SoundExchange announced two new additions to its executive ranks. Mark Eisenberg will serve as senior vice president of strategic initiatives, while Jacqueline Peterson will take on the job of senior vice president of communications. Continue Reading
Dozens of Swedish songwriters signed an OpEd in Aftonbladet, a leading Swedish newspaper, complaining of low royalty payouts from streaming services compared to royalties collected by record labels, and predicted an imploding industry if a different balance is not created. Spotify is a target, but record labels get more heat. Continue Reading
Google appears to be preparing a new YouTube feature called YouTube Radio. The description matches an existing YouTube Music experience called YouTube Mix. The new feature might be a subtle tweak, or a key new YouTube experience. Continue Reading
Quick news items and worthy reads from around the web:
Mark Mulligan on Rhapsody
iBiquity on HD Radio potential Continue Reading
A lawsuit brought by VerStandig Broadcasting in Virginia last May, which sought to limit music royalty payments for its webcasts, has been ejected in a pre-trial dismissal by a federal judge. Judge Michael Urbanski reportedly dismissed the case as too “speculative” and “hypothetical” for trial. Continue Reading
Zane Lowe, well known in Britain and around the world for his weeknight music-discovery radio show on the BBC, has taken a position at Apple in Cupertino. When a popular DJ quits his show and moves to one of the world’s leading technology companies, the news can be framed within the human-vs-machine argument which divides streaming music curation Continue Reading
In honor of tomorrow’s holiday of hearts and roses, Spotify has given us the most romantic gift of all: data. The company analyzed the songs appearing on the millions of playlists on its platform that center on “Valentine’s,” “love,” and “sex” and shared the top tunes for each. Continue Reading
In the latest study by MIDiA Research, released to its subscribers, new data define high-value music consumers in streaming services, leading to a proposal of future services that for fully monetize music’s best fans. Continue Reading
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A six-minute blast of news you need to know in streaming audio.
THIS WEEK: Pandora makes direct licensing deal with Naxos; new survey of ad agencies and streaming audio; streaming now in UK albums chart; Nielsen launches online radio measurement; Rhapsody updates audience metrics; research report on mobile music; TeamRock Radio goes underground — literally. Continue Reading
Spreaker, a podcast creation and listening platform, is supporting World Radio Day and throwing a spalsh of promotion on its service by offering free “On-Air Talent” accounts for a trial month. “Radio is currently in the throes of great transformation, and it’s being reinvented by young people.” Continue Reading
In another demonstration of “willing buyer, willing seller” deal-making, Pandora has negotiated a direct licensing deal with Naxos, one of the world’s most prolific classical music labels. Before this, Pandora’s most widely publicized private negotiating effort was with the international consortium of independent labels, Merlin. Both deals are important. Continue Reading
Australian owners of Samsung Galaxy mobile devices will now have access to the tech company’s Milk Music streaming service. The free, Slacker-powered app has about 150 radio stations and includes options for personalizing the listening experience. Continue Reading