Indian streaming service Saavn released audience data, revealing that it has 11 million monthly active users. According to CEO and co-founder Rishi Malhotra, Saavn had 30 million people use the service in 2014. Continue Reading
Following its big launch in India, Rdio announced a push into 24 new countries in the Caribbean, Central American, and Asia Pacific region. The new markets bring the total number of countries with Rdio availability to 85. Continue Reading
When a reader and pureplay station operator sent us a government notice of SoundExchange’s intent to audit the streaming royalty payments made by Live365, iHeartMedia, and CBS Radio for 2011, 2012, and 2013, we turned to broadcast law attorney David Oxenford (author of the deeply informative Broadcast Law Blog) to find out how significant the action is. Continue Reading
A Google Chrome browser extension called Streamus is lit up with buzz after the developer posted a promotional status report on Reddit. Streamuis makes YouTube music navigation easier and more lightweight. At the same time, the extension separates the user from YouTube, and provides some of the value that YouTube’s new Music Key subscription service promotes. Continue Reading
As YouTube has risen to prominence as a music discovery tool, more businesses are looking to get involved with finding and developing its vast talent pool. One of those businesses is PopShack, a multi-channel network that aims to support the best up-and-coming pop performers. PopShack continues to grow with the addition of former Warner Music exec Conrad Withey as its CEO. Continue Reading
Apple seems to have made another musical purchase, this one with a focus on data. According to MusicAlly, UK media data startup Semetric changed its registered address to the same one as Apple Europe. The company also appears to have appointed Apple’s vice president of corporate law as a director in October. Financial details have not been formally disclosed, but the deal has been pegged at about $50 million. Continue Reading
Shazam is now valued at more than $1 billion, thanks to a recent $30 million investment in the audio-identification app. The new funding will go toward increased service capabilities and new market sectors for the service, which has more than 100 million monthly active mobile users. Shazam has received more than $100 million in venture capital funding since 2009. Continue Reading
A CRN International study of radio advertising effectiveness in the Millennial demographic (18-34) shines light on aspects of audio advertising on both sides of the broadcast/streaming fence. Continue Reading
Brief news items and worthy reads from around the web: Marriott trials in-room streaming entertainment; why big brands go indie for ad music. Continue Reading
American teens listen to more streaming audio than AM/FM radio, according to fresh survey data from Edison Research in its ongoing Share of Ear research. The age group (13-17) represents so-called Digital Natives, whose consumer choices might be predictive of future mainstream behavior. Continue Reading
BRS Media announced the release of the top .FM websites from 2014. The rankings are based on server hits for the domain. “This year’s ranking continues to show a significant growth within China and the surrounding Asian region,” said George T. Bundy, BRS Media’s chairman and CEO. China held the top spot with douban.fm, and hosted three other properties in the top 10. Continue Reading
Sonos may be planning to open up its API to third-party apps. GigaOm noticed a job posting at the WiFi speaker company seeking a software test engineer to guide projects aimed at “allowing third party music services to easily integrate their apps with Sonos.” Since the job posting only recently appeared, it’s unclear when Sonos might be ready to open the doors to its API. Continue Reading