Quick Hits: Cassette Store Day, Dr. Dre, an unusual Spotify protest
Brief news items and worthwhile reads from around the web: Cassette Store Day, Dr. Dre, an unusual Spotify protest Continue Reading
Author: Brad Hill
Call for change in U.S. House committee hearing on music licensing
SPECIAL COVERAGE
On Tuesday the U.S House Judiciary Committee held the first of two hearings in its review of music licensing. These hearings potentially affect all stakeholders: radio stations, online music services, webcasters, performers, and creators.
Sharply-worded arguments politely flew around the House chamber. One congressman issued a powerful and comprehensive call for change. It was momentum vs. inertia, reform vs. status quo. Four main issues were in play:
- Songwriters getting lower royalty rates than performing artists
- Broadcast radio not paying artist royalties
- Compulsory licensing that regulate music publishers
- Pre-1972 songs that earn no royalties whatsoever
KCRW unveils new website; invests $10M in technology and programming
Los Angeles radio station KCRW has launched a newly designed website containing archived and feature content in addition to a live webcast stream. The new site kicks off a $10-million initiative that will invest the money in technology and programming. Continue Reading
Pureplay of the Day: Spacesfm
“Redefining classical radio” is how Spacesfm (www.spacesfm.com) markets its Internet-only station. It’s a whopping redefinition, but one that many non-classical listeners relate to. It is possible (even advisable) to spend long amounts of time on Spacesfm. We plan to. Continue Reading
iTunes Radio goes broadcast, adding ESPN and local NPR stations
As previously speculated, Apple has added ESPN Radio and a selection of local NPR radio stations to its online radio streams. In doing so, Apple borrows a page from leading radio-station aggregators TuneIn and iHeartRadio. We found minor glitches. Continue Reading
Quick Hits: Pandora and Samsung, history of car music, spamming Spotify, Apple dirt
Brief news items and worthwhile reads from around the web: Pandora and Samsung, history of car music, spamming Spotify, Apple dirt. Continue Reading
Amazon reportedly set to launch music service Thursday
Rumor might be turning to reality once again — soon. Amazon’s purported new music service will launch this week, according to reports. Continue Reading
Earwolf and The Mid Roll merge to form Midroll Media for podcasting
Comedy podcast network Earwolf Media announced its merger with podcasting advertising network The Mid Roll, to form Midroll Media, an end-to-end production and monetization company for online program producers. Jeff Ullrich, founder of Earwolf, is the founder and CEO of the combined entity. Continue Reading
SoundExchange CEO: Radio ruins record sales
In a punchy keynote address at the New Music Seminar in New York yesterday, SoundExchange CEO Michael Huppe provocatively claimed that music sales decrease when radio plays songs. Huppe used that theme to support an argument that broadcast radio should be required to pay performance royalties to artists and labels, from which radio is currently exempt. Continue Reading
Web Radio Execs Will Gather In London For RAIN Summit Europe
Internet radio executives from across Europe will meet in London, England on Tuesday November 4th for the 3rd annual RAIN Summit Europe. For over a decade, RAIN Summit conferences have been the premiere educational and networking events for the Internet radio and online audio industry. Continue Reading
Internet listening reaches new high in April, led by Pandora, Clear Channel streams
Internet listening gained four percent in April over march, according to data released by Triton Digital in its Webcast Metrics Top 20 Ranker. The two-percent gain from the previous month lifted total stream listening into new-high territory. April is the ninth consecutive month of… Continue Reading
WideOrbit acquires Abacast
Seeking to capitalize on the quick rise in demand for digital advertising solutions, WideOrbit, a leading provider of business management software to media companies, has acquired Abacast, a technology company providing ad-insertion tools to webcasters. Continue Reading