Dave Rosen

“Sony Music Entertainment is set to acquire the catalog of legendary rock band Queen in a landmark deal worth GBP £1 billion (USD $1.27 billion at current exchange rates). That’s according to Hits, which reported on Wednesday (June 19), citing sources, that Sony Music has emerged as the winning buyer for Queen’s recording and publishing rights, as well as royalties from previous deals with Disney Music Group and Universal Music Group. Disney owns the band’s recorded music catalog in North America, while UMG has a global distribution agreement with Disney. Separately, Queen band members Brian May, Roger Taylor, and John Deacon – plus the Freddie Mercury estate – each own equal shares in the company Queen Productions Ltd, which owns the group’s recording catalog outside the US and Canada, Music Business Worldwide noted in a report last year. UMG, as Disney’s distributor, will reportedly retain distribution rights in North America, although Sony will receive the royalties. UMG’s worldwide distribution rights will then transfer to Sony in 2026 or 2027, making Sony Music the sole distributor and owner of all Queen content globally, Hits explained. The deal also reportedly includes name and likeness rights, opening doors for merchandise and other ventures. Meanwhile, Queen’s founding members, May and Taylor, who continue to tour with vocalist Adam Lambert, will reportedly retain control of revenue from live performances.” Read the full article for more: #Queen #SonyMusic #UMG #DisneyMusicGroup #UniversalMusicGroup #Music #MusicBusiness #Musica #MusicIndustry #Musique #Musik #MusicBiz #Creators #Artists

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Do whatever you can to meet your customers, players, and fans on the frontline. This past weekend, I volunteered for a shift at one of our activation booths during the Arcane finale event in Los Angeles. My longtime colleague also volunteered, and we were originally assigned a one-hour shift—but that hour flew by and turned into three before we even noticed. We didn’t want to stop. We were completely engrossed in hearing stories from fans and seeing firsthand how Arcane and games like League of Legends have impacted their lives. At one point, my colleague and I looked at each other after the first hour and realized we could help improve the experience. The booth was packed, and if we’d walked away after our scheduled time, it would have directly impacted our fans by increasing their wait times. That inspired me to explore more of the event as it filled up, observing and learning from the atmosphere. One moment that stood out was seeing a young woman, dressed as her favorite Arcane character, meet one of the show’s writers. She broke down in tears, sharing how much the character’s story resonated with her own life. Witnessing that kind of connection was a powerful reminder of why we do this work. The day after the event, a peer in the industry who saw me at the booth sent me a note, saying she thought it was both cool and surprising to see two VP-level employees working an event like that. It reminded me of two important lessons: 1. Your title doesn’t matter. Meeting your customers in person—regardless of your role—makes a huge impact on them (they don't care about your seniority, just the opportunity to talk to someone that works somewhere they love) and serves as an invaluable reminder of why we do what we do. 2. Face-to-face interactions are irreplaceable. It’s easy to rely on sentiment reports or online comments from YouTube, TikTok, or Reddit, but those can’t replicate the value of real-world, human connections.

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So what’s next? Continuous daily authentic storytelling based on real life experiences. The nuggets of wisdom will continue. A weekly Lunchtime Conversation, IG LIVE, on Monday at 12pm EST, 20-minutes of snackable content starting on January 20, 2025. I ask you to join me in this journey. I’ve realized that I want to continue to inspire, educate and pay it forward by sharing women’s stories. 20-minutes. That’s all I ask. Tune in on Instagram @kickitbyep. Motivational quote sticker drop. I have launched Kick It By EP on Substack. Check it out. ➡️ https://lnkd.in/eU5niewY There will be a monthly motivational sticker drop for those who support the page. I’ll continue to kick it with real life experiences. Building community is so important during this time. Women supporting women that’s what it's all about. #inspire #educate #payitforward

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Music Business Association Music Biz 2024 coming up in May. Find out more about Reactional Music and what we are delivering across interactive music, music personalisation, in-game economies, generative composable music and the possibilities for creators, composers, artists and developers

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🤔 Had an insightful conversation this week with thought leaders across gaming, entertainment, consumer goods, and web3. A consistent theme emerged: Even in a partner-driven consumer model, your engaged community and fans are your most valuable assets. Partners want you to bring the best fans, users, and community to the table to help drive their business. By focusing on what truly drives fans, keeps them engaged, and gets them talking about the brand, you create real demand and strengthen those partnerships. A fan-focused strategy is essential to long-term success. Build for your fans, launch for them, and thrive with them. Who are you building for? #fansfirst #gaming #web3 #blockchaingames

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The future is now. Watch the full case study. Worth it.

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As streaming platforms increasingly focus on profitability, we’re entering a new era in the industry. Viewers are juggling multiple services with little loyalty to individual SVODs, making consistently engaging content the key to sustainable growth. Our latest report, Streaming Hits or Misses: Was Big Spending Worth It? offers a deep dive into the changing landscape of streaming. Inside, you’ll discover: * The top original shows across all platforms 📺 * Insights into Netflix’s market dominance 💪 * The influence of award shows on streaming trends 🏆 * And much more! 📊 View the interactive report to explore valuable metrics and analysis on the current state of the streaming industry: https://lnkd.in/gF8ypkMs #Streaming #SVOD #ContentStrategy #DigitalMedia #StreamingReport #EntertainmentIndustry #DataAnalytics #BusinessInsights

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Find your people--even if you have to travel across the country to get time with them. I recently led an all-day workshop on how to build a legendary brand with raving fans--from the operational excellence systems to the marketing events that make people talk about you. I've spoken on a lot of stages at a lot of conference centers--this time I was in an epic beach house in the Outer Banks of NC. And it was for an amazing group of people. They all own cleaning companies--multi-million dollar, fast-growth cleaning companies. If you didn't know, that industry is overwhelmingly filled with mom and pop, no-growth local companies. But these folks aren't satisfied with that. They aren't accepting that because they aren't a tech company, they can't have big dreams. (And we also talked about how tech can accelerate them--by a lot.) The point of this story is that rather than settle for "regular," they came from all over the country to dream bigger and learn new skills. Find your people, the other dreamers. It makes all the difference in the world. And, if you're not sure where they are, one place to look is the training programs and online communities where you can learn how to do legendary stuff--like the online program we are launching for just this purpose. Check it out at: https://bit.ly/3UDcEHW I can't get to all the places that want me to spend a day with them--we've grown too much for that--even when it's an epic beach house. So, this program is my way of gathering and pouring into more people without having to add more travel days.

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Starting the week right with a journey into The World Beyond! Emily Olman , CEO of HopscotchVR, discusses the future of augmented personal assistants and the latest VR and AR trends with Marcus Ernst from MACK One

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The free-to-play strategy improving user acquisition, retention, and engagement: In our latest '15-Minute Mastery' show, Jamie Mitchell, founder of Low6, shares some invaluable insights. In our chat, Jamie reveals: • The counterintuitive "free" strategy that's making sports betting companies millions... (and how you can leverage it) • The hidden psychological trigger turning casual players into high-value customers (it's not what you think) • The little-known "risk tolerance hack" that lets you navigate regulations while exploding your user base Free-to-play games could be the key to attracting more users, boosting retention, and driving higher profits. Make your way over to '15-Minute Mastery' to view the full episode. You can also take a look in the comments. What's your biggest challenge with user acquisition right now?

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🚀 YouTube has solidified its position as a streaming powerhouse in 2024, with viewers streaming over 1 billion hours of content daily on television screens. Sports content experienced a remarkable 30% year-over-year increase in viewership, as users flocked to the platform for game highlights, post-match interviews, and team updates. 📊 According to Nielsen data, YouTube was the only streaming service to surpass a 10% market share in household TV viewing, outpacing competitors like Netflix (7.7%) and Prime Video (3.7%). The platform's ability to attract younger viewers, especially those aged 2-17, sets it apart from its rivals. YouTube has also seen success with family-oriented content, introduced enhanced parental controls, and experienced growth in podcast consumption and high-quality 4K video uploads. 🎭 YouTube's dominance in streaming highlights a stark contrast with the challenges faced by traditional media and SVOD platforms. While YouTube continues to command living room screens across demographics and geographies, platforms like Netflix, Disney+, and Prime Video are locked in fierce battles for regional dominance. This fragmentation demonstrates competitors' uphill battle in replicating YouTube's universal appeal, as they are forced to tailor strategies market by market. 🔔 For media executives clinging to old paradigms or dismissing YouTube as a "second-class citizen," these trends should serve as a wake-up call. YouTube's ability to attract younger viewers, deliver diverse content, and innovate for creators gives it a distinct edge. The platform is not just thriving but redefining the TV landscape, drawing millions of viewers away from legacy networks and dominating living room screens. The question now is not whether YouTube can maintain its dominance but whether its competitors can adapt quickly enough to stay relevant in an entertainment ecosystem increasingly shaped by the platform. #TV #Streaming #YouTube

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Is Paramount's Tech Transformation Just a Pipe Dream? In the ever-evolving landscape of media, David Ellison’s announcement about transforming Paramount into a tech powerhouse stirred quite the conversation. Including by me: https://lnkd.in/eBsi2xbi But as we dive deeper, several challenges emerge, casting shadows of doubt over this ambitious pivot. #1. Financial Feasibility With Paramount grappling with substantial debt and pressing financial obligations, notably hefty NFL payments, the costs of attracting top tech talent become a significant concern. Can Paramount realistically afford this tech overhaul amidst economic uncertainties and a struggling stock? The talent war isn't won on ambitions alone, especially when competitors like Google offer more stable havens. #2. Creator vs. Coder Paramount’s tech ambition, while necessary, seems at odds with maintaining the creator-friendly environment Ellison dually promised. In an era when interest rates have climbed, balancing tech innovation with creative freedom is a tightrope walk. Remember, even Netflix, once a haven for creators with its blank checks during #ZIRP, is tightening its purse strings. How can Paramount navigate these waters without the cushion of a tech giant's capital or rising stock prices? 3. Building vs. Buying Tech Infrastructure David Ellison’s plan for Paramount involves a substantial commitment to developing in-house tech capabilities, focusing on cloud services, AI, user interfaces, recommendation algorithms, and ad-serving technologies. This approach aims to differentiate Paramount from competitors and enhance user experience. However, the tech sector’s history suggests leveraging established third-party platforms could be more cost-effective and reliable. Giants like Disney have successfully integrated platforms like BamTech, while HBO initially utilized external technology before transitioning. AMC Networks similarly relies on Brightcove for streaming technologies. The pivotal question for Ellison is whether the potential benefits of custom-built solutions justify the investment and risk, especially when patching together proven third-party solutions might yield quicker and more economical results. #InEssence... These challenges are monumental, yet not insurmountable. As we watch Paramount’s narrative unfold, one thing is clear: transitioning into a tech entity is more than just a strategic pivot—it’s a gamble on the future of entertainment itself. Thoughts? #Paramount #StreamingWars #MediaTech

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“Apple Music is rolling out a new ‘premium’ data analytics toolkit for its record label and distributor partners. The new ‘Apple Music Partner Program’ features various tools for Apple Music’s partners to track trends on its streaming service as well as global radio plays using Shazam technology. According to the landing page for the platform, it offers “access [to] more tools to break the next talent, spot emerging trends, and uncover new insights about your content”. “Apple Music already runs another analytics platform in Apple Music For Artists, which was made available for every artist on Apple Music in August 2019. Apple Music For Artists allows artists to monitor the volume of their streaming plays on Apple Music, all within a data set that updates daily. Spotify launched its own Spotify For Artists app in 2017 (an evolution of the ‘Fan Insights’ tool it introduced two years earlier) to provide artists and their teams with information pertaining to their popularity on the service. Like Spotify for Artists, the Apple Music For Artists service is available as both a desktop interface and a standalone mobile app.” #Apple #AppleMusic #Artists #RecordLabels #Spotify #Fans #Fandom #Streaming #StreamingRoyalties #Royalties #RecordedMusic #StreamingServices #StreamingMedia #MusicTracks #MusicStreams #Music #MusicBusiness #Musica #MusicIndustry #Musique #Musik #MusicBiz

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We recently asked members of our 456 Growth Teams to complete skillset assessment tests to evaluate personality matches to their roles and overall aptitude. Our goal is to create better hiring processes, ensure internal alignment with segmented roles and responsibilities, and gain an understanding of how our core operators categorically align. Our plan: integrate skillset assessments into our hiring flow to filter out poor-quality candidates or those that do not align with the highlighted best-suited qualities of each role. Does anyone approach the hiring process with this level of granularity for mid-size to boutique companies? #Hiring #Hiringprocess

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