Podcasts have been attracting attention from Hollywood as well as from listeners, with rights to several popular and unique audio series getting optioned in recent months. The latest podcast to possibly make the leap is Serial Productions’ S-Town. Continue Reading
Pandora has been named the music streaming launch partner for Snap Kit, the developer platform from the company behind popular social network Snapchat. Through the deal, Pandora is powering a special music-sharing feature for all of the Snap Inc. app’s U.S. users. Continue Reading
Mark Williamson has departed his role as global head of artist and industry partnerships at Spotify. Williamson had been at the streaming service since 2011, rising through the ranks of leadership working with artists, managers, and music executives. Continue Reading
Acast has signed an exclusive deal with Irish digital sales agency i-Believe. Under this arrangement, i-Believe will offer ad placement on premium, on-demand, brand-safe podcast content at scale in Ireland. Continue Reading
Streaming services are taking advantage of the upcoming World Cup with some deals for fans of football (soccer for our fellow Americans). First off, Deezer has planned an artist takeover dubbed Football Fever. The second deal is at Tidal. Continue Reading
Sirius XM has reached a settlement with SoundExchange, ending outstanding claims surrounding royalty payments from January 2007 through December 2017. SoundExchange claimed that Sirius XM had taken deductions and exemptions in calculating its royalty payments. The satellite radio company will make a lump sum payment of $150 million to SoundExchange. Continue Reading
Pew Research Center has published its latest data on public media audience, including NPR, American Public Media, and Public Radio International. For most metrics, the three public media houses saw little to some growth, although NPR’s digital platforms continue to be top performers. Continue Reading
Kobalt’s AWAL recorded music division has acquired in2une Music, a multi-format radio promotion specialist for indie artists and labels. The company, which also offers services in playlisting, social & digital strategy and campus promotion, has been used by breakout performers such as Chance the Rapper, Lindsey Stirling, and Major Lazer. Continue Reading
Apple Music has hired more talent away from the BBC. Ryan Newman has left his role as the editor of hip-hop and grime station BBC 1Xtra, where he spearheaded the channel’s music strategy. Now he’ll be joining the hip-hop team at Apple Music. Continue Reading
Napster President and CEO Bill Patrizio gave a keynote talk at the Midem conference, offering his insights on the streaming service’s internal plans and the broader streaming economy. He acknowledged that the company didn’t plan to tackle the current market leaders head on, but would continue pursuing other, innovative approaches to music, such as running streaming services for other brands and businesses. Continue Reading
Old habits are hard to break, and they set in by about age 30. That’s the takeaway from a new survey by Deezer that asked 1,000 Britons about their listening habits. At 30, most begin to stop absorbing new music and only listen to the same artists and genres. Continue Reading
audioBoom has conditionally raised £4.5 million from a mix of new and old investors. The podcast company is expected to trading on the London Stock Exchange beginning June 14, and the placing is conditional upon those shares being restored. It’s a positive development for a business that has had a challenging few months. Continue Reading