Samsung Enlists Spotify and Fortnite to Fend Off Apple
*By Michael Teich*
Samsung is partnering with Spotify and Fortnite to boost slumping smartphone sales and maintain its lead over Apple.
The leading smartphone maker unveiled the new $1,000 Galaxy Note 9, and announced the viral, battle royale video game's first Android version will be available exclusively on Samsung devices. The deal may appeal to the game's 125 million players and encourage them to buy the new phone instead of Huawei or Apple devices.
Samsung is hoping the new Galaxy Note 9 will do better than the Galaxy S9, which slumped, allowing smartphone rivals to catch up. Samsung's second-quarter shipments fell 11 percent from a year earlier to 70.8 million units, according to IHS Markit. With a similar price tag to Apple's iPhone X, Samsung's new phone is going after the same high-end market.
In addition to gamers, Samsung is hoping music lovers will opt for the Galaxy Note 9 by making Spotify its go-to music partner. Samsung will integrate the Spotify app into its Smart TVs and speakers, and will make it available when customers set up their new phones.
For more on this story, [click here](https://cheddar.com/videos/first-look-at-the-new-samsung-galaxy-note-9).
Rene Ritchie, independent tech analyst and co-founder of the Nebula Podcast, joins Cheddar News' Closing Bell, where he breaks down what investors will be looking for from Mark Zuckerberg this week and how the tech giants stack up when it comes to augmented reality and virtual reality products going forward.
According to multiple reports, President Biden's upcoming executive order for the crypto marke would assign some government entities to study cryptocurrencies, stablecoins and NFT's with the goal of developing a workable regulatory framework. Douglas Borthwick, Chief Business Officer at INX, joins Cheddar News' Closing Bell, where he elaborates on what role the Biden administration would play under this order.
Nutritional supplement beverage company Athletic Greens has achieved unicorn status. The company announced a new $115 million funding round, bringing its valuation to $1.2 billion. The company's flagship product AG1 combines 75 different vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients into one daily serving. Athletic Greens says it is poised to reach the millions of consumers who are currently driving the health and wellness market's exponential growth. Athletic Greens founder and CEO Chris Ashenden joins Cheddar News' Closing Bell to discuss.
Is Spotify a platform for content creators, or is it a media company? The streaming giant may have to find an answer sooner rather than later amid a controversy involving its most popular podcast host, Joe Rogan. Rogan has hosted guests who have made false claims about COVID-19 vaccines, and in turn, some musicians like Neil Young and Joni Mitchell have removed their discographies from Spotify in protest. Rogan says he welcomes content advisories, and will balance out his guests going forward, but is it enough? And is Spotify liable in any way? John Freeman, Vice President of CFRA Research, joins Closing Bell to discuss Rogan's response to the controversy, whether Spotify should be considered a media company with responsibility for its content, and more.
The gaming industry has seen multiple large scales deals this month alone, including Microsoft's megadeal for Activision Blizzard. And, seemingly in response, rival Sony, picked up Bungie for $3.6 billion, a studio once owned by both Microsoft and Activision. The sector is reportedly on track to spend $150 billion on mergers and acquisitions just this year alone, a record-breaking total, according to investment firm Drake Star Partners. Michael Metzger, a partner at the firm specializing in technology, media, and communications, joined Cheddar to discuss the flurry of deals in the gaming space and what might be behind the hot M&A activity.
Ari Redbord, head of legal and government affairs and TRM Labs, joins Cheddar News to discuss why Facebook is ditching its crypto project and what that means for the space.
A virtual gathering in the online space, Decentraland, of Elvis Presley impersonators is looking to grab the Guinness World Record for most Elvis impersonators in one place after the record-keeping org recently approved the use of avatars as stand-ins for people.
