FTC reportedly seeks injunction to stop Microsoft’s Activision Blizzard dealUpdate: The FTC confirms that it has requested a “temporary restraining order” preventing the deal from going through while reviews are underway. Original story follows this statement from the agency:
Microsoft and Activision Blizzard have represented in the past that they cannot close their deal due to antitrust reviews of the transaction in other jurisdictions. But Microsoft and Activision have not provided assurances that they will maintain that position. In light of that, and public reporting that Microsoft and Activision Blizzard are considering closing their deal imminently, we have filed a request for a temporary restraining order to prevent them from closing while review continues.
Microsoft’s proposed $68.7 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard has received a mixed response from regulators around the world, but the Federal Trade Commission may be its biggest critic. The agency has reportedly applied for an injunction to prevent the deal going ahead before its own official judgment on the situation later this year.
Microsoft announced its intention to buy the gaming giant early last year as a way to bolster its own Xbox and PC gaming division, which has struggled to outplay perennial rival Sony. (Though yesterday’s impressive Xbox showcase clearly indicates that the war is far from over.)
This was followed by a flurry of concerned statements from antitrust regulators around the world, who said industry consolidation like this produces few benefits and plenty of risks for consumers. Several investigations are underway, and the U.K. has even moved to block the deal, though that is being appealed in court there.
Cue the FTC, which already has a lawsuit challenging the acquisition, but that is not scheduled to be heard by its own administrative law judge until August. So the agency is reportedly asking for an injunction against the deal now — essentially, asking a judge to pre-judge whether the lawsuit is likely to succeed, whether harm could occur during the legal process, and if so prevent the deal from going forward in the meantime. CNBC first reported the move.
The agency did have a closed-door meeting this morning for “consideration of a nonpublic law enforcement matter,” which very well could be the matter in question.
Such decisions generally require the case to be pretty clear, though, and this one may not be. When it filed the lawsuit, the FTC said “we seek to stop Microsoft from gaining control over a leading independent game studio and using it to harm competition in multiple dynamic and fast-growing gaming markets.”
To call Activision Blizzard an “independent game studio” is something of a stretch: the enormous conjoined corporation is responsible for some of the world’s most popular games, including Diablo IV, which just set launch sales records last week — across all platforms, it must be said. And Microsoft has been careful to state its support for multiple platforms on many of its own marquee titles since the acquisition announcement.
I have contacted the FTC for confirmation and more details and will update this post if I hear back.
FTC reportedly seeks injunction to stop Microsoft’s Activision Blizzard deal by Devin Coldewey originally published on TechCrunch

Redeye and AudioSalad Partner UpRedeye Worldwide and AudioSalad announced today a partnership for global digital delivery and technical services. The deal will see Redeye leverage AudioSalad’s best-in-class digital delivery and analytics solutions, while implementing an extensive technical integration between Redeye and AudioSalad’s proprietary platforms. AudioSalad will provide support across all digital operations and power Redeye’s supply chain and licensing strategy with the global DSPs.

Redeye’s Business Development Director, Hank Stockard said: 

"Redeye has been familiar with AudioSalad and their team for years. It has been exciting to watch their continued growth as a major player in the marketplace. We feel strongly that AudioSalad represents the best in industry-leading digital delivery, analytics, and customer service. We are thrilled to move into a partnership with AudioSalad that will provide our labels and artists with all the tools they need to maximize their potential in the digital space."

Redeye is a leading worldwide distribution and music services company headquartered in North Carolina with offices in London, Berlin, Toronto, Montreal, Paris, Gothenburg, Copenhagen, Oslo, and Sydney. Redeye has a strategically-located global team designed to meet partners' international distribution, marketing, and label service needs. Their regional teams provide established relationships with DSPs, physical distribution partners, and PR professionals. Redeye provides distribution services for clients such as Beggars Group, Domino Records, New West Records, Daptone Records, Innovative Leisure, Mexican Summer, Yep Roc Records, and others.

AudioSalad's Head of Business Development, Patrick Ferrell, added: 

"We are absolutely thrilled that Redeye has entrusted AudioSalad to be a core component of their digital operations. Redeye has rightfully earned a strong reputation within the independent sector as a preeminent global music company and as their digital distribution arm continues to grow, this partnership will bolster their value proposition and technical aptitude."Founded in 2014 by award winning software engineers Iain Catling and Deane Thomas,  AudioSalad is an industry-leading technology platform that offers content management, analytics, delivery, and distribution solutions for the independent music sector.

AudioSalad CEO, Iain Catling added:

"We are delighted that Redeye has selected AudioSalad to power its digital operations and strategy. We look forward to a mutually beneficial partnership for years to come."AudioSalad’s best-in-class platform allows clients to efficiently manage their repertoire, streamline digital operations, and implement their preferred licensing strategy with global DSPs. Over the last decade AudioSalad has amassed a global client base with over 16 million audio and video assets under management. Their technical aptitude has established a strong reputation within the digital music sector, achieving the status of an Apple Music Preferred Distributor and a Spotify Preferred Delivery Platform, in addition to being a preferred technology partner of Merlin.

With offices in New York City, Los Angeles, and London, AudioSalad works with record labels, rights-holders, and distributors, such as Secretly Distribution / Secretly Group, Mushroom Group, ATO Records, Mad Decent, Stones Throw, and many more to provide best-in-class solutions for their digital business.

AudioSalad was acquired by SESAC Music Group in February 2023 and has recently expanded their operations and product offerings, including hiring Tom Deakin as Head of EMEA and launching VideoSalad, a standalone music video delivery product.

Meta just released an AI music generator that was trained on 20,000 hours of licensed musicResearchers at Facebook's parent company have developed an AI text-to-music generator called MusicGen
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RELEASE DETAILS
Release title:
Bons Amis
Main artist name:
Robinette Bergeron
Release date:
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https://publme.lnk.to/BonsAmis
#newmusic #Release #Music #indepedent #artist #instrumental #pop

RELEASE DETAILS
Release title:
良い友達
Main artist name:
Yuma Honda
Release date:
7th Jun, 2023
https://publme.lnk.to/145327-
#newmusic #Release #Music #indepedent #artist #instrumental #pop

TuneCore partners with Grimes to distribute AI collaborationsTuneCore artists can distribute collaborations created through Grimes' Elf.Tech AI to streaming platforms
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