Ole Obermann has been hired by mobile short-form video app TikTok as its vice president and global head of music. The former Warner Music Group digital exec joined the company in October. Continue Reading
Student discounts to streaming services are not new, and classical specialist Idagio is leveraging that user acquisition strategy. The pitch is based on the idea that classical music fosters relaxation, brain benefits, better sleep, and lower stress — in time for final exams. Continue Reading
Pandora announced the full rollout of its latest mobile redesign. The new look was introduced to a limited number of users in October. Its new features include a personalized “For You” section and the Pandora Modes option for tweaking the curation algorithms of a station. Continue Reading
The Reuters Institute has published its foundational Digital News Report 2019. It mentions podcasting 186 times. A key point is a so-called Pivot to Audio, which describes how phones and smart speakers are fostering the growth in podcast news shows. Continue Reading
The UK is experiencing a surge in audiobook popularity. Deloitte’s latest projections anticipate that audiobooks will generate UK revenue of £115 million in 2020 and outpace sales of ebooks. A similar growth curve is happening in the U.S. Continue Reading
Australian digital audio ad company Whooshkaa has entered a partnership with Ripple, a broadcaster based in Malaysia. Under this agreement, Whooshkaa will power on-demand audio and dynamic advertising for Ripple’s shows. Continue Reading
iHeartMedia is breaking new ground in Music City. The conglomerate announced that it will launch the second headquarters for iHeartRadio Digital in Nashville. The new location is slated to open in the first quarter of 2020. Continue Reading
Warner Music Group released financial results from its fourth quarter and for its 2019 fiscal year. In the three-month period ending September 30, the major label generated a net income of $91 million, reversing a loss of $13 million in the fourth quarter of 2018. Continue Reading
Entercom announced that it will distribute Radio Disney and Radio Disney Country programming. Both Disney channels will be available through the RADIO.COM digital audio platform alongside Entercom’s station portfolio and podcast content. Continue Reading
Tencent and Vivendi have been making gradual progress toward a deal to see the China-based company acquire a stake of Universal Music Group. Even before the sale is a done deal, it already has an opponent. Continue Reading
Tidal has added a new feature to bring a visual component to its music discovery. The streaming service introduced My Video Mix, a collection of up to eight video playlists. Continue Reading
Spotify has been churning out industry partnerships at a break-neck pace for the past several months. The latest updates from the streaming service include four deals to expand access to Spotify Premium and a branded concert deal. Continue Reading