Albums: Not Your Best Entertainment Value
by Kurt Hanson
RAIN’s founding editor Kurt Hanson observes dwindling CD sales, and compares other entertainment costs. Then, a three-step plan for the music industry. Continue Reading
Digitally Imported launches new design, functions, and programs
In a mile-marker along the way to a major reinvention of its service, electronic music portal Digitally Imported launched a newly designed interface, with new functions and new programs. Continue Reading
Quick Hits: Pandora’s concert livestream; have you heard of EDM?
Brief news items and worthy reads from around the web: Pandora to livestream Jack White show; Google infographic gives EDM education. Continue Reading
Pandora celebrates 50 billion thumbs with infographic
Pandora released a data-filled infographic in honor of receiving 50 billion thumbs. “Thumbs give each listener the power to make Pandora personal to them,” the accompanying blog post said. “Every thumb up and thumb down has not only made your stations better, but helped us make better song choices for every listener.” Continue Reading
Mark Mulligan: What $500 Million And Jay-Z Say About the State Of Streaming In 2015
by Mark Mulligan
Guest contributor Mark Mulligan examines Spotify’s new financing efforts and Jay-Z’s foray into the streaming business. Continue Reading
Internet Radio Rewind #028
A weekly podcast from RAIN News
Sponsored by AudioBoom
A six-minute blast of news you need to know in streaming audio.
THIS WEEK: Podcast listener behavior; Pandora’s growing reach; Apple iTunes earnings; SoundExchange artist payments in 2014, Spotify joins PlayStation; iHeartRadio’s audience milestones. Continue Reading
Tidal and WiMP may soon be owned by Jay-Z
According to a press release from Aspiro, the owners of WiMP and Tidal, the company has been approached with a bid for a public takeover. The roughly $56 million offer came from Project Panther Bidco, which is indirectly owned by S. Carter Enterprises. That sounds like a fairly routine acquisition, aside from the pertinent detail that S. Carter stands for Shawn Carter, better known as rap icon Jay-Z. Continue Reading
Spotify seeks $500M new funding; Jason Calacanis predicts Facebook takeover
The Wall Street Journal reports that Spotify “has expressed a desire” to raise $500-million in private investment, and is working with Goldman Sachs to achieve it. Meanwhile, in an unrelated analysis, past RAIN Summit keynoter Jason Calacanis predicts that Facebook will acquire Spotify. Continue Reading
Larry Rosin: The Monster — AM/FM Reach
by Larry Rosin
Guest columnist Larry Rosin, President of Edison Research, shares new results from Edison’s ongoing Share of Ear study. Broadcast radio has enviable daily reach, but it is changing. Continue Reading
Nielsen measures consumer demand for Internet-connected cars
In the frothing realm of connected cars, we know what the tech companies and automakers are doing. But what do car-buyers want? Nielsen’s new report on consumer preferences in connected cars points toward answers. Continue Reading
Norway sees increased streaming music revenue, decreased piracy
A recent IFPI survey revealed insights into the music industry in Norway. The survey found that streaming secured a larger portion of the country’s annual market sales value at 75%. Downloads were just 11% and physical formats were 14%. In 2013, streaming accounted for just 66% of the market, and physical sales had a 22% share. Continue Reading
Apple’s Q1 is strong overall, but shaky for iTunes
Apple released some mind-boggling financial figures from the first quarter in its latest SEC filing. The company’s net income for Q1 was $18.02 billion on net sales of nearly $74.6 billion. Underneath the huge revenue, though, the news was not so good for iTunes. Continue Reading