AI is under legal attack again, and this time the intellectual property at the center of the case is not music, but lyrics. Sony Music Publishing and Warner Chappell Music are teaming against AI company Anthropic and — notably — its CEO and co-founder Benjamin Mann. Continue Reading
Quick-serve restaurant Wendy’s has created a streaming playlist of songs for listening in the car while, um, dining out. It’s a six-track EMO collection. Wendy’s collaborated with producer Rise Records and producer Matt Squire. The lyrics are fabulously faux-serious. Click for info and link. Continue Reading
Revenue from Latin music recordings reached $542.2 million in the first half of 2026, according to the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). The category accounted for 9.1% of total U.S. revenue. Streaming was the most muscular influence by far. Click for details. Continue Reading
The trend has been grinding along for 11 years, and in 2026 mobile devices have overtaken built-in AM/FM radio as the primary device choice for in-car listening … for a certain segment of the U.S. population. Continue Reading
Acast has released the 2026 edition of its Podcast Pulse report. The headline finding: “The format argument is over. Audiences ended it by not caring.” Insouciant, yes, And backed by data. Continue Reading
Multi platform radio and audio company Audacy has released a study which canvassed podcast listeners about how they listen, and how they value host endorsements. “Intentional listening” is a key part of this examination, and it leads to dollars spent in three ways. Continue Reading
Streaming music giant Spotify naturally profiles the tastes of its users, using its understanding of a user’s taste to create personalized playlists. Now Spotify is asking for help. Continue Reading
The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) shows a revenue report for the first half of 2026, detailing revenue details for recorded music in all its packaged forms. The topline measurement is the continued growth of overall revenue, and the headline number is six billion dollars. Click for details and charts. Continue Reading
Magellan AI has released its monthly accounting of top podcast advertisers, derived from the company’s proprietary model. The results are estimates, not confirmed dollar amounts. Always interesting on its own merits, there is also a month-over-month view which adds perspective. Continue Reading
Spotify announces that its Partner Program, which creates monetization pathways for creators, has undergone its largest geographic expansion since its founding in 2025. Good for listeners too, Spotify asserts. Continue Reading
In May of this year we covered an intriguing — and to some, a threatening — experiment. Four AI radio stations were set up, completely staffed by AI models, from DJ to GM. Today we learn what happened. Click for history, details, graphics, and links.
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RAIN’s Kurt Hanson attends the Sounds Profitable Business Summit — a podcast industry event — in NYC, and sends back a portfolio of photos. We present a selection.