The purpose of collective licensing is simplicity. Providing a mechanism for blanket music-use approval is supposed to move things along, facilitating legal performances of songs and efficient payment to creators. Tell that to BMI, its member publishers, and Pandora this morning. Continue Reading
The five most-read articles this week. A surprising court case; an ex-radio exec building a podcast empire; web listening metrics for October; An interesting not-exactly-merger; a study of how poorly most radio stations do Twitter. Continue Reading
Shazam updated its iOS app with a feature that makes it even more of a liferipper than it was before. The new feature is an Auto function that keeps Shazam listening for recorded music at all times, even when the app is closed. Continue Reading
Without question the biggest and most anticipated product launch of the year in streaming audio, iTunes Radio was late to the party. But for that reason among others, its appearance signified a few important pivot points. A sober observation of iTunes Radio influence might conclude that the product has been less tide-turning than expected. Continue Reading
RAIN Summit NYC – Pureplays and Podcasts, will be hosted by Kurt Hanson and Jennifer Lane on Wednesday, February 5 at The Greene Space in New York. Panel discussions and presentations will cover all aspects of the evolving streaming audio marketplace, followed by a cocktail reception for speakers and attendees. Continue Reading
The Indian music business is a $170-million industry. Bollywood music (also known as “filmi” music) represents more than 90 percent of it, but Indipop, regional music, devotional songs, and infiltrations of Western pop are important categories. Vodafone joins three independent services building audiences. Continue Reading
2013 has been the year for demonstrating how difficult it can be to turn on the radio in new cars with digital dashboards. Ford is making it easier for British drivers to turn on the radio by partnering with U.K. radio app RadioPlayer, which includes hundreds of stations including all the BBC outlets. Continue Reading
Friday is Winamp/Shoutcast Shutdown Day. Not exactly a national holiday, but a day of real significance for observers following the AOL-owned saga, and even more for stakeholders. On the back end of the ShoutCast directory are hooks that power a large number of mobile listening apps and entertainment devices. Those participants in the ShoutCast ecosystem have the most to lose. Continue Reading
Well-read tech reviewer David Pogue bestowed and end-of-year “Pogie” award on NextRadio, an FM chip-plus-app solution for selected Android phones. For Pogue, the point isn’t any rhapsodic affinity with radio. The appeal for him seems to be streaming audio that doesn’t eat into the phone’s data plan. We review the history of portable radio in the mobile digital era. Continue Reading
Ouch, and surprise! After winning favorable judgement in a similar court proceeding with publisher collection agency ASCAP, Pandora is on the losing side of a case brought by another major agency, BMI. The ruling makes life complicated for Pandora, and possibly for BMI-represented publishers. Continue Reading
The Echo Nest has worked with Microsoft before, providing technology underlying the Xbox Web Playlist feature. But Xbox Music Radio is a more basic function, bolted into the platform’s primary navigation, and intended to compete with Pandora, iTunes Music, and all other lean-back pureplay experiences. Continue Reading
Blues Debut adds a fresh twist to blues programming, and lives up to its name, by playing only the most recent release of any artist in the playlist. Furthermore, an emphasis system favors the newest new. The blues is as old as suffering, but this station sticks to the latest. Continue Reading