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☆ Snapchat avoided 'AI' and leaned into real experiences in its annual pitch to brands
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-02 | by ( Dan Whateley | Sydney Bradley | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

During the Snap-owned app's pitch to brands at its NewFronts presentation on Wednesday in New York, the company emphasized the value of real-world experiences, or IRL, over social-media scrolling. Sharing became contrived, and social media as a whole began feeling like an inauthentic version of our lives rather than a source of genuine connection." It's plastered ads on competitive social media platforms and billboards with its "Less Social Media. Related storiesSnapchat executives mentioned AI just once during the NewFronts presentation, saying the company had used AI models to build augmented-reality lenses. Snap is not the only social platform addressing lonelinessSnapchat's war against social media taps into a broader trend.

Persons: —, Colleen DeCourcy, Cipriani, DeCourcy, TikTok, Dan Whateley, NewFront, Meta's, Mervana Parekh, Snapchat, Patrick Harris, Piper Sandler Organizations: Service, Facebook, Meta, Business, NFL, NBA, NBC, Entertainment, Media, Snap's, Acrew, Big Tech Locations: New York, Manhattan, Americas

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Billionaire Elon Musk abruptly canceled “The Don Lemon Show" on his social media network X after the former CNN anchor recorded an interview with the billionaire for its as-yet unaired first episode. X announced in January a “new content partnership” with Lemon for the show, saying it would post 30 minute episodes three times a week on subjects including politics, culture, sports and entertainment. That deal was part of the struggling platform's efforts to bolster its content offerings and attract advertisers. X also announced shows hosted by former member of Congress Tulsi Gabbard and sports radio host Jim Rome. Photos You Should See View All 60 ImagesLemon was fired by CNN last year after a 17-year run with the network.

Persons: Elon Musk, Don Lemon, Musk, Lemon, “ Elon Musk, ″, Tesla, ”, ” Lemon, X, Tulsi Gabbard, Jim Rome, Nikki Haley Organizations: FRANCISCO, —, CNN, Twitter, YouTube, X, Republican Locations: San Francisco

☆ Elon Musk's X to launch peer-to-peer payments this year
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-09 | by ( Ashley Capoot | In | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Elon Musk's social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, announced it will launch peer-to-peer payments this year, according to a Tuesday blog post. X said the payments will unlock "more user utility and opportunities for commerce" as the platform works to "revolutionize 2024." The blog post did not offer specific details about how the payments will work or when they will officially launch. According to the Nationwide Multistate Licensing System website, X Payments LLC — the payment subsidiary of X — has only obtained money transmission licenses in 14 states so far. Introducing peer-to-peer commerce to the platform would mark the latest sweeping change at X since Musk acquired the company for $44 billion in late 2022.

Persons: Elon, Twitter —, X, —, Musk Organizations: SpaceX, Twitter, New York Times, X, eToro Locations: New York City

☆ How Microsoft’s AI is making a mess of the news
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-02 | by ( Donie O'Sullivan | Allison Gordon | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

But the apparent role of AI in Microsoft’s recent amplification of bogus stories raises questions about the company’s public adoption of the nascent technology and for the journalism industry as a whole. The poll prompted criticism from Microsoft’s readers, “This has to be the most pathetic, disgusting poll I’ve ever seen,” one person wrote. “We had a really tight knit, super talented editorial team and we had all worked together for a long time,” Pfeuffer told CNN. “I don’t think people realize how many people use [MSN],” she told CNN. “It felt like I was standing in line at the grocery store reading a National Enquirer front page,” Kawar told CNN.

Persons: Joe Biden, Britain’s, Lilie James, James ’, Anna Bateson, “, ” Bateson, Brad Smith, Bateson, ”, Brandon Hunter, “ Brandon Hunter, Dean Preston, Elon Musk, Pfeuffer, ” Pfeuffer, Biden, Joe Biden ”, Ferris, ” Kawar, he’s Organizations: CNN, Democratic Party, NBA, Microsoft, Guardian, MSN, Guardian Media Group, San Francisco, Microsoft Edge, Enquirer, Microsoft Microsoft, Google Locations: OpenAI, Sydney, Australia, Santa Monica , California

☆ The NBA is back and expanding its global reach. Here's how
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-25 | by ( Laya Neelakandan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

As the National Basketball Association's new season tips off this week, the league is seeing more international interest than ever. The NBA said it expects fans from more than 200 countries to tune in to games in more than 50 languages this season, with interest across international markets increasing significantly from last season. Global business accounts for about 10% of total team and league revenue, according to a person familiar with the matter. A significant factor driving the surge in international interest is the number of international players taking part in the league this season, according to Samantha Engelhardt, the NBA's senior vice president of global strategy and innovation. This season, all 30 NBA teams feature at least one international player, and 15 international players on opening-night rosters have been NBA All-Stars.

Persons: Nikola Jokic, Bones Hyland, Norman Powell, wasn't, Matt Brabants, Samantha Engelhardt, Nikola Jokić, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Victor Wembanyama, " Engelhardt, it's, Jokić Organizations: Denver Nuggets, Los Angeles Clippers, Crypto.com Arena, Basketball, NBA, Global, Milwaukee Bucks, San Antonio Spurs, Nuggets Locations: Los Angeles, India, Serbia, Greece, France

☆ Why Carlyle is making big private credit investments in Hollywood companies like New Regency and 'South Park' creators' Park County
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-19 | by ( Reed Alexander | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

The investment speaks to Carlyle's underlying thesis in this space, said the managing director, Ben Fund, who sits on the Carlyle Credit Opportunities team. "It is amazing how much people love some of this high-quality content," Fund told Insider, speaking about famous sitcoms or films from recent decades. Streamers also need unique original titles to lure subscribers, but "it's a lot more expensive and risky to create new content than it is to license content," Fund said. Finding strategies to support Hollywood through volatile timesCarlyle's big moves come as private asset managers step up their lending game in Hollywood. For Carlyle, Fund said, this creates opportunity — and he added that such companies often have "real pride" and a "real legacy" to uphold.

Persons: Carlyle, Smith, Ben Fund, Trey Parker, Matt Stone, Arnon Milchan, Yariv, Austin Butler, Jodie Comer, Michael Shannon, it's, we're, hasn't Organizations: Washington DC, New Regency, New, Carlyle Credit, Bloomberg, Hollywood, Fund, Netflix, Content Partners, ICM Partners, CAA Locations: New, Carlyle, Park County, California, Hollywood

☆ Elon Musk’s X faces advertiser backlash after placing marketing for major brands on notorious white supremacist account
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-05 | by ( Oliver Darcy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Those companies and organizations include Amazon, Samsung, the Denver Broncos, Cox Communications, STARZ, The Wall Street Journal, The Michael J. But that it apparently also believes it is appropriate to monetize the outlet’s vicious hate speech says volumes not only about the company’s ethics, but its supposed commitment to brand safety. X must be well aware that it is pairing advertisements with racist content, given that the NFL made noise about this very problem last week. In a Thursday night statement, X effectively acknowledged it has more work to do to make the platform safe for brands. Some of the brands whose advertisements appeared on VDARE’s account expressed strong displeasure on Thursday when they became aware of the situation.

Persons: Michael J, Linda Yaccarino, X, ”, —, ” Jon Kelly, Puck, Kelly, Lou Paskalis, “, ” Paskalis Organizations: CNN, Elon, Musk, Amazon, Samsung, Denver Broncos, Cox Communications, STARZ, Street, Fox Foundation, University of Missouri, Asian Development Bank, YouTube, NFL, Media, New York Waterway, ” Cox Communications, Wall Street Locations: University of Missouri , New York, Axios, York

☆ Peloton shares soar on digital content partnership with Lululemon
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-27 | by ( Jacob Pramuk | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

In this articleJen Van Santvoord rides her Peloton exercise bike at her home in San Anselmo, California. Peloton shares spiked Wednesday as the company announced a five-year partnership to develop digital fitness content for Lululemon . The fitness company's stock soared as much as 30% in extended trading. Lululemon said it will stop selling the Studio Mirror device by the end of the year. Please check back for updates.

Persons: Jen Van Santvoord, Lululemon Locations: San Anselmo , California

☆ Brands like Sony and Chipotle want to make Hollywood-style content for film and TV, and these advertising pioneers have built a startup to get their messages out
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-11 | by ( Lucia Moses | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

That belief has taken him from famed ad agency Wieden + Kennedy to talent agency CAA, where he set up its first marketing consultancy. The firm pitches itself as part management consultancy, part brand entertainment production company, and part consumer brand accelerator. "If a great sports movie happens to come from Nike, it's still great entertainment," Goodman said. "If a great sports movie happens to come from Nike, it's still great entertainment," Goodman said. One thing Goodman and Kaplan are not trying to do is compete with brands' ad agency budgets.

Persons: Jae Goodman, John Kaplan, It's, Gibson, Kennedy, Goodman, Chipotle, Stephanie Perdue, Jay, Kaplan, —, Michael Kassan's, Anheuser, it's, Superconnector, it'll Organizations: Superconnector Studios, Sony, CAA, Observatory, Entertainment, Hollywood, HBO Max, Netflix, Procter & Gamble, Imagine Entertainment, Delirio Studios, MTV Documentary, Paramount, HBO, Apple, Management, Sony Pictures Television, McKinsey, Accenture —, Anheuser Busch, InBev, Gibson, Nike, Talent Locations: LA

☆ 'Black wealth matters': How a millennial is helping his community build wealth through education
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-05 | by ( Kamaron Mcnair | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

Learning the tricks of the tradeMac's wake-up call to start investing came early in his undergraduate career. "That was the one thing that opened my eyes and my curiosity and made me say, 'OK, I want to start investing.'" His interest in investing and wealth management eventually led him to a career on Wall Street. Making music as the "Wall Street Rapper," Mac began fusing the worlds he'd come to know so well: Black and urban hip-hop culture with Wall Street financial know-how. Mac adopted the slogan "Black wealth matters" to bring attention to the idea that economic empowerment is a major step toward equality for Black Americans.

☆ Why big investors like Carlyle and Ares are zeroing in on Hollywood and sports deals — and driving private credit in media to new highs
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-28 | by ( Rebecca Ungarino | Reed Alexander | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

And Ares raised $3.7 billion for a fund last fall geared specifically toward sports, media, and entertainment investments across private debt and private equity. Unlike private equity investing, where managers take stakes in companies or buy them, private credit investors lend to businesses and make money on interest payments. (Private investment firm KKR's media, entertainment, and sports portfolio includes Insider parent company Axel Springer.) Carlyle's $146 billion credit arm has also provided capital to Clair, a media tech company that specializes in live production services and audio products. The strategists said driving that uptick are private credit defaults that include so-called softer forms of default, like breaching a loan's terms and conditions, along with private credit portfolio companies having generally lower ratings and less diversified businesses.

☆ How a TikTok partnership became a hit station for SiriusXM, as satellite radio courts a younger audience
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-23 | by ( Dan Whateley | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

"We're really thrilled with the response the station has had," Steve Blatter, the senior vice president and general manager of music programming at SiriusXM, told Insider. "We did go through a very hefty host-selection process," said William Gruger, who works on global music programming at TikTok. Branching out to a younger audienceSiriusXM views TikTok Radio as a path to attracting the next generation of subscribers. "Our first reaction to who might be listening to TikTok Radio is a younger audience, which I think it definitely is," Steinbock said. For the TikTok Radio hosts themselves, preparing for a SiriusXM recording session often just means bingeing on TikTok like a typical user.

☆ Inside TikTok's radio station, where creators are hosts and memes reach parents and Uber drivers
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-22 | by ( Dan Whateley | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

"We're really thrilled with the response the station has had," Steve Blatter, the senior vice president and general manager of music programming at SiriusXM, told Insider. In between tracks, the channel's hosts, who are TikTok creators themselves, often explain how a song went viral on the app. "We did go through a very hefty host-selection process," said William Gruger, who works on global music programming at TikTok. Branching out to a younger audienceSiriusXM views TikTok Radio as a path to attracting the next generation of subscribers. For the TikTok Radio hosts themselves, preparing for a SiriusXM recording session often just means bingeing on TikTok like a typical user.

☆ Twitter loses another top exec who says workers 'had it good at Twitter 1.0,' in an apparent jab at Elon Musk's plans for the company
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-21 | by ( Kate Duffy | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Twitter's head of US content partnerships announced she had left Elon Musk's platform. Sarah Rosen tweeted about her departure, writing "we had it good at Twitter 1.0." Per reports, Twitter also recently lost its head of ad sales, as well as its VP of partnerships. Her departure follows those of other executives who have left Twitter within the past few days. Maggie McLean Suniewick, vice president of partnerships, tweeted on Sunday about her departure from Twitter after having joined four months ago.

☆ Twitter recruiters are already asking external engineers to join 'Twitter 2.0 — an Elon Company,' reports say
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-18 | by ( Beatrice Nolan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Twitter recruiters are reportedly reaching out to engineers asking them to join "Twitter 2.0." Less than half of Twitter's roughly 4,000 staff agreed to commit to Musk's "extremely hardcore" Twitter, Insider's Kali Hays reported. One external engineer received a message from Twitter recruiters asking if they wanted to join "Twitter 2.0 - an Elon company," per The Verge. Orosz said on Twitter: "Twitter starting to hire externally. Internally, polls of Twitter software engineers show only around 25% of engineers planned to stay at the company for "Twitter 2.0," per The Pragmatic Engineer.

☆ Inside the week that changed Facebook forever: Record Meta layoffs have sowed confusion and rising anger among employees who are beginning to lash out at CEO Mark Zuckerberg.
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-12 | by ( Kali Hays | Rob Price | Sydney Bradley | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +12 min

Meta let go of 11,000 employees, and it's not clear which divisions and roles were most affected. After a harrowing week of record layoffs at Meta, CEO Mark Zuckerberg and other executives convened a town hall meeting on Friday for everyone who survived the cull. During the Q&A part of the call, an employee asked a question referring to Twitter's job cuts, and Zuckerberg weighed in, according to people who attended. Roughly 11,000 staff were let go, the first major job cuts in the company's 18-year history. Analysts at Jefferies called it a "Zuck U-Turn" in a research note to clients, saying the job cuts will boost profits while not impacting Meta's growth trajectory.

☆ Meta employees are shell-shocked and angry after Mark Zuckerberg laid off 11,000 workers. Remaining staff are still unsure exactly who got fired.
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-10 | by ( Kali Hays | Rob Price | Sydney Bradley | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +11 min

Meta let go of 11,000 employees, and it's not clear which divisions and roles were most affected. Shortly before a somber video call with tens of thousands of employees on Wednesday, Mark Zuckerberg hosted a smaller call with managers at Meta. Zuckerberg fielded questions from managers asking how laid-off employees were chosen and how long the plan had been in the works. "Class act as always," one departing employee said sarcastically of Zuckerberg's call for laid-off workers. "This will add up to a meaningful cultural shift in how we operate," Zuckerberg told remaining employees.

☆ YouTube has a new 'rigid' culture as Google ad executives take over
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-01 | by ( Tom Dotan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

In the last 18 months, at least nine top YouTube executives left and were replaced by longtime Googlers. "It's becoming very operationalized at YouTube," said one former YouTube executive. Google ad executive takeoverYouTube's chief business officer role has marked a significant shift toward the rising influence of Google's sales culture. 2019 is also when Google began keeping a closer reign on YouTube and started to stock it with Google ad executives. The point person for YouTube Originals, Susanne Daniels, who came from MTV, left YouTube in January, shortly before YouTube shut down its entire Originals content group.

☆ Meet the 'stone-cold-brilliant' Apple exec heading up Apple TV+, Sports, gaming and more, who insiders think could succeed Eddy Cue
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-26 | by ( Claire Atkinson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

The former Time Warner Cable exec is driving Apple's subscription businesses including TV+, Sports, and Apple One. But inside and outside the tech giant, people are eyeing one cable TV alum who is being positioned for bigger things under Eddy Cue, the company's longtime Services SVP. As VP, Services, Stern is responsible for running strategy and operations for multiple growth businesses inside Apple. Here's how Stern ascended from cable TV to the top of the tech giant, and what his moves mean for the future of Apple Services. He appeared on stage in 2019 as the frontman for the Apple TV app, in a pair of dark-wash jeans and an untucked gray button-down.

☆ Meet the under-the-radar Apple executive who heads Apple TV+, gaming, and sports, and drives more than 860 million paid subscriptions
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-21 | by ( Claire Atkinson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

The former Time Warner Cable exec is driving Apple's subscription businesses including TV+, Sports, and Apple One. As VP, Services, Stern is responsible for running strategy and operations for multiple growth businesses inside Apple. Here's how Stern ascended from cable TV to the top of the tech giant, and what his moves mean for the future of Apple Services. A third former high-placed Time Warner Cable alum also recalled this exchange. He appeared on stage in 2019 as the frontman for the Apple TV app, in a pair of dark-wash jeans and an untucked gray button-down.

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