Quick Hits: Economist on discovery; Bouvard on media; Billboard on bubbles

Brief news items and worthy reads from around the web:

Questioning music discovery options: Many music platforms promise options for discovery of new tracks and bands, but a piece in The Economist argues that it has become harder than ever to find something fresh. It reviews the Pandora/Ticketfly deal and how the shifting streaming industry is dealing with competition. It also examines the impact of media consolidation with Conde Nast acquiring hipster publication Pitchfork.

When auto marketing meets media: Pierre Bouvard, CMO of Cumulus Media/Westwood One, penned a blog post aimed at car marketers. He offered advice about how changes in media impact efforts to reach new car buyers and the continued role of importance that radio holds for that demographic.

Is there a music tech bubble? Few words strike fear in the heart of VCs like “bubble.” Billboard investigates the current status of the general tech investment field and how music companies may be impacted. Spotify in particular has been putting up some big numbers and drawing mixed responses for it.

Anna Washenko