, not a single investor would finance his suite of tools to help childproof the internet.”
Billboard reports: “The industry’s biggest frenemy has always helped break acts like rising rap star Roddy Ricch. Now it’s signing up more subscribers and bringing in serious revenue — and finally winning over some label executives.”
Hollywood Reporter reports: “Elsewhere in gaming-on-the-go: ‘Mario Kart Tour’ drifts into Vancouver; Wakanda faction revealed for upcoming ‘Marvel Realm of Champions; and ‘Forza Street’ races onto phones.”
TechCrunch reports: “A new project called GameSnacks is launching today from Google’s in-house incubator, Area 120, with the goal of bringing fast-loading, casual online games to users in developing markets.”
