Why? Yknot! Sometimes a stream grabs us from the first song and holds on. That’s partly luck, but regular listening separates enduring stations from temporary infatuations. Yknot Radio is a keeper for upbeat, feel-good music that lies somewhere between soft rock and the hard stuff. Continue Reading
SoundCloud reported its financials from 2013 and revealed that the site’s losses are growing at a faster rate than its revenue. Revenue increased from 8 million euros in 2012 to 11.2 million euros in 2013, but losses nearly doubled from 12.4 million euros to 23.1 million euros for those years. Continue Reading
Short news items and worthy reads from around the web: A reader’s history of EDM; stemming the tide of Russian piracy with legit streaming; Soundscan music sales in Q3. Continue Reading
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An eight-minute blast of news you need to know in streaming music and online audio. The weekly update of news you need to know in streaming music and online audio, from RAIN News. This week: royalty arguments in high gear; The Turtles chase Pandora, iHeartMedia and Omnicom; UK streaming doubles; dot-RADIO controversy; Apple and the labels; surprise for an Alabama radio station. Continue Reading
The Financial Times reported that SoundCloud has hit stumbling blocks in its negotiations with three major music labels. Sources told the publication that Universal, Sony, and Warner have all rejected SoundCloud’s proposed terms and are looking for a better deal. In fact, Universal is allegedly not in conversation with the online music portal anymore. Continue Reading
SoundCloud announced an upgrade to its browser experience that brings a more visual music player onto the screen. The large-format player displays an expanded version of the thumbnail image associated with each track. We found some beautiful results, and some ineffective ones. Soundcloud creators, who stock the site with uploaded music, are complaining. Continue Reading
An examination of SEC filings revealed that Rdio has raised more than $108 million through four separate securities sales over the past year and change. Its parent company, Pulser Media, raised $25 million in April, $4.4 million in December, $3.8 million in November, and $75 million in September of last year, according to Billboard. Continue Reading
College radio stations, represented by College Broadcasters, Inc. (CBI), will see their webcast royalty rates for the use of music recordings unchanged in the looming 2016-2020 royalty period. Most stations will use a simplified “proxy” reporting method to SoundExchange, an easier administrative process than the fastidious reporting that commercial stations must supply. Continue Reading
iHeartMedia (formerly Clear Channel) has announced a partnership with Omnicom Media Group, the media services division of Omnicom Group, a leading global advertising company.
The deal gives each company special access to assets, information, and technology of the other. We spoke with Jeff Howard, President, National Sales at iHeartMedia. “We’re looking for companies that want to transform the industry,” he told RAIN News. Continue Reading
SoundHound has opened a new office in Boston and also announced several additions to its sales and marketing team. According to the press release, these steps are part of the sound recognition company’s efforts to solidify its presence for ad agencies and brands looking to connect with young music fans. Continue Reading
Samsung’s Milk Music streaming service quickly rose to the top of the app charts after launching in South Korea. Within six days of launching in the company’s home country, Milk reached the top of the Google Play free app category with more than 500,000 downloads. Continue Reading
Located in Brandon, VT, classical Vermont is the purest of pureplays — simple, uncluttered, attractive, with good programming for fans of symphonic, chamber, and solo instrumental music. Classical Vermont is straight-ahead, hardcore European and American art music. Continue Reading