Pandora has introduced a new feature for creating playlists that combine music and podcasts or other spoken word content. The format is called Pandora Stories, and it’s being slowly rolled out in collaboration with a few celebrity curators. Continue Reading
Digital content startup WaitWhat has landed an investment of $4.3 million. The company, founded by former TED executives June Cohen and Deron Triff, has quickly established itself as a player in podcasting. Along with the funding news, WaitWhat also announced the launch of a new podcast in partnership with Quartz called Should This Exist? Continue Reading
Spotify is making a big push into podcasting, but that isn’t the only area of spoken word content the company is curating. The streaming service has a new “Word” section under its Browse tab. Continue Reading
Tencent Music Entertainment may have came stateside for its IPO, but the company is still keeping plenty of ties to its home country of China. The company recently made a strategic investment in Chinese streaming service Douban FM. Continue Reading
SoundCloud has introduced a distribution tool. SoundCloud Premier distribution allows creators to have their uploads sent to other music and digital services, opening up new audiences and new revenue streams for the performers. Continue Reading
Brief news items and worthy reads from around the web: SoundCloud at the Grammys. Apple Music’s Grammy deal. Smart speakers’ language options. Singing in tongues. Continue Reading
The text of the EU Copyright Directive has been finalized, meaning the stage is set for a sweeping legal update that could have unintended consequences for online communication in the bloc. With the final language decided, new revisions cannot be made and the legislation will go to the European Parliament’s legal affairs committee ahead of a final vote, which is expected to occur in March or April. Continue Reading
Universal Music Group’s fourth-quarter results have been posted by parent company Vivendi, capping a big year and leaving any potential buyers with more information about what the label has to offer. UMG’s revenue for the period totaled €6.023 billion. Continue Reading
Spotify’s latest original podcast is a collaboration with BBC Studios. The streaming service commissioned the UK broadcaster for a show titled Stay Free: The Story of The Clash. Continue Reading
Spotify has filed a 20-F with the SEC — that is a format for filing an annual report by companies of non-U.S. ownership. In it, Spotify discloses the cost of acquiring Gimlet Media and Anchor, and it is about 47% higher than the previously reported (rumored) amount. Continue Reading
Qobuz has launched in the United States, a long-awaited move from the hybrid download and streaming service. The company, based in France, focuses on audio, with a library of 40 million CD quality tracks and millions more that are hi-res. Continue Reading
ESPN is reinforcing its reputation as a leading audio sports brand by releasing results from the subscription-only Share of Ear survey by Edison Research. The media company’s talk shows, live events, local broadcast radio, and podcasts are responsible for almost half (46%) of all sports radio listenership in the United States in 2018. Continue Reading