Brief news items and worthy reads from around the web. TODAY: Verizon to throttle some users back; T-Mobile unleashes data, but might violate Net Neutrality principles; artist support for streaming. Continue Reading
Google announced that it will give U.S. Chromecast users a 90-day free trial subscription to the All Access Music service. The subscription streaming platform usually costs $9.99. Google is offering the free deal through September. Chromecast has been out for a year now, and it’s Google’s method of getting streaming media from mobile devices to a television screen. Several services, including Pandora, Beats Music, and Rdio, have added support for Chromecast. Continue Reading
Xbox Music will be getting an update in a few weeks, according to tweets from a Microsoft exec. Joe Belfiore, vice president for Windows Phone program management and design, said on Twitter that the service would be getting an upgrade in performance, fixes, and new features shortly. The news will come as a relief to fans of the service, which seemed like it could be on the chopping block based on Microsoft’s plans to streamline its in-house music and video teams. Continue Reading
Christopher LaRosa, a product manager for YouTube Music, is leaving to join an unnamed startup. He spent about seven years at the Google subsidiary and was a key player in expanding the musical content available via YouTube. Some of his projects included getting YouTube data to count toward the Billboard 100 singles chart and the still in-development subscription music program. Continue Reading
Brief news items and worthy reads from around the web. TODAY: UMG launches a You-Tube-derived music label; David Lowery blames music managers; a fun infographic. Continue Reading
Sanjay Sharma has joined All Def Digital as president and CEO. The YouTube channel, launched by Def Jam’s Russell Simmons, is a resource focused on hip-hop music, comedy, and spoken word artists. From behind-the-scenes videos with new MCs to talk shows with the latest celebrity gossip and news, the channel is positioning itself as a multimedia resource for fans and performers alike. Sharma joins the company after almost five years at Machinima, another multichannel network that produces videos and web shows centered on video games and gamer lifestyle. Continue Reading
TuneCore announced the launch of Artist Services, a new portal to help musicians handle the business side of their craft. It includes resources for building a website, managing merchandise, and engaging with fans. It also introduced a unique feature called Track Smarts for music research. Continue Reading
Although Google’s purchase of Songza is signed, sealed, and delivered, the tech press is still buzzing over the idea that the service wasn’t the primary acquisition target. Spotify has been the subject of frequent rumors about a buy-out by the search engine conglomerate. Continue Reading
Brief new items and worthy reads from around the web: Google execs join Spotify; blue notes for jazz and classical; new musical startups; UK’s anti-piracy program Continue Reading
MTV, VH1, and BET could see a resurgence in how they share music thanks to a new partnership between owner Viacom and Spotify. The deal will make artists highlighted on Viacom’s web and on-air programming easily available to listeners through Spotify playlists. Continue Reading
Pandora announced that Lars Murray will serve as its new vice president of industry relations. Murray joins the company from Columbia Records, where he was vice president of digital media. Continue Reading
Sunita Kaur, director of Asia for Spotify, spoke with The Next Web about the company’s plans for growth in the coming months. Since its first foray into Asian markets in April 2013, Spotify has been moving slowly. The company is only present in Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, and the Philippines, leaving huge swaths of the continent untouched. Continue Reading