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Bret Kinsella: Streaming Royalties Rise, But What Story Does SoundExchange Data Tell?

by Bret Kinsella

Royalty payments are the single biggest cost for Internet radio and audio streaming services. Guest columnist Bret Kinsella examines SoundExchange’s Q4 financial statement, and matches it up to streaming growth metrics. The two datasets don’t match, but it’s not about lower revenue to the music industry. It’s about the money taking different paths to get there.
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Kurt Hanson: “Bloody Sunday” decimates Internet radio

Internet radio’s landscape looks much different today than it did a week ago, due to numerous webcasters pulling the plug rather than paying the high rates of the Copyright Royalty Board’s (CRB) recent decision for 2016-20 royalties for sound recordings. Kurt Hanson surveys the damage. Continue Reading

Bret Kinsella: Apple Music at Six Months -10 Million Subscribers and a Free Tier

by Bret Kinsella

The Financial Times reported over the weekend that Apple Music has reached 10 million subscribers, which represents impressive growth over six months. What does it indicate about the future audience growth for Apple Music? Guest columnist Bret Kinsella infers a churn rate from publicly disclosed retention numbers, and arrives at a prediction.
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James Cridland’s Weekly Links: How people use radio; connected cars; UK commercial radio awards

by James Cridland

James Cridland Weekly Links is a column by the Australia-based radio futurologist. THIS WEEK: New research about how listeners switch radio stations; what makes a good public speaker?; new DAB+ stations in The Netherlands; more. Continue Reading