We reported the numbers from Sirius XM’s Q2 financial results yesterday. Today, we dive into the transcript of the company’s conference call for more insights into the long on-again-off-again saga of its interest in Pandora, as well as its more recent efforts around the Amazon Echo smart home speaker. Continue Reading
We are in a milestone year for audio. 2017 has been called “The year of the podcast” and “Podcasting’s breakthrough year.” At the same time, Smart Speakers are rocketing into consumer consciousness … and into their homes. RAIN Summit Austin is the gathering to know more about new audio technology, new listening habits, the latest consumer trends, and how radio is taking advantage of the brightest opportunities. Continue Reading
French music industry group SNEP has published its H1 results, which saw digital sources continuing to grow despite an overall dip in revenue. SNEP reported a decrease of 2.3% in revenue to €189.5 million for the period. Continue Reading
audioBoom and Deezer have joined forces in a new podcast-focused deal. Through the new agreement, audioBoom broadcasters can reach the Deezer audience of 12 million international listeners for their shows. Deezer will have nearly 230 audioBoom shows in English and Spanish added to its burgeoning podcast division. Continue Reading
YouTube Head of Music Lyor Cohen said that Google Music Play and YouTube Red will be combined into a single property. Cohen confirmed the eventual merger during a session at the New Music Seminar event in New York. He said the move would help educate consumers and increase the company’s subscriber numbers. Continue Reading
Brief news items and worthy reads from around the web: Podcast ads hitting a paradigm shift; streaming and diamond certification; the surprising inspiration behind Apple earbuds. Continue Reading
Apple has announced two new talent developments within its Apple music streaming service. First, its has added the newest artist for its Up Next discovery program. Second, South African DJ and producer Black Coffee is joining the roster of Beats 1 hosts. Continue Reading
Brief news items and worthy reads from around the web: College radio lives on and digital radio grows in Denmark. Continue Reading
iHeartRadio announced a new digital-focused promotion. Tony Molaee has moved into the position of vice president of digital programming operations for the company. In this role, he will work to support the national team for digital programming and continue his leadership for the local New York City market. Continue Reading
Alphabet, the parent company behind Google, has announced its second quarter financial results. The company posted quarterly revenue of $26 billion, up 21% on-year. Net income for the period depended on whether the recent $2.7 billion fine levied by the European Commission was included in the accounting. Continue Reading
For the release of his newest work, Jay-Z opted to gate the album to his Tidal streaming service for one week. But even after distributing the music to most other digital platforms, Spotify still does not have 4:44. That may not be a cheap decision for the artist, and it also shows that Spotify has still not shaken some long-held assumptions among A-list performers. Continue Reading
Spotify has reportedly made progress toward securing a licensing deal with Warner Music Group. Reuters cited four unnamed sources in its exclusive report that the streaming company was moving closer to an agreement with the third major label. The specifics of this alleged arrangement are still being hammered out, but the sources told Reuters that the parties had already agreed to Spotify paying a smaller share of revenue to Warner in exchange for the label’s artists to window their work to paid subscribers for a period. Continue Reading