Today brings the latest update of a story that won’t die … and won’t start, for that matter. Claire Atkinson of the New York Post cites unnamed sources who claim that Apple’s rumor-factory acquisition of Beats Electronics will be finalized and announced this week. We review the Apple/Beats saga and latest leaks. Continue Reading
Steve Goldstein, Executive Vice President of Saga Communications bought a new car — a GM Acadia. when he turns it on, something is missing: Radio. In this guest column, Goldstein walks through the on-screen audio choices of a new digital dashboard, and articulates a crisis for radio. Continue Reading
We are happy to announce the first RAIN News Reader Survey! We’d love to know more about how you use RAIN, and what you’d like to see in our coverage of Internet radio and online audio. The survey is designed to be speedy. Enter a drawing for free registration at a RAIN Summit! Contribute your voice. Continue Reading
Items of interest in the music-app realm: Songza wins an award, Spotify suffers a tiny hack, Samsung will discontinue a music service. Continue Reading
Billboard and Twitter launched their new real-time, interactive song charts today. It is apt to say these “go live” today, as they are real-time, constantly updating lists fed by the continuous crowdsourced flow of Twitter references. We refreshed the trending 140 list repeatedly, watching songs shift position, moving up and down the list. Continue Reading
Last week we reported on the acrimonious negotiations between Google’s YouTube and Worldwide Independent Network (WIN), a consortium of small music labels around the world. The talks, which anticipate a new music-only service from YouTube, have deteriorated — signified by a formal public statement from WIN. Continue Reading
Neil Young. Hippie. Entrepreneur. Futurist. Nostalgist. To say he’s a study in contrasts is a mild understatement. Patrick Reynolds of Triton Digital contemplates Neil Young the artist and the high-rez audio advocate, speculating that Young might save the industry from a false dilemma. Continue Reading
the five most-read articles of the week. Apple updates is podcast app with Siri, with uneven results … A new study provides interesting analysis of streaming music business drivers … Canada sets royalty rates for non-interactive streaming … Spotify at 10-million subscribers … digital magic from a syndicated radio show. Continue Reading
Guest columnist James Cridland writes about a fascinating broadcast/digital crossover, in which an award-winning British breakfast show, which simulcasts to several music-genre webcast streams, now can insert music of the proper genre into each stream. Click to read about how it works. Continue Reading
Public Radio International announced the launch of SoundWorks from PRI, a curated collection of new podcasts featuring “unique voices focused on the issues that shape both daily life and international trends.” Four programs are included in the inauguration of the website. Continue Reading
A global music trade organization representing independent musicians, reportedly issued (then removed) a public complaint and threat during negotiations with Google about a yet-to-be-launched YouTube music service. The publicity around this outburst further legitimizes rumors that YouTube is setting the stage for a dedicated music service, and also purportedly shines light on Google’s aggressive negotiations. Continue Reading
Facebook has announced a new feature in upcoming app releases that works by identifying music playing in the user’s location, and including a 30-second clip in Facebook posts. Shazam and SoundHound, market leaders for song recognition, are probably not over the moon about this incursion. Continue Reading