Research dominated the news during the past week. A Borrell Associates study, and a sneak peek at Infinite Dial 2014. Also: net neutrality taking a beating, connected cars, 8tracks, Beats Music, the HD Radio lawsuit. Continue Reading
RAIN Summit West, now in its 13th year, announces new confirmed speakers for the April 6 conference in Las Vegas. The early registration rate for RAIN Summit West ends at midnight tonight, Friday, February 28. Continue Reading
Should broadcast radio be required to pay royalties to labels and recording artists for use of their records? There are arguments on both sides, and the stalemate reinforces inertia. But the debate is heating up, gaining publicity, and creating awareness of an issue that many people don’t know about. Continue Reading
A lawsuit against the U.S.’s largest radio groups over a patent conflict in HD Radio technology, has been delayed pending the result of settlement talks. The suit is widely regarded as a patent-trolling case. Fourteen of the U.S.’s largest radio groups are named. So are 13 car companies. Continue Reading
The Oscars Radio is the perfect weekend station leading up to the Academy Awards on Sunday night. The stream includes presentations and acceptance speeches leading into those songs, like Cuba Gooding’s famous acceptance speech for Jerry Maguire. Continue Reading
Dave Allen, iconic musician and participant in the “Spotify debate,” announced in the Beats Music blog that he has accepted the position of Director, Artist & Music Industry Advocate. “I am back in the music business after 13 years,” Allen enthuses. Continue Reading
8tracks, the popular platform for user-created music playlists, has joined a small group of selected music apps in Microsoft’s Xbox gaming and set-top system. The app landed in Xbox on Monday, and there will be an official 8tracks announcement later today. Founder David Porter talked to RAIN. Continue Reading
A new survey report conducted by Borrell Associates for the Radio Advertising Bureau (RAB) reveals that the online revenues of radio stations grew 15% in 2013, and is projected to grow 22% above that higher level this year. The impressive growth is not all in online advertising. Continue Reading
AUPEO!, the Berlin-based in-vehicle infotainment service, has obtained placement in new Ford vehicles featuring the SYNC digital dashboard controlled with AppLink, the company announced at Mobile World Congress this week in Barcelona. Berlin-based AUPEO! was founded in 2008. Continue Reading
Copyright reform is the agenda of a new bill introduced to Congress by Rep. Doug Collins of Georgia. Called the Songwriter Equity Act, the bill seeks to amend portions of the U.S. Copyright Act, addressing what the bill’s sponsors call inequity in current regulations. Continue Reading
A field report from Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, by guest columnist James Cridland. Will smartphone handset companies decide that they can profitably create their own music services? Nokia and Sony are promoting their home-grown music services in the Barcelona trade show. Continue Reading
The study says that Digital and HD Radio formats will never scale to replace FM, and auto manufacturers will continue to include FM receivers in cars for many years. But listening to FM will gradually be replaced by streaming radio and music services as more and more cars become connected. Continue Reading