A Google Win
Google has supplanted Apple as the world’s most valuable brand, ending Apple’s four-year hold on the top ranking — according to market research company KANTAR. Continue Reading
News
Urban One Q1: Net loss, but narrowing
Media conglomerate Urban One has released earnings for Q1, showing a reduction in the loss column compared to the year-ago Q1. Detail upon detail within. Continue Reading
Steve Goldstein: AI can make podcasts. But can it make anyone care?
In this edition of Steve Goldstein’s column, he assesses the goods and bads of AI. It can now generate podcasts at industrial scale, he observes. But after hearing what Gen Z thought of AI-generated shows, one thing is clear: making content is easy — making people care is much harder. “AI lowers the cost of making content, but it does nothing by itself to increase the value of that content to a listener or viewer; if anything, it increases the noise.” Continue Reading
RAIN Notes: May 12
— Meanings (Arielle Nissenblatt)
— Spotify unsurprisingly #1 (Edison Research)
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Spotify ‘wraps’ with a new review of its history
Spotify has launched a “wrapped”-style feature called Party of the Year(s), inviting subscribers to flash back to their earliest platform listens. It’s part of Spotify’s 20th birthday celebration. Continue Reading
In wake of Spotify “Verified,” artist stream counts plummet … sometimes
Spotify launched Verified, an authenticity badge which identifies human-created music and distinguishes it from AI generated (and AI influenced) music. Started this month, the intelligence feature works by evaluating different characteristics. Click for details. Continue Reading
Fading digital Boom leads to battle for market share (Borrell Research)
“Local digital advertising continues to grow, but at a significantly slower pace.” That is the opening declaration of the Executive Summary in Borrell Associates 24th annual report on local digital advertising. Titled “The Digital Boom Ends, The Battle for Market Share… Continue Reading
Warner/Paramount take cue from “Michael,” join to create musician biopics
Warner Music and Paramount Pictures have agreed to a partnership arrangement for making theatrical movies about legendary musicians, past and present. The projects will be undertaken in collaboration with those musicians or their estates. Continue Reading
RAIN Notes: May 6
— Acquisitive (Record Industry)
— Best of the New (Podchaser)
— Back in the fray (Bose)
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Law Laggard (Copyright research)
How long does it take for copyright law to catch up with technology? That question heads a new research paper from The Copyright Society, a 1,000-member nonprofit established in 1953. Authored by Bill Rosenblatt and Howie Singer, authers of “Key Changes: The Ten Times Technology Transformed the Music Industry, the article offers a fascinating narrative and meticulous footnoting. Continue Reading
RAIN Notes: May 5
— Acquisitive (Record Industry)
— Best of the New (Podchaser)
— Back in the fray (Bose)
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RAIN Time Travel: May 2016 headlines
In this monthly feature, we look back one decade and revisit selected headlines. Today — highlights from May 2016. In this month’s edition: Radionomy, SoundCloud, Tidal, the first podcast spike, Podtrac introduces its podcast ranker. streaming revenue breakthrough at Warner, Spotify adds video … and much more. Continue Reading