Saavn announced that it has raised $100 million in Series C funding. This new financing brings the Indian streaming company’s valuation to $300-$400 million. The round is expected to go toward scaling the service and expanding into video. Continue Reading
SESAC is purchasing the Harry Fox Agency from the National Music Publishers’ Association. The acquisition unites performance and mechanical rights under SESAC’s umbrella of services, a unique development in the industry. Continue Reading
Microsoft has renamed its Xbox Music service to Groove. The previous name had caused confusion among potential listeners, many of whom thought that the service required an Xbox game console. “Groove” is a more accessible name for listeners who don’t have the gaming hardware. But the rebrand also seems to be part of a broader effort to update Microsoft’s entertainment offerings to keep pace with existing services. Continue Reading
adStream is an ongoing journal of news and observations in streaming audio advertising.
Just as you’ve probably seen a Home Depot commercial if you watch live TV, you’ve probably heard a Squarespace ad if you’re an avid podcast listener. Anecdotal evidence is now supported by a study of podcast sponsorship. Continue Reading
Pushing forward the digital initiatives that complement its vast over-the-air holdings, iHeartMedia has hired veteran media executive Carter Brokaw as President, Digital Revenue Strategy. Brokaw will report to iHeart’s head of sales, Tim Castelli. Continue Reading
Rdio has added new label stations to its existing category, with additions appearing in various localized editions of the Rdio app. Label stations are promotional playlists that highlight small and medium sized label artists, and are curated collaboratively. Continue Reading
iHeartMedia announced the launch of a new Hispanic brand management team. The new group will offer strategic guidance to the company’s Hispanic brands and connect advertisers with iHeartMedia’s Hispanic audience. Hispanic listeners are a growing category for the U.S. radio and music markets, and many media companies are working to better serve them. For instance, last week, Univision announced plans for an IPO. Continue Reading
James Cridland Weekly Links is a column by the U.K.’s radio futurologist. THIS WEEK: A global roundup of reaction to Apple’s new Beats 1 radio … and more. Continue Reading
the legal issues around pre-1972 music royalty disputes are complex, tangled by conflicting federal and state regulations. State-court lawsuits in New York and California have favored plaintiffs seeking royalties from Pandora and Sirius XM, but a recent decision in Florida went the other way. Broadcast law attorney David Oxenford untangles. Continue Reading
The British Phonographic Industry released half-year data about music sales in the UK. The report showed that there have been 11.5 billion tracks played in the first six months of 2015, compared with 14.8 billion plays in all of 2014. Dedicated audio streaming services see about 480 million streams a week. Stream Equivalent Album consumption for the first half was 11.49 million, up 79.5% from the year-ago period. Continue Reading
Brief news items and worthy reads from around the web. Today, SoundExchange CEO Michael Huppe responds to a column in The Hill. Should music licensing costs to Internet radio be escalated or decreased? Continue Reading
Radio Vintage, a Chicago-based pureplay, offers deep sonic nostalgia — the same sort of musty romance you get when walking into a vintage clothing boutique in the East Village. Continue Reading