Entertainment

Content streaming giants Amazon and Spotify are reportedly contemplating rival takeover bids for the London-listed podcasting distribution platform, AudioBoom PLC, which has witnessed a significant jump in its share prices and revenues through the course of the pandemic.

It is expected that the two digital giants will be soon deciding on making formal offers this month itself.

Amazon has been speculated to be working with JP Morgan’s investment bankers regarding its potential interest in AudioBoom.

Sources have suggested that an approach from either Spotify or Amazon might be pitched at a signi

Spotify, the leading Swedish media and audio streaming services provider, has reportedly announced that it will invest more than $100 million towards the development, licensing, as well as marketing of audio content and music from groups that have been historically marginalized groups.

According to reports, the proposed amount is the same Spotify had paid American commentator and podcaster, Joe Rogan, for an exclusive content deal.

Speaking of Joe Rogan, the streaming platform has been in hot waters lately as public outcry against Rogan’s content, which supposedly has played a role in spreading vaccine misinformation. The outcry h

The board of directors of Indian media conglomerate, Zee Entertainment Enterprises, has reportedly announced that it has considered and approved the Scheme of Arrangement between the media company, Sony Pictures Networks India Private Limited and Bangla Entertainment & Pvt Ltd (BEPL).

As per the terms of the merger, Sony Pictures Networks India (SPNI) will own a 50.86 percent stake of the newly merged entity, while Essel, Zee’s holding firm, will own a 3.99 percent stake. The remaining 45.15 percent stake will be owned by public shareholders, according to the definitive agreement.

It has also been reported that Punit Goenka wi

Three months after raising $16 million through a seed round led by Paradigm and Founders Fund, NFT music platform Royal has closed another significant round of funding, raising over $55 million from a Series A led by venture capital firm Andreesen Horowitz’s crypto investment division, a16z.

Helmed by EDM artist Justin Blau, also known as 3LAU, as well as JD Ross, a co-founder of real estate startup Opendoor, Royal acts a marketplace for users where they can buy NFTs that represent collective ownership in the works of artists. Royal supposedly represents a quite early yet promising step towards a NFT functionality that lies outside of the spheres of gaming and visual

Pinna, a prominent audio entertainment platform developed exclusively for kids aged 3-12, recently announced a partnership with Kaplan, an educational service company, and Kindness Factory, a non-profit organization, to make the world a kinder place. Pinna, in partnership with Kindness Factory and Kaplan, is set to launch its newest podcast series- Pinna Original podcast, One Small Act, ahead of World Kindness Day.

The podcast focuses on the Kindness Curriculum, which is developed by the Kindness Factory and Kaplan, and centers on emphasizing the twelve qualities of kindness, including, Collaboration, Empathy, Compassion, Trust, Honesty, Gratitude, Humility, Humor, Perspec

Bloomsbury, the publisher of the famous book series Harry Potter, has reportedly revealed groundbreaking profits as well as sales owing to the high demand for publications such as Tom Kerridge's bestselling cookbook during the Covid-19 outbreak.

According to reports, the publisher managed to post such immense profits in the face of a supply chain crisis. The company stated that people have a newfound interest in reading books, with escapism, fantasy, cookery, and social inclusion, all selling well.

As per Bloomsbury, customers ordering sooner than in past years raised sales for the six months ending in August. For the uninitiated, t

Takasaki, the only Japanese municipal music studio, has reportedly announced plans to launch a music label as part of a bid to help raise the profiles of local artists across the world.

The Tago Studio Records Takasaki label was created this month by Tago Studio Takasaki, run by the city of Takasaki in Gunma Prefecture, to the northwest of Tokyo. The ‘music city Takasaki’ initiative is a massive effort to find exceptional amateur musicians performing throughout the prefecture and help them turn into world-class performers.

According to reports, a song from the label's first artist has already been released, and those eng

Xandrie SA, the parent company of Qobuz, a high-quality music streaming platform based in France, has reportedly acquired e-Onkyo music, a platform to download high-resolution music, from Onkyo Corporation, a Japan-based electronics manufacturer.

Xandrie is the world's top specialist in entertainment and digital culture. It is presently in the midst of a significant acquisition spree to expand its expertise, overall portfolio, and global reach.

The purchase accelerates Qobuz's Asian growth strategy and comes approximately a year after the company raised more than €10 million ($10.92 million) to support its expansion.

Dice, a London-based events firm that has developed a platform to help users explore and attend live events that could be of interest to them, has reportedly secured over $122 million in a Series C investment round, which sources estimate puts the firm's valuation at $400 million.

According to reports, the investment round was led by SoftBank Vision Fund 2 with prior backers, including iPod "father", Nest's co-founder Tony Fadell, French entrepreneur Mirabaud, Blisce, Xavier Niel, Evolution and Cassius also participating.

DeepMind co-founders Demis Hassabis and Mustafa Suleyman are among the company's previous inve