iHeartRadio announced several news items at CES 2018 in Las Vegas. The company said it now has more than 110 million registered users for its audio service. It also shared developments related to connected cars, wearables, and voice controls. Continue Reading
SoundCloud drew some heat recently when some users noticed changes in their audio quality. Select people noticed a shift from 128 kbps MP3 to 64 kbps Opus when using the SoundCloud streaming platform. The company has since clarified that these experiences are part of frequent tests it makes of audio, but are not part of any overall change to its technology or listening experience. Continue Reading
Nielsen shared its 2017 report covering the Canadian music market, and the narrative falls in line with its data for the United States. Total music consumption in the country increased 13.6% to 49.5 million units. Hip-hop and R&B were the fastest-growing genres in Canada. Continue Reading
Spotify announced that it has surpassed 70 million subscribers. The news came in a tweet from the streaming company on Thursday afternoon. That’s an exciting milestone with a direct listing in the works, but the departure of Chief Content Officer Stefan Blom could give investors pause. Continue Reading
Jimmy Iovine may be departing Apple this year. Sources told Billboard that the long-time music executive plans to leave in August 2018 when his shares in the tech company have fully vested. Apple has declined to comment on the rumors. Continue Reading
BuzzAngle Music has shared its music consumption data for 2017. The number of on-demand audio streams reached a new record high, up 50.3% to 376.9 billion, including both subscription and ad-supported streams. Subscription streams were up 57.5%, while ad-supported streams grew just 27.3%. Continue Reading
Podcast measurement firm Podtrac has revised two of its Podcast Industry Ranking charts for November audience size, citing IAB podcast measurement guidelines. The action removed iHeartMedia from the Top 10 Podcast Publishers chart, and the Top 10 Snackable Podcasts chart (formerly Top 15 Snackable Podcasts). Continue Reading
Facebook is moving full steam ahead in expanding its music team. The social media company has added three more people to that department, continuing the extensive number of hires made during 2017. Continue Reading
One of the perpetual stories that kept appearing in out 2017 headlines was the lingering question of Spotify and its plan for an IPO. The signs had pointed toward the streaming service pursuing a direct listing. Now, news has emerged that Spotify filed the confidential documents with the SEC to begin the IPO process in the final days of December. Continue Reading
The UK saw its total music sales increase 9.6% between 2016 and 2017, reaching a total of £1.2 billion, according to the Entertainment Retailers Association. Streaming was a key factor in the positive performance thanks to 41.9% growth in sales. Continue Reading
Brief news items and worthy reads from around the web: Questioning the top Podtrac “Snackable Podcast.” Big holiday download numbers for Alexa on Android. Start 2018 right with a hilarious podcast parody. Continue Reading
Tidal is a perpetually up and down story. The platform ended 2017 with an upswing, as owner and hip-hop legend Jay-Z released a massive new music video for his 4:44 album exclusively on the platform. The opulently shot eight-minute music video is directed by Ava DuVernay and stars what seems like half of Hollywood’s A-list. Continue Reading