Top Music Business Analysts Share Trends To Watch
Hypebot reports: “With 2019 now solidly in the rear view mirror, we’re checking in with some of the sharpest minds in the music biz to get an idea of where the industry is headed in the coming year.”
Analytics Firm Whip Media Banks $50 Million, Promises New Tools for Valuing Content-Licensing Deals
Variety reports: “Whip Media Group — formed by TV Time’s acquisition of Mediamorph last year — closed a new tranche of $50 million in funding that the company claims will let it build unprecedented tools for determining the value of TV show and movies in the global entertainment market.”
MoviePass and Parent Company Helios and Matheson File for Bankruptcy
Deadline reports: “MoviePass and parent company Helios and Matheson Analytics have at long last called it quits. Both companies and affiliates have filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy protection, which signal they no longer have a viable plan to continue business.”
Casino Firm Penn National Gaming Buys Stake In Barstool Sports In Deal That Values Online Publisher At $450M
Deadline reports: “Casino company Penn National Gaming has acquired a stake in Barstool Sports – a deal that values the online sports publisher at $450M.”
Rethinking Broadcast TV’s Long-Tail Ratings “Sea Change”
Hollywood Reporter reports: “The Big 4 networks are using 35-day (and beyond) viewership data to make the case that their shows’ delayed-viewing audience is relevant in the streaming era, even if the loss of “immediate mass reach” complicates the ad-buying process.”
Sinclair Settles Tribune Lawsuit, Will Pay Nexstar $60 Million
Hollywood Reporter reports: “Sinclair Broadcast Group has settled the lawsuit stemming from its failed $3.9 billion takeover of Tribune Media. The merger was scuttled after the FCC referred it to an administrative law judge, making it untenable. Tribune responded by terminating the deal and filing suit against Sinclair in August 2018, alleging breach of contract.”
TikTok Trial & Error: How Tunecore Artists Are Embracing the Platform
Hypebot reports: “The world of social media moves at a breakneck pace, as is demonstrated by TikTok’s meteoric rise to popularity. Now an invaluable platform for music discovery, Tunecore is now working to help artists embrace the platform, and working to distribute their music on TikTok.”
Analysts Hope AT&T Earns Shed Light On HBO Max, Turner
Deadline reports: “AT&T Wednesday reports its first full calendar year financials after officially tucking up Time Warner. It’s been a tumultuous 12 months with a refashioned WarnerMedia the object of some admiration and some angst on Wall Street.”
Atari Announces Video-Game Themed Hotels, First To Launch In Phoenix
Forbes reports: “Atari, a company best known for pioneering home video games, is leaping into new out-of-home terrain: hotels. According to an announcement, Atari announced a deal with GSD Group to pursue the buildout of video game-themed ‘Atari Hotels.’”
Scroll launches its subscription offering ad-free access across 300 partner sites
TechCrunch reports: “After a long period of invite-only beta testing, Scroll is officially launching today, offering ad-free access to sites like BuzzFeed News, Business Insider, Salon, Slate and Vox for an introductory price of $2.49 per month.”
