Brief news items and worthy reads from around the web: Alexa listens to you, and it’s not the only one. Digital distributors on the rise. Bandcamp to offer vinyl pressing. Continue Reading
Amazon has followed through on the launch of an ad-supported streaming music service, a move that was initially scouted by Billboard earlier this week. However, the early reports did not include one pertinent detail: the platform will only be available through the company’s Alexa voice assistant. Continue Reading
Voxnest shared its data on the nations that have reported the largest growth in month over month podcast listening for March 2019. Its numbers point toward notable growth in Spanish-speaking markets; Voxnest saw a 13% increase in Spanish language podcasts in 2018. Continue Reading
SoundExchange posted its results from the first quarter. Its distributions to artists and copyright holders in the first three months of 2019 totaled $220.7 million, up 16.2% year-on-year. Continue Reading
Video game streaming platform Twitch has unveiled its first original game. The Amazon-owned company is tapping into the current trend toward videos and lip syncing with Twitch Sings. Continue Reading
Google Assistant is broadening support for listening on YouTube. The free, ad-supported tier of YouTube Music can now be requested from any device running the voice platform, including the Google Home smart speaker line. Continue Reading
The BBC Music website has arrived stateside. The UK broadcaster’s online hub for original music reporting across its radio, digital, and television channels rolled out in the United States last week. Continue Reading
Facebook may be looking to launch its own voice assistant. Unnamed sources have claimed that the tech company’s team for augmented and virtual reality has been working on a voice platform since early 2018. Continue Reading
Sonos has added partial support for Apple Music to its smart speakers. For now, the streaming service is only accessible on Sonos One and Sonos Beam devices. This is a big move from two businesses that have been slow to adopt new partners in the smart speaker space. Continue Reading
Wondery has announced the launch of Sports Wars, a podcast modeled on the company’s successful Business Wars franchise. Two episodes have dropped to kick off the first series: “Favre vs. Rodgers.” The new show sticks to the established Business Wars formula. Continue Reading
Podcast group Wondery has entered a partnership with the Universal Music Group label. Under the terms of their agreement, Wondery will receive access to the major’s music catalog and will be able to use works from its artists and labels in new shows. Continue Reading
Sirius XM and Pandora have announced a content crossover which brings Sirius talk shows into Pandora as podcasts. Beginning now, about two dozen talk shows from Sirius XM are available in Pandora. We had trouble finding them; click through for a handy link from Pandora. Continue Reading