SoundExchange released the first edition of a new quarterly royalty breakdown called Digital Radio Report — an animated infographic that promotes SoundExchange’s contribution to the economy of streaming music (plus comedy), and reveals general music-licensing information to demystify how royalties work. Continue Reading
Wireless company T-Mobile announced a change to its cell-phone service plans that potentially impacts how consumers choose their telecom providers, music services, and even cars. Called Music Freedom, it affords unlimited music streaming for “major” music services, regardless of the plan’s data cap. A related deal with Rhapsody sweetens the package. In an era when paying for data can be more burdensome than paying for music, this initiative could turn some heads. Continue Reading
In its most important structural change in years, and a meaningful expansion of its business model, on-demand music service Rhapsody has announced unRadio, and added the new listening experience to all its apps. At the same time, Rhapsody is starting a partnership with T-Mobile, wherein unRadio is available free of charge to T-Mobile wireless cell-phone customers.
As a stand-alone service, whether through T-Mobile or not, unRadio shrewdly combines lean-back listening, similar to Pandora, with on-demand interactivity, similar to Spotify and Rhapsody’s own Premier plan. Rhapsody is effectively straddling the gulf between free listening supported by advertising, and the full interactivity of a celestial music jukebox. It could hit a sweet spot for some music-lovers. Continue Reading
We are pleased to announce that we now offer job listings on the site. RAIN News reaches a concentrated audience of industry professionals in Internet radio, broadcast, and vendors to both industries, plus a more general readership of industry observers. A recent reader survey revealed that over 70% of respondents visit RAIN News at least once a week. Over 70% characterized RAIN News as “the leading industry publication for online audio.” Continue Reading
We recently reported that Google was (or is) in acquisition talks with Internet radio service Songza. Part of that report indicated that Google might have been talking to other (unnamed) streaming-music platforms also. today, a report emerges that Google attempted to buy 8tracks, a popular and profitable listening service that specializes in crowd-sourced playlists. Continue Reading
Nominations are flowing into this year’s RAIN Internet Radio Awards. The Internet Radio Awards take self-nominations in five categories. Last year, Christian music station the blast won top prize in the Single Station Webcaster category. Will it be unseated in 2014? Continue Reading
At RAIN Summit NYC in February, Gary Liu, Global Head of Industry Development at Spotify, suggested a novel advertising strategy during a panel session. Liu speculated that music-service listeners might be willing to play ads on demand, in order to clear out advertising for an extended stretch of uninterrupted music listening. There were some chuckles in the audience over that, but a report in AdAge indicates that Spotify will pitch a similar idea to advertisers at this week’s Cannes Lions festival. Continue Reading
YouTube’s contentious negotiations with some independent labels is about to reach a culminating point, as Google will soon begin removing videos of music owned by labels which have not signed a new licensing agreement. Open questions remain. Also, details about the long-rumored YouTube music service are starting to seep out. Continue Reading
Business software company Marketron announced today that it has combined two product units, Marketron Mobile and Marketron Interactive, into a one-stop solution center called Marketron Digital. The announcement came during this week’s Marketron User Symposium in Chicago. Continue Reading
Broadcast law attorney David Oxenford contributes an information-packed overview of potential music copyright reform, and all its moving parts. Continue Reading
All live jazz concerts. Don’t let the 1996-style website put you off. The listening is outstanding, and the site dishes out valuable information about the artists. Inside jazz is a great Internet radio station, with the sort of off-the-beaten-path programming dedication that justifies the entire indie-radio category. Every jazz lover needs to know about Inside Jazz. Continue Reading
Earbits, an interactive music service specializing in independent music with unique business and revenue models, is closing as of Monday. Earbits went down an unusual path in providing new kinds of value to listeners and artists, connecting its audience to bands via artist merchandise, mailing lists, and social sharing. Continue Reading