EDM specialist Beatport has started the beta of its free streaming music platform. The player is embedded on the website, and you can continue to listen as you navigate around the site. TechCrunch’s review of the beta was uniformly positive, with just a one critical note about the ability to browse. Continue Reading
Spotify is looking to hire a vice president of public policy to help give voice to the company’s interests among lawmakers. This new hire will report to Jonathan Prince, Spotify’s global head of communications and public policy. Continue Reading
In the “Webcasting IV” rate-setting procedure, a two-year run-up to new statutory music licensing rates, Pandora filed a new document yesterday with the Copyright Royalty Board (CRB). The document refutes arguments put forward by SoundExchange last fall. Rebuttal arguments are included from four expert witnesses, including Larry Rosin of Edison Research, which was commissioned to perform market research included in the brief. Continue Reading
Part of the business model for most streaming platforms is to attract and retain the largest possible number of listeners. That could lead to a listening landscape that’s fractured, with people choosing just one or two services to fill all of their audio needs. Yet with each of the major players offering a slightly different subset of performers and content, it makes sense that listeners would be interested in combining the libraries of more than one streaming platform. Continue Reading
Media services agency Horizon Media has announced that it is developing new ways of targeting listening audiences, based on listener mood. The mood-based audience segmenting is mainly for radio buying, but Horizon indicates that Internet radio could use the new technology too. Continue Reading
NextRadio has launched an ad campaign aimed at promoting the use of its app and the activation of FM chips in all smartphones. The campaign, in partnership with the National Association of Broadcasters, is asking terrestrial radio stations to run the spots. The main focus of these ads is to educate more listeners about NextRadio. NextRadio faces a three-fold challenge. Continue Reading
CD Baby shared the latest growth figures for its Pro music rights management subscription. It has increased more than 250% and represents more than 54,000 writers and administrators. The service helps members to collect mechanical royalties from streaming services worldwide. It also has direct registration of songs with more than 40 foreign societies to help with global rights management. Continue Reading
The Sydney Morning Herald interviewed Pandora Australia CEO Jane Huxley for insight about the streaming environment down under. Pandora is reportedly adding between 20,000 and 30,000 users a week, and has already passed the 2 million members milestone. Even though additional services have entered the streaming space in Australia, Huxley told the Herald that those companies were creating additional interest in the music platforms. Continue Reading
Today’s brief news items are all about Apple: competing with Snapchat for a label; an App Store model for iTunes; and an Editorial Producer for hire. Continue Reading
BBC-backed listening platform Radioplayer announced a new initiative intended to bring streaming of online-only programming into the app experience for the first time. Radioplayer serves an audience of 6-million monthly listeners. Continue Reading
British comedian, actor, and activist Russell Brand is starting a twice-weekly comedy podcast exclusively on audioBoom. Ad-rep firm Adlarge, which already exclusively represents audioBoom’s U.S. audience, will develop custom U.S. advertising opportunities in the new show. Continue Reading
As a preview of the upcoming The Infinite Dial webinar, Edison Research has released a tantalizing data point about podcast consumption. In its most recent annual survey of 12+ Americans, 17 percent listen to podcasts monthly, the highest number in Infinite Dial history. Continue Reading