Infinite Reality acquired Napster for $207 million, aiming to reimagine the iconic brand as a fully immersive social music platform. The company plans to integrate Napster with its virtual environments, esports assets, and Web3 tools—enabling artists to host concerts, sell…
Kirby breaks down the real streaming war—not the one between platforms, but the one waged by investors, analysts, and bankers behind the scenes. Instead of content and subscribers, this battle is about controlling narratives to move markets, where a well-timed…
Paramount+ is launching its Premium and ad-supported Basic tiers in Germany, Switzerland, and Austria starting March 26. The move follows similar rollouts in Canada, the UK, and Australia, with nearly half of signups in those markets now coming from non-standard…
The U.S. music biz just crossed 100 million paid streaming subs, locking in streaming as king—but growth is slowing, and cracks are showing. Meanwhile, vinyl keeps its hot streak alive with $1.4B in revenue, outpacing digital downloads and showing fans…
ESPN is in talks to acquire NFL Media in a deal potentially worth $2 billion, aiming to fold key assets like RedZone, NFL Draft coverage, and original programming into its upcoming DTC brand. This move mirrors ESPN’s historic 1987 NFL…
Skip analyzes Apple TV+’s $1 billion annual losses and argues that the service isn’t about streaming dominance—it’s a high-end marketing expense. Despite 45 million subscribers and billions spent on originals, Apple TV+ remains a mid-tier player, serving more as a…
Warner Bros. Discovery isn’t axing Looney Tunes out of spite—it’s just chasing the numbers. With kids glued to YouTube and longtime fans aging out of key demos, WBD sees little reason to keep classic Looney Tunes on Max, especially when…
Roku tested an unskippable ad that played before users could even reach the home screen, triggering immediate backlash from frustrated customers. While the test was limited, the overwhelmingly negative response highlighted growing concerns about platform-driven advertising, even for users paying…
Skip argues that Sonos made the right call by canceling its planned streaming box, codenamed Pinewood, which had no real place in the crowded streaming hardware market. The $400 device was rumored to feature an ad-driven operating system, making it…
SiriusXM is laying off 160 employees, about 3% of its workforce, as it refocuses on digital streaming and in-car technology amid growing competition from on-demand audio platforms. The company has struggled with slowing revenue growth, a declining self-pay subscriber base,…
