Subscriptions are the future of local news: the key, though, is getting rid of newspapers.
Wikitribune, Apple Cuts Affiliate Fees, Netflix Earnings
Wikitribune is betting on scale in a way that most news organizations can’t comprehend. Then, Apple is keeping more of the pie for itself, and Netflix is getting loose with definitions.
SpaceX Reuses a Rocket; The Music Industry: Winning and Whining; Spotify, Universal Agree to New Deal
SpaceX reused a rocket for the first time: it’s an incredible accomplishment. Then, the record labels are winning but can’t stop whining; their short-sightedness is exemplified by the newest deal with Spotify.
Medium Membership, Medium Content, The Medium Newspaper
Ev Williams premise that media is broken is correct. It’s broken, though, because of the business model, which means another bad business model isn’t the solution.
YouTube TV, YouTube’s Motivation, The Media Companies’ Motivation
YouTube TV is yet another streaming service, but with a very powerful backer. What is YouTube’s motivation, and what is that of the media company’s — especially Disney?
The Great Unbundling
It’s trivial to say that the Internet changed media; what is more interesting is unpacking how different types of media were affected, and why — and what might happen to TV.
Media Monday: Bill Simmons’ HBO Show Cancelled, Axios Unveiled (Kind-of)
It’s the return of Media Monday, including the cancellation of Bill Simmons’ TV show and the unveiling of Axios, and what both say about finding value in media.
Tesla Skepticism and Superchargers, Medium for Publishers
Just because Tesla is achieving an Apple-like brand doesn’t mean they will have Apple’s success: the hard part starts now. Plus, why SuperChargers are a big deal. Then, Medium for Publishers is Medium’s play to own the long tail of publishing, and it’s very exciting in what it enables.
Kanye West and Tidal, The Problem with Exclusivity, Pandora for Sale?
Kanye West says his new album will be available exclusively on Tidal, which doesn’t make sense for consumers or for West as either a businessman or an artist. Then, Pandora is yet another advertising-based business to feel the heat, and it’s exacerbated by backwards-looking labels
The FANG Playbook
The FANG companies — Facebook, Amazon, Netflix, and Google — are far more similar than you might think. Their rise in value is no accident, and it is connected to Aggregation Theory.