Spreaker rolls out monetization to Spotify
Spreaker announced that its monetization program has been expanded for use on Spotify. All of its Pro tier podcasters can take advantage of the monetization tools right away. Continue Reading
Author: Anna Washenko
Boomplay Music raises $20 million
Boomplay Music, a streaming platform serving Africa, announced that it has raised $20 million in Series A funding. The financing will support the company’s expansion efforts across Africa. The company currently has more than 44 million downloads of its app and is adding an average of 2 million new subscribers monthly. Continue Reading
Headliner to provide social audiogram videos for Pinecast
Headliner, a platform for social media audio discovery, has entered a partnership with podcast platform Pinecast. Under the terms of their arrangement, Headliner will provide Pinecast users with the tools to create video clips of their content that can be posted to social networks. Continue Reading
Apple decreases official list price for HomePod smart speaker
Apple has reduced the prices for its HomePod smart speaker in several markets. For the U.S., the cost has been cut from $349 to $299. It’s unclear whether this adjustment may pave the way for a future new product launch or if it’s a response to market trends. Continue Reading
Sonos appoints Brittany Bagley as new CFO
Speaker company Sonos announced that it has hired Brittany Bagley as its new chief financial officer. Bagley has already served on the firm’s board of directors for two years, but will step away with her new appointment. Continue Reading
Sirius XM and Pandora unveil cross-platform programming station
Sirius XM and Pandora have launched their first cross-platform collaboration since the satellite radio company acquired the online audio platform in September. The new interactive channel, called Pandora NOW, will be available on both of the audio services starting today. Continue Reading
Red Bull Music Academy and Red Bull Radio to close in October
Red Bull is shuttering two of its music operations. Both Red Bull Music Academy and Red Bull Radio will close as a result of structural changes in the energy drink company, which has also built a parallel reputation as a lifestyle and culture brand. Continue Reading
Google Assistant adds new shopping option and John Legend’s voice
The Google Assistant voice AI platform has introduced two developments this week. First, it is adding a new tool for voice-driven shopping. Second, it’s getting a new sound with its first celebrity cameo. Continue Reading
Share of Ear teaser shows 59% growth for Internet-delivered audio in the past five years
Edison Research has released a teaser for the next annual installment of its Share of Ear investigation into U.S. audio consumption. The company published a slide from its upcoming 2019 report tracing growth in Internet-delivered audio. Continue Reading
Streaming was almost three-quarters of Australia’s 2018 music revenue
The Australian Recording Industry Association has published its year-end results from 2018. The trade body saw wholesale revenue in the country grow 12.3% to A$526.1 million last year, compared with A$468.7 million. As with so many annual reports around the world, streaming was a key contributor to the increasing revenue. Continue Reading
Zeno Media partners with BTC Bahamas for mobile radio app
Zeno Media has entered a partnership with the BTC Bahamas telecom for a new app called BTC Radio. The two parties will launch the first mobile carrier supported audio streaming radio app for the region, including exclusive radio content from the Bahamas, Haiti, and Jamaica. Continue Reading
iHeartMedia files for IPO
iHeartMedia filed for an initial public offering today, marking a big financial move for an audio conglomerate that is emerging from bankruptcy. The filing signals the end of an era for iHeartMedia, which has been under private ownership for more than a decade. Continue Reading