Tech, Business, Finance and Everything Else
A long time ago I wrote about Shazam and how they stopped producing the software as a Windows app.
Today I have come across the updated Shazam Chrome Extension.
Its available here in the Chrome app store – and already has over 3 million+ users.
No long will you come across a website and hear a track playing in the background and not know who released that track.
Elon Musk said on Saturday that Twitter’s cash flow remains negative, due to a nearly 50% drop in advertising revenue and a heavy debt load. Musk had previously said that he expected Twitter to reach cash flow positive by June.
“We’re still negative cash flow, due to ~50% drop in advertising revenue plus heavy debt load,” Musk said in a tweet. “Need to reach positive cash flow before we have the luxury of anything else.”
Twitter’s advertising revenue has been declining for several quarters. In the first quarter of 2023, advertising revenue fell 19% year-over-year. The decline in advertising revenue is likely due to a number of factors, including the ongoing war in Ukraine, rising inflation, and the increasing popularity of other social media platforms.
Twitter’s debt load is also a major concern. The company has about $13 billion in debt, which it used to finance Musk’s acquisition of the company. Musk has said that he plans to reduce Twitter’s debt load, but it is unclear how he plans to do so.
The combination of negative cash flow and a heavy debt load puts Twitter in a precarious financial position. If Twitter is unable to turn things around, it could be forced to sell itself or file for bankruptcy.
What does this mean for Twitter’s future?
The news that Twitter’s cash flow remains negative is a major setback for the company. It is unclear how Twitter will be able to turn things around, and there is a real risk that the company could be forced to sell itself or file for bankruptcy.
Musk has said that he is committed to turning Twitter around, but it is unclear how he plans to do so. He has proposed a number of changes, including reducing the company’s debt load, making the platform more user-friendly, and cracking down on spam and bots.
However, it is not clear if these changes will be enough to save Twitter. The company is facing a number of challenges, including the decline in advertising revenue, the increasing popularity of other social media platforms, and the ongoing war in Ukraine.
It is too early to say what the future holds for Twitter. However, the news that the company’s cash flow remains negative is a major setback, and it is clear that Twitter is facing some serious challenges.
Over the years there have been a lot of companies try to build IMDB for the music industry. However, none have been able to get to scale.
I have a theory behind this…
IMDB is all about movies – in which is long form content and the audience spend at least a few hours of their life focused on watching something – for either entertainment or educational purposes. Spending that amount of time watching one thing – means the customer is willing to really dedicate time into it.
Music is the opposite.
Music is short form content that is consumed in a matter of minutes and then the consumer moves onto the next one. As technology improves and artists now have the ability to distribute their music to streaming services via distributors (like RouteNote) – it means there is also more music being created now than ever before. This type of content means that the customer isn’t as engaged or consumed by the content. Thus, not willing to spend a great deal of time to research about the music they are consuming.
We built Tunedex (via RouteNote) to help solve this problem for music, but we have since realised that this isn’t really a problem.
A group of designers have filed a lawsuit against Shein, the Chinese fast-fashion firm, alleging that the company has been using artificial intelligence (AI) to steal their designs. The designers — Krista Perry, Larissa Martinez, and Jay Baron — claim that Shein’s AI algorithm is capable of identifying and copying popular designs from independent artists, and that the company has been using this technology to mass-produce and sell counterfeit versions of these designs.
The lawsuit, which was filed in federal court in New York, alleges that Shein’s practices violate the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO). The designers are seeking damages for copyright infringement, trademark infringement, and unfair competition.
Shein has not yet responded to the lawsuit. However, the company has a history of being accused of stealing designs from independent artists. In 2021, Shein was sued by the American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA) for allegedly copying designs from AA member brands. The AAFA lawsuit is still pending.
The lawsuit against Shein is the latest in a growing number of cases alleging that AI is being used to facilitate copyright infringement. In recent years, there have been a number of high-profile cases in which AI-powered tools have been used to create counterfeit versions of popular products, including sneakers, handbags, and luxury watches.
The use of AI to steal designs raises a number of legal and ethical concerns. For one, it can be difficult to prove that a design has been copied by AI. Additionally, the use of AI to create counterfeit products can have a significant impact on the livelihoods of independent artists and designers.
The lawsuit against Shein is a significant development in the fight against AI-enabled copyright infringement. If the designers are successful, it could send a message to other companies that using AI to steal designs is not acceptable.
Here are some additional details from the lawsuit:
The lawsuit is still pending, and it is unclear how it will be resolved. However, the case raises important questions about the use of AI in the fashion industry and the potential for this technology to be used to facilitate copyright infringement.
Bird Mobility has to be the biggest bomb of Venture Capital in the past 10 years.
The company was founded in 2017 – and raised $2.25 billion in venture capital before going public in June 2021. Since that time it hasn’t really gone to plan in any way – market, valuation, revenues, operations, etc.
At todays date – Bird which is public on the NYSE under the ticker – BRDS – has a Market Cap of $26 million.
It might as well be worthless at this point!
Distrokid, one of the leading music distribution services, has recently announced a 15% price increase across all of its plans. This news has come as a surprise to many of its customers, who are now left wondering how this change will impact their music careers.
Distrokid’s previous pricing structure was based on an annual subscription fee, with different plans offering various features and services. With this recent increase, the cost of the basic plan will go up from $19.99 to $22.99, while the Musician Plus plan will increase from $35.99 to $41.49 per year.
Distrokid has cited several reasons for this price increase, including rising overhead costs and the need to invest in new technology and features to stay competitive in the music distribution market. Despite these reasons, some customers are concerned that the price hike will disproportionately impact smaller independent artists and labels.
Yoast is a popular search engine optimization (SEO) plugin for WordPress websites. The plugin has been around for over a decade and has gained a large following among WordPress users. But just how many people are currently using the Yoast WordPress plugin?
According to WordPress.org, as of June 2021, the Yoast plugin has been downloaded over 346 million times. This staggering number means that Yoast is the most popular SEO plugin for WordPress by a wide margin.
But downloads don’t necessarily equate to active users. To get a better estimate of the number of people currently using Yoast, we can look at the number of active installations. According to the WordPress plugin repository, there are currently over 5 million active installations of the Yoast plugin.
This number is constantly changing as new users discover the plugin and existing users switch to different SEO tools. However, it’s safe to say that Yoast is a widely used and trusted plugin among WordPress website owners.
So, why is Yoast so popular? The plugin offers a range of features to help website owners optimize their content for search engines. These features include on-page analysis, keyword optimization, XML sitemap creation, and more. Additionally, Yoast is easy to use and offers helpful tutorials and support for users.
In conclusion, the Yoast WordPress plugin is currently being used by over 5 million website owners. Its popularity can be attributed to its user-friendly interface and robust set of SEO features. If you’re looking to improve your website’s search engine rankings, it’s worth considering Yoast as a valuable tool in your SEO arsenal.
Costco Wholesale Corporation, commonly known as Costco, is one of the largest retail giants in the world. It operates a chain of membership-only warehouse clubs and is known for its low prices on a wide range of products. While Costco is a publicly traded company, it is always interesting to know how much cash it has on hand.
According to its financial reports, as of the end of the fiscal year 2020, Costco had a total cash and cash equivalents of approximately $8.2 billion. This is a significant increase from the previous year when it reported $4.9 billion in cash and cash equivalents.
Costco’s healthy cash position can be attributed to its strong financial performance and its ability to generate cash flows from its operations. In the fiscal year 2020, Costco reported a net income of $4 billion, an increase of 9.7% compared to the previous year.
It is also worth noting that Costco has a history of returning value to its shareholders through dividends and share buybacks. In the fiscal year 2020, the company returned approximately $3.6 billion to its shareholders in the form of dividends and share buybacks.
In conclusion, Costco is a financially healthy company with a strong cash position. Its ability to generate cash flows from its operations and return value to shareholders makes it a desirable investment for many investors.
Wise.com (formerly known as TransferWise) is an online money transfer platform that has become increasingly popular in recent years. One of the reasons for its popularity is its low fees, which have made it an attractive option for people looking to send money abroad.
However, with the recent changes to the fees structure, it’s important for users to be aware of the current fees before making any transactions. Here’s an overview of the current Wise.com fees in the UK:
Wise.com charges a transfer fee, which is based on the amount you are sending and the currency you are sending it in. The fee is usually a percentage of the total amount being sent and can range from 0.35% to 2% of the total amount.
Wise.com uses the mid-market exchange rate, which is the rate that banks use when trading currencies with each other. This means that the exchange rate you get is usually better than what you would get from a bank or other money transfer service.
In addition to the transfer fee, Wise.com may also charge additional fees for certain transactions. For example, if you are sending money to a bank account that is not in your name, you may be charged an additional fee. Similarly, if you are sending money to certain countries, you may be charged an extra fee due to local regulations.
Overall, Wise.com fees are still relatively low compared to traditional banks and other money transfer services. However, it’s important to be aware of the current fees before making any transactions. By doing so, you can ensure that you are getting the best deal possible and avoiding any unnecessary fees.
Uber, a ride-hailing giant, has become a popular choice for those looking for a quick and affordable ride in cities worldwide. However, if you live in a small regional town in the UK, you may find that Uber is not available in your area. In this blog, we will explore why Uber doesn’t enter small regional towns in the UK.
One of the main reasons why Uber doesn’t enter small regional towns in the UK is due to the lack of demand. Uber operates in locations where there is a high demand for their services. This is because Uber’s business model relies on having a high volume of rides to generate revenue. Small regional towns may not have enough people or traffic to make it worthwhile for Uber to operate in those areas.
Another reason why Uber doesn’t enter small regional towns in the UK is due to competition. In small towns, there may be local taxi services that dominate the market. These taxi services may have an established customer base and have been serving the local community for many years. For Uber to enter these markets, they would need to compete with these established taxi services, which may not be financially viable.
Uber also needs a reliable infrastructure to operate. In small towns, the infrastructure may not be developed enough to support Uber’s operations. For example, there may not be enough drivers or vehicles available to meet the demand for Uber services. Additionally, the roads and transportation systems in small towns may not be as developed as those in larger cities, which could make it difficult for Uber to operate efficiently.
In conclusion, Uber doesn’t enter small regional towns in the UK due to several reasons, including a lack of demand, competition, and infrastructure. While Uber may not be available in these areas, there are still other transportation options available, including local taxi services and public transportation.
DistroKid is a popular music distribution service that allows independent artists to release their music on various online platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, and more. However, many artists have expressed frustration with DistroKid’s pricing structure and how it doesn’t align with the needs of independent artists.
DistroKid’s pricing structure is based on a yearly subscription fee, which ranges from $19.99 to $79.99 per year, depending on the plan chosen. While this may seem reasonable at first glance, it becomes problematic for artists who release a lot of music. For instance, an artist who releases a single every month would have to pay $239.88 per year just to distribute their music. This cost doesn’t include additional fees for services like YouTube monetization or Shazam verification.
Moreover, DistroKid charges an additional fee for each release an artist makes. While the first release is included in the subscription fee, subsequent releases cost $4.95 each. For artists who release multiple singles or albums per year, this can quickly add up and become a significant financial burden.
Another issue with DistroKid’s pricing structure is that it doesn’t offer any flexibility for artists. For instance, an artist who releases only one or two songs per year still has to pay the same subscription fee as an artist who releases multiple albums. This lack of flexibility makes the service less accessible to independent artists who are just starting their careers and may not have a lot of income.
Furthermore, DistroKid’s pricing structure doesn’t align with the revenue streams that independent artists rely on. For instance, streaming services like Spotify pay artists based on the number of streams their music receives. However, DistroKid’s pricing structure is based on a fixed subscription fee, which means that independent artists may not be able to recoup their costs if their music doesn’t receive a lot of streams.
In conclusion, DistroKid’s pricing structure doesn’t align with the needs and realities of independent artists. While the service may be useful for some artists, it can quickly become a financial burden for those who release a lot of music or who are just starting their careers. Independent artists should explore other distribution services that offer more flexibility and better align with their revenue streams.
Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a field of machine learning that involves creating machines and algorithms that can produce new and original content. From art and music to literature and video games, generative AI is changing the way we think about creativity. Here are the top 10 generative AI projects that are pushing the boundaries of what’s possible:
As generative AI continues to advance, we can expect to see even more exciting projects and applications in the coming years. From art and music to medicine and architecture, the possibilities are endless.
Apple Inc. is one of the largest and most successful technology companies in the world. The company is known for its innovative products, including the iPhone, iPad, and Mac, which have revolutionized the way we communicate and work. However, one of the most interesting aspects of Apple’s success is its cash reserves.
As of the end of the second quarter of 2021, Apple had a staggering $193.8 billion in cash reserves. This is a mind-boggling amount of money, and it’s hard to imagine just how much it really is. To put this in perspective, this is enough money to buy roughly 3,876,000 Tesla Model S Plaid cars, or to pay the yearly tuition fees of over 2.6 million Harvard students.
So, why does Apple have so much cash? Well, there are a number of reasons. First, Apple is an incredibly profitable company. In the second quarter of 2021 alone, the company generated $89.6 billion in revenue, with a net income of $23.6 billion. This level of profitability allows Apple to generate significant amounts of cash each quarter.
Second, Apple has a history of being very conservative with its spending. The company is known for being very disciplined when it comes to investing and spending money. This means that Apple has historically been able to generate significant amounts of free cash flow, which it can then use to build up its cash reserves.
Finally, Apple has also historically used its cash to invest in research and development, as well as to acquire other companies. This strategy has allowed Apple to stay at the cutting edge of technology and to continue to produce innovative products that consumers love.
In conclusion, Apple’s cash reserves are truly staggering, and they are a testament to the company’s incredible success and profitability. While some may argue that Apple should do more with its cash, there is no doubt that the company’s conservative approach to spending has helped it to build up a truly impressive war chest.
To add your songs to RouteNote, you first need to create an account on their website. Once you have an account, you can log in and go to the dashboard. From there, you will see an option to “Create New Release.” Click on that and fill in the necessary details like the album or single name, artist name, and release date. Then, you can upload your music files and artwork. After that, you will need to select the streaming services you want your music to be distributed to. RouteNote offers both free and paid options, so choose the one that suits your needs. Once you have completed all the steps, RouteNote will review your release, and if everything is in order, they will distribute your music to the selected services.
If you want to remove your songs from RouteNote, you can do so by going to your dashboard and selecting the option to contact the support team. The support team will do all the heavy lifting and you simply need to email them and ask them to remove the releases in question.
Findaway, an audiobook seller owned by Spotify, has announced that it will no longer take a 20 percent cut of royalties for titles sold on its DIY Voices platform if the sales are made on Spotify. In a blog post published on Monday, Findaway stated that it would “pass on cost-saving efficiencies” from its integration with the streaming service. Last summer, Spotify finalized its $123 million acquisition of Findaway in a move to solidify its position in the audiobooks business.
While authors can upload their audiobooks onto Findaway’s Voices platform for free, the company normally uses an 80/20 pricing structure where Findaway takes a 20 percent fee on all royalties earned. However, that fee is applied after sales platforms take their own 50 percent cut on the list price. Under the old revenue split, an author who sold a $10 audiobook would have to give $5 to Spotify and $1 to Findaway. But moving forward, that same author will no longer have to pay the $1 distribution fee to Findaway when a sale is made through Spotify.
Amazing Peter Lynch interview on Charlie Rose in 2013.
Peter Lynch is a legendary investor – who makes investing seem very ease with simple and affect methods.
Morningstar is an American financial services firm. It provides an array of investment research and investment management services. You can take a look at a company’s financials, valuation, operating performance, dividend, ownership and much more.
This site allows you to track the portfolios of the best investors in the world. Think about Warren Buffett and Terry Smith. You can also take a look at which stocks are bought the most by these superinvestors, which insiders are buying their own stocks.
Yahoo Finance provides you with financial news, data and commentary including stock quotes, press releases, financial reports, and original content. It’s a great website to check daily stock news or create a watchlist.
If you are looking for stock analysis, Seeking Alpha is the place to be. You can follow the stocks you want and you’ll receive an email each time someone publishes an article about the companies you’re interested in.
You can follow the stocks you want and you’ll receive an email each time someone publishes an article about the companies you’re interested in.
If you want to learn about a certain investment topic, Investopedia is the place to be. It features articles, tutorials, videos, and other content designed to help individuals make informed financial decisions.
It features articles, tutorials, videos, and other content designed to help individuals make informed financial decisions.
This morning we posted about Believe Digital acquiring Sentric Music Publishing.
I wanted to provide a little more context about the acquisition.
Sentric – Companies House accounts – https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/05721428/filing-history
2021 Year End Numbers:
Acquisition price was $51 million.
It feels like this was a good price on both counts. Utopia obviously sold Sentric at a discount, but they really need to get rid of the asset (they only purchased a year ago). Believe got a good asset in a new market – at a reasonable multiple.
Believe Digital has acquired music publishing company Sentric for $51 million from Utopia Music.
This is a great move from Believe – and as Utopia have been in a lot of issues with debt recently – it feels like a bit of a fire sale.
“The acquisition of SENTRIC is the first step for BELIEVE in the roll-out of a global and comprehensive publishing offer. The growth and digital transformation of the songwriters’ market is opening-up many opportunities. We are excited to be able to immediately expand the services we provide to our existing TUNECORE clients with SENTRIC’s best-in-class royalty collection service, while starting to work on future innovative products and services for all of Believe’s songwriters and publishers.”
BELIEVE CEO DENIS LADEGAILLERIE said,
Believe is currently looking for more acquisitions – they normally focus around record labels, but this put Believe into a completely new market with a strong TAM.
A lot of people are talking about Banks at present with the recent collapse of Silicon Valley Bank and others.
The banking sector is always an interesting topic and they are actually very interesting businesses.
They are in the business of using other people’s money to generate more money and try to add value through different services. If everyone takes their money out of a bank all at the same time – then all the banks in the world don’t have enough reserves to cover this.
However, with the death of the local branch – it seems now there is a growing opportunity for banks to slim down their staffing requirements, capital expenditures and simply products and services to focus on value driven opportunities.
It will be interesting in the coming months if there are any more banking collapses, but its an industry that is going to be heavily upset by the new online only banks focused on a much wider variety of services – at a fraction of the high street bank prices.