Spotify launches Car Thing – This limited release product is smart player that attaches to your dashboard. Users can jump in their car and have instant access to music, podcasts, news and more. Spotify says they aren’t trying to compete with in-car infotainment systems. Instead, they’re bringing all of their content to a “wider range of users across an even wider range of vehicles.”
There are several ways to interact with the device- voice control, a dial, a touchscreen and four preset buttons. [Spotify]
The Africa Channel is now available to millions more Xfinity TV customers – The Africa Channel is the longest running Independent, minority owned media company focused on presenting pan-African content to global audiences. The channel is on Channel 1629 in 60 new markets and also via the Xfinity Stream app. [Comcast]
Record producer Pete Waterman hits out at Taylor Swift by claiming Scooter Braun ‘made her’ and says he ‘feels sorry for’ musicians who aren’t able to re-record albums like her –
The record producer, 74, spoke out against the singer, 31, during an interview on Times Radio on Wednesday, saying he ‘feels sorry for’ musicians who aren’t able to do what she did by simply re-recording her 2008 hit album.
He claimed: ‘Let’s be honest there’s no fury like a woman scorned, and she [is] scorned. You know, there’s no question about it – this is a vendetta between her and her ex manager.” [Daily Mail]
L.A. Times Wins 36 Awards in L.A. Press Club’s National Arts and Entertainment Contest – The Los Angeles Times has earned 36 honors in the Los Angeles Press Club’s 13th National Arts & Entertainment Journalism Awards competition. The awards, which were presented in a virtual ceremony last Friday, recognize the finest work from U.S.-based entertainment reporters and editors, and theater, film and television critics across all media. [Los Angeles Times]
Comscore signs deal with Atlas Obscura for digital audience measurement. – Under the agreement, Atlas Obscura will have access to Comscore’s signature Media Ratings solutions with Plan Metrix Multi-Platform in the US, to better understand audience behavior and media consumption across desktop and mobile devices. [Comscore]
Next-Generation Social Platform Itsme Announces $15.175MM Series A Funding Led By Alexis Ohanian’s Seven Seven Six – Itsme, the next-generation social platform, today announced $15.175MM in Series A funding led by Alexis Ohanian’s Seven Seven Six, with participation from Third Kind Ventures, Allen & Company, Scott Belsky and Adam Silverschotz. Itsme is centered on the creation of high fidelity, technologically advanced Avatars through which users meet, interact and grow friendships online with people all over the world. The app’s Avatar premise was created to make online conversations more expressive, comfortable and not dictated by physical appearance.
DraftKings is building a retail sportsbook at the famed TPC Scottsdale golf course in Arizona, part of an expanded partnership with the PGA Tour that will also give the gambling company access to operate across the state. [Sportico]
