Apple’s iTunes Radio broke into the top-15 list of app usage in May, according to traffic measurement company comScore. While this breakthrough might not seem like an epic milestone, the buzz around it has a “Finally!” aspect to it. But this report does not compare iTunes Radio exactly with other music-app use across the mobile landscape, for two reasons. Continue Reading
Niche, a research firm founded by Carnegie Mellon University in 2002 with a focus on early-life decision-making, has released an interesting study of media choices among graduating high school students. When surveyed about listening to music, graduating high-schoolers divulged their music-service habits. Continue Reading
Bop.fm, a streaming startup founded seven months ago in the Y Combinator seed-funding group, has obtained a $2-million funding round from Charles River Ventures. Bop enables music sharing on a platform that hooks into popular streaming services. In the RAIN review, we found a crucial feature glitch, but an overall terrific experience that emulates an interactive music service, drawing on external libraries. As such, Bop.fm serves as a remote control for Spotify, Beats Music, and Rdio, and makes it easier to share music. Continue Reading
Brief news items and worthy reads from around the web: Sonos gets SoundCloud; Taylor Swift waxes optimistic about the music business; the sound of deep space. Continue Reading
“Wireless carriers are dragging their feet and won’t activate the FM chips that are in every smartphone.” That’s the blunt message in a website campaign mounted by NPR, American Public Media (APM), Educational Media Foundation (EMF), the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB), and, of course, NextRadio. The campaign hopes to stir activism. Continue Reading
Don’t let the 1996-era, stoner-vibe website (www.waxtraxradio.com) put you off. Allow the retro design to put you in the classic rock spirit. Waxtrax’s excellent deep-cut playlist shouldn’t be missed by classic genre fans. This Arizona-based Internet station is an ad-free, privately funded indie station. You won’t find a purer pureplay anywhere. Continue Reading
Roger Lanctot is Associate Director of Strategy Analytics, and a thought leader in the connected-car space. He is an influential voice in the field of automotive infotainment systems, and safety, in cars of the present and future. In this article, Roger Lanctot questions whether Google’s Android Auto initiative is ready for primetime. Do Google and Apple suffer from attention deficit disorder? Continue Reading
Brief news items and worthwhile reads from around the web: Deezer closes Canadian office but splashes “Coming Soon” to U.S. users: Deezer is reportedly closing its Canadian office, but that cost-saving exercise does not affect the service to Canadian users.… Continue Reading
In a splashy distribution gambit, and a timely reminder of YouTube’s enormous content depth as it prepares a music-only subscription service, Music Vault is augmenting its existing YouTube channel with the addition of at least 13,000 concert videos. Continue Reading
Clear Channel issued a press release announcing some structural changes in the company. iHeartRadio is re-positioned, and its former executive owner, Brian Lakamp, is promoted to a broader role steering Clear Channel’s technology capability and digital ventures. Continue Reading
Should radio and Internet radio platforms run ads for competitors? In the battle for “share of ear,” this is a question we have examined from a number of angles. During our recent ad-stalking, we spotted Google advertising its streaming service (Google Play All Access) on Pandora. the call to action lifted us right out of Pandora into Google. Continue Reading
On September 9, at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis, RAIN Summit Indy will spotlight and break out an emerging topic: how local radio stations can expand their businesses beyond the single revenue stream of ad sales, via marketing and providing digital services to local businesses.
RAIN spoke with Gordon Borrell about the opportunity for radio to develop this new, high-potential business line. Continue Reading