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BBC posts declines in listening hours

Average listeners tuned in to BBC radio for 10 hours a week during the last quarter of 2014, according to official data from the UK broadcaster. That figure marked a drop of 14 percent from a decade earlier, when that average figure was 11.6 hours a week for the period. A representative from the broadcaster noted that although the interest among listeners is still high, many are tuning in through online or digital platforms that are not accounted for in the BBC’s traditional listening data. Continue Reading

IFPI Digital Music Report shows global snapshot of streaming growth

The IFPI released its annual Digital Music Report, complete with an assessment of industry trends and case studies. According to the group’s data, 2014 was the first year that digital channels and physical channels accounted for the same proportion of revenue, 46% each. The digital revenue totaled $6.85 billion for the year out of the industry’s total revenue of $14.97 billion. About 41 million people now pay for music subscriptions, which accounted for 23% of global digital music revenue. Continue Reading

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Fair Play Fair Pay Act proposes new performance royalty rules for radio

The congressional copyright melee has taken a new turn today as a bipartisan group of Representatives introduced new legislation aimed at revising and equalizing the royalties paid by terrestrial and online radio services. The Fair Play Fair Pay Act of 2015 includes, among other points, a move to have terrestrial radio stations pay royalties to performers in addition to the songwriters and publishers. Continue Reading

Anthony Bay talks state of industry, announces Rdio Live in RAIN Summit West keynote

Rdio CEO Anthony Bay gave a keynote at RAIN Summit West focused on the need to reimagine what radio can be in an increasingly digital world. In addition to his summary of the role radio and broadcast can play for today’s listeners, he also announced plans for how his company will be pushing for that integration with an upcoming feature called Rdio Live. Continue Reading