Acquisitions & Partnerships 24

UMG enters partnership to turn data into dollars for artists

Posted on January 5, 2015 by Anna Washenko

Universal Music Group has entered into a new partnership with Havas Group to form the Global Music Data Alliance. This data-centric entity will use Havas’ algorithms to analyze information about UMG artists, from ticket sales to streaming counts to social media stats, to look for new revenue opportunities. In particular, GMDA will examine behavioral data to better understand the relationships between artists, fans, and brands. Continue Reading →

AdLarge strikes ad-rep deal with Hotspot.fm

Posted on January 5, 2015 by Brad Hill

Audio ad-representation firm AdLarge continues a recent streak of news by announcing an exclusive national advertising sales-rep agreement with Hotspot.fm, an Internet radio app. Spokespeople for Hotspot.fm told RAIN News that the app is recently launched to the U.S. market. Continue Reading →

iHeartRadio will bring tunes to TiVo under new deal

Posted on January 5, 2015 by Anna Washenko

TiVo and iHeartRadio announced a new partnership that will bring the music platform to the video and TV recording service. The radio application is slated to roll out to TiVo Roamio, TiVo Mini, and TiVo Premiere devices “over the next few weeks,” according to the press release. Continue Reading →

WideOrbit acquires Castfire for monetizing on-demand content

Posted on December 23, 2014 by Brad Hill

Media management company WideOrbit has acquired the audio/video publishing platform Castfire, adding a new dimension to WideOrbit’s ad-insertion solutions. WideOrbit plans to position Castfire with its Abacast Clarity product, which it obtained with the Abacast acquisition in June. Continue Reading →

Breakthrough PodcastOne/AP partnership creates real-time podcasting

Posted on December 18, 2014 by Brad Hill

In a first-of-its-kind partnership, PodcastOne and the Associated Press (AP) are partnering to create one-minute news podcasts. Special insertion technology will automatically deliver the most current 60-second program to each listener. Eighteen shows will be produced each day, seven days a week. RAIN News spoke to PodcastOne founder Norman Pattiz. Continue Reading →

AdLarge partners with AudioBoom as exclusive advertising rep for U.S. audience

Posted on December 15, 2014 by Brad Hill

Ad-repping firm AdLarge Media and on-demand audio platform AudioBoom have signed a partnership that gives AdLarge exclusive representation of AudioBoom advertising opportunities for its quickly growing U.S. audience, starting in the new year. We spoke to executives from both companies. Continue Reading →

Music service Saavn now builds playlists via Twitter

Posted on December 4, 2014 by Brad Hill

In an interesting collaboration that mashes together social networking, radio-style request lines, and purepaly streaming, Bollywood-oriented music service Saavn is partnering with Twitter to enable tweeted music requests. Continue Reading →

Yo: iHeartRadio is first-mover in simple messaging service

Posted on November 24, 2014 by Brad Hill

iHeartRadio is the first streaming music service to plant its flag in the Yo App Index. Yo is a simple social messaging service that launched in April, and has about two-million users. Continue Reading →

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TuneIn deepens sports portfolio with extensive college basketball deal

Posted on November 20, 2014 by Brad Hill

TuneIn has built a powerful differentiation in sports streaming this year, and today announced another notch in its belt. The streaming platform has partnered with IMG and Learfield Sports to carry broadcasts of 85 men’s college basketball teams, including top-ranked programs. Continue Reading →

Uber and Spotify announce partnership for personalized in-taxi listening

Posted on November 17, 2014 by RAIN News Staff

Imagine getting into a taxi and hearing your Spotify playlist, which you were just listening to, coming out of the car stereo. That is the vision, and starting this Friday the reality, of a partnership announced today by Uber and Spotify. The heart of the deal is about ownership vs. access, of both music and transportation. Continue Reading →

TargetSpot and RMS partner for two-way revenue expansion

Posted on November 14, 2014 by Brad Hill

Audio ad platform TargetSpot announced a partnership with RMS, the leading audio ad network in Germany. RMS also operates an Internet radio publishing platform for German online radio stations. TargetSpot merged with leading Internet radio platform Radionomy in January. with both companies involved in audio publishing and ad marketing, the synergies of this deal appear to angle in from all directions. Continue Reading →

Warner inks distribution deal in China, bringing its library to local streaming sites

Posted on November 14, 2014 by Anna Washenko

Warner Music Group has entered into a distribution agreement with Tencent, a Chinese Internet conglomerate. Tencent will be responsible for distributing Warner’s catalog and new releases to local music services in China. One of the main platforms where Tencent will be providing Warner’s library is its proprietary streaming music platform, QQ Music. The free listening service is one of the longest-running in China. Continue Reading →