As the webcasting universe turns its expectant and apprehensive gaze toward the U.S. Copyright Royalty Board (CRB), which will issue new webcasting royalty rates for 2016-2020, Pandora Media has more skin in the game than any other webcasting distributor of music — in a sense. The company has another path to potentially go down. Continue Reading
The name of Howard Stern feels synonymous with Sirius XM, and thanks to a new agreement, that will remain the case. Siriux XM signed a 12-year agreement with Stern that will see the broadcaster continuing to produce and host The Howard Sterm Show for the next five years. There are also plans afoot for new video content from the host. Continue Reading
The launch of Deezer’s Lyrics function last year was a happy development for listeners, but it also gave the streaming platform a new subset of data to examine. The company’s analysis of lyrics revealed that 2015 was, ahem, “a ‘sweary’ good year.” It offered a hilarious breakdown of the artists, songs, and albums containing the highest percentage of curse words. Continue Reading
Big Mobile, an Australia-based mobile solutions company for advertisers, announced a partnership with Triton Digital that will integrate Triton’s a2x programmatic exchange and bring it into the Southeast Asia countries in which Big Mobile operates. Continue Reading
Not exactly a Christmas Eve shutdown, but Rdio will go silent on December 22. The company sent an email this evening to subscribers. “Goodbye … for now,” the notice cryptically started. Continue Reading
The Copyright Royalty Board (CRB) will outline new webcaster royalty rates tomorrow (Wednesday). Media attorneys Jay Rosenthal and David Leichtman weigh in with anticipatory comments. Continue Reading
Grooveshark was formally closed down in May after settling with the RIAA, but the questionably legal streaming site stayed alive as a series of clones. Today the recording industry group won a successful case against the reincarnated Grooveshark site. Continue Reading
AdLarge will be the new exclusive ad sales rep for Shaq Fu Radio, the streaming station from NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal. The partnership will open up AdLarge’s advertisers to connections with the listeners of specialized programs in hip-hop and R&B on the station. Continue Reading
Spotify has hired a music executive away from BBC. George Ergatoudis is joining the streaming company as its new head of content programming for the UK. Continue Reading
With the closure of Rdio, it makes sense that the streaming platform’s customers would want to find ways to retain their carefully curated profiles and playlists. Both Rdio and Spotify have released tools to do just that. Continue Reading
On the Move tracks hires, promotions, and other notable personnel changes within the online audio industry. Today’s moves include new C-suite roles for Shazam and Marketron. Also Univision and TuneCore each made hires at the VP level. Continue Reading
Online radio company Pandora has signed a multiyear licensing agreement with Warner/Chappell Music. The public statement about the partnership says it will offer increased rate certainty and product flexibility for Pandora, while Warner/Chappell receives improved royalties for its songwriters. Continue Reading