Gracenote founder and chief strategist Ty Roberts is leaving the company he founded to join Universal Music Group as the company’s first chief technology officer. Gracenote was founded in 1998 as CDDB (Compact Disc Database) and built its reputation on its waveform-based identification of titles and other metadata of CD tracks. Continue Reading
The IFPI has released its 2016 global report, which points to streaming as the key reason behind music’s first year of significant total revenue growth since 1995. Global revenue rose 3.2% last year to $15 billion. Digital outperformed physical revenue for the first time, a result that echoes the U.S. trend highlighted by the RIAA’s annual report. Within that strong performance, streaming emerged as a powerhouse, accounting for 43% of the year’s digital revenue. Continue Reading
Brief news items and worthy reads from around the web. TODAY: YouTube is facing contract renewal with major record labels. Slate publishes a deeply revealing look at NPR in the podcast world. Spotify’s CMO is interviewed. Continue Reading
Apple Music is getting another exclusive, and while it isn’t a surprise, it is a big one. Drake’s upcoming project, Views From The 6, will only be on Apple’s platform when it drops on April 29. The scope of this exclusive release will make it a telling sign of the where the current streaming market is headed. Continue Reading
Audible announces a new audio initiative, and guest columnist Steve Goldstein notes that Audible’s scaling of podcast content will have a profound effect on the larger podcast industry in multiple ways. Continue Reading
Midia Research released a new data report called State of the Streaming Nation, a comprehensive analysis of the audience and economics of streaming music globally. The report positions itself at a pivotal point in the evolution of streaming, marking 2015 as “the year in which streaming music came of age.” At the same time, the conclusion fleshes out a cautionary reality. Continue Reading
James Cridland’s Future of Radio is a column by the Australia-based radio futurologist. THIS WEEK: Podcasting at the New York Times and radio outcry in San Francisco. Harsh words for U.S. radio and questions about unique content. Much more from around the world. Continue Reading
Kanye West’s The Life of Pablo has been a source of great interest to the music media in recent weeks, thanks to the rapper’s unique take on defining an album and his unusual approach to distribution. But the creation has also been very successful in attracting listeners. Pablo topped multiple album charts on the back of its strong streaming performance. Continue Reading
Australia saw growth of 4.94% in its recorded music market over the course of 2015, according to industry group ARIA. After two consecutive years sliding downward, the nation’s market has rebounded to a value of A$333.5 million ($252 million). Continue Reading
Yesterday, Edison Research published consumer research into listeners’ habits for radio listening in their cars. Pandora has released its own whitepaper featuring the Edison findings, but also sharing some more insight into listener behavior during their commutes. Continue Reading
Brief news items and worthy reads from around the web: Legal expert criticizes consent decree changes; SoundCloud tips for new listeners; visualizing media’s digital upheaval. Continue Reading
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Podcasting is outgrowing its early trappings, building its awareness and audience, attracting the interest and investment of more mature industries, becoming more professional and presentable. There is a growing institutional presence in podcasting, as media companies enter the field in various ways. Continue Reading