AdRev hires new director of rights management
AdRev, a specialist in YouTube monetization and copyright management, announced a new high-level hire. Nick LaPointe has joined the company as director of rights management. Continue Reading
News
Chance the Rapper acquires Chicagoist from WNYC
Chance the Rapper has been known to throw himself and his resources into causes that hit close to home. He gave Chicago public schools $1 million last year, and also made efforts to help support SoundCloud when the platform that helped break him to mainstream success was struggling. Now he’s embarking on another Windy City campaign. Continue Reading
Spotify is testing submissions of unreleased music for playlist consideration
Spotify has introduced a new feature for streamlining the process of submitting unreleased music for consideration on its curated playlists. The feature is in beta testing on the Spotify for Artists and Spotify Analytics dashboards. Continue Reading
NPR/Edison Smart Audio Report shows “Early Majority” uses of smart speakers; 18% of Americans now owners
Today NPR and Edison Research released the latest edition of The Smart Audio Report, an ongoing consumer survey of how American adults are acquiring and using smart speakers. The information was released in an online webinar presented by Edison Senior Vice President Tom Webster. Continue Reading
Spotify hires musician to build out presence for Arab music and culture
Spotify has hired a musician to help build a hub centered on Arab music and culture for the platform. Suhel Nafar, a Palestinian musician, is now a senior editor for the streaming service and will work out of its New York office. The Middle East has been a region of growth for digital audio advertising. Continue Reading
Streaming revenue surpasses physical sales for the first time in Germany
Germany, one of the last markets of CD dominance, has finally seen streaming eclipse physical formats. In the first half of 2018, the country’s music industry saw revenue of €727 million, down 2% on-year. The period saw digital revenue overtake physical for the first time. Continue Reading
Offline and music download platform Trebel launches with major label deals
Trebel, a new music app focused on offline listening, announced its official launch in the United States and Mexico. The program has position itself as an option for listeners who currently find offline playback from music video sites or unlicensed platforms. Continue Reading
Makers of S-Town sued by the estate of the podcast’s subject
The team behind popular podcast S-Town is being sued over claims that it exploited the life of its main subject for financial gain. The estate of John B. McLemore has sued host and creator Brian Reed, Serial Productions, This American Life, Chicago Public Media, and others. Continue Reading
Hi-def music service Qobuz adds three new hires to prepare for United States launch
Qobuz announced three new hires who will help the hi-definition streaming platform with its United States launch later this year. Dan Mackta is the new managing director of Qobuz USA. The other new hires are Ted Cohen and David Soloman. Continue Reading
Deezer HiFi available on select Samsung speakers and soundbars in the UK
Deezer announced that it has expanded access to its high-fidelity, CD-quality listening tier. Deezer HiFi is now available worldwide on select models of Samsung soundbars and wireless speakers. Continue Reading
audioBoom announces hires in the UK and India
audioBoom announced new hires at two of its international offices. The audio and podcasting company has hired Mike Newman as head of content partnerships in the UK, and Umesh Barve as head of partnerships in India. Continue Reading
Quick Hits: Insights from Entercom, podcasting history, podcasting’s present, and a Pandora CEO interview
Brief news items and worthy reads from around the web: Entercom exec’s audio snapshot. A podcasting history lesson. Best podcast episodes of the year (so far). Roger Lynch’s Bloomberg interview. Continue Reading