Amazon
Page: 12
All products and services featured are independently chosen by editors. However, Billboard may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.
Besides furthering your learning, getting an education comes with perks — including access to many, many bundles and discounts. No matter if you’re in college or continuing your education, some streaming services offer discounted prices on their services, so you can finally catch up on The Kardashians’ without having to snag someone else’s password.
Explore
Explore
See latest videos, charts and news
See latest videos, charts and news
Most of these streaming services for students provide a free trial beforehand, allowing you to save money before committing to the service. After your free trial ends you’ll be charged a reduced, student-only rate. To snag even deeper discounts, some streaming services offer bundle options, giving you reduced rates to premium and ad-free versions of their platform.
It’s easy to qualify, too! All you need is a school email that ends in “.edu” to verify your student status, then you can stream all you want. Rather hunt for these deals yourself, we gathered up the best streaming services for students below.
Consider Amazon Prime your one-stop destination, whether it’s for last-minute backpacks or some travel necessities. Besides deals and discounts, students can also take advantage of its immense Prime Video library all for $7.49/month — and that’s after a six month free-trial.
Prime Student
$7.49/month after six months $14.99/month 50% off% OFF
Prime Student gives you all the perks of a Prime membership, but at half the cost — literally! As long as you’re a student, you’ll get access to the massive collection of Prime Originals that includes Citadel, Daisy Jones & The Six, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Swarm, The Powder, Harlem, Invincible, The Boys, Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan, Fleabag, The Summer I Turned Pretty, The Wheel of Time, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, The Legend of Vox Machina.
You can also add additional channels such as Max, Starz and Showtime channels and enjoy even more shows and movies all in one spot. Aside from Prime Video access, Student Prime members get access to Prime Music, Prime Gaming and Prime Reading in addition to free same-day, one-day or two-day delivery on millions of items, exclusive deals, groceries, savings on prescriptions and more.
Another single platform to consider is Apple TV+, which offers a reduced price for students at just $5.99/month for up to 48 months. You’ll also get access to Apple Music’s vast library of songs, playlists, artists and more. To take advantage of this perk, you’ll have to verify your student status through UNiDAYS.
Apple TV+ Student Membership
$5.99/month after 30 days $10.99/month 45% off% OFF
Apple TV+‘s student discount will give you access to exclusive shows and movies such as Ted Lasso, Central Park, Dickinson, Platonic, The Crowded Room, Severance, Loot, High Desert, The Last Thing He Told Me, Still: A Michael J. Fox Movies, Silo, Ghosted, Shrinking, The Problem with John Stewart, Bad Sisters, Schmigadoon!, The Morning Show and more on Apple TV+.
You can stream Apple TV+ on the Apple TV app, iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Mac, and popular smart TVs such as Samsung, LG, Sony, VIZIO, TCL, Toshiba and others, along with Roku and Amazon Fire TV devices, Chromecast with Google TV. Apple TV+ is available on PlayStation and Xbox gaming consoles as well.
Disney+ doesn’t have an exclusive student offer, but there is are wallet-friendly packages that you can take advantage of — especially through its bundles.
The basic plan is only $7.99/month (or $79.99/year) with ads, but if you want a no-ad experience, you can snag a Disney+ Premium plan for just $10.99/month.
Besides that, the streaming service offers multiple bundled deals that can save you money on Disney+, Hulu and ESPN+. Rather than splurge on all three service separately, this deal will provide all three at one cost starting at $13/month.
Disney+ subscribers can access the ever-expanding streaming library in stunning 4K and download titles to watch on the go. Stream on up to four different devices simultaneously on your TV, laptop, smartphone, notebook or tablet device — or host a virtual movie night with up to six friends via GroupWatch.
Disney+ is the dedicated streaming destination for must-watch, commercial free content from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars and National Geographic.
Users will find thousands of hours’ worth of movies and TV series including Peter Pan & Wendy, Muppets Mayhem, Avatar: Way of the Water, American Born Chinese, Ed Sheeran: The Sum of It All, The Prouder Family: Louder & Prouder, WandaVision, Moon Knight, The Mandalorian, Andor, Loki, The Book of Boba Fett, The Beatles Get Back, Hocus Pocus 2, The Simpsons, Welcome to Earth and Called to the Wild are included in the massive Disney+ streaming library.
Hulu Student Plan
$1.99/month $7.99/month 75% off% OFF
Hulu is offering a student discount for a total steal — like 75% off steal. For just $1.99/month you can get access to the ad-supported plan and streaming service’s vast library of Hulu Originals, TV series and movies — and all for less than the cost of a cup of coffee.
Both current and new subscribers are eligible for the student discount and can look forward to watching Only Murders in the Building, The Beautiful Things, The Kardashians, How I Met Your Father, Dollface, The Dropout, Nine Perfect Strangers, The Handmaid’s Tale, Not Okay, Prey, White Men Can’t Jump and other Hulu originals, along with most new episodes from network TV and cable shows the day after they air.
Paramount+ is offering a stellar discount for students providing it’s ad-supported plan for 25% off a month. To qualify you have to be a part of an accredited college or Title IV higher education institution (high school students are not eligible).
Paramount+ Student Plan
$3.74/month after 7-days $4.99/month 25% off% OFF
Whether you’re a new subscriber or current member of Paramount+, the streamer is providing 25% off its Essential Plan dropping it from $4.99/month to just $3.74/month. Just verify your student status through the streamer and you’ll be able to enjoy the discounted cost.
The student discounted subscription will let you stream tens of thousands of episodes and movies including exclusive programs from BET to MTV, Comedy Central, Nickelodeon and The Smithsonian Channel. The lineup of Paramount+ series includes Fatal Attraction, The Family Stone, School Spirits, Star Trek: Picard, 1923, 1883, Mayor of Kingstown, Seal Team, Star Trek Discovery, RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars, Why Women Kill, Before I Forget, iCarly, The Tony Awards and Rugrats.
Additionally, Paramount+ subscribers can stream new movies and special such as Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves, Scream VI, 80 for Brady, Top Gun: Maverick, and Babylon.
All products and services featured are independently chosen by editors. However, Billboard may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.
It hasn’t even been a week since Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse dropped into theaters June 2, but the film has already received rave reviews. Fans who can’t get enough of the friendly neighborhood Spider-Man have will be pleased to know the film is officially available for preorder on Prime Video for $19.99.
Since the movie just came out in theaters, Spider-Man merch has become all the rage — with a new book featuring art from the movie already a No. 1 release on Amazon. The digital release date for the film has not yet been announced, but since movie theaters get at least a 45-day exclusive theatrical window that means that’s the minimum amount of time you’ll have to wait until it’s released.
‘Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse’ The Art of the Movie: Where to…
06/05/2023
In the meantime, you can preorder Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse and the moment it’s released the movie will automatically be added into your Prime Video library to stream as you please.
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse takes place a year after its predecessor, with the story focusing on Miles Morales (Shameik Moore), and his journey across the multiverse after reuniting with Gwen Stacy (Hailee Steinfeld). Throughout this new adventure he’ll come face-to-face with new versions of Spider-Man as well as an aspiring villain called The Spot (played by Jason Schwartzman).
How to Watch Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse From Home
To catch all the web-slinging action as soon as its available on VOD, you’ll need to pre-order the movie for $19.99 on Prime Video.
Spider-Man Across the Spider-Verse
$19.99
Interested in joining Amazon Prime? Currently, Amazon has a free trial promo for 30 days, so you can test it out before committing. Afterward, you’ll pay $14.99/month (or $139/year). With a Prime membership you’ll be able to customize your viewing experience and add channels to Prime Video like Max, Paramount+, Starz and Showtime. That doesn’t even include the massive library of Prime Originals, including Citadel, Daisy Jones & The Six, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, The Boys, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, The Summer I Turned Pretty and many, many more.
Along with video content, you can take advantage of access to Prime Music, Prime Gaming and Prime Reading. Plus, as a Prime member you’ll receive free same-day, one-day or two-day delivery on millions of items, exclusive deals, groceries, savings on prescriptions and more. Amazon also provides 50% off Prime memberships for qualifying students and EBT/Medicaid recipients.
If you’d prefer to own a hardcopy, then you can preorder the 4K, Blue-ray and DVD version below.
Amazon
Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse – 4K Ultra-HD + Blu-Ray + Digital Edition
$32.99
This version of the movie is $32.99 for a 4k-Ultra/Blue-ray/digital combo and $40.99 for Blue-ray edition at Amazon. These editions are also also available to buy on Walmart.
If you want a double-feature night, then you can score a two-in-one Blu-ray edition featuring Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse and Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse on Walmart.
Walmart
Spider-Man Across the Spider-Verse/Spider-Man Into The Spider-Verse Multi-Feature – Blu-Ray + Digital Copy
$29.96 $57.62 48% off% OFF
Watch both movies together in this double-feature edition that includes both films in one convenient case.
While you wait for Spider-Man Across the Spider-Verse to release digitally and on DVD, you can rewatch the first movie, which is available in a steelbook edition in 4k Ultra-HD, Blue-ray and standard DVD. Plus, browse the new Miles Morales merch Amazon is offering while it’s still in stock.
Amazon
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse – SteelBook 3-Disc Set Blu-ray 3D + Blu-ray + Bonus Disc
$9.52
Check out the trailer below.
All products and services featured are independently chosen by editors. However, Billboard may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.
Did you know Amazon has an entire department dedicated to luxury goods from Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Chanel, Yves St. Laurent, Prada, Fendi, Dior and more? And if you dig hard enough, you’ll can major deals on top brands.
Right now, Amazon Luxury is offering up to 50% off accessories, including shoes, sunglasses, bags and other must-haves from designers like Giuseppe Zanotti, Oscar de La Renta, Ellie Saab, Sergio Hudson, Studio 189, Adriana Degreas and Christoper Kane.
Dua Lipa & Versace’s Highly Anticipated Collection Just Dropped: Here’s What to…
05/31/2023
Amazon’s Luxury department is a one-stop shop for higher-priced items from designers that you’d find in luxury stores such as Neiman Marcus, Berdgorf Goodman and Saks Fifth Ave. Shop ready-to-wear looks, beauty essentials, jewelry, watches and other accessories along with lots of “pre-loved” handbags from Louis Vuitton, Chanel Hermès (yes, you can actually buy a Birkin bag at Amazon for around $16,000).
Alexandre Birman, Annoushkha, CVC Stones, Edward Bess, Dundas, Rolex, Sensi Studio, Jennifer Meyer, Linda Farrow and Mark Cross are some of the other luxury designers available at Amazon. To get you started, we curated a list of items to shop for the season (click here to launch your Amazon Prime membership and enjoy free shipping).
See below for purses, dresses, swimwear and other items to shop for summer, including sale items up to 60% off and pre-owned designer bags.
Amazon
CHANEL, Pre-Loved Yellow Caviar Lunch Box Vanity, Yellow
$4,150.00
Made from Caviar leather, this vintage mid-90s Chanel Lunch Box vanity features the brand’s signature interlocking “CC” embroidery, gold-plated logo hardware and a leather shoulder strap in addition to the top handle.
Adriana Degreas,Fig Tricolor Strapless Bikini, Purple/Gold
$130.00 $315.00 59% OFF
It’s that time of year again. With summer less than a month away, now would be a good time to stock up swimsuits and bikinis. The purple and gold bikini pictured above take its design inspiration from ’70s swimwear — and it’s almost out of stock!
Amazon
Giuseppe Zanotti, Brett Reptile-Print Flats, 6, Gold
$175.00 $350.00 50% OFF
These Giuseppe Zanotti reptile-print flats are available in gold, silver and black (sizes 6-17). Click here to shop GZ sneakers on sale for up to 50% off and here for GZ Brett Glitter Flats ($175).
Amazon
Yves Saint Laurent, Pre-Loved Black Calfskin Kate Tassel Medium, Black
$2,450.00
A chic edition to your purse collection, the YSL Kate silhouette shoulder bag is crafted from smooth calfskin leather and features a gold-tone chain-link strap with a chain tassel fixture at the center.
Amazon
Patbo, Tropicalia Bandeau Bikini Top, XL, Island Blue
$87.00 $145.00 40% OFF
This bikin is available in island blue and harbour pink — tops and bottoms sold separately.
Amazon
Sergio Hudson, Slip Dress, 6, Leopard
$567.00 $945.00 40% OFF
Hit the town in a slinky, Sergio Rossi slip dress — which is available in leopard print as well as black, fuchsia, purple and terracotta.
Amazon
CHANEL, Pre-Loved Pink Chevron Lambskin Boy Bag Small, Pink
$5,500.00
Chanel’s timeless, small Boy Bag is made from pink lambskin leather with chevron quilting and finished with gold-tone hardware.
Amazon
Patbo, Tropicalia Long Sleeve Mini Dress, L, Harbour Pink
$375.00 $625.00 40% OFF
Get tropical in a lovely PatBo long sleeve dress available in pink or black and sizes ranging from XS-XL.
Amazon
Louis Vuitton, Pre-Loved Damier Ebene Weekender MM, Brown
$1,895.00
Heading on a trip? Louis Vuitton weekender bags typically retail for around $2,500 and up, but this pre-owned version is under $2,000.
Amazon
Adriana Degreas, Montaigne Cut-Out Midi Dress, S, Off White
$518.00 $740.00 30% OFF
A white dress is a summer staple. This Adriana DeGreas Cut-Out Midi Dress features a halter-neck chain and a side split.
A group of corporate Amazon workers upset about the company’s environmental impact, recent layoffs and a return-to-office mandate is planning a walkout at the company’s Seattle headquarters Wednesday.
The lunchtime protest comes a week after Amazon’s annual shareholder meeting and a month after a policy took effect requiring workers to return to the office three days per week.
“We respect our employees’ rights to express their opinions,” the company said in a statement.
As of Wednesday morning, more than 1,900 employees had pledged to walk out around the world, with about 900 in Seattle, according to Amazon Employees for Climate Justice, a climate change advocacy group founded by Amazon workers. While some plan to gather at the Amazon Spheres — a four-story structure in downtown Seattle that from the outside looks like three connected glass orbs — others will participate remotely.
Some employees have complained that Amazon has been slow to address its impact on climate change. Amazon, which relies on fossil fuels to power the planes, trucks and vans that ship packages all over the world, has an enormous carbon footprint. Amazon workers have been vocal in criticizing some of the company’s practices.
In an annual statement to investors, Amazon said it aims to deploy 100,000 electric delivery vehicles by 2030 and reach net-zero carbon by 2040. But walkout organizers contend the company must do more and commit to zero emissions by 2030.
“While we all would like to get there tomorrow, for companies like ours who consume a lot of power, and have very substantial transportation, packaging, and physical building assets, it’ll take time to accomplish,” Brad Glasser, an Amazon spokesperson, said in a statement.
Glasser said there has also been a good energy on the company’s South Lake Union campus and at its other urban centers since more employees returned to the office. More than 20,000 workers, however, signed a petition urging Amazon to reconsider the return-to-office mandate.
“As it pertains to the specific topics this group of employees is raising,” Glasser said, “we’ve explained our thinking in different forums over the past few months and will continue to do so.”
In a February memo, Amazon CEO Andy Jassy said the company made its decision to return corporate employees to the office at least three days a week after observing what worked during the pandemic. Among other things, he said senior leadership watched how staff performed and talked to leaders at other companies. He said they concluded employees tended to be more engaged in person and collaborate more easily.
In a note asking Amazon employees to pledge their participation in the walkout, organizers said Amazon “must return autonomy to its teams, who know their employees and customers best, to make the best decision on remote, in-person, or hybrid work, and to its employees to choose a team which enables them to work the way they work best.”
The walkout follows widespread cost-cutting at Amazon, where layoffs have affected workers in advertising, human resources, gaming, stores, devices and Amazon Web Services, the company’s cloud computing division. The company has cut 27,000 jobs since November.
Like other tech companies, including Facebook parent Meta and Google parent Alphabet, Amazon ramped up hiring during the pandemic to meet the demand from homebound Americans who were increasingly shopping online to keep themselves safe from the virus.
Amazon’s workforce, in warehouses and offices, doubled to more than 1.6 million people in about two years. But demand slowed as the worst of the pandemic eased. The company began pausing or canceling its warehouse expansion plans last year.
Amid growing anxiety over the potential for a recession, Amazon in the past few months shut down a subsidiary that’s been selling fabrics for nearly 30 years, shuttered Amazon Care, its hybrid virtual, in-home care service, and closed Amazon Smile, a philanthropic program.
All products and services featured are independently chosen by editors. However, Billboard may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.
Thinking about switching from cable to a streaming platform? Cutting the cord is a lot easier than you might think and can save you more on your monthly bill than certain basic cable plans.
Explore
Explore
See latest videos, charts and news
See latest videos, charts and news
For TV lovers who want to make the leap to streaming, we’re breaking down some of the best platforms for live TV. Check below for a roundup of streaming options that range from $25 a month up to $150 a month. The services recommended below offer month-to-month subscription plans that can be canceled at any time.
From Fubo to Peacock: Best Streaming Services for Live TV
Though major league streamers like Amazon Prime Video, Netflix, Paramount+ produce mostly on-demand content, YouTube TV, Sling TV and Philo, and DirectTV Stream are some of the more affordable options for live content.
If you’re on a tight budget, Philo TV is the cheapest among the plans on our list at $25/month after a one-week free trial. Stream 70+ channels including MTV, BET, A&E, Food Network, Discovery, Hallmark, ID, Nickelodeon, OWN, AMC, IFC, Lifetime, WeTV, HGTV, Comedy Central, Hallmark, TLC, TV One, OWN and the Paramount Network. Philo also comes with unlimited DVR and like all other streamers, you can watch content from any compatible device.
Philo TV
$25/month after 7-day free trial
When it comes to sports, it can be tricky finding an affordable streamer that offers your favorite games and other sporting events along with other channels. Thankfully, Fubo has a bit of everything.
Sports fans can stream NBA, NFL, MLB and NHL games along with NASCAR, MLS, MMA, tennis, soccer, boxing, golf, college sports and more on Fubo. Plans start at $76 a month (after the free trial) to access over 156 channels and 100+ sporting events. Watch ABC, NBC, Fox and CBS, along with MLB Network, Golf TV, NBA League Pass and other sports-only channels in addition to MTV, ESPN, VH1, E!, FX, MSNBC, TLC, MGM+, Paramount Network, TV Land, TRVL channel, USA, Bravo, Telemundo and more.
The subscription includes 1,000 hours of DVR space and family share to simultaneously stream on up to 10 screens at home and two outside of your home internet network.
Want more channels? Subscribe to Fubo Elite and stream 224 channels for $84.99/month or join Fubo Premier to access 233 channels for $94.99/month (and free Showtime). Fubo’s Spanish Only plan is $24.99/month to stream 52 channels, 250 hours of cloud DVD and up to two screens.
Fubo TV
$74.99
On the scale of affordability, Sling TV rivals Philo as streaming plans start at $30 for your first month ($40 after). Sling’s Orange plan includes 31 channels — Bravo, ID, AMC, BET, ESPN, TLC, A&E, BET, TNT, TCM, FX, E!, Freeform, HLN, HGTV, etc. — 50 hours of DVR storage and one device stream. The Blue plan unlocks access to 42 channels, three device streams and 50 hours of DVR. The Orange and Blue plan comes with 48 channels for $50 a month.
Sling TV
$30 $40 25% off% OFF
Hulu is one of the oldest platforms in the streaming realm (subscribe for $2/month for three months) and one of the more affordable. Hulu + Live TV is $69.99 a month for 75+ channels and Hulu’s on-demand streaming library where you’ll find exclusives like The Kardashians, ‘Til Death Do Us Part: Kourtney & Travis, White Men Can’t Jump, How I Met Your Father, The Handmaid’s Tale, The Clearing and Only Murders in the Building. Hulu + Live TV also includes ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, NTVM BETM ESPN, ID, HGTV, Own, USA, TRVL channel, Oxygen, FX, Freeform and more; along with access to Disney+ and ESPN+.
DirectTV Stream plans start at $64.99/month to stream 75+ live channels and DVR recordings. Subscribe to the Premier plan and stream 150+ live channels, plus free Max, Showtime and Starz. The Choice and Ultimate plans range from $85-$110 per month for up to 140+ channels.
Streamers That Offer Live Channels
One of the perks of Peacock is that you’ll get a good mixture of live and on-demand content for $4.99/ month for ad-supported streaming but Peacock Premium subscribers can enjoy live access to NBC and commercial-free streaming for $9.99/month. Peacock gives you next-day access to current NBC programs; Premier League, WWE, Sunday Night Football, Indy 500 and other sporting events; plus movies, beloved TV shows (including Yellowstone) and original series such as Bel-Air, Poker Face, Bupkis, Ms. Davis and episode of Bravo shows like Vandperpump Rules and Below Deck.
Peacock Premium
$9.99/month
Prime Video has live CBS stations, depending on your streaming plan. Add Paramount+ to your Prime channels (or subscribe separately) to access your local CBS channel along with hit shows, movies, soccer and other sports.
Paramount+ Premium
$9.99/month after free 7-day trial
Some of the shows and movies currently streaming on Paramount+ include Fatal Attraction, The Family Stone, Rabbit Hole, School Spirits, Star Trek: Picard, 1923, 1883, Mayor of Kingstown, Seal Team, Star Trek Discovery, RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars, Why Women Kill, Scream VI, Dungeons & Dragons and 80 for Brady.
All products and services featured are independently chosen by editors. However, Billboard may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.
When we think of Alexa services, our first thought probably goes to the classic Echo Dot, but no longer do these devices have to be confined to our homes. Amazon has released the latest edition of the Echo Auto for $54.99, which brings Alexa on the road, allowing you to go completely hands-free in the car.
Explore
Explore
See latest videos, charts and news
See latest videos, charts and news
Whether you’re looking for directions or want to stream the Foo Fighters‘ newest single “Under You” before their album comes out, the second-generation Echo Auto has got you covered. It brings all the capabilities of the Alexa you know and love in your home and makes them mobile. Now you won’t have to be at home to indulge in her vast knowledge — especially when it comes to giving you directions to that concert venue.
What makes this one different from its previous variation? Well, this time around, Amazon made the second generation a slimmer design for an easier mounting process to your dashboard. There’s also a five-mic built in that’ll allow Alexa to pick up your voice over the sound of the AC, radio and other road noises. And, for the days you forget to pack your portable charger, the Echo Auto comes with a fast car charger to juice up your phone on the go.
You’ll still be able to enjoy the classic capabilities, too, such as streaming your favorite playlists whether it’s through Apple Music, Amazon Music or Spotify. You can also use it to call for roadside assistance: Just say “Alexa, call roadside assistance” and you’ll be connected to an Amazon agent who can request help on your behalf. You can also control your other compatible smart home devices and call and message — all while you’re driving.
Make sure to snag one of these handy devices before your next road trip to enjoy an easier driving experience.
Shop the Amazon Echo Auto below. And for more product recommendations, check out our breakdown of the Ring Dash Cam, a car purse holder that will make your life easier and a roundup of record players and turntables.
Amazon
Echo Auto (2nd Gen, 2022 release)
$54.99
The three major label groups have been in talks with the big music streaming services to find a way to get them to remove recordings with AI-generated vocals created to sound like popular artists, Billboard has learned. The idea under discussion with Spotify, Apple Music and Amazon Music would operate much like the one laid out by the Digital Millennium Copyright Act but would cite violations of rights of publicity, rather than copyright, according to sources at all three majors. Unlike the DMCA, however, this arrangement appears to be voluntary.
The 1998 DMCA gives online services that use, store or transmit copyrighted works a “safe harbor” from secondary liability for copyright infringement as long as they abide by a notice-and-takedown system that allows rightsholders to ask them to remove copyrighted content. That law would not apply to most AI-generated soundalike tracks because they do not infringe protected elements of copyrighted recordings or compositions but rather a trademark or a right of publicity, the protection celebrities may be able to receive to protect their names and likenesses from unauthorized commercial exploitation.
Songs that imitate the voices of big-name talent have become a trend over the past month, reaching widespread attention in mid-April when the track “Heart on My Sleeve,” which apparently used AI to mimic the style and tone of vocals by Drake and The Weeknd, was uploaded to streaming services and then swiftly removed. (The song did not credit those artists, although they were referred to in social media posts about it.)
Citing rights of publicity can be more complicated than copyright, because they are matters of state law in the U.S., backed by limited legal precedent. Rights vary by state, protections for deceased artists vary even more widely, and the use of soundalike vocals for creative purposes may in some cases be protected as free speech. Further complicating matters, these rights almost always belong to artists, not labels, which would presumably file notices on their behalf with authorization. Right now, however, this is the most obvious legal argument with which to keep AI-generated soundalikes off major streaming platforms.
In an April 26 earnings call, UMG CEO and chairman Lucian Grainge seemed to signal this approach to investors. “The recent explosive development in generative AI will… create rights issues with respect to existing copyright law, in the US and other countries, as well as laws governing trademark, name and likeness, voice impersonation, and right of publicity,” he said. “Further, we have provisions in our commercial contracts that provide additional protections.” It is not clear if takedowns issued by the majors would rely on these provisions, state law, goodwill, or some combination.
Some executives have raised concerns that AI soundalikes that imitate the voices of popular artists could result in consumer confusion. Still, a few artists like Grimes and Holly Herndon have embraced the technology, training their own AI voice models and making them available to the public.
Meanwhile, companies like Uberduck, Supertone, Lingyin Engine, and Covers.ai are marketing models with which to replicate voices. Covers.ai, which launched last week, has said that it received over 100,000 sign-ups in anticipation. Tencent Music Entertainment executives announced in November that with the company’s Lingyin Engine they had created and released over 1,000 songs containing synthetic AI voices already, one of which amassed 100 million streams.
This stance taken by the leading streaming services counters a recent announcement from the blockchain-based music platform Audius, which announced that artists can now “opt-in” to allow AI-generated works on their artist page. To organize this new music and avoid confusion, Audius would create a separate tab on the artists’ page especially for user-generated content.
Representatives for Universal, Sony, Warner, Spotify, Apple Music and Amazon Music did not respond to requests for comment.
HipHopWired Featured Video
Source: David McNew / Getty
Thousands of television and movie writers in Hollywood are now on strike against major studios including Apple and Amazon, demanding improved wages and better regulations against the use of artificial intelligence in scriptwriting.
According to reports, the Writers Guild of America (WGA) voted unanimously early Tuesday morning (May 2) to strike. This decision came down after ongoing negotiations with the major Hollywood studios collapsed without reaching a new deal in advance of the old deal expiring at midnight on Monday (May 1). Picketing is expected to begin later on Tuesday.
The strike against the 350 streaming services and studios – which include Netflix, Amazon, Apple, Disney, Discovery-Warner, NBC Universal, Paramount and Sony – is the first since 2007. “The companies’ behavior has created a gig economy inside a union workforce, and their immovable stance in this negotiation has betrayed a commitment to further devaluing the profession of writing,” the WGA said in a statement Monday night.
The WGA demands include residuals from streamers and an increase in minimum wages and contributions to the union’s health and pension plans. The union also wants stronger safeguards in place to regulate the use of artificial intelligence in scriptwriting, preventing the generation of content and rewriting of work already done by human writers.
The Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers representing the studios, claimed that they were offering “generous increases in compensation” including streaming residuals in their negotiations. But they also stated that they weren’t going to compromise on requests by the WGA for “mandatory staffing” and “duration of employment” claiming it would lead to writers being staffed on shows when they’re not needed.
Late-night television shows are expected to be immediately impacted, as Saturday Night Live and The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon are set to stop production. Scripted dramas and soap operas will also feel an impact, leading to their cutting production short or stopping shooting entirely. Movies may be affected as well, but there has been a stockpiling of scripts by studios and networks that was initiated a while ago in case of an extended strike. The previous strike lasted 100 days into 2008, with an estimated local economic loss of $2.1 billion.
HipHopWired Featured Video
Source: Arturo Holmes / Getty
Nicki Minaj is teaming up with 50 Cent as the star and executive producer of a new animated series that he’s producing for Amazon.
According to reports, the “Anaconda” rapper will be the main star in Lady Danger, a new animated series that will make its debut on Amazon’s Freevee network. The series is based on the Dark Horse comic book series by Alex de Campi. The series will be executive produced by 50 Cent through his G-Unit Film & TV company, as well as Minaj. He announced the news through his Instagram account on Wednesday (April 12th), writing: “What you doing today, we working @nickiminaj South Side you already know what it is…I don’t miss.” The news was also shared by Nicki Minaj through her social media accounts as well.
Related Stories
The series, set in the year 2075, follows a government field agent who stumbles upon a dangerous secret and winds up being left for dead by her team. She’s then resurrected as “an afro futuristic ass-kicking Agent of B.O.O.T.I (Bureau of Organized Terrorism Intervention)” known as Lady Danger. She goes on to fight multiple villains endangering the Earth and its population while keeping her true identity a secret.
Starburns Industries is in charge of the animation, and the series will be written by Carlton Jordan and Crystle Roberson who are also executive producers. The others in that role in the series are Brian Sher, and Paul Young & Mike Griffin of Make Good Content. There are no other details released about the project as of yet.
This series is another in the realm of animation for Nicki Minaj, who previously voiced the character Suglite on Cartoon Network’s acclaimed series Steven Universe. She also had a role in The Angry Birds Movie 2 and Ice Age: Continental Drift in addition to a guest spot on The Cleveland Show. As for 50 Cent, the news makes it another media project under his belt. In addition to his Power series which he developed at Starz under a previous deal as well as the BMF series, he’s also reportedly working on a new original series with Paramount Plus and Lionsgate Television entitled Vice City.
Lizzo and Amazon Studios have reached an extension on the singer’s first-look deal after the scorching success of her Emmy Award-winning show Watch Out for the Big Grrrls. Produced by Lizzo’s production company, Lizzo Bangers, and Amazon Studios, Watch Out for the Big Grrls notched three Emmys in categories including directing and picture editing and became the first streaming series to win the outstanding competition program category.
“Lizzo is one of the most exciting, creative, joyful artists in the industry, and the impact of her Emmy award-winning series Lizzo’s Watch Out for the Big Grrrls exceeded our every expectation,” said Vernon Sanders, head of television, Amazon and MGM Studios. “We are excited to continue our relationship with Lizzo and can’t wait for our global Prime Video audience to experience what’s next.”
“I’m thrilled to continue this partnership with the Amazon team after an incredible experience on season one of Watch Out for the Big Grrrls,” said Lizzo. “I’ve witnessed lives change through this show, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to continue making space for even more Big Grrrls around the world to shine and break down barriers across this industry.”
After a successful first season, Lizzo is now searching for women who can sing and dance onstage. Those interested in applying can sign up here for casting. Along with nabbing Emmys, Watch Out for the Big Grrrls also received a fistful of wins at the Critics Choice Real TV Awards, Costume Designers Guild Awards, Hollywood Critics Association Television Awards, NAACP Image Awards and Producers Guild Awards.