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
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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
7digital names GM of North America to further U.S. business
London-based Digital Music company 7digital has named James Priestley, formerly VP of Business Development in London, as General manager of North America. Priestley’s purview will include operations and business development in the U.S., Canada, and Latin America. Continue Reading
Gaana partners with The Orchard for 7 million tracks
Indian streaming service Gaana announced a partnership with The Orchard, a Western media distribution company representing many indie musicians. The deal adds more than 7 million songs by independent artists to Gaana’s catalog for a total library of 10 million tunes. Continue Reading
Quick Hits: Programmatic; Martin Bandier; Beats 1
Brief news items and worthy reads from around the web. TODAY: Programmatic audio advertising; a publishing exec speaks out; betting against Beats 1. Continue Reading
Internet Radio Rewind #047: Apple Music, Spotify growth; 8tracks adds music; April webcast metrics
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The weekly update of the streaming audio industry, from RAIN News. THIS WEEK: Apple announces its new music service; Spotify hits back with growth story; 8tracks also on the move; Triton’s Webcast Metrics Continue Reading
ROK Mobile includes streaming music service in unlimited mobile bundle
ROK Mobile announced new developments in its available phone plans for music fans. The company is offering a bundle with unlimited talk, text, data, and streaming music for $49.99 a month. The streaming music component is called simply ROK Music and it has a library of 20 million songs. Continue Reading
Quick Hits: Opinions and projections about Apple Music
Brief news items and worthy reads from around the web. The ongoing discussions of Apple Music’s place in the industry have pulled out a range of opinions. We select pieces from MediaPost’s London editor, a Bridge Ratings survey, and Jeffrey C. Smith writing in Re/Code. Continue Reading
iHeartMedia partners with, and invests in, Unified for data and targeting
iHeartMedia and Unified have jointly announced a long-term partnership to develop audience-targeting datasets that can be applied across iHeart’s sprawling radio, streaming, mobile, and event portfolios. The deal includes an unspcified investment by iHeart in Unified. Continue Reading
RAIN announces Jake Shapiro, CEO of PRX, to keynote RAIN Summit Atlanta
In a tradition of featuring thought leaders in the online audio industry, RAIN today announced that Jake Shapiro, Chief Executive of public radio marketplace PRX, will present the keynote speech at RAIN Summit Atlanta, September 29. Continue Reading
Line Music launches in home market of Japan
Line Music has officially launched in Japan. It will offer two price tiers, the first costing 500 yen (about $4) a month for 20 hours of streaming. The second tier costs 1,000 yen (about $8) for unlimited listening on the platform. The streaming service is owned by Japan-based messaging company Line, and it also has involvement from Universal Music Japan. Continue Reading