Apple Music made its Russian debut last summer, and the numbers coming out of the market show some early promise. The reports point to Russia being one of the top five biggest markets for Apple Music so far. Continue Reading
Brief news items and worthy reads from around the web: The future for French music subs; Interview with Deezer’s North American exec; can public radio and TV be friends?; visualizing punk music’s hazy definitions. Continue Reading
TuneIn announced that NFL post-season games will be available to stream on its Premium tier. It also introduced its first 24/7 team channel focused on the New England Patriots. Continue Reading
What does Barcelona have in common with Tunis, Tunisia? How about Tokyo and Asuncion, Paraguay? Musical curiosity, according to Shazam. Continue Reading
The last time we took a close look at NPR One, the innovative audio mobile app from the public broadcaster, was right at its launch. The app has kicked off the new year with an update that beefs up the browsing and discovery options. Version 1.6 adds a fresh layer of personalization and flexibility to the already excellent app. Continue Reading
On the Move tracks hires, promotions, and other notable personnel changes within the online audio industry. Today’s moves are lateral more than upward, as both Sony/ATV and iHeartMedia announced news about retaining their top leadership. Continue Reading
Brief news items and worthy reads from around the web: A new schedule for Serial; in-depth with WNYC’s plans for podcasting; tour revenue analysis for One Direction. Continue Reading
DGital Media has launched another podcast on its roster of sports programming. “The Ochocinco and Dukes Podcast” will be hosted by a former wide receiver for the Cincinnati Bengals and an NFL Network commentator. Continue Reading
At long last, SoundCloud has signed a licensing deal with Universal Music Group. This deal allows Universal to collect revenue from instances where its catalog appears on the audio platform. SoundCloud has been working to get pen to paper on this agreement for many months. Continue Reading
In August, we shared a Wired article that questioned the narrow demographic group that has been dominating the growing podcast space, noting that the limited viewpoints could limit the format’s reach. New data from Quartz confirms that bias among the people sitting down behind the mic. Continue Reading
South Korean tech and mobile conglomerate Kakao has assumed ownership of MelOn, the country’s top streaming and downloaded music provider. Buying out the 76.4% stake in parent company Loen Entertainment for 1.87 trillion won (about $1.55 billion) adds an entertainment facet to Kakao’s diverse holdings. Continue Reading
SoundCloud has raised 300 million krona (about $35 million) in debt funding. A representative for the online audio platform confirmed the arrangement with investment firm Tennenbaum Capital Partners. Continue Reading