Spotify rolls out its AI Playlist feature in beta to Premium subscribers in the US, Canada, Ireland, and New Zealand, after launching in the UK and Australia (Jess Weatherbed/The Verge)

Mediagazer: Spotify rolls out its AI Playlist feature in beta to Premium subscribers in the US, Canada, Ireland, and New Zealand, after launching in the UK and Australia (Jess Weatherbed/The Verge)

Top News:

Bloomberg:

TikTok says it plans to shut down TikTok Music on November 28 and will delete customer data; the app, originally called Resso, first launched in 2019— TikTok Music will go offline on Nov. 28 and customer data will be deleted, the music division said in a post on its website.
Discussion: TechCrunch, Music Ally and Music Business Worldwide, more at Techmeme »

Discussion:

Ivan Mehta /
TechCrunch: ByteDance is shutting down TikTok Music globally

Stuart Dredge /
Music Ally: TikTok Music is shutting down for good at the end of November

Tim Ingham /
Music Business Worldwide: TIKTOK TO SHUTTER MUSIC SUBSCRIPTION SERVICE TIKTOK MUSIC IN NOVEMBER

Variety:

Memo: Paramount unveils “phase two” of layoffs and says 90% of them will be complete after this round, following its August plan to cut 15% of its US workforce— Paramount Global unveiled a second wave of staff cuts Tuesday morning, part of a larger bid by the owner of CBS …

Discussion:
The Wrap, TVNewsCheck, Advanced Television, Next TV, Deadline and The Hollywood Reporter

Discussion:

Dade Hayes /
TVNewsCheck: Paramount Initiates Next Round Of Layoffs

Jon Lafayette /
Next TV: Paramount Starts New Round of Staff Reductions in U.S.

Dade Hayes /
Deadline: Paramount Initiates Next Round Of Layoffs In Ongoing Effort To Cut 15% Of U.S. Workforce

NBC News:

TikTok permanently removes accounts associated with the parent organizations of Russian state media outlets RT and Sputnik, citing “covert influence operations”— Social media rivals Meta and YouTube have announced similar suspensions of Russian state media accounts this month.

Discussion:
CNN, Adweek, The Hill, @alenapopova and @beefeater_fella, more at Techmeme »

Discussion:

Olesya Dmitracova /
CNN: TikTok purges accounts tied to Russian media over ‘covert influence’ efforts ahead of US election

Lauren Irwin /
The Hill: TikTok removes accounts linked to Russian media groups for ‘engaging in covert influence operations’

Alena Popova /
@alenapopova: The Chinese-owned video hosting service TikTok has banned the accounts of Russia's state-owned propaganda outlets, Sputnik and RT International. The “No limits” partnership between China and Russia, in fact, has quite a few limits. https://www.kommersant.ru/... [image] @beefeater_fella: Who could have foreseen that China, which is one of Russia's main strategic (BRICS) partners, would follow suit by having TikTok delete RT and Sputnik's accounts but that's exactly what just happened on September 21, 2024. Sputnik reacted with fury by describing this as a [image]

New York Times:

How WhatsApp Channels, launched in late 2023, are driving traffic to digital news outlets, especially readers from outside the US, as social media traffic falls— An illustration of a man sitting on a green chair reading a newspaper called “World News” as he looks at his phone behind it.Jackson Gibbs

The Verge:

Roku unveils the $100 Roku Ultra, which is 30% faster than its other streaming players and has Wi-Fi 6, HDMI 2.1, Dolby Atmos, the Voice Remote Pro, and more— One day after the Google TV Streamer hit stores, Roku is announcing its own latest streaming player.

Discussion:

Steven Cohen /
Business Insider: The new Roku Ultra promises faster performance. Here's how to buy the latest version of our favorite streaming device.

Henry T. Casey /
CNN: The Roku Ultra 2024 makes one of our favorite streamers even better

Jacob Krol /
TechRadar: Roku's new Ultra streamer is its fastest one yet, and the first to support all HDR formats

Anna Washenko /
Engadget: Roku says its new Ultra streaming box is 30 percent faster

Ryan Epps /
Tom's Guide: Roku Ultra (2024) just announced with 30% faster performance — watch out, Google TV Streamer

Phil Nickinson /
Digital Trends: Roku OS 14 is for the kids, and the voice control users

Ben Patterson /
TechHive: Roku's refreshed Ultra streamer gets a welcome speed boost

Faisal Rasool /
How-To Geek: The New Roku Ultra Has Arrived

Phil Nickinson /
Digital Trends: A newer, faster Roku Ultra rolls out for 2024

Sean P. Aune /
The Nerdy: Roku Ultra receives major upgrades for 2024

Max Buondonno /
The Shortcut: Roku Ultra gets a performance upgrade with a new remote

Ben Schoon /
9to5Google: Roku Ultra (2024) takes on Google TV Streamer with a backlit remote and more

Raymond McCain /
Cord Cutters News: Roku Announces a New Roku Ultra 2024

CNBC:

Warner Bros. Discovery partners with Google to add its “caption AI” tool built on Vertex AI to Max to automatically generate captions for unscripted programming— Warner Bros. Discovery is partnering with Google to integrate the internet giant's AI technology …

Discussion:
@dfwsam.bsky.social, Google Cloud and The Keyword, more at Techmeme »

Discussion:
@dfwsam.bsky.social: This makes me reconsider my subscription to your services. — You may want to do so too. [embedded post] Google Cloud: Warner Bros. Discovery Deploys AI-Powered Captioning Solution Built Using Google Cloud AI

Thomas Kurian /
The Keyword: Customers are putting Gemini to work

Reuters:

Source: Meta plans to launch the voices of Judi Dench, Kristen Bell, John Cena, Awkwafina, and Keegan-Michael Key for its Meta AI chatbot at Connect this week— Facebook owner Meta Platforms (META.O) is planning to announce this week that it has secured deals with actors including Judi Dench …

Discussion:
MEDIANAMA and The Wrap, more at Techmeme »

TechCrunch:

TikTok rolls out its redesigned Subscription feature, which lets creators offer three tiers, to eligible creators in select regions, including the UK and the US— TikTok announced on Monday that its redesigned “Subscription” monetization offering is rolling out to eligible creators in select regions …

Discussion:
TikTok, TVNewsCheck, Music Ally, Mashable, @wildtiktokss, @liahaberman, @zachbussey, @tiktokcomms, MediaPost, ZDNET and Fast Company

Discussion:
TikTok: Subscription Expansion: Enabling More Creators to Enhance Relationships With Their Communities

Stuart Dredge /
Music Ally: TikTok subscriptions add messages, perks and exclusive content

Elena Cavender /
Mashable: TikTok brings its paid subscriptions to more creators @wildtiktokss: subscriptions are now available on my page! they're only $1 subscribers will get daily exclusive posts and other memes/shitposts. I will also do giveaways and frequent shoutouts to the main feed for subscribers and talk about life i will also follow back all subs and feel free [image]

Lia Haberman /
@liahaberman: TikTok announced its updated “Subscription” feature is rolling out to more eligible creators in select markets Creators will be able offer followers exclusive access to premium perks, unique experiences, and a members-only community for a monthly fee https://newsroom.tiktok.com/ ... [image]

Zach Bussey /
@zachbussey: TikTok is expanding Subscriptions with new features. - Open to All eligible Creators, not just LIVE. - Three Tiers New Perks: - Private Comm Channels - Exclusive Content - Unique Stickers + Evolving Badges - Custom Perks (Discord Role, Shoutouts) #StreamerNews #TOSgg [image] @tiktokcomms: Our newly expanded Subscription feature launches today in select regions, with more to come. The redesigned feature will enable more creators to offer their followers exclusive perks, unique experiences, and access to a members-only community. Read more: https://newsroom.tiktok.com/ ... [image]

Cesar Cadenas /
ZDNET: TikTok rolls out expanded Subscription packages letting fans unlock exclusive content

Jessica Bursztynsky /
Fast Company: TikTok expands its subscription feature for creators

Press Gazette:

Reach CEO Jim Mullen says there is “too much power in the hands of platforms and their algorithms” and calls for regulation to make platforms pay for content— The chief executive of the UK's biggest commercial news publisher has called for big tech regulation so the platforms pay …

Discussion:
Liverpool Echo and HoldtheFrontPage

Discussion:

Maria Breslin /
Liverpool Echo: Why backing proud brands like the Liverpool Echo must be on the political agenda

The Hollywood Reporter:

Paramount's Pluto TV and M6+ strike a partnership that includes content channels and ad sales in France; French TV company M6 launched the AVOD platform in May— The strategic commercial and editorial partnership is designed to “scale and expand their free streaming and digital businesses in France.”

Discussion:
Advanced Television, Variety, TVNewsCheck, TVBEurope and Deadline

Discussion:

Matthew Corrigan /
TVBEurope: Pluto TV and M6+ team up with strategic alliance in France

The Verge:

Spotify rolls out its AI Playlist feature in beta to Premium subscribers in the US, Canada, Ireland, and New Zealand, after launching in the UK and Australia— Spotify is expanding an AI feature that creates customized playlists from your text descriptions to additional English-speaking regions.

Discussion:
TechCrunch, Spotify, MobileSyrup, Engadget, @spotifynews, Mashable, iPhone in Canada Blog and MSPoweruser

Discussion:

Lauren Forristal /
TechCrunch: Spotify's AI playlist feature rolls out to the U.S. and more markets Spotify: AI Playlist Is Rolling Out in Beta in the US, Canada, Ireland, and New Zealand—Get Started With These Pro Tips

Jonathan Lamont /
MobileSyrup: Spotify expands AI Playlist beta feature to Canada @spotifynews: Turn your most creative ideas into playlists. Meet AI Playlist, rolling out in beta for Premium users in the U.S., Canada, Ireland, and New Zealand starting today. https://newsroom.spotify.com/ ...

Elena Cavender /
Mashable: Spotify wants to make you an AI Playlist for every occasion

Steve Vegvari /
iPhone in Canada Blog: Spotify AI Playlists Arrive in Canada as Part of Beta Rollout

Variety:

An interview with Joanna Coles and Ben Sherwood on making The Daily Beast “an intelligent tabloid” with 30+ new contributors like Tina Brown and Kara Swisher— If the media industry is burning, Joanna Coles and Ben Sherwood aren't afraid to play close to the flames.

Discussion:
@variety, @bristei, LateNighter and The Daily Beast

Discussion:
@variety: Samantha Bee will co-host a new podcast on The Daily Beast, and the publication is tapping more than 30 prominent journalists, comedians and thought leaders to help revitalize the site. Among the list are Kara Swisher, Larry Wilmore and Phoebe Robinson. https://variety.com/...

Brian Steinberg /
@bristei: In their first interview since acquiring minority control of The Daily Beast, Joanna Coles and Ben Sherwood talk about editorial plans and operating the punchy digital-news outlet amid a wave of intense scrutiny... https://variety.com/...

Nick Riccardo /