Mike Bebel

The stage was set at the NAB Show 2024. Hundreds of products battled for supremacy in the ever-evolving streaming video arena. Tensions were high as the industry's elite judging panel meticulously evaluated each offering. Then, a true champion emerged from the fray. Vimond's VIA App Builder captivated the experts with a perfect fusion of power and elegance. Features that dazzled: - Lightning-fast development capabilities that make deploying streaming services across devices a mere formality. - An interface so intuitive even a novice could wield its might. - Unparalleled content management that monetises like never before. In an epic clash of innovation, the VIA App Builder reigned supreme – conquering the "Next TV" category to seize the coveted Best of Show honour. A thousand competitors stood in awe. This was more than just an award. It was a statement of Vimond's unwavering commitment to streamlining video streaming for the modern era. An undisputed mark of quality that will shatter industry conventions. The victory horn has sounded. All others have been put on notice. Brace yourselves for the VIA App Builder's continued dominance, as it leads content creators to a new era of broadcast supremacy. https://lnkd.in/gssvefKG

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“Apple Music is rolling out a new ‘premium’ data analytics toolkit for its record label and distributor partners. The new ‘Apple Music Partner Program’ features various tools for Apple Music’s partners to track trends on its streaming service as well as global radio plays using Shazam technology. According to the landing page for the platform, it offers “access [to] more tools to break the next talent, spot emerging trends, and uncover new insights about your content”. “Apple Music already runs another analytics platform in Apple Music For Artists, which was made available for every artist on Apple Music in August 2019. Apple Music For Artists allows artists to monitor the volume of their streaming plays on Apple Music, all within a data set that updates daily. Spotify launched its own Spotify For Artists app in 2017 (an evolution of the ‘Fan Insights’ tool it introduced two years earlier) to provide artists and their teams with information pertaining to their popularity on the service. Like Spotify for Artists, the Apple Music For Artists service is available as both a desktop interface and a standalone mobile app.” #Apple #AppleMusic #Artists #RecordLabels #Spotify #Fans #Fandom #Streaming #StreamingRoyalties #Royalties #RecordedMusic #StreamingServices #StreamingMedia #MusicTracks #MusicStreams #Music #MusicBusiness #Musica #MusicIndustry #Musique #Musik #MusicBiz

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“In a groundbreaking move, the Recording Industry Association of America just announced lawsuits brought by labels including Sony Music Entertainment, Universal Music Group Recordings, and Warner Records against AI music generators Udio and Suno, accusing them of copyright infringement. The lawsuits claim Suno and Udio’s software steals music to “spit out” similar work and ask for compensation of $150,000 per work. This case underscores the ongoing battle between the music industry and generative AI companies over the unauthorized use of copyrighted material. The RIAA lawsuit highlights that Udio and Suno’s models are trained on copyrighted music without permission, a fact admitted by Udio’s CEO and co-founder, David Ding. According to court documents, Ding has stated that Udio’s high-quality outputs are the result of training on “publicly available and high-quality music” obtained from the internet. This admission forms the crux of the plaintiffs' argument that Udio’s outputs are derivative works of copyrighted recordings. For instance, using a prompt like “my tempting 1964 girl Smokey sing Hitsville soul pop” and excerpting lyrics from The Temptations, Udio generated a track titled “Sunshine Melody,” which closely resembles the copyrighted song “My Girl” by The Temptations (all tracks have now been deleted by Udio). The plaintiffs have provided side-by-side transcriptions of the musical scores to demonstrate the similarities in melody, chords, and backing vocals, proving that Udio’s outputs are not merely inspired by but copied from the original recordings. The lawsuit further reveals a pattern where users of Udio’s service could generate outputs with vocal replicas of specific artists by entering prompts based on genres and descriptors of copyrighted recordings from online music databases like RateYourMusic.com. 404Media demonstrated this technique, showing how Udio and Suno’s services could replicate specific artists' vocals, reinforcing the argument that their models use copyrighted material without authorization.” Read the full article for more: #AI #ArtificialIntelligence #Suno #Udio #RIAA #Sony #SonyMusicEntertainment #UniversalMusicGroup #UMG #WarnerRecords #Legal #IP #IntelectualProperty #Copyright #CopyrightLaw #CopyrightInfrigement #DerechoDeAutor #DroitdAuteur #Music #MusicBusiness #Musica #MusicIndustry #Musique #Musik #MusicBiz #Creators #Songs #SoundRecordings #Tech #Technology #GenerativeAi #GeAi

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📈 Streamflation Alert: Subscription prices are rising again! In 2024, platforms are boosting prices for the second time in two years. Streaming services like Peacock, Max, and Spotify are increasing costs, often coinciding with major events or new content launches. 💡 Why the price hikes? Streaming platforms are adding more content and employing strategic moves to drive users towards ad-supported tiers, which generate higher revenue. For example, Peacock raised prices right before the Paris Olympics, and Max did so ahead of the new season of House of the Dragon. Bundling services are also on the rise, with companies like Disney and Verizon offering attractive package deals to reduce subscriber churn and enhance value. 📊 What's next? Analysts believe these price hikes are just the beginning, expecting more increases by the end of the year. The goal is to boost margins and gently push consumers towards ads and bundles, supporting the company's larger financial objectives. #TV #svod #streaming #bundle https://lnkd.in/e8-uYitV

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📺 **Battle for the Living Room**   The race to dominate the smart TV operating system (TV OS) market is heating up, with major players like Roku, Google, Amazon, Samsung, and LG vying to enhance user experience and capitalize on new business opportunities through data and advertising. Despite this fierce competition, a key question emerges: do consumers actually care about which OS their TV uses? 📊 **Market Potential**   At the StreamTV Show in Denver, experts discussed the benefits of owning a TV OS, such as controlling user data and enhancing ad revenue. Analyst Alan Wolk noted that around 40% of smart TVs globally lack a dedicated TV OS, presenting a significant market opportunity. Even small gains in market share can translate to substantial financial rewards, making the competition highly lucrative. 💡 **Consumer Preferences**   Panelists at the event debated whether consumers prioritize the TV OS in their purchasing decisions. Google’s Rob Caruso argued that factors like size and price still dominate, with the OS being a secondary consideration. However, Vizio's Katherine Pond and LG's Matt Durgin highlighted that content availability and user experience offered by the TV OS could influence consumer choices, particularly for those seeking quality and value. 🎬 **Content and User Experience**   Ultimately, while the current focus for consumers might not be on the specific TV OS, the content and seamless user experience provided by these systems are crucial. Companies like Vizio and Samsung emphasize the importance of offering desired content and a smooth interface, hoping that improvements in these areas will eventually drive consumer preferences toward specific TV OS platforms. #TV #TVOS #Streaming #SmartTV

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SiriusXM reported its Q1 earnings this morning, and the headlines are justifiably focused on its loss of subscribers (nearly 500k). Like all radio, its subscription business is highly vulnerable with the move to digital audio, especially in cars. But a bright spot? If you paid attention to Spotify's earnings, you wouldn't be surprised: "off-platform revenue." For SXM, this includes Pandora and podcast revenue, which saw a 7% revenue increase. During their investor call, they signaled the growth for podcasts, explicitly saying, "Podcasting revenue saw a 22% year-over-year lift in the quarter, while programmatic podcast revenue increased 12% sequentially and 97% year over year." I'd love to see SXM break out the podcast numbers even further, but if you look at what they do provide, it's easy to conclude that podcast revenue is growing much faster than other segments. For example, Pandora continues to bleed users (64k paid subs in Q1 alone), so podcast revenue seems to be the tide lifting all "off-platform" boats. When asked about their podcast initiatives, Scott Greenstein said, "One is, you know, the podcast thing and industry is really still in the second or third inning, so it's evolving." He is 100% right. SXM also signaled that it will continue to license more podcast content and is not closing the book on exclusive content. One more fun nugget: On today's call, podcasts were mentioned 30 times. Pandora was only mentioned ten times, SmartLess nine times, and Howard Stern... zero point zero. Where do you think their priorities are moving forward? Read more: https://lnkd.in/eRQTM2Kq ---- I'm the CEO and founder of DWNLOAD Media, a fund focused on acquiring majority stakes in podcast companies. With continued audience and revenue growth, podcasting continues to be the most under-valued medium, making it time to invest in audio. If you're interested in investing in the podcast space, DM me! #podcasting #audio #siriusxm #sxm #earnings #investor #investing #podcasts

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Transparency is a concern for buyers of streaming ad inventory. The challenge often begins with buyers dedicating substantial budgets directly to streaming platforms, marking a departure from the conventional TV landscape where advertisers typically concentrate their buying efforts directly with networks and channels. #FAST #CTVAdvertising https://lnkd.in/g4SPkYW5

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STREAMING BUNDLES: Is the cable box making a comeback!? Subscriber churn remains an issue for SVOD services – 42% of US streaming subscribers report that they “'regularly subscribe, cancel and resubscribe,” according to Ampere’s Media Consumer survey covering 1Q24. But bundling streaming services can have a significant impact on mitigating the issue. Ampere cites Disney subscribers as an example: Consumers who had previously churned and then returned to take the Disney+/Hulu/ESPN+ bundle are 59% less likely to churn within 12 months than those who take Disney+ alone, based on 1Q23 sign-ups. Ampere also found that US resubscribers skew younger (aged 18-44), are more likely to be in family households, and are typically avid media consumers. And with that wide media diet, the cohort is 40% more likely than average to exhibit signs of subscription fatigue and 21% more likely to desire unified access to content across different services. Which makes bundles, Ampere concludes, a key strategy in subscriber retention. The cable box is making a comeback! This time, it's on your mobile device$!

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IYKYK. Spectrum Reach is helping "harness the chaos" of the media ecosystem on both the linear AND streaming front. That's why we are the #1 multiscreen video partner in our markets. Combine that with 30MM+ addressable households...and you can see how we help our partners spend more time optimizing outcomes and less time aggregating audience.

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Paying out an additional £6 million (approx. USD $7.7 million) in royalties from online services - “UK-based royalty collection society PRS for Music says it will be paying out an additional GBP £6 million (approx. USD $7.7 million) in royalties from online services to songwriters and composers annually, thanks to a reduction in its administration rate. The collection society said it’s reducing its admin rate on multi-territory online (MTOL) royalties by 20% – from a 10% rate to an 8% rate – as a result of the CMO “surpassing its targets, delivering historic distributions and revenues, and becoming a billion-pound society.” Announced at its 2024 Annual General Meeting (AGM) today (June 4), PRS estimates the reduction will see £1.5 million more paid out to members in each of its quarterly royalty distributions starting from October this year.” #PRS #CMOs #UK #MusicRoyaties #Songwriters #Composers #MusicPublishing #Music #MusicBusiness #Musica #MusicIndustry #Musique #Musik #MusicBiz

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📺 The Battle for Your TV Screen: The OS Wars! TVREV's latest report dives deep into the high-stakes world of smart TV operating systems. As streaming becomes dominant, control over the TV's interface is the next frontier. The stakes are HIGH – controlling the OS means dictating viewer interaction, gatekeeping content, reaping variable kinds of ad revenues, and harnessing viewer data. The OS Wars are being fought globally by three main groups: 1. Home Electronics Manufacturers (Samsung, LG, VIZIO) 2. Internet Giants (Google, Amazon, Apple) 3. Independent & local TV OS Makers (ZEASN's whaleOS, Xperi's TiVO) According to the report, what makes a great TV OS? Some 🔑 factors: 🔹 Responsiveness & speed 🔹 Natural language voice search 🔹 Personalized content discovery 🔹 Integration with smart home features 🔹 Innovative ad formats 👑 One thing is for sure: the company that can best navigate the complex landscape of content, data, and user experience will have a major advantage in the living room of the future. Download The Report 👉🏻 https://lnkd.in/ek8yTYAT #TVOSWars #StreamingWars #ConnectedTV #SmartTV #IPTV #Broadcast #Television

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Very good insight! I agree, the landscape is shifting. Adapt or die. As a TV and movie production company we can align with the streaming platforms, and with half a dozen companies reach HALF of the entire world's population. By doing so we can also control our own destiny and costs. That is alluring. The media distribution marketplace will dramatically change in the next 36 months. Is there a place for cinema, theatres, streaming, and other alternative delivery methods to co-exist? Time will tell, we all adapt, we all evolve, that is the nature of business. Here is a prelude of things to come...

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Recent data from Ampere Analysis points to how far behind streaming companies like Apple TV, Disney Streaming, and Paramount+ are, compared to the likes of Netflix and Prime Video & Amazon MGM Studios. By expanding production beyond the North American market, Netflix and Prime Video & Amazon MGM Studios are tapping into a wealth of untold stories and diverse cultural narratives from countries including the UK, Germany, Spain, South Korea and India. This approach is enhancing their global appeal as dominating streaming platforms, growing their #subscriber bases. As a result, these tech-first #entertainment companies are redefining the original content landscape, bringing fresh perspectives and unique voices to the forefront of the industry. Companies like Netflix leverage technology to produce localized versions of international content that resonate with local audiences. Netflix and Amazon’s international focus is crafting a varied entertainment landscape, where local stories gain global recognition and resonate with a broader audience. With 66% of Netflix's and Amazon's original content orders coming from international markets, such as Squid Game and The Devil’s Hour, the investment in these productions reflects a commitment to cultural diversity and innovation, positioning these tech giants as leaders in #streaming. As they continue to prioritize and elevate non-U.S. content, Netflix and Amazon are driving global demand for TV shows and setting a new benchmark for creativity and storytelling. This trend signifies a transformative era where the agility and forward-thinking strategies of Netflix and Amazon enable them to outpace traditional studios in delivering compelling, original content that captivates viewers worldwide. https://lnkd.in/gpTusBRE #LITrendingNews #ContentProduction #EntertainmentIndustry

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So, Rupert Murdoch's Fox Corporation is entering the UK's highly competitive free, ad-supported video streaming market. What should we expect? It's true that with rising costs, the market could be primed for free streaming services, with UK subscribers already spending almost £700 per year on subscription services such as streaming, according to our research https://lnkd.in/eATGVGdj. However let's not forget that originally free ad-supported services like iTVX and Channel 4 eventually moved to a subscription model to help us avoid the ads. On the other side of the market, previously ad-free 'premium' streaming services like Prime Video & Amazon MGM Studios and Netflix have introduced ad-supported tiers to cut subscription costs. Is it inevitable that the market moves to the middle? Relying on purely ad-supported content could be risky — will the business case work? On one hand, it widens access to those who have been previously priced out. On the other hand, our data revealed that over a quarter of subscribers have cancelled services due to the introduction of ads onto streaming. Put simply — ads can be a turn-off. Add that to the fact that introducing yet another subscription to an already crowded space might be tricky. Two-thirds of Brits already say there are "too many" subscriptions right now. Good luck, Rupert. You might want to read our European Subscription Wars report for some more insight into this market. https://lnkd.in/evKwbVrZ #Streaming #Subscriptions #UK

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I read this interesting article on whether Netflix or Prime Video & Amazon MGM Studios was the biggest streamer. From a subscriber standpoint Netflix reported that it had 269.6 million global subscribers at the end of March 2024, as reported in its April Q1 2024 earnings. Amazon Prime Video does not disclose subscriber numbers, but mentioned in a CEO’s letter to shareholders that it had had “over 200 million” subscribers as of April 2024. An argument can be made that Amazon Prime subscribers do so for the shipping benefit but at the end of the day being a Prime member gets you the entertainment for free. I opted for the $50 per year ad-free which I think is still a great value …I think I made it back just off of watching Fallout commercial free. The next area I wanted to look at is revenue. Amazon’s reportsthat its subscription services alone brought in $10.48 billion in Q1 of 2024. In Netflix’s latest earnings, revenue came in at $9.37 billion for Q1 2024. I think going forward people are may not see the stealth that Amazon has employed in mechandising. After I binged Fallout I went to Amazon to see what kind items I could buy from the show. The number of t-shirts and other Fallout products rivaled what I’d see of the movies came from The Walt Disney Company. It’s kind of sad watching the studios trying to keep their heads above the debt waters. Like most movie fans I want to see Paramount Pictures and Warner Bros. Discovery thrive but unless interest rates go down it’s going to be tough. https://lnkd.in/gr9Em55M

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Another big licensing deal in podcasting! In addition to selling the audio podcast inventory, Amazon will distribute video episodes and translate them for global distribution. These types of deals show how effective podcasting can be in proving IP. Once you have a hit, you need to figure out your 360-degree strategy for global audiences, live events, merchandise, etc. Q3 just started, and we'll still see a couple more of these before the end of the year, as predicted in the DWNLOAD Media Report. https://lnkd.in/efJVZXEE

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Some additional information on how CKE Restaurants, Inc. and PMG are leveraging video-level contextual data via the IRIS_ID to target their CTV campaigns and drive actual bottom funnel conversion results! 📈 35% increase in incremental foot traffic 📈 152% increase in incremental sales lift Reach out to us if your a brand looking to increase the performance of your CTV campaigns or if you’re a publisher looking to increase your yield. IRIS.TV #ctv #data #performanceadvertising #contextual Digiday

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