YouTube announced that it will be hosting an event this Wednesday in Los Angeles to formally introduce details about its long-rumored paid video service. Google has been slowly moving toward this shift for months, and the event this week could reveal the culmination of its efforts to create both a more lucrative Netflix- or Hulu-style paid subscription and a formal music streaming platform. Continue Reading
iHeartRadio and Microsoft announced a music partnership. iHeartRadio will be the exclusive digital radio provider for Microsoft Groove, bringing its entire library to any devices equipped with the Groove platform. It will also be supplying Groove’s custom and live radio stations. Continue Reading
Spotify has reportedly started laying the groundwork for a push into Japan and Indonesia. The company currently has a small team on the ground in Japan and is currently looking to hire a financial controller in that market. Spotify is also hiring a music editor in Indonesia, although it will be based out of its headquarters in Singapore. Continue Reading
Brief news items and worthy reads from around the web: 7digital CEO talks new music models; Indian digital music round-up; why RIAA still values retail data. Continue Reading
Ever since its acquisition by hip-hop great and business mogul Jay-Z, Tidal has been the subject of skepticism from the music industry. Today, though, two developments have pointed to some speculation that Jay-Z may be ready to offload the property, or at least to scale back his involvement. Continue Reading
Today we’re taking a spin with the beta launch of a new online property called AudioBurst. The site collects talk radio segments from stations across the U.S. and puts them online in short clips dubbed ‘bursts.’ This is definitely a fun idea for those listeners who are big fans of audio content and want a more streamlined experience, but it does require a lot of interaction. Continue Reading
We covered the alpha launch of Aurous, a streaming service that has already attracted the ire of music labels on charges that it infringes on their copyrights. Just days after its debut, the site has been issued an order by a U.S. District Court judge to temporarily suspend distribution. Continue Reading
Brief news items and worthy reads from around the web: Gaana gets investment and mobile package; MixRadio partners with Samsung for India expansion; long live the Top 40. Continue Reading
AT&T Drive Studio and Ericsson partnered for a survey of people who are likely to buy a car in the next three years. The survey’s global results found that 75% of respondents considered connected car services an important feature in their next purchase. Continue Reading
The legal battles over royalties for songs recorded prior to 1972 have been an ongoing headache for labels and streaming services alike. Pandora has been the subject of a couple legal forays in this regard, including one lawsuit filed by recording companies in New York State Supreme Court. The New York Post has reported that Pandora may be on the brink of a settlement to end that case. Continue Reading
Deezer announced a partnership with BandPage that will see the two companies collaborating on tools to help artists connect with their fans within the streaming platform. In addition to this development, Deezer has also announced that it is planning to raise 300 million euros ($343 million) from its IPO. Continue Reading
Two minor announcements about Google Play hit the headlines this morning. First, the company has opened up gifting subscriptions for Play Music in select markets. The second development is an advertisement for the music service. Continue Reading