For the past several weeks, artists and labels have been making pointed statements about YouTube and the video platform’s financial obligations to the music industry. On Thursday, YouTube took a public stance against the charges, with a blog post penned by Christophe Muller, head of YouTube international music partnerships. Continue Reading
Brief news items and worthy reads from around the web. Today, two radio pros weighed in recently on why the format is still alive and kicking: Radio as adaptation and as technical necessity.
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Sirius XM reported its first-quarter results for 2016 and has increased its guidance for the year’s net subscriber growth based on the performance. Quarterly revenue rose 11% to a high of $1.2 billion. Sirius XM said it now anticipates adding 1.6 million net new total subscribers in 2016. Continue Reading
ASCAP posted more than $1 billion in revenue for the second consecutive year, but its total payouts to the music industry declined from 2014. The performing rights organization posted revenue of $1.014 billion in 2015, up slightly from its 2014 results, when revenue scraped past $1 billion for the first time. Continue Reading
Pandora has released a new TV commercial in its line of “The Next Song Matters” series, called The Song. The new spot takes the theme of Pandora’s first ad in this series (The Next Song) — the joyous impact of the perfect song at the perfect time — and compresses it into the deep feeling of music generally. In both, there is an underlying message of perfect music provided by non-interactive listening. Continue Reading
Apple Music is continuing on a steady climb of acquiring new listeners. After reporting that it had 10 million subscribers in January, the company’s second quarter financial results included news that the new streaming service has exceeded 13 million subscribers. Continue Reading
Nielsen released its comparable metrics report for Q4 2015. Radio’s weekly reach held steady at 93% for all adults over age 18. At the same time, there are underlying metrics that point to big shifts related to smartphone use and the habits of younger listeners. Continue Reading
Ezra Kucharz, President of CBS Local Digital Media, is leaving his CBS position, and will take on a consulting role as Special Advisor to the CEO of CBS. Kucharz made an informal announcement of his move in a LinkedIn note, and also circulated a memo to his team. Continue Reading
Brief news items and worthy reads from around the web: Sonos gets Prime Music in EU; Spotify denies hack, despite weirdness. Continue Reading
Pandora has partnered with the This American Life podcast. The audio program, produced in collaboration with WBEZ Chicago and hosted by nerd hero Ira Glass, now has its own channel on Pandora where listeners can tune in to hear compelling or unusual stories about whatever that week’s theme is. New episodes will air on Mondays. Continue Reading
Rhapsody International’s brand new CEO Mike Davis has been on the job for less than a week, and grabbed some public attention with a blog post announcing positive numbers for the streaming service. Continue Reading
Apple Music and Drake have been very cozy of late. Now, Apple Music is a sponsor for Drake’s upcoming Summer Sixteen tour with fellow rapper Future. Continue Reading