SoundCloud shared two developments this week. First, it has a notable new hire, with Anthony Gabriele joining from Apple. Second, it is adding to its playlist programming and community pages. Continue Reading
Self-described Audio Alchemist and veteran RAIN Summit speaker Steve Keller has joined Pandora, the streaming giant reports today. Keller’s formal role is Sonic Strategy Director, and he will be part of Pandora’s marketing department. Keller helped develop Pandora’s new audio identity. Continue Reading
The RIAA has released its 2018 report on the Latin music market in the United States. The genre continued to grow for another year, with revenue up 18% to $413 million. Latin music was responsible for a 4.2% share of the total U.S. market, but this style is a major success story for streaming. Continue Reading
Muso has released its latest piracy statistics for 2018. Its new report found that piracy websites attracted 189 billion visits last year, down from 300 billion visits in 2017. Those totals include illegal access of all forms of entertainment. Continue Reading
SoundCloud and Targetspot have entered a new deal centered on Europe. The parties have secured an exclusive advertising partnership for France, Germany, and the Netherlands, expanding on their existing arrangements in those markets. Continue Reading
European Parliament has voted in favor of the Copyright Directive, a set of reforms intended to update the bloc’s rules for a digital age, but including several controversial provisions. The directive passed by a vote of 348 votes in favor and 274 against. Continue Reading
Spotify is continuing its spree of podcast acquisition with the purchase of Parcast, its third buy of 2019. The deal will bring Parcast’s podcast library to Spotify, as well as its ability to attract audiences and its existing listener base. Continue Reading
We reported yesterday that the BBC blocked Google Podcasts’ access to BBC podcasts, so they cannot be represented in the Google Podcasts app. That block extends to playing BBC podcasts in Google Search results, via the native audio that Google has built there. The BBC declined to comment in response to our inquiry yesterday, but this morning an explanatory blog post appeared that lays out the BBC’s rationale. Continue Reading
Nielsen released its Q3 2018 Total Audience Report, measuring share of media and time spent with different media categories. The key takeaway is that total media in Q3 was exactly the same (on average) as the previous year’s Q3. Within that stasis, a few shifts are apparent. Continue Reading
Voxnest’s Spreaker platform is partnering with language-learning platform Babbel for its first foray into podcasting in the U.S. Multilinguish will explore how language connects people, with a different theme for each episode. New episodes will be published on Tuesdays. Continue Reading
A new forecast by eMarketer is casting Spotify’s future in an even more favorable light. The company had previously predicted that Spotify would have more users in the U.S. than Pandora by 2022. Now it’s predicting the swap to happen in 2021. Continue Reading
Internal turnover continues at B2B music provider 7digital with the departure of Director and CEO Simon Cole. He will exit the company in April and the top executive role will be filled by John Aalbers. Continue Reading