It is hard to see *The Office* being a good deal for NBCUniversal, even if Netflix will miss it. Then, Netflix’s budget consciousness is just as likely to be a sign of Netflix power than it is weakness, and more reasons why Spotify isn’t Netflix.
Uber Questions Follow-up, Luminary Launches, Luminary’s Broken Rung
More on why giving information to investors often helps companies, then why Luminary, a new service for podcasters, is probably not going to succeed. Building bundles is hard!
Apple News Follow-up, What Direct-to-Consumer Publishers are Selling, More on Podcasts: Supporting Cast and Kimberlite
More on why Apple News is both different than Facebook, and yet similar from a publisher perspective. Then, how publishers should think about their business — and Apple News — plus two new entrants in the podcast space.
Spotify and Podcasts Follow-up, Apple and Podcasts, Luminary and Himalaya
More on podcasts, including why I’m cautiously optimistic, plus Apple’s missed opportunity, and why I’m skeptical of startups in the space.
Spotify’s Podcast Aggregation Play
Spotify is making a major move into podcasts, where it appears to have clear designs to be the sort of Aggregator it cannot be when it comes to music.
AWS, MongoDB, and the Economic Realities of Open Source
Amazon’s latest offering highlights the economic challenges facing open source companies — and Amazon should pay attention.
Apple’s Errors Follow-up, Apple’s Services Pivot, Samsung Warns on Revenue
Apple’s Errors don’t preclude the idea that prices are too high; meanwhile, the company is meaningfully pivoting to services, at least in terms of content. Then, Samsung’s pain is Apple’s gain.
Apple Music on Amazon Echo, The Implications, Apple-Amazon Quid Pro Quos
Apple Music is coming to the Amazon Echo, a development that I find absolutely fascinating: what does this mean for Apple, and Spotify? Plus, this isn’t the first time Apple and Amazon have made a deal.
Spotify Earnings; Spotify, Supply, and Acquiring Marginal Customers; Spotify’s Research and Development
Spotify’s earnings point to a disturbing trend of the company needing to spend to acquire marginal customers; this makes sense because the company does not have power over supply
Spotify and the Labels, Labels and Aggregation, Newspapers and Texture
Spotify and the labels are at odds, largely because the latter don’t understand their competitive environment. Then, Apple is trying to build the news bundle.