Amazon said to make a bid to buy TikTok in the U.S.

Looks like entertainment spending is bouncing back as people feel more confident about their finances. After a tough stretch, we're seeing more people spend on media, and it’s sparking growth in the industry. Advanced Television has the full story of how this trend is giving the entertainment world a boost.

Spotify's new ad strategy is all about being “nutritional,” positioning its ads as the perfect way to build lasting relationships between brands and listeners. The idea? Ads that feel like essential, non-intrusive content. Jessica Testa from The New York Times breaks down how Spotify’s approach aims to make ads more meaningful.

The Minecraft movie is gearing up for release with a cool marketing plan that connects with both gamers and movie fans. Expect to see a mix of digital content, fan activities, and partnerships to create buzz. Ethan Alter has the details in Adweek.

Amazon might be setting its sights on TikTok's U.S. operations, with the potential to shake up both social media and e-commerce. TikTok’s ongoing security concerns in the U.S. have pushed the company into this corner, and Amazon sees an opportunity. Zolan Kanno-Youngs, Lauren Hirsch, Sapna Maheshwari, and Karen Weise for The New York Times report that while Amazon faces stiff competition from companies like Oracle and Microsoft, navigating regulatory challenges could be its biggest hurdle.

Looks like Tim Stokely, the guy behind OnlyFans, has teamed up with the Hbar Foundation to try to buy TikTok's U.S. business. Jason Parham for WIRED notes that their pitch is a platform that puts creators first with better revenue-sharing. This all comes right before the April 5 deadline, when ByteDance has to sell TikTok in the U.S. due to security worries. Other big names, like Amazon and Frank McCourt’s group, are also in the running.

Looks like QVC is making a big move to TikTok! The original video shopping network, famous for its TV shows, is jumping on the social commerce bandwagon to reach younger shoppers. Hunter Schwarz reports in Fast Company that this shift shows how brands are adapting to TikTok’s trend-driven culture to stay relevant.

The talk of banning TikTok feels a lot like the whole third-party cookies drama from a few years ago—privacy and data security are at the center of it all. With the U.S. government thinking about a ban because of concerns over Chinese influence, it’s bringing back memories of the privacy battles we’ve had before. Tim Smith’s piece for Adweek takes a closer look at how this situation is once again highlighting the struggle between tech and lawmakers over data privacy.

Epic Games CEO, Tim Sweeney, isn’t holding back when it comes to Apple and Google, calling their business strategies “gangster-style” and demanding more competition. He believes the control these giants have over apps and payments hurts both developers and users. Sarah Perez reports for TechCrunch on Sweeney's push for rules that could open up the market and create fairer options.

Hot Ones is spicing things up with new product partnerships! The show’s team has teamed up with big names like Coca-Cola and McDonald's to create exclusive products that fans can’t get enough of. According to Erika Wheless from Ad Age, the key to their success is tapping into their dedicated audience, making every partnership feel special.

Raising a child in the U.S. is getting more expensive, with costs now reaching almost $300,000. From food to childcare, these expenses are becoming harder for families to manage. Pavithra Mohan of Fast Company breaks down how inflation and changing policies are making it tougher to afford to raise kids.