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☆ Spotify employees question lavish spending on events while the company lays off thousands
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-10 | by ( Jyoti Mann | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

Some employees criticize lavish spending on events, while Spotify is trying to cut costs. Some employees think Spotify is spending too much on parties and events, especially when the company is laying off thousands of people and looking to cut more costs. However, these employees said event spending has gone too far, given the company's broader efforts at frugality. One former employee described it as the company "spending tons of money flying people to Sweden to drink the Kool-Aid." Noam Galai/Getty ImagesSome of this lavish event spending is focused on solving a problem that's loomed over Spotify for years.

Persons: —, Sam Smith, Charli XCX, Gunna, Daniel Ek, Ek, Daniel Ek Dave Benett, Diplo, Spotifest, Melanie Stetson Freeman, it's, Alicia Keys, Noam Galai, Gustav Söderström Organizations: Spotify, Service, Ikea, Business, Brooklyn, Spotifest, Christian Science, Getty, company's, Apple, YouTube Locations: Drumsheds, Houston, Stockholm, New York, Sweden, New York City, York

☆ A judge has resigned after sending 500 texts during a toddler's murder trial in which she mocked a prosecutor, jury members, and witnesses
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-10 | by ( Alia Shoaib | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

An Oklahoma judge resigned after she was caught sending hundreds of texts during a murder trial. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . AdvertisementAn Oklahoma judge has stepped down after she was caught sending hundreds of text messages while presiding over a murder trial concerning the death of a two-year-old boy. AdvertisementThe move to oust Soderstrom came about after the Oklahoman published 50 minutes of security footage, which showed Soderstrom sending messages for minutes while in the courtroom. AdvertisementWhen the deceased child’s mother took the stand as the prosecution’s key witness, she sent a text saying: “Can I please scream ‘liar, liar?

Persons: —, Traci Soderstrom, Braxton Danker, Khristian Martzall, John Kane IV, Soderstrom, ’, “, child’s, ” Organizations: Service, Associated Press, Oklahoma Supreme, AP, Oklahoman Locations: Oklahoma, Lincoln County

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — An Oklahoma judge who sent more than 500 texts to her bailiff during a murder trial will resign, according to a court filing. In a proposed settlement agreement filed Thursday with the Oklahoma Court on the Judiciary, District Judge Traci Soderstrom agreed to resign on Friday and never again seek a judicial office in Oklahoma. Soderstrom, who was elected in November 2022 and took office on Jan. 9, 2023, voluntarily suspended herself in October. However, being human, I have also faltered.”The judge’s texts during Martzall's trial on a charge of killing his girlfriend's 2-year-old son included saying the prosecutor was “sweating through his coat,” according to Kane’s petition. The texts described the defense attorney as “awesome” and asked “can I clap for her?” during the defense attorney’s opening arguments.

Persons: —, Traci Soderstrom, John Kane IV, Khristian Tyler Martzall, Soderstrom, “, ” Soderstrom, ” Kane, Martzall Organizations: OKLAHOMA CITY, Oklahoma Court, Judiciary, Oklahoma Supreme Locations: — An Oklahoma, Oklahoma, Chandler, Oklahoma City

A logo of Spotify is seen on a beach during the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity in Cannes, France, June 20, 2023. Spotify has been an early adopter of AI, which it used for music recommendation algorithms a decade earlier. The Swedish company is now aiming to use LLMs to replicate that across its non-music content such as podcasts and audiobooks. The music streaming giant has been looking to boost its earnings by increasing its slate of revenue-generating formats such as podcasts and audiobooks. With the expanded Google partnership, Spotify is also exploring the use of LLMs to provide a safer listening experience and identify potentially harmful content.

Persons: Eric Gaillard, Google Bard, Gustav Söderström, Supantha Mukherjee, Savio D'Souza Organizations: Spotify, Cannes Lions International, Creativity, REUTERS, Rights, Google, Thomson Locations: Cannes, France, Rights STOCKHOLM, Swedish, Stockholm

☆ Twenty years after euro "No" vote, Swedes fret over weak crown
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-14 | by ( Simon Johnson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

Think Sweden, where a nosedive in the local crown currency over the past 18 months is proving a blessing for used-car dealers and other exporters. Companies like KP Energy, which imports solar panels to sell to trade buyers, cite the damaging effects of higher purchase costs and rising interest rates, which hit household spending. "It impacts us a huge amount when the crown weakens against the euro and when the demand picture changes," its CEO Filip Wiqvist said. A Demoskop poll this week showed 42% would vote "No" to joining the euro, while 34% would support it. Believing the crown is around 20% undervalued, the Riksbank has hedged its own foreign currency exposure in anticipation of future strengthening.

Persons: Joachim Agren, Registradores, Espania, Filip Wiqvist, Wiqvist, Jan Soderstrom, Annika Winsth, SEB, Robert Bergqvist, Martin Floden, Floden, Catherine Evans Organizations: STOCKHOLM, BCA, Reuters, Companies, KP Energy, European Union, Technologies, KPMG, European, NATO, Thomson Locations: Stockholm, Sweden, Swedish, Spain, EU, Ukraine, Turkey

☆ Paul Blackburn, A's blank Cardinals
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-17 | by ( Field Level Media | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

August 17 - Paul Blackburn threw seven scoreless innings as the visiting Oakland Athletics blanked the St. Louis Cardinals 8-0 on Wednesday. Blackburn (3-3) held the Cardinals to six hits and a walk while striking out eight batters. Cardinals starting pitcher Matthew Liberatore (2-5) allowed six runs (five earned) on 10 hits and three walks in 4 1/3 innings. Nick Allen hit a single and was thrown out trying to score on Esteury Ruiz's double, but Gelof followed with an RBI single. Ruiz drew a walk, stole second and scored on Gelof's RBI double.

Persons: Paul Blackburn, Austin Pruitt, Zack Gelof, Jordan Diaz, Gelof, Diaz, Matthew Liberatore, Louis, Lars Nootbaar, Nootbaar, Tommy Edman, Liberatore, Carlos Perez's, Shea Langeliers, Blackburn, Alec Burleson, Jordan, Andrew Knizner, Taylor Motter, Nick Allen, Esteury, Brent Rooker, Seth Brown, Casey Lawrence, Ruiz, Tyler Soderstrom's, Oakland's Organizations: Oakland Athletics, Louis Cardinals, Blackburn, Cardinals, Athletics, Thomson

☆ Nolan Arenado powers Cards past A's for 3rd straight win
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-16 | by ( Field Level Media | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

August 16 - Nolan Arenado went 4-for-5 with a two-run homer as the St. Louis Cardinals defeated the visiting Oakland Athletics 6-2 on Tuesday. Lars Nootbaar hit a single, Paul Goldschmidt followed with an RBI double and Arenado ripped his two-run homer. The A's finally got to Hudson in the seventh inning. St. Louis loaded the bases again in the seventh inning, but Motter hit an inning-ending grounder. Edman hit his homer in the eighth inning to increase the St. Louis lead to 6-2.

Persons: Nolan Arenado, Jordan Walker, Tommy Edman, Lawrence Butler, Louis outhit, Dakota Hudson, Spenser Watkins, Lars Nootbaar, Paul Goldschmidt, Arenado, Hudson, Nick Allen, Esteury Ruiz, Allen, Ruiz, Walker, Andrew Knizner's, Knizner, Tony Kemp, Taylor, Nootbaar, Goldschmidt, Tyler Soderstrom, Butler, Louis, Edman Organizations: Louis Cardinals, Oakland Athletics, Cardinals, Thomson

☆ Fact Check-Rioting in Sweden occurred during Eritrean festival, not children's fair
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-09 | by ( Reuters Fact Check | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

An August riot near the Swedish capital Stockholm took place during an Eritrean cultural festival and not a children’s fair, as suggested by a post on social media. The post (seen here and viewed more than 500,000 times) includes a video and a caption, reading: "Riots yesterday at a children's fair in Sweden." According to local media, protesters marched towards the festival area, got through the police cordons, threw rubbish at the festival participants and set tents and vehicles ablaze. The festival celebrating Eritrean cultural heritage is an annual event that has been taking place since the 1990s, local media says (here). The video shows clashes of supporters and opponents of the Eritrean regime during a festival in Stockholm, not a children’s fair.

Persons: Asa Nilsson Soderstrom, Isaak, Read Organizations: Expressen, YouTube, Eritrean, watchdogs, World Press, SVT, Amnesty International, Statistics Sweden, Reuters Locations: Stockholm, Sweden, Eritrea, Syria, Turkmenistan, Iran, Vietnam, China, North Korea, Swedish, Eritrean

☆ MLB roundup: Giants' J.D. Davis belts walk-off HR
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-30 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +11 min

Rangers starter Martin Perez (8-4) gave up four runs on eight hits and three walks with a strikeout in 5 2/3 innings. Rockies starter Chris Flexen (0-5) had six walks, a hit batter and a run-scoring wild pitch in 3 2/3 innings. Toronto right-hander Alek Manoah struck out six and allowed one run, four hits and three walks in 4 1/3 innings. Starter Quinn Priester (2-1) allowed five runs and five hits in five-plus innings, with seven strikeouts and six walks. Patrick Corbin (7-11) allowed four runs on six hits and no walks while striking out two over 5 2/3 innings.

Persons: J.D, Davis, John Hefti, Camilo Doval, Justin Turner, Jansen, Sean Manaea, Ryan Walker, Tyler Rogers, Max Muncy, Joe Kelly, Emmet Sheehan, Evan Phillips, Luke Weaver, Elly De La Cruz, Yu Darvish, Seong Kim, Diego, Darvish, Luis Campuano, Gary Sanchez, Martin Perez, Ronald Acuna Jr, Acuna, Eddie Rosario, Julio Teheran, Bryce Elder, Brent Rooker, Zack Gelof, Seth Brown, Tyler Soderstrom, Ramon Laureano, Paul Blackburn, Chris Flexen, Hunter Brown, Yainer Diaz, Jose Abreu, Jose Altuve, Alex Bregman, Yordan Alvarez, Rene Pinto, Houston, Chas McCormick, Diaz, Jake Meyers, Taj Bradley, Alejandro Kirk, Santiago Espinal, Manoah, Taylor Ward, Ward, Reid Detmers, Riley Greene, Joey Wentz, Luis Arraez, Johnny Cueto, Mike Clevinger, Tim Anderson, Andrew Vaughn, Anderson, Logan Allen, Clevinger, Allen, Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton, Kyle Higashioka, Isiah Kiner, Falefa, Clarke Schmidt, Tyler Wells, Bobby Witt Jr, Witt, Michael Massey's, Bailey Ober, Ian Happ, Yan Gomes, Louis, Jameson Taillon, Michael Fulmer, Mark Leiter Jr, Javier Assad, Daniel Palencia, Adam Wainwright, Endy Rodriguez, Liover Peguero, Alika Williams, Quinn Priester, David Bednar, Brandon Marsh, Jake Cave, Johan Rojas, Aaron Nola, Riley Adams, Max Scherzer, Dominic Smith, Joey Meneses, Stone Garrett, Patrick Corbin, Mark Vientos, Francisco Lindor, Tommy Pham, Francisco Alvarez, Carlos Carrasco, Dominic Canzone, Canzone, Scott McGough, Julio Rodriguez, Arizona's Kevin Ginkel, Tom Murphy, Corbin Carroll, Andres Munoz, Carroll Organizations: San Francisco Giants, Boston Red Sox, Oracle, Red Sox, Giants, Dodgers, Reds, Cincinnati, National League West, Padres, Rangers, Braves, Brewers, Atlanta, Milwaukee, Athletics, Rockies, Colorado, Oakland, Sunday, Astros, Rays, Houston, Tampa Bay, Blue Jays, Angels, Toronto, Los, Los Angeles ., Tigers, Marlins, Miami, Five Detroit, White Sox, Cleveland . Chicago, Chicago, Yankees, Orioles, Baltimore, Royals, Kansas City, Twins, Cubs, Cardinals, St, Pirates, Phillies, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Nationals, Mets, Washington, New, Texas Rangers, Diamondbacks, Mariners, Arizona, Seattle, Thomson Locations: San Francisco , California, USA, Angeles, Muncy, Texas, Milwaukee, Oakland, Denver, Los Angeles, Los Angeles . Toronto, Detroit, Miami, Chicago, New York, Kansas, Minnesota, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Arizona

☆ Spotify to trim 6% of workforce in latest tech layoffs
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Jan 23 (Reuters) - Spotify Technology SA (SPOT.N) said on Monday it plans to cut 6% of its workforce and would take a related charge of up to nearly $50 million, adding to the massive layoffs in the technology sector in preparation for a possible recession. The tech industry is facing a demand downturn after two years of pandemic-powered growth during which it had hired aggressively. "I was too ambitious in investing ahead of our revenue growth," he added, echoing a sentiment voiced by other tech bosses in recent months. Reuters GraphicsSmall figurines are seen in front of displayed Spotify logo in this illustration taken February 11, 2022. Ostroff helped shape Spotify's podcast business and guided it through backlash around Joe Rogan's show for allegedly spreading misinformation about COVID-19.

☆ Spotify to cut 6% of jobs; content head to depart
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-23 | by ( ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +2 min

The tech industry is facing a demand downturn after two years of pandemic-powered growth during which it had hired aggressively. “I was too ambitious in investing ahead of our revenue growth,” he added, echoing a sentiment voiced by other tech bosses in recent months. It said Dawn Ostroff, the head of content and advertising, was leaving after an over four-year stint at the company. Ostroff helped shape Spotify’s podcast business and guided it through backlash around Joe Rogan’s show for allegedly spreading misinformation about Covid-19. The company said it is appointing Alex Norström, head of the freemium business, and research and development boss Gustav Söderström as co-presidents.

☆ Spotify to cut 6% of jobs, content head to depart
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

That has led firms from Meta Platforms Inc (META.O) to Microsoft Corp (MSFT.O) to shed thousands of jobs. "I was too ambitious in investing ahead of our revenue growth," he added, echoing a sentiment voiced by other tech bosses in recent months. It said Dawn Ostroff, the head of content and advertising, was leaving after an over four-year stint at the company. Ostroff helped shape Spotify's podcast business and guided it through backlash around Joe Rogan's show for allegedly spreading misinformation about COVID-19. The company said it is appointing Alex Norström, head of the freemium business, and research and development boss Gustav Söderström as co-presidents.

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