Quick Hits: Spotify fires its PR; a piracy reality check
Brief news items and worthy reads from around the web: Spotify drops longstanding PR firm; continued piracy problems and potential solutions. Continue Reading
Larry Rosin: What’s a podcast again?
by Larry Rosin
Guest contributor Larry Rosin notes that even with surge of publicity for podcasts, many people don’t quite know what they are. Continue Reading
Gartner predicts quarter-billion connected cars by 2020
Consulting and analytics firm Gartner released a prediction today, projecting that a quarter-billion connected cars will be on the road in 2020. The company notes that on-board Internet connectivity is starting to trickle down from premium models to mid-market cars. Continue Reading
Apple files for DRM patent to enable song sharing
Apple has filed for a new patent that could change how digital rights management is handled in its music properties. iTunes buyers could potentially share files downloaded from the store. If it plays out that way, it could open a secondary revenue stream for Apple’s decelerating music store. Continue Reading
Triton Digital & eXelate partner in first Data Management Platform for streaming audio
Triton Digital today announced an exclusive partnership with eXelate to develop the first Data Management Platform (DMP) dedicated to streaming audio. The streaming audio industry is getting its first dedicated Big Data-crunching platform, better enabling participation in cross-channel ad campaigns. Continue Reading
Nielsen’s Music 360 report confirms streaming popularity
New data from Nielsen highlighted the massive shift to online listening. The Music 360 2014 study found that 93% of Americans listen to musicmore than 25 hours a week. Many do so while at work, doing chores, and in the car. The meat of the new report is how convincingly listeners have shifted online. Continue Reading
TuneCore reached new level of artist payments in 2014
TuneCore, a digital distribution service for musicians who wish to place their work in streaming music services, released a summary of its 2014 business. It’s a growth story from 2013, as the company added new distribution outlets, tracked more streams, and paid out more royalties to artists. Continue Reading
Less than one day left to register for the RAIN News Webinar!
There’s still time (just barely!) to register for The Streaming Audio Marketplace: A Strategic Guide to Online Audio Advertising, a RAIN News webinar sponsored by TargetSpot. Click through for information ande registration. Continue Reading
Pureplay of the Day: Radio Nostalgia
In the tidal force of declining album/track sales, vinyl records represent one growing category. Small, but growing. Fine, but what about 78s, the first vinyl format? Not so much a growing category. Enter Radio Nostalgia, which features way-back oldies converted from 78 RPM records. Continue Reading
Guvera officially acquires Blinkbox Music
Rumors started circulating last month about Blinkbox Music coming under Guvera’s wing, and those speculations were confirmed today. Guvera has purchased the music streaming platform from UK retailer Tesco. Financial terms of the deal were not released. The music service has 2.5 million registered users for its app and delivers about 100 million streams a month. Continue Reading
Rocki adds support for Spotify Connect
Rocki has added Spotify to its roster of supported audio services. Rocki makes a device that plugs into traditional speaker systems and gives them WiFi capability. With the addition of Spotify Connect, owners of the Rocki device can listen to and control their music from within the Spotify mobile app. Continue Reading
Edison Research: Podcast users shift from AM/FM, listen to podcasts more than anything else
In a newly released piece of the ongoing Share of Ear study by Edison Research, podcast users justify the “super listener” label bestowed by Edison’s report last fall. The updated fall edition of Edison Research’s Share of Ear study revealed that podcast listeners spend six hours and eight minutes each day (on average) consuming audio, and are shifting away from AM/FM listening. Continue Reading