True Crime podcasts help crack true crimes (Edison / audiochuck)

In a lovely turnaround, it turns out that the venerable True Crime podcast category helps solve the crimes it documents. We learn this in a new study from Edison Research and podcast network audiochuck. Audiochuck publishes one of genre’s most recognized titles, Crime Junkie. In an unusual angle in podcast research, the company evangelizes the podcast’s social values, not its benefit to advertisers. Continue Reading

BMI takes legal action in royalty conflict with SiriusXM

“Years of negotiations.” That’s how performing rights organization (PRO) BMI describes its patience and perseverance in royalty dealings with SiriusXM. With patience and perseverance evidently expired, BMI filed a legal action to determine what it calls “fair and appropriate fees.” Click for details — all from BMI’s perspective. No public word from SiriusXM at posting time. Continue Reading

AI songs + fraudulent streaming + millions in royalties = FBI/DOJ seeking 60 years in prison

It had to happen, and possibly has happened before. Now it has definitely happened with severe potential consequences. An guileful North Carolina musician named Damian Williams has been accused of fraudulently streaming AI-created songs and dishonestly collecting royalties. We learn this from the United States Attorney’s Office of the Southern District of New York. It’s no small-scale gambit. Click for the impressively corrupt details. Continue Reading