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HBO app replaces HBO Now on Fire TV devices August 1st
The HBO Now app will become simply HBO on Amazon Fire TVs as of August 1st.
HBO Max will be the only place to stream ‘Big Bang Theory’
HBO Max is snatching up content ahead of its launch in the spring of 2020. After announcing that Friends -- one of Netflix's most-streamed shows -- would become an HBO Max exclusive, the Warner-owned service announced that it would be home to The Big Bang Theory as well. This is the first streaming contract for the show, and it'll last for five years.
Plex will stream free, ad-supported Warner Bros. movies and TV shows
While Plex mainly focuses on allowing users to set up a streaming server for their own media files, the company has also ventured into other features such as live TV, podcasts and integration with other streaming services. Their latest move will add an on-demand library of ad-supported Warner Bros. movies and TV series.
Facebook could take on Musical.ly with singing-focused Talent Show
If you've been pining for a new way to show off your singing chops, you're in luck. Facebook is apparently developing a new show that will have users record their performances and send them in as an audition. According to researcher Jane Manchun Wong, who found the feature in the Facebook app's code, there's a new interface to find popular songs and then record your own rendition of the tune. Wong says that the feature "feels like a cross between Musical.ly and Fifteen Million Merits from Black Mirror."
Facebook inks deal with Warner Music for tunes in shared videos
Using background music that you don't own or license the rights to in a video is enough to get it pulled from Facebook. That's why the social network has been pursuing licensing deals with music labels. Now, Variety reports that Facebook has signed a deal with Warner Music Group that allows users to create, share and upload videos to Facebook containing the label's music. This wraps up the "Big Three" music labels, as the social network signed deals with Universal and Sony in December and January, respectively.
Amazon reportedly eyeing a 'Lord of the Rings' TV series
Hollywood is buzzing with rumors (Variety, Deadline, The Hollywood Reporter) that Warner Bros. and Amazon are considering a deal for a series based on J.R.R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings books, with Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos "personally" involved in the talks. None are claiming that a deal is done yet, although Warner settled a lawsuit with the Tolkien estate this summer that may make it easier to produce new projects. Of course, Amazon has upheaval on its end with the recent removal of Studios head Roy Price, who has been replaced on an interim basis by Albert Cheng. Despite that, and the loss of drama and comedy head under separate allegations of conflict of interest, Amazon Studios recently announced it's moving into The Culver Studios at the end of this year.
US music sales keep climbing thanks to streaming
Last year, streaming generated more money in the US for the music business than all other forms of distribution for the first time ever, and that trend is continuing in spades. In the first half of 2017, the industry raked in just under $4 billion, up 17 percent over the same period last year, with 62 percent of that coming from streaming. If the trend continues, the industry should easily surpass the $7.7 billion it earned in 2016, which was already the best year for music since 2009.
Spotify's deal with Warner Music clears path to going public
Spotify just signed a deal with Warner Music to secure its artists for the streaming service's users worldwide. This is the last big label after Universal Music Group, Merlin and Sony to renew ties with Spotify, and now pretty much everyone's on board.
YouTube and Warner extend their streaming music deal
YouTube's relationships with music labels have certainly been fraught, but it just managed to reach a truce with one of them... at least, for now. The streaming service and Warner have extended licensing deals that will make sure Warner and its artists get paid for legal streams. The terms of the deal haven't been revealed, but a memo from Warner chief Steve Cooper suggests the label is being particularly cautious this time around. The deals are "shorter than usual," he says, "giving us more options in the future." And there's no mistaking why Warner is reluctant to commit for the long haul -- Cooper is convinced that YouTube is taking a lackadaisical approach to fighting piracy.
Spotify might delay album releases for 'free' users
Spotify's deadlock with three of the largest music labels could soon come to an end. According to the Financial Times, the streaming company has agreed to 'window' important album releases to keep them on side. It would mean select records are only available to premium members for a period of time, incentivising subscriptions and boosting the revenue that trickles through to labels. The FT says nothing has been signed just yet, but stress talks have "picked up considerably" since the concession was made.
Warner Music makes most of its money from streaming
The rise of streaming services has definitely changed how we consume music. It's also changing how record labels make money. In its earnings report for Q1 2016, Warner Music Group, one of three major labels alongside Sony and Universal, revealed that streaming is now its biggest source of revenue in terms of recorded music. It also says it's the first "major music company" to report this transition. More specifically, Warner's revenue from streaming rose $72 million during the quarter, putting it ahead of physical sales and digital downloads for the label. Of course, the decline of physical sales has been well-documented both globally and in the US.
'Happy Birthday' settlement puts the song in the public domain
Since 1988, Warner/Chappell has had an iron grip on the copyright for "Happy Birthday to You." Artists couldn't sing it on a recording without paying up, even though it's virtually ubiquitous in real life -- it's widely considered the most popular English-language song in history. At last, though, logic appears to be taking hold. In the wake of a lengthy class action lawsuit, Warner has agreed to a $14 million settlement that will put "Happy Birthday" in the US public domain well ahead of 2030, when the label expected the copyright to run out. So long as the ruling holds, you can expect to hear those very familiar strains all over music, movies and TV shows in the near future.
4K movies are coming to Blu-ray discs and hard drives
Sure, there are plenty of Ultra HD televisions floating around the Las Vegas Convention Center, but how will you find anything suitably super high-res to play on them? Netflix, Amazon and a few others have started 4K internet delivery, while DirecTV and Comcast also have limited approaches, but sometimes you prefer media you can hold onto. Physical media fans have help on the way in two forms, but the bad news is neither one is ready to launch right now. The Blu-ray Disc Association has confirmed the name of its 4K format (Ultra HD Blu-ray) and many of its capabilities, while the Secure Content Storage Association has its own demo for Ultra HD movies you can download and transfer (almost) at will, with backing from Fox, Warner Bros., Samsung and others.
SoundCloud inks its first major label deal, eyes streaming service in 2015
After rumors swirled for months regarding SoundCloud's pending licensing deals with major labels, Warner Music Group is the first to sign on. As part of the agreement, the German audio-streaming site will shell out funds each time one of the labels' songs are spun. What's more, it seems the crux of the deal was that SoundCloud would guarantee it'd be launching its own subscription service -- which is said to happen during the first half of 2015.
Amazon and Warner Bros. reach truce over movie pricing
Well, that didn't last long. A couple of weeks after Amazon stopped taking pre-orders for Warner Bros. Blu-ray and DVD movies to extract a better pricing arrangement, the Wall Street Journal is reporting that the two sides have reached a truce. Swing by Amazon and you'll once again find pre-orders for disc-based versions of The Lego Movie, Transcendence and other upcoming releases. The exact nature of the deal is hush-hush, but it wouldn't be shocking if Amazon got the upper hand -- movies are just a small part of the online retail giant's business, while Warner Bros. would lose an important source of revenue. Whether or not you approve of Amazon's tactics, this is good news if you prefer hard copies of movies over downloads and streams. Now if Amazon and Hachette could only negotiate their own peace regarding books...
Amazon stops taking movie pre-orders in pricing battle with Warner Bros.
Amazon's quest for better deals and cheaper prices has seen it squeeze publishers, but it isn't limiting itself to just books. The New York Times reports that the retailer is refusing to list DVD and Blu-ray pre-orders for upcoming launch of many Warner Home Video movies. We're not talking small releases either: The Lego Movie, 300: Rise of an Empire and Winter's Tale are just three titles launching in the coming days that Amazon lists but isn't allowing customers to order. Last month, the company admitted it was limiting orders for new Hachette books, including JK Rowling's forthcoming release The Silkworm, in an attempt to gain cheaper pricing for e-books. Now it's stuck stalemate with suppliers that are unwilling to acquiesce to its demands -- a risky situation that is already pushing some Amazon customers to shop elsewhere.
Amazon's Lovefilm reaches deal with Warner Bros. to stream Batman, Thundercats and other animated series
It's only been about a week since Lovefilm struck an agreement with Viacom, but the Amazon-owned service is already preparing to add more video content to its streaming repertoire. As part of yet another deal through Warner Bros., Lovefilm's going to be distributing a plethora of animated series owned by the renowned movie studio. This means Lovefilm users will have access to "more than 15 years worth" of various Batman animated series, as well as others like Superman: The Animated Series, Justice League and Thundercats (yes, that includes the 1980s original). We're interested to hear which series you're looking forward to the most, so feel free to sound off in the comments below. Oh, and don't forget: thunder, thunder, thunder, Thundercats ho!
The Wizard of Oz celebrates 75th Anniversary this fall with IMAX, Blu-ray 3D releases
While many remember the moment Dorothy stepped out into the Technicolor land of Oz, Warner is aiming to make that moment even grander with a 75th anniversary Wizard of Oz re-release this fall. The plans call for a week-long IMAX 3D run (similar to recent releases like Jurassic Park and the Oz HD screening back in '09) beginning September 20th, and a Blu-ray releases hitting shelves October 1st. Digitally remastered and scanned in 8K before being rotoscoped and converted for 3D from the original Technicolor negative, Warner called it a long and complex project which it would not release until "perfect." The Blu-ray set will come in several versions, with the five disc 75th Anniversary set including Blu-ray 3D, Blu-ray, DVD and Ultraviolet versions plus a making of documentary and other special features. That one is currently priced at $73.99 on Amazon, and a 2-disc Blu-ray 3D combo pack goes for $26.99, with Blu-ray and DVD versions also planned. Check after the break for a press release with all the details, plus a video clip of that colorized first step and a documentary from the last time it was remastered, scanned in merely 4K resolution.
Apple reportedly has two labels signed for radio service, may reveal it at WWDC
Apple's long-rumored internet radio service didn't materialize as quickly as some thought, but we're getting a sudden rush of hints that it may be close at hand. The New York Times and Wall Street Journal both claim that Apple has just signed a music licensing deal with Warner, giving it two out of the big three labels it needs to start streaming -- Universal being the first, Sony being the holdout. Despite lacking one of the necessary deals, Apple is reportedly optimistic that it could unveil the radio feature as soon as WWDC. We're not counting on any music news from Apple execs when they take the stage next week, but it's good to be prepared... you know, just in case.
Warner Archive Instant launches, offers subscription to stream classic movies and TV shows
While existing streaming services like Netflix and Amazon Prime stock their virtual shelves with fresh exclusive content, the just-launched Warner Archive Instant is running in the other direction. Drawing on a catalog of rare older (although not necessarily that old, there's a few 90s flicks in there) movies and TV shows from Warner's own history as well as other studios like MGM, RKO, and Allied Artists, the service promises a regularly updated bundle of selections for $9.99 per month. Now available to all after a few months in closed beta testing, there's a two week free trial available if you're not sure whether the selection fits your tastes. Not all of the titles are remastered in high definition, but those lucky selections can be streamed to your Roku in up to 1080p resolution (the Silverlight player for PCs and Macs does not support HD at this time). That's currently the only connected TV device supported, although others are said to be on the way. Not sure what to watch? Hit the showcase section for curated playlists of highlight content based on various themes. For fans of classic cinema we can think of few ways to get your fix, although the (relatively) tiny library of a few hundred choices and focus on rare content may leave most mainstream viewers cold.
