Android Auto is making its first appearance in new car models this week. The system will debut in the 2015 Hyundai Sonata. Although this is marks Android Auto’s launch in new cars, it became available as an after-market product through select Pioneer models beginning in March. Continue Reading
Standard Media Index (SMI), released growth statistics for Internet radio advertising, charting strong gains for April and the first quarter of this year. The data apply to U.S. ad spending only. Continue Reading
Brief news items and worthy reads from around the Internet: Spotify’s new competitive strategy; YouTube and the music industry; finding therapeutic potential in Pandora’s Music Genome. Continue Reading
Irish ad representation company Adforce.com announced today that it has signed with TuneIn to market TuneIn’s audience and inventory to key European markets. In its announement, Adforce.com promises to combine rich media and innovative audio formats. Continue Reading
James Cridland Weekly Links is a column by the U.K.’s radio futurologist. THIS WEEK: A problem with a Kuala Lumpur simulcast, and many more links from Africa, the U.K., and the U.S. Continue Reading
Media Broadcast has set a goal of increasing the number of DAB+ broadcasting locations from 61 to 110 by December 2016. The expanded network is projected to boost the range of digital radio from 60% to 82% indoors, while mobile reception coverage should grow from about 63% to 93%. Continue Reading
As rumored in December, Japan-based messaging app Line has launched a Line Music service for a trial in Thailand. The service is available within Line’s flagship mobile software as an in-app purchase for 60 Baht (about $1.80) per month. The new platform will let users listen to music and share songs with friends either in individual or group chats. Continue Reading
When Spotify announced last week that it was adding video to its content catalog, it signaled a directional shift and a competitive thrust into YouTube’s territory. YouTube, meanwhile, is inching its Music Key subscription platform onto Spotify’s front lawn. Other brands like Deezer and SoundCloud are also blurring their lines of identity. It’s all about un-platforming … while trying to succeed as a platform. Continue Reading
8tracks announced that it has hired Jon Maples into the position of Vice President of Product. Maples led product development at on-demand music service Rhapsody from 2009 through 2013. Continue Reading
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The weekly update of the streaming audio industry, from RAIN News. THIS WEEK: Two podcast funding deals; the new Spotify; Pandora acquires more metrics; MixRadio breaks loose Continue Reading
YouTube has extended the beta trial for its Music Key subscription service through Sept. 15. According to the emails sent to current beta testers, the extension is a thank you for the helpful feedback received during the first six months of testing. Continue Reading
Yesterday, we briefly reported on the contract between Sony and Spotify that was leaked online earlier in the week. We learned today that the International Music Managers Forum used the contract lead as a catalyst for an open letter to the European Commission in an effort to demand more transparency in digital deals. Continue Reading