The legal saga centered around the Grooveshark name appears to be getting a bizarre epilogue. Last week, Grooveshark finally resigned itself to its fate and shuttered its doors. However, the long-beleagured site and its legally uncertain approach to streaming music appears to have returned to the web. Continue Reading
The music industry has been waiting for Apple to unveil its new vision for Beats Music, and the streaming service’s debut is expected to happen during the company’s Worldwide Developers Conference next month. However, Billboard has reported that Apple allegedly may not have any of the licensing deals with major labels that are necessary for the service to meet that launch date. Continue Reading
Media software company WideOrbit announced that audioBoom, the spoken-word, on-demand listening platform, has selected WO On Demand to monetize its podcasts. The technical solution injects pre-recorded advertisements into podcasts — a category which is dominated by host-read native advertising. Continue Reading
The FCC has granted Pandora broadcast approval permission to own a terrestrial radio station. This means that Pandora has cleared the major hurdle to complete its $600,000 purchase of the KXMZ station in Rapid City, South Dakota, which it started in 2013. Continue Reading
ASCAP’s board of directors has completed its officer election and announced its new set of leaders. Paul Williams was elected to a fourth term as the organization’s chairman and president. The board added a new publisher member in the form of Jody Gerson, who is also chairman and CEO of Universal Music Publishing Group. Continue Reading
David Goldberg, an Internet radio pioneer who founded LAUNCHcast in 1999, which became Yahoo! Music Radio, died unexpectedly Friday night. He was 47 years old. No cause of death has been disclosed. He is remembered as a wonderful man. His keynote speech at a 2005 RAIN Summit was prescient. Continue Reading
In what should be placed firmly in the rumor folder, technology site The Verge is reporting that Apple is pressuring music labels in their Spotify negotiations, and the U.S. Department of Justice is monitoring the situation. Continue Reading
We reported on Monday that Grooveshark was facing potentially immense financial damages judgment in its drawn-out copyright infringement trial with record labels. That particular threat appears to be neutralized in a settlement which includes the final closure of Grooveshark.com, the service, and a handover of all company assets. Continue Reading
Rumor (and more rumor) has turned to apparent fact, as CNBC is reporting that Spotify has raised a new funding round of at least $350-million, led by Goldman Sachs. The funding round closed on a “first close” basis, so new investors may yet join. Continue Reading
After a round of user and venue testing, CrowdTunes announced its launch today. The crowd-controlled streaming service, which is designed for public venues like bars and restaurants, is powered by U.K.-based technology provider 7digital. Continue Reading
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The weekly update of the streaming audio industry, from RAIN News. THIS WEEK: Copyright chief wants radio to pay; Copyright Royalty Board starts a music licensing trial; Sirius XM earnings; Pandora earnings; something new for podcasting. Continue Reading
When Memphis-based LMB Network announced that it was adding new programs to its Internet radio lineup, we reached out to President and Chief Operating Office Thomas Anderson for background on the station, and a view of its business outlook. Continue Reading