RAIN News managing editor Brad Hill was questioned about Apple’s CarPlay initiative on the Tech Shift segment of WBEZ’s Afternoon Shift program. WBEZ is a public FM station, and the originator of NPR’s widely-syndicated Wait, Wait, Don’t Tell Me program. Tech Shift is hosted by Niala Boodhoo. Click to listen. Continue Reading
Jake Sigal describes himself as a passionate music lover, and he founded Livio in 2008 with a $10,000 loan from his parents. He is a featured speaker at RAIN Summit West, April 6th in Las Vegas, where he will be on the Dashboard Dynamics panel. We spoke to Sigal by phone. Continue Reading
Registered users comprise everyone who has created a log-in to Pandora’s service, which is required to create a personalized station and hear something. So, presumably, that 250-million number includes anyone who has kicked the tires even just once. About 30% of signups turn into active users. Continue Reading
Terrestrial radio has a newly official ratings competitor on the local level: Internet radio. In a culmination of a rigorous two-year evaluation period, Triton Digital’s Webcast Metrics Local ratings product has received accreditation from the Media Rating Council (MRC). Continue Reading
A new report out from Gartner Research reveals that Google’s Android mobile operating system took the market-share lead in 2013 from Apple’s iOS platform. In a startling role reversal, Android jumped from 46 % to 62% of 2013 tablet sales, while Apple’s OS dropped from 53% to 36%. Continue Reading
We were tipped over the weekend by Robert Maccini, who notified RAIN that he had heard an iTunes Radio commercial on a Boston FM station, WKLB. Maccini listened until he heard the ad again, and pounced with a recording device. Click through to hear the live-read commercial. Continue Reading
UPDATE: The two sides of this dispute have reached an out-of-court, non-financial settlement. The Spotify playlists in question, which replicate compilation albums produced by British label Ministry of Sound, will be removed from Spotify’s search engine, but not removed from the service. Continue Reading
Apple and a trio of car companies used the Geneva International Motor Show to announce the roll-out of CarPlay, formerly called iOS in the Car. CarPlay will hit the road later this year in selected Ferrari, Mercedes-Benz, and Volvo models. Not all music apps will work — Pandora is excluded. Continue Reading
The weekly RAIN Poll. New cars offer more and easier ways to access music apps, streaming stations, and personal music collections while driving. Radio is still the one listening platform that comes factory-installed in nearly ever vehicle on the road. Vote your preference! Continue Reading
Research dominated the news during the past week. A Borrell Associates study, and a sneak peek at Infinite Dial 2014. Also: net neutrality taking a beating, connected cars, 8tracks, Beats Music, the HD Radio lawsuit. Continue Reading
RAIN Summit West, now in its 13th year, announces new confirmed speakers for the April 6 conference in Las Vegas. The early registration rate for RAIN Summit West ends at midnight tonight, Friday, February 28. Continue Reading
Should broadcast radio be required to pay royalties to labels and recording artists for use of their records? There are arguments on both sides, and the stalemate reinforces inertia. But the debate is heating up, gaining publicity, and creating awareness of an issue that many people don’t know about. Continue Reading