Streaming platform Mixcloud has signed a multiyear direct licensing network with Merlin Network, an independent label group and music rights agency. The deal will ensure that recording artists represented by Merlin will receive royalties when their music is played on the Mixcloud streaming service and on its upcoming subscription service. Continue Reading
Belgium hosted its annual symposium about DAB+ earlier this month. During the event, Flemish Media Minister Sven Gatz said that the country would pick its date for a switch from FM radio to DAB+ once 50% of the audience was listening to digital radio. Continue Reading
Apple will appear before the Supreme Court over the commissions it takes on purchases in its App Store. The court will hear arguments today in an antitrust lawsuit about Apple’s 30% commission charged to software developers. Continue Reading
Spotify is continuing its global expansion efforts, with India the streaming service’s likely next move. Variety reported that the company is aiming to enter the Indian market within the next six months. Continue Reading
Nielsen has selected David Kenny as its new CEO. He was previously the senior vice president of cognitive solutions at IBM. Kenny joined the tech company in 2015 when it acquired the Weather Company. He will assume the role when Mitch Barns steps down from the helm on December 3 after more than two decades. Continue Reading
Podcasts remain a hot topic for listeners and entrepreneurs alike. A new service called Piqd Audio is joining the podcast discovery space. The platform bills itself as a “slow news” startup curating quality audio content and delivery expert recommendations. Continue Reading
Tencent Music Entertainment had been working towards an IPO in the United States, but the Chinese company is reaching crunch time to do so before the year’s end. It has been laying the groundwork for an offering of up to $2 billion for several months. Continue Reading
Spotify has some noteworthy news for the denizens of Mexico City. The capital city has the most Spotify listeners in the world. Mexico City was Spotify’s first launch in a Latin American market in 2013. Continue Reading
Voxnest, the podcast company formed from the merger of Spreaker and BlogTalkRadio, has hired a new head of content. Jonathan Zenti joins the company in this newly created position. Zenti is the award-winning podcast producer and host of the show Meat, as well as a member of the PRX Google Podcast creator program advisory committee. Continue Reading
The IAB released a new report showing that U.S. digital advertising revenue in the first six months of 2018 totaled $49.5 billion. The record high is a spike of 23% over the year-ago period. Digital audio advertising revenue for the half reached $935 million. This puts the segment on track to exceed the 2017 annual total of $1.8 billion in revenue. Continue Reading
Podtrac published its ranker of the top twenty podcasts in October 2018. Serial topped the chart for another month on the strength of a newly-released third season for the true crime program. Continue Reading
ESPN Podcasts announced another record-breaking month. The network’s audio shows reported 43.6 million downloads in October, a new high after September’s previous record of 39.3 million downloads. “ESPN Podcasts continues to set new highs,” said Tom Ricks, vice president of digital strategy and marketing. Continue Reading