Quick Hits: Reactions to Taylor Swift vs. Apple
Quick Hits scans for brief news items and worthy reads from around the web. Today: Taylor Swift vs. Apple. Continue Reading
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Spotify, SoundCloud, and Shazam execs recognized as top European entrepreneurs
The Financial Times published a list of the top 50 tech entrepreneurs in Europe, and the rankings included several key players from the music industry. The list of CEOs and founders was compiled with the help of Founders Forum. Any nominees had to either be European nationals or live in Europe while running a tech company. Spotify CEO Daniel Ek took the top spot. Continue Reading
Guvera looking to offload Blinkbox Music just six months after buying it
Blinkbox Music started out the year with so much promise. The music service was sold by UK retailer Tesco to a new owner, up-and-coming streaming platform Guvera.
Unfortunately, things have gone south with the new alliance. Guvera placed Blinkbox into administration in early June and let 100 of its staff members go. “The company has faced significant financial pressure in recent months, since its acquisition by the Guvera group,” said Finbarr O’Connell, one of the joint administrators for Blinkbox. Continue Reading
Taylor Swift gets Apple Music to reverse policy on free trial royalty payments
We recently reported that Taylor Swift’s latest album would not be available through Apple Music. Yesterday, Swift published a Tumblr post explaining why. She questioned Apple’s decision to not pay any royalties to artists, songwriters, or producers for song plays during listeners’ three-month free trials. “These are the echoed sentiments of every artist, writer and producer in my social circles who are afraid to speak up publicly because we admire and respect Apple so much,” she said. Continue Reading
Presidential podcast: Obama to appear on “WTF With Marc Maron”
Podcasting continues to grow in visibility and viability. President Barack Obama is visiting sunny Los Angeles and he is expected to be a special guest on the “WTF With Marc Maron” podcast. Continue Reading
Internet Radio Rewind #48: Spotify positioning; Internet radio $$; Obama on a podcast
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The weekly update of the streaming audio industry, from RAIN News. THIS WEEK: Is Spotify positioning? Internet radio makes more money; DI.fm crosses over a fence; Google’s classical venture; Obama on a podcast Continue Reading
Taylor Swift’s “1989” album won’t be on Apple Music at launch
Taylor Swift made waves in the music industry when she opted to remove her entire catalog from Spotify. She explained at the time that she didn’t want to support “the perception that music has no value and should be free.” So it’s a bit of a surprise to learn that her latest album won’t be available on Apple Music. Both Apple and Swift’s label told BuzzFeed News that her popular “1989” album won’t be available at the launch of the new streaming service. Continue Reading
Former Netflix exec takes Spotify CFO role, reviving IPO talk
Ex-Netflix CFO Barry McCarthy has taken the same role in Spotify, we are learning today. McCarthy was at Netflix for 11 years, encompassing that company’s public offering in 2002. He also sits on Spotify’s board, and was involved in a venture investment in spotify in 2013. Continue Reading
Beats 1 appears in Apple’s beta iOS upgrade
Anyone who is offered an Apple iOS upgrade to versions 8.4 or 9 will see a first glimpse of Beats 1, Anyone who is offered an Apple iOS upgrade to versions 8.4 or 9 will reportedly see the start of Apple’s new radio lineup, a promised part of Apple Music, scheduled to launch widely on June 30. Continue Reading
Quick Hits: Spotify color fury; best podcasts; Apple’s odd advantage
Brief news items and worthy reads from around the web. TODAY: Spotify users see (not quite) green; best podcasts; Apple Music has a weird advantage Continue Reading
Digitally Imported launches on-demand listening for an integrated user experience
In the second step of a three-point plan to reinvent its service and re-imagine what an electronica listening platform can be, Digitally Imported (DI.fm) today launched on-demand listening. We spoke to founder and CEO Ari Shohat. q Continue Reading
Rdio set to expand Rdio Select plan in Europe
Rdio is reportedly planning to expand Rdio Select, its mid-price subscription plan, across Europe in the next few months. Rdio Select was introduced last month, and in our coverage we described it as “driving a wedge” between free listening and fully on-demand music subscriptions. Continue Reading