Technology • Innovation • Publishing — Issue #167
Innovation
Roblox unveils electronic music festival in the metaverse — venturebeat.com
HT @MilenaPSchmidt Roblox has partnered with music event promoter Insomniac to create electronic music festivals for its platform. Via @VentureBeat
Art house Sotheby’s launches curated NFT platform called ‘Sotheby’s Metaverse’
The Economist Tests Non-Fungible Tokens — foundation.app
Some YA Authors Announced Plans to Create an NFT Project for Fans. It Did Not Go Well
Snap is launching a global studio to develop branded AR experiences
Snap announced the launch of Arcadia, a global creative studio that will help brands deliver AR advertising and experiences that can be shared across web platforms and app-based AR environments beyond just Snapchat itself. The studio, which will function as a division of Snap, will partner with brands and creators, and is already working with Verizon, WWE, Shake Shack and P&G Beauty. As part of this launch, Snap took over a Shake Shack in NYC for a week to show of AR experiences. Via @techcrunch #AR
Technology
The 8 biggest announcements from Apple’s Unleashed event
Google to Lower Its App Store Fees for Developers to 15%
RT @michellemanafy Google said it planned to lower the cut it takes on subscription-based apps in its Play Store for devices running its Android software, in the latest concession to regulatory pressure challenging whether the company has overcharged developers.
Snapchat says Apple data changes ‘disrupted’ advertising
Vox Media has built a visual way to experience podcasts. It’s accessible to deaf audiences — and gorgeous.
The podcast More Than This had a challenge. How could they recreate the emotions, pacing, and atmosphere of their episodes without using any audio? Via @NiemanLab
YouTube plans week-long live shopping event, following tests of livestream shopping with creators
YouTube’s new Holiday Stream and Shop will let viewers shop new products and engage with creators via Q&As and polls. Via @techcrunch #ecommerce #YouTube
Facebook plans to change company name to focus on the metaverse
CEO Mark Zuckerberg plans to discuss it at Facebook Connect on October 28th.
Facebook wants machines to see the world through our eyes
For the last two years, Facebook AI Research (FAIR) has worked with 13 universities around the world to assemble the largest ever data set of first-person video — specifically to train deep-learning image-recognition models #AI
Facebook Announces Its Fake Ad Numbers Are Going to Get Even Faker
If you have both a Facebook and Instagram account, the company may have figured out a way to double the money you generate. #Facebook #Advertising
Examining algorithmic amplification of political content on Twitter
“In six out of seven countries…Tweets posted by accounts from the political right receive more algorithmic amplification than the political left when studied as a group.”
Twitter bought a messaging app to help make DMs and Communities better
Twitter has purchased Sphere, a British group chat app. While at Twitter, the Sphere team will be working on improving DMs, Communities, and Creators roadmaps.
Reddit Moves Into Originals With Event Series ‘PhotoshopBattles Live’ From Bunim/Murray — deadline.com
An image is posted and people Photoshop it. Celebrities show the top creative works in a 1-hour show and people vote. Via @Deadline
Privacy fears as Moscow metro rolls out facial recognition pay system
Moscow metro rolling out the world’s first mass-scale facial recognition payment system. The cashless, cardless, and phoneless system, launching at more than 240 stations, will only require a look at the camera to pass through the turnstiles.
Spotify partners with Shopify to add merch to artists’ profiles — techcrunch.com
Spotify announced a new partnership with e-commerce platform provider Shopify that will allow artists on its service to connect their Spotify profiles with their Shopify stores, allowing them to market their merchandise directly to fans through the Spotify app.
Walmart begins testing shopping via text
Walmart’s R&D group Store Nº8 begin testing a feature called Walmart Text to Shop with customers in select markets to better understand how conversational commerce could work for its customers.
Pinterest gets more TikTok-like with a ‘Watch’ tab for videos, announces $20M in creator rewards — techcrunch.com
Pinterest has been trying to reposition its business as a home to creators, not just a shopping inspiration site. This week it expanded those efforts with new TikTok-inspired features, including a vertical video feed that features its video-powered “Idea Pins” and the ability to respond to videos with “Takes.” It also announced a plan to invest $20 million in “Creator Rewards,” a series of expanded creator tools, support for the Amazon Associates affiliate program, as well as the launch of its own original content.
PayPal said to be exploring potential acquisition of Pinterest
Publishing & Media
Inside the Real-Life Succession Battle at Scholastic — www.nytimes.com
The powerhouse children’s publisher, known for Harry Potter, had been passed from father to son until Iole Lucchese, a top executive, was given control.
Authors pull out of Frankfurt book fair over presence of far-right groups
HT @PublishersWkly. Via @washingtonpost
From Henry Louis Gates Jr., Another Scholarly Megaproject — www.nytimes.com
A book series from Penguin will feature leading writers on the legacy of Black figures including W.E.B. Du Bois, John Hope Franklin, Toni Morrison and Stevie Wonder. #teamPRH
Award-Winning Illustrator Jerry Pinkney Remembered for His Kindness, Legacy of Work — www.slj.com
Friends and colleagues remember Caldecott-winning illustrator Jerry Pinkney, who died of a heart attack at age 81.
How To Find Your Comp Authors — davidgaughran.com
HT @craicer. Via @DavidGaughran
KDP Adding a Transparency QR Code
MT @craicer Recently KDP slipped in a new feature to the barcode section on the print book cover. If they provide the barcode they will add a transparency QR code which you can load with extra information about the book. #ebooks
Barnes & Noble’s Big Tribeca Space Said to be Up for Lease — tribecacitizen.com
HT @PublishersLunch The 40,000-square-foot big box store is listed as available, and the company’s Upper East Side location closed last summer.
Will supply chain issues affect the books you want? Depends on what you’re reading.
HT @PublishersWkly Some books are hard to get. Others are widely available. Here’s what’s causing the problem — and what to think about when shopping. Via @PopSci.
The 17-Year-Old Who Invented Science Fiction
bookriot.com
The story of how a 17-year-old named Mary Godwin came to write Frankenstein and in doing so write the first great work of science fiction.
How to Recommend a Book
RT @nytimesbooks Often when people are asking for reading recommendations, what they’re looking for, at least in part, is an opportunity to talk about books with someone else who loves them.
Largest Bondholder Chatham Makes Offer to Acquire Printer RR Donnelley for $7.50 per Share in Cash
Chatham Asset Management, which owns approximately 14.9% of the outstanding common stock and which is the largest bondholder of Chicago-based RR Donnelley & Sons (RRD), has submitted a letter seeking to buy the remaining shares of North America’s largest commercial printing company for $7.50 per share in cash.
Independent Publishers Group acquires UK’s United Independent Distributors
RT @ibpa Independent Publishers Group (IPG) has acquired United Independent Distributors (UID) which includes Marston, Orca Book Services, Turpin, and Eurospan. This will make IPG one of the world’s largest book distributors for indie publishers.
Investment Banker Tells Publishers Buyer Interest Is Strong
RT @CCCPodcastVOC Investor interest in publishers is rising because publishers have a commodity that many businesses covet, Robin Warner told Frankfurt @Book_Fair. “They have the content. They have the storytellers,”
A Bookish Coastal U.S. Road Trip: I-95
bookriot.com
Bangor to Key West. 13 states. Buckle up, because we’ve got cemeteries, old buildings, libraries, and bookstores to visit on this road trip!
Fines for 87,000 overdue library books in Northern Ireland wiped
The phenomenon of Toutiao
HT @BoSacks Have you heard of Toutiao? The 1st major creation of China’s Bytedance (the one who makes TikTok) is a News Aggregator. Users clock in an astounding 73.4 min/day and 85% of users are below 35. #NewsBusiness
Facebook Will Pay French Newspapers for Using Their News
Facebook has struck an agreement with the French press alliance to pay newspapers for using article excerpts.
Dow Jones expands Twitter ad revenue-sharing deal to include more properties and for additional years
For 2 years, Dow Jones sold ads against WSJ videos, posts, and live streams on Twitter as part of Twitter’s Amplify program. They got 1,000% increase in organic views on WSJ content on Twitter. Now they are expanding the deal for another 2 years and adding Barron’s, MarketWatch, and Investor’s Business Daily. Via @digiday
Sony Pictures Entertainment to Sell GSN Games Division to Scopely for $1 Billion
Via @variety #GamingNews
Resources & Opportunities
Free Lower East Side Book Crawl
WRBG Festival | Five Years of Shining a Light on Black Brilliance — www.wellreadblackgirl.org
RT @wellreadblkgirl ICYMI: All #WRBG pre-festival events from 10/26–10/29 are FREE! Make sure to visit https://wellreadblackgirl.org to register and reserve a *virtual* seat to listen to our amazing panelists speak on incredible topics!
FutureBook issues call for publishing utopias — www.thebookseller.com
MT @mollyflatt Do you have a vision for what the future of publishing should look like? Submit a 5-min video showcasing your positive, provocative ideas for how the industry should reset after the pandemic — and win a ticket to #FutureBook21 (IRL or digital)
Narrator Mentorship Program | Penguin Random House Audio — www.penguinrandomhouseaudio.com
MT @RealDanZitt The application for the @PRHAudio Mentorship Program’s January Session is now open! Over the last six months, our team has been working closely with actors who were new to audiobooks, and it has been a very rewarding experience for all. Check it out! #teamPRH
LibraryCon Live! 2021 — www.libraryjournal.com
RT @sljournal Join LJ and SLJ on November 10 for our fifth annual LibraryCon Live! We’re excited to present a day-long celebration of fandom lit, with panels devoted to horror, sci-fi, fantasy, and graphic novels.
Celebrate the 72nd National Book Awards! — www.nationalbook.org
RT @nationalbook Don’t forget to RSVP for the National Book Awards on November 17, hosted by Phoebe Robinson aka @dopequeenpheebs! #NBAwards
The All Ways Black Awards 2021
MT @penguinrandom Join us for the inaugural All Ways Black Awards, celebrating excellence in the Black literary community. RSVP for the free event. #teamPRH
Free Wired virtual conference — www.wired.com
Moderna CEO Stéphane Bancel, digital artist Beeple, scholar Timnit Gebru, actor John Cho, and more will discuss some of the biggest challenges facing humanity. Via @wired
The deadline for the 10th & FINAL 3k Brunel International African Poetry Prize 2022 is Nov 1st.
MT @BernardineEvari Pls RT. The deadline for the 10th & FINAL 3k Brunel International African Poetry Prize 2022 is Nov 1st. Many African poets are now publishing poetry books including the Brunel winners & shortlistees. Time to set up another initiative…
WMG Free Virtual event 10/26
Last chance to sign up for this @WMG_NYC free event. Come for Stacia’s ghoulish demo and stay for spirited book chat, cocktails and costume review.
WMG Virtual Event on Pitching Your Story
Are you a writer looking for tips on pitching story ideas to global or niche digital outlets? Are you a publicist who wants to improve on the success rate of engagement for your press releases? Are you a brand-builder keen to understand how digital media is or is not like pitching to traditional news outlets? Sign up today for WMG’s virtual event on 11/8 from 6:30–7:30pm ET.
Find My Poll Site/View Sample Ballot
MT @BenKallos #EarlyVoting started 10/23! Note, your early voting site is likely different from your Election Day poll site, so make sure to check before you go by visiting http://findmypollsite.vote.nyc
