Bytedance, the Chinese company that owns short-form video platform TikTok, may be moving forward with launching its own streaming music service. Financial Times reported that Bytedance is working on an app that would offer the typical on-demand audio experience. Continue Reading
James Cridland’s International Radio Trends is a column by the Australia-based radio futurologist. THIS WEEK: Ransomware attack on Entercom. Asia radio stats. Podcasts on radio. Continue Reading
SoundCloud rolled out a new feature this week aimed at helping creators to grow their audiences. Promote on SoundCloud is a self-service tool that lets users promote their original tracks to the top of listeners’ feeds and mobile home pages. Continue Reading
Deezer has entered an agreement with the airline Emirates. Under the terms of their deal, Deezer will create dedicated playlists for Emirates’ in-flight entertainment system, called ice. The streaming service will provide more than 20 playlists for travelers. Continue Reading
Spotify has been keeping a break-neck pace of announcements, partnerships, and new features. This week, the streaming service shared two updates: one in augmented reality and one in lyrics. Continue Reading
Podcasting company Liberated Syndication posted its third-quarter financials. The business reported revenue up 9% on-year, reaching nearly $6.22 billion. Libsyn was responsible for about $3.64 million of the total, with its hosting revenue helping deliver growth although ad revenue dipped. Continue Reading
The implementation of the Music Modernization Act took another important step forward today. The Mechanical Licensing Collective has secured a deal with the Digital Licensing Coordinator, which represents digital music services that will fund the launch and operation of the collective. Continue Reading
ESPN Podcasts announced audience statistics for its shows in October. For the third consecutive month, the company’s podcasts reached a new record audience. ESPN Podcasts had a unique verified audience of 8.1 million in the month. Continue Reading
Three Uncanny Four Productions, a podcasting joint venture from Sony Music Entertainment, Adam Davidson, and Laura Mayer, is now entering a partnership of its own. The company has teamed with another notable figure in podcasting, Adam McKay, and is launching an excluive joint venture with McKay’s production company Hyperobject Industries for the creation of original shows. Continue Reading
Canalys shared its third-quarter statistics about global smart speaker shipments. Amazon continues to lead the pack, while Google has ceded second place to competitors from China. Amazon saw 65.9% annual growth, with worldwide shipments numbering 10.4 million. Continue Reading
Classical music streaming service Idagio has introduced a free tier that is available worldwide. The free listening plan includes access to personalized recommendations, playlists curated by mood, and artist or composer radio stations. Continue Reading
Pandora has expanded access to podcasts on its platform. Podcasts on Pandora is now available to all users on its web version and its desktop apps. The podcast platform includes tailored recommendations from the Podcast Genome Project. Continue Reading