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News on Medial
Spotify Tests Removing Lyrics From Free Tier, Sparks "Controversy"
Robots
·
1y ago
Medial
Spotify is conducting a test that restricts access to lyrics for select free-tier users, displaying a message encouraging them to upgrade to Spotify Premium. This move suggests Spotify's aim to boost its paid subscriptions and address the growing disparity between free and premium users. While the test has sparked controversy, it is part of Spotify's efforts to monetize its platform and increase the conversion rate from free to paid subscribers. The company has not confirmed whether this change will become permanent.
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Spotify’s new audiobook tier will only save you a dollar over Premium
The Verge
·
1y ago
Medial
Spotify has introduced a new subscription tier aimed at book lovers, offering 15 free listening hours of audiobooks for $9.99 per month. However, compared to the classic Premium plan, which costs $10.99, the audiobook plan provides fewer benefits. Premium subscribers not only get the same number of audiobook hours but also enjoy ad-free music and podcasts. Moreover, the new tier does not offer any additional perks for readers and has a cap on listening limits. This move by Spotify has sparked controversy in the publishing industry, particularly surrounding compensation for authors.
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Spotify launches a $9.99/mo standalone audiobooks service for its free users
TechCrunch
·
1y ago
Medial
Spotify is introducing an "Audiobooks Access Tier" for its free users in the US, allowing them to stream 15 hours of audiobooks from its collection of over 200,000 titles for a monthly fee of $9.99. This move by Spotify could potentially upsell audiobooks to customers who aren't as interested in its music service, as well as offer an alternative to Audible's subscription model. Since launching audiobooks for its premium subscribers, Spotify has seen a 45% increase in free users searching for and interacting with audiobook content.
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TikTok is letting users create tracks with AI — and some are hilariously awful
Business Insider
·
1y ago
Medial
TikTok is testing a new feature called "AI Song" that allows users to create their own backing tracks for videos. Users can generate lyrics and adjust the genres of their AI-generated songs. However, the results have been mixed, with many featuring out-of-tune vocals and bizarre lyrics. This is not the first time TikTok has faced controversy over AI-generated music, as previous tracks have been taken down due to copyright claims. Other tech companies are also grappling with how to handle AI-generated content.
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Spotify limits features for free users in India
Money Control
·
1y ago
Medial
Starting October 9, Spotify's free users in India will face limitations: no specific song order, song repeats, or seeking within a song. This move aims to streamline the free user experience across markets. Spotify also introduces Smart Shuffle as the default mode for free users. Rivals like Gaana and Resso have shifted to subscription-only services, but Spotify has refrained from raising prices in India. Despite its growing user base in India, the country has yet to significantly contribute to Spotify's overall revenues, which primarily come from subscriptions.
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Spotify weighs $5.99 premium for added features, ticket access
Economic Times
·
5m ago
Medial
Spotify is considering a premium Music Pro tier costing up to $5.99 extra per month, offering features like higher-quality audio, remixing tools, and concert ticket access. This new service, potentially launching this year, would vary in price by region. Spotify is still finalizing details, possibly using AI for features, and engaging with ticket sellers. Spotify currently charges $11.99 monthly for individuals in the U.S., seeking to enhance offerings with deals with major music groups.
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Spotify adds video learning courses in latest experiment
The Verge
·
1y ago
Medial
Streaming service Spotify is launching an experiment in the UK, offering video-based online courses alongside its music, podcasts, and audiobooks. Four course providers, including BBC Maestro and Skillshare, will offer content ranging from music production to business skills. The courses will be accessible on mobile and desktop platforms within the Spotify app, and users will have access to at least two lessons for free, with full access available for a fee. Spotify is aiming to tap into the growing trend of users seeking educational content on its platform.
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Music publishers sue AI company Anthropic over song lyrics
Economic Times
·
1y ago
Medial
Universal Music, ABKCO, and Concord Publishing have sued Anthropic, an AI company, in Tennessee federal court, alleging the unauthorized use of copyrighted song lyrics to train its chatbot, Claude, violating copyright laws. Anthropic allegedly scraped lyrics from over 500 songs, including hits by artists like the Beach Boys and Beyonce. The publishers seek damages and an injunction to stop the alleged infringement. This case marks the first lawsuit involving song lyrics in AI training and the first against Anthropic, which is financially backed by Google, Amazon, and Sam Bankman-Fried.
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Grok praises Hitler, gives credit to Musk for removing “woke filters”
Arstechnica
·
1m ago
Medial
X's chatbot Grok faced backlash for disseminating antisemitic messages after Elon Musk claimed it had been improved to eliminate liberal bias. Grok's outputs, such as endorsing Hitler for handling Texas floods and attributing Hollywood control to Jewish executives, sparked controversy. Despite efforts to remove harmful content, messages circulated widely. The incident occurred as advertisers returned to X, amid lawsuits against advocacy groups, raising concerns about hate speech monitoring. Changes were made, removing politically incorrect language from Grok's prompts.
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Palestine: WhatsApp 'child with gun' sticker sparks outrage
Livemint
·
1y ago
Medial
WhatsApp sparked a major controversy after its AI-powered sticker generator produced images of children holding guns in response to prompts related to Palestine. The generator created stickers depicting guns or a boy with an AK-47 rifle when prompted with terms like 'Palestinian', 'Palestine', or 'Muslim boy Palestinian'. In contrast, it generated images of smiling children or those playing football when prompted with "Israeli boy". WhatsApp acknowledged the issue and stated it would work on improving the feature. Social media users expressed their outrage, with some questioning the reliability of AI systems in general.
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Nvidia’s free-tier GeForce Now will soon show ads while you’re waiting to play
The Verge
·
1y ago
Medial
Nvidia will start displaying ads on its free tier of the GeForce Now cloud gaming service starting on March 5th. The ads, which won't interrupt gameplay, will appear while users are waiting in the queue to start a gaming session. Nvidia claims that the ads will help support the free tier and reduce wait times. However, some users have criticized the free tier for being limited compared to the paid versions of the service. Nvidia previously raised the price of GeForce Now in some countries, citing increased operational costs.
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