Quick Hits: Spotify’s royalties; Steve Albini on copyright; Deezer on Apple
Brief news items and worthy reads from around the web: Billboard on Spotify payouts; Steve Albini talks copyright; Deezer not worried about Apple rivalry. Continue Reading
News
Toyota joins Ford’s open-source dashboard system for “just works” in-car listening
Toyota announced that it was joining Ford’s SDL project, an open-source solution to connecting mobile apps to digital dashboards. The initiative counters the closed systems from Google and Apple. We spoke to Scott Burnell, Global Lead of Business Development and Partner Management at Ford, for context around this announcement. Continue Reading
YouTube adds new Music Insights analytics for artists
YouTube launched a new set of analytics called Music Insights specifically for musicians. The participating artists can use Music Insights to view engagement information, including their most popular songs and the locations where they have the largest number of fans. It also shares aggregated view counts, which include fan-uploaded videos using that artist’s songs as well as views of videos on the performer’s own channel. Continue Reading
Universal Music Japan may be buying into Line Music
Line Music may have received an important vote of confidence from the Japanese arm of Universal Music. The major label has bought into the new music channel of the popular messaging app, according to Complete Music Update. Japan boasts a complicated music market, where CDs are still the dominant listening format. Continue Reading
Dash Radio launches with $2 million, 60 stations, and celebrity power
Dash Radio has launched from its beta testing and is now operating live on the web and on mobile. The online radio platform has received $2 million of seed funding and already has a suite of 60 channels. It is available with apps on both iOS and Android. Continue Reading
Merlin is the newest partner for SoundCloud’s monetization program
SoundCloud has signed an agreement with Merlin that will enable the independent agency’s more than 20,000 labels and distributors to earn money on the platform. The people represented by Merlin will be able to earn royalties from the On SoundCloud advertising program and they will reportedly have involvement in the streaming platform’s upcoming subscription service as well. Terms of the partnership have not been disclosed. Continue Reading
Rumor Fact(ory): L.A. Reid/Sony may be buying a stake in Rhapsody
L.A. Reid may be making a bid for shares of Rhapsody. The chairman and CEO of Epic Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment, is allegedly working with a private equity investment group to purchase a large share of the streaming platform. Continue Reading
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Quick Hits: YouTube exec on Music Key; hypothetical Apple acquisitions; a possible class action against Sony
Brief news items and worthy reads from around the web: YouTube’s Kyncl says all’s well with Music Key; who could Apple buy next?; Potential Sony class action following contract leak. Continue Reading
SoundHound launches new personal assistant program
For most of their lives, sound recognition apps SoundHound and Shazam have been playing tag with each other. But recently, we’re starting to see each company carve out a more unique niche. Today SoundHound introduced a new personal assistant. The program is called Hound, and it will be a direct competitor to Apple’s Siri, Microsoft’s Cortana, or Google Now. Continue Reading
WNYC to self-distribute Radiolab, On the Media
WNYC announced that it will take over the distribution of its shows Radiolab and On the Media. The public radio outlet will begin the distribution on Oct. 1, and will also self-distribute its new collaboration with the New Yorker. The move ends WYC’s distribution arrangement with NPR for those programs. Continue Reading
NPR queries consumers and industry leaders on the perfect streaming scenario
NPR has launched a new series dubbed “Streaming at the Tipping Point.” This collection of articles will address both the business and cultural impact of the transition to streaming, reflecting on the changes in how we experience music. One piece collected interviews with a range of individuals, including industry members, about what they thought a perfect world would be for streaming. Continue Reading