IFPI Digital Music Report shows global snapshot of streaming growth

Posted on by Anna Washenko

The IFPI released its annual Digital Music Report, complete with an assessment of industry trends and case studies. According to the group’s data, 2014 was the first year that digital channels and physical channels accounted for the same proportion of revenue, 46% each. The digital revenue totaled $6.85 billion for the year out of the industry’s total revenue of $14.97 billion. About 41 million people now pay for music subscriptions, which accounted for 23% of global digital music revenue. Continue Reading →

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Fair Play Fair Pay Act proposes new performance royalty rules for radio

Posted on by Anna Washenko

The congressional copyright melee has taken a new turn today as a bipartisan group of Representatives introduced new legislation aimed at revising and equalizing the royalties paid by terrestrial and online radio services. The Fair Play Fair Pay Act of 2015 includes, among other points, a move to have terrestrial radio stations pay royalties to performers in addition to the songwriters and publishers. Continue Reading →

Anthony Bay talks state of industry, announces Rdio Live in RAIN Summit West keynote

Posted on by Anna Washenko

Rdio CEO Anthony Bay gave a keynote at RAIN Summit West focused on the need to reimagine what radio can be in an increasingly digital world. In addition to his summary of the role radio and broadcast can play for today’s listeners, he also announced plans for how his company will be pushing for that integration with an upcoming feature called Rdio Live. Continue Reading →

James Cridland’s Weekly Links: FM in mobile phones, BBC Radio 1 TV ad, BBC bakeries

Posted on by James Cridland

by James Cridland

James Cridland Weekly Links is a column by the U.K.’s radio futurologist. THIS WEEK: Pushing to activate smartphone FM chips in the U.S., an unusual TV spot for BBC Radio 1 in the UK, and other quality reads from around the world. Continue Reading →

Latest Apple/Beats news teases exclusive releases, editorial content

Posted on by Anna Washenko

Apple and it’s reimagining of Beats Music is the subject of two new news items now floating around industry circles. First, MusicAlly reported that Apple is currently paying music journalists to supply the editorial snippets detailing its curated playlists. Second, a report from Bloomberg said that Apple is reaching out to artists in an effort to get exclusive content for its streaming service. Continue Reading →

U.S. Patent Office invalidates key claims of Personal Audio podcast patent

Posted on by Anna Washenko

Following a charge by the Electronic Frontier Foundation, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has invalidated the key elements of the patent that Personal Audio was using to demand license fees from podcasters. The EFF’s argument was that Personal Audio had not invented anything new, and that the technique should not have been patented because it would have been obvious to other developers. Continue Reading →