The winter results from the RAJAR Midas survey have brought another flurry of insight into how the UK is consuming audio. Live radio has a 90% reach for audio formats, just trailing any TV with 91% reach. Online video/audio clips took a distant third place with 33% reach, while on-demand music services posted 25% and podcasts 12%. Continue Reading
Spotify has released three updates this week, each touching on a different area of the streaming service’s offerings. First, it introduced a Car View. Second, Spotify may be expanding its integration with dating app Tinder. Finally, Spotify has been making adjustments to its language about distributors. Continue Reading
As voice assistants grow to be a more visible and audible presence in the tech sector, the conversation has been dominated by just two names: Amazon and Google. But one of the other biggest brands isn’t out of the action just yet. Microsoft execs are speaking up about the company’s plans for its Cortana voice AI. Continue Reading
The German Music Association, more commonly known as BVMI, released its results for 2018. The year marked another batch of big numbers in streaming, even in a market where CDs remain a potent source of revenue. The group reported that audio streams in Germany grew 40% to 79.5 billion for the year, marking a new all-time high for the country. Continue Reading
Last week, the technology sector converged on Las Vegas for the annual Consumer Electronics Show. RAIN News has assembled some of the more unique and interesting developments from the event, where voice assistants and smart home news topped the headlines. Continue Reading
Anchor introduced its Anchor Sponsorships monetization platform in November, and is promoting a strong uptake among its users. According to a new blog post, Anchor says participation in the sponsorships program has “effectively doubled the total number of podcasts on the market that are running ads.” Continue Reading
Tribune Media and ART19 have entered a partnership to launch a new audio network. The Tribune Audio Network marks a move into podcasts for the multimedia firm, which has holdings in television and digital properties. Continue Reading
Deezer has launched a new dedicated mobile app for radio listening. Radio By Deezer offers access to 30,000 stations covering music, live sports, news, and talk. The app is free to download, does not require a subscription, and plays no additional advertisements. However, the initial rollout is limited to Android devices and to the UK market. Continue Reading
Anne Bulford is departing her post as the deputy director-general of the BBC. She is stepping away from the broadcaster to pursue other non-executive roles. She was the first woman to hold the deputy director-general post at the BBC. Continue Reading
Brief news items and worthy reads from around the web: From mixtapes to streaming at Audiomack. Wondery CEO interview. Parrot racks up Amazon orders on owners’ Echo. Continue Reading
New startup Canopy caught the press’ attention for its unique approach to maintaining privacy while delivery personalized content recommendations, including for music. Helmed by a former Echo Nest exec, the company has now expanded two other high-profile hires. Canopy has hired Matt Ogle, the creator of Spotify’s Discover Weekly playlists, and Bassey Etim, former community desk editor for The New York Times. Continue Reading
Apple Music is offering a new, expanded deal to Verizon customers. The two parties had previously run a six-month free trial program for members of the Verizon Unlimited plan. Now, people who are part of the Beyond Unlimited and Above Unlimited plans on Verizon will have access to an ongoing Apple Music subscription as part of their service. Continue Reading