Headlines In Your DMs

PRESENTED BY MODE MOBILE

Wednesday schmendsay, FutureParty people. If you were one of the Francis Ford Coppola fans hoping to see the literal fourth-wall-breaking scene in his new movie, Megalopolis (that was the confused talk of Cannes), it looks like you won’t get the chance. Despite efforts to roll out the experience worldwide, Lionsgate has opted to just include the dialogue that was supposed to come from a real person standing by the screen as VO in the movie (except seemingly just a few theaters in the UK). We guess some things simply can’t scale.

Digital publishers are turning to WhatsApp’s Channels feature to share content directly with readers, test out new products, and create a relationship with readers all over the world.

The Big Headline: Platforms like Facebook and Google leaned on publishers to drive engagement and attract ad revenue but later shifted focus to opinion content, leaving publishers behind. WhatsApp, the biggest messaging app in the world, gives publishers a fresh way to reach and hook readers at scale.

Between the Lines: WhatsApp Channels — a relatively new feature that allows publishers to send followers links, headlines, and other content — is trending.

The Next Edition: While Channels doesn’t drive the same user traffic as Google and Facebook, engagement is growing, especially as it leans into the biggest trend in social media right now — private messaging. That naturally lends itself to people sharing news articles from Channels to a private thread. With the ability to paywall specific Channels coming in the near future, the feature could program both a healthier and more lucrative town square.

Go Deeper: WhatsApp is Meta’s growth engine.

Turn your phone from a cost into a revenue stream.

Intriguing idea, right?

That’s why we have our eyes on the launch of Mode’s Pre-IPO Offering.

Mode saw 32,481% revenue growth from 2019 to 2022, ranking it the #1 overall software company on this year’s Deloitte 500 fastest-growing companies list.

“EarnPhone,” a budget smartphone, has helped consumers earn and save over $325 million.

Claim an exclusive bonus: $0.25/share*. Over 21,997 investors have already acquired shares in Mode.

^{*This is a paid advertisement for Mode Mobile Reg A offering. Please read the offering statement at https://invest.modemobile.com/.}

Blumhouse and NBC Universal’s Peacock are taking IRL branded experiences to the next level with “Overnightmare” — a horror getaway where fans can literally be frightened for an entire weekend.

The Big Picture: Entertainment giants have jumped into the experience economy post-COVID, as demand for fans to immerse themselves in their favorite stories has skyrocketed. People desire to be part of the action.

Behind the Scenes: Colorado’s Stanley Hotel — the inspiration behind The Shining’s iconic Overlook Hotel — will be transformed into a destination for nightmares from October 18th to 20th.

The Future: Halloween Horror Nights (which relies heavily on Blumhouse titles) is a major moneymaker for Universal. But that’s only for a few hours at night. By experimenting with the weekend-long Overnightmare experience, Universal could gather some valuable information on how to expand the HHN brand into longer-running, specialized offerings as the ultimate movie and TV marketing.

Go Scarier: Warner Bros. Discovery just doubled down on experiences with a new corporate division. No one can escape the branded experiences.

If you want to be a smart investor, mute the financial news noise and read what smart investors read.

Meet The Daily Upside — a free newsletter crafted by people who’ve been in the trenches (AKA Wall Street insiders). This newsletter gives you clear insights and analyses so you can make savvy investment decisions.

Subscribe now and join over a million investors who stay ahead of the market.

83.8% of you voted No in yesterday’s poll: Would you want an AI device separate from a smartphone?

“Keeping one device charged, updated, secure, and located is enough for me.”

“I would rather have it embodied into my phone. Don’t want to carry around another device.”

“Ah, yes… another device to shackle ourselves around. Who wouldn’t love that?”

Let’s keep the conversation going. Join our Poll Of The Day newsletter so your opinions can shine. Discover how your views line up with your peers’, check out cool insights, and have some fun. It’s data with personality.

🐧 Max reported that The Penguin was its biggest four-day premiere for a new series everywhere it’s available. People love Gotham.

📺 Thanks to the Olympics, NBCUniversal commanded the Nielsen TV ratings in August.

🤡 Lady Gaga is surprise-releasing a new album this Friday… a soundtrack to Joker: Folie à Deux titled Harlequin.

🤖 James Cameron, the brainchild of the anti-AI Terminator franchise, has joined Stability AI’s board.

☀️ Sequoia has made a major investment in the startup Reflect Orbital, which is developing technology that could disrupt daylight.

💸 Anthropic is looking to raise capital at a $40 billion valuation to catch up with its rival OpenAI.

🎻 Nevermind: ByteDance is shutting down TikTok Music across the globe.

📱 After CEO Pavel Durov was arrested in France, Telegram announced that it would start sharing data on users involved in criminal activity.

🥴 X is remaking the block feature — users will now be able to see a person’s post but won’t be able to engage with it.