Spotify raids BBC for UK content programming hire
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
Rdio, Spotify release their own importer tools for displaced Rdio customers
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: Two C-suite hires and two new VPs
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
Another direct deal of Pandora, this time with Warner/Chappell
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
CRB announces: New royalty rates to post Wednesday [correction]
As the webcasting world is poised with anticipation, The Copyright Royalty Board (CRB) has just announced that its royalty rate-setting decision will be publicized on Wednesday. The ruling deadline is Tuesday, and the CRB will deliver its ruling to the Register of Copyrights, and the proceeding participants, for review and removal of sensitive information that will be redacted from public documents. Continue Reading
Taylor Swift tour video to be Apple Music exclusive
Taylor Swift has announced that the concert video for her 1989 World Tour is going to be an Apple Music exclusive. The video will be available starting Dec. 20. Swift said she would do an interview about the world tour on Beats 1. Before it even launched, Taylor Swift made perfectly clear that she was going to ally with Apple Music. Continue Reading
James Cridland’s Weekly Links: Scrap your debrief, do it yourself, and an Ed Sheeran peep show
by James Cridland
James Cridland Weekly Links is a column by the U.K.’s radio futurologist. THIS WEEK: An article on why programme debriefs may not be useful. Ed Sheeran’s amusing peep show stunt. Plus the BBC, NextRadio, recommendations, and more. Continue Reading
Nielsen Audio: new listening metrics for radio and streaming
Nielsen has launched a media metrics snapshot called The Comparable Metrics Report. The current edition captures data from Q2 2015 and compares it to Q2 2014. You’ll be amazed at what you see! Wait, this isn’t Buzzfeed. But there are interesting results in audio streaming through different devices. Continue Reading
Free tool for Rdio users to port over to Spotify
The announcement of Rdio’s bankruptcy caused a stir for users of the service, curious how to preserve their listening history and playlists. As is often the case in this situation, an ambitious denizen of the Internet has emerged with a new solution. Continue Reading
Pandora toes the on-demand line with Thumbprint Radio
Pandora’s latest experiment is a personalized station dubbed Thumbprint Radio. This channel is generated from all of the tracks a user has given thumbs up to across the years. Yes, that can create transitions as strange and wonderful as you imagine it will. Continue Reading
Pandora CFO: “The best thing that’s going to happen is…”
Pandora CFO Mike Herring spoke at the Wedbush 2015 California Dreamin’ Technology, Consumer Management Access Conference. He spoke about Pandora’s vision generally, the expansion to on-demand service in 2016, Apple Music and Steve Jobs, the company’s recent acquisition of Ticketfly, the imminent CRB royalty-rate ruling, and more. Continue Reading
CRB royalty rates arrive today; here is the prep sheet
The Copyright Royalty Board (CRB) will finalize the Webcaster IV proceeding today. Here’s the background, the players, and what’s at stake.
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