Vevo has introduced a live talk show format to its music video platform. Vevo Live will deliver artist interviews in front of a studio audience in addition to interactions with online viewers. After testing over the summer, Vevo Live had its soft launch episode starring Fifth Harmony. Continue Reading
Radioplayer has made a new smart radio feed for connected cars. Audi/VW is the first car manufacturer to sign on to use the new Worldwide Radioplayer API platform. As a result, hybrid radios in new Audi models will use the WRAPI technology to display station logos and to switch between DAB, FM, and streaming audio. Continue Reading
Podcast company HowStuffWorks has raised $15 million in series A funding. The Raine Group, the financial institution that recently backed SoundCloud, led the round. During the next year, HowStuffWorks will continue investing in podcasts and bringing in new talent. Continue Reading
Pandora is getting a new data onboarding portal for brands to deliver their messages to listeners. Real-time information services company Neustar is building the self-service portal for advertisers to upload their data to Pandora at scale and help those brands to build up audiences. Continue Reading
This week brings two updates from the growing Amazon entertainment and technology ecosystem. First is a new price option for its streaming music service, and second is a development for its Echo product line. Continue Reading
Deezer is rebranding and updating its premium tier, which includes high fidelity streaming audio. Instead of Deezer Elite, the subscription is now called Deezer HiFi. The price is unchanged at $19.99 / £19.99 per month. Continue Reading
Listeners for on-demand audio display some distinct demographic trends compared with AM/FM radio. That’s the key takeaway from a Nielsen study commissioned by Westwood One and Cumulus Media to investigate the audience for local on-demand audio content. Continue Reading
Music licensing platform Jamendo is launching in the U.S. The company specializes in serving independent artists, running both a licensing platform for performers and a free streaming service for private, professional use. It has been operating in Europe for more than a decade, and now is officially bringing its two-pronged business model state-side. Continue Reading
audioBoom announced a batch of five new shows for its podcast network. This second wave of programming, following the first set of shows shared in June, includes original and co-produced podcasts. “We are excited to be at a place where we can successfully introduce listeners to new, original content while supporting the growth of popular, established shows” said Brendan Regan, audioBoom’s vice president, of U.S. content and partnerships. Continue Reading
Podcast company Acast has hired Henrik Isaksson to head up its operations in Australia. Isaksson joins the audio and podcasting platform from a programmatic mobile advertising service called Amobee, but his resume also includes work at Spotify, where he began in sales and progressed to become a country manager. Continue Reading
Pandora has entered a partnership with fitness wearable company Fitbit to be the exclusive streaming music provider for the new Fitbit Ionic. Through this arrangement, subscribers to Pandora Plus and Pandora Premium tiers can sync workout stations or their top created stations directly to a Fitbit Ionic without needing their phones. Continue Reading
Sprint is offering its customers free tickets to Jay-Z’s 4:44 tour when they sign up for a trial membership to the Tidal streaming service. This deal marks a further tightening the bonds between the music platform and the mobile telecom following Sprint’s acquisition of a 33% stake in Tidal at the start of the year. Continue Reading