The Google Assistant voice AI platform has introduced two developments this week. First, it is adding a new tool for voice-driven shopping. Second, it’s getting a new sound with its first celebrity cameo. Continue Reading
Edison Research has released a teaser for the next annual installment of its Share of Ear investigation into U.S. audio consumption. The company published a slide from its upcoming 2019 report tracing growth in Internet-delivered audio. Continue Reading
The Australian Recording Industry Association has published its year-end results from 2018. The trade body saw wholesale revenue in the country grow 12.3% to A$526.1 million last year, compared with A$468.7 million. As with so many annual reports around the world, streaming was a key contributor to the increasing revenue. Continue Reading
Zeno Media has entered a partnership with the BTC Bahamas telecom for a new app called BTC Radio. The two parties will launch the first mobile carrier supported audio streaming radio app for the region, including exclusive radio content from the Bahamas, Haiti, and Jamaica. Continue Reading
iHeartMedia filed for an initial public offering today, marking a big financial move for an audio conglomerate that is emerging from bankruptcy. The filing signals the end of an era for iHeartMedia, which has been under private ownership for more than a decade. Continue Reading
The report found that the global recorded music market reached revenue of $19.1 billion. That figure grew 9.7% over 2018, marking a fourth consecutive year of growth and the highest rate since the IFPI began tracking the metric in 1997. Digital sources accounted for 58.9% of the international total, or $11.2 billion. It was the first year that digital formats surpassed $10 billion in revenue. Continue Reading
Jacobs Media has released the results from its 2019 Techsurvey, an exploration into audio and radio consumption in North America. The web survey covered the United States and Canada, and was conducted among members of radio station databases, through station websites, and social networking pages. Continue Reading
Spotify has hired Chaka Zulu as its new head of artist and talent relations. Zulu has been the manager of rapper Ludacris for many years and is co-founder of the Disturbing Tha Peace label. Continue Reading
Ad tech platform Instreamatic.ai is announcing today its agreement with Pandora to test interactive voice audio ads that are smartened up with artificial intelligence. This platform seems to promise the conversational relationship people have with smart speakers and mobile voice assistants, applied to the consumer-advertiser relationship. Continue Reading
In an unforeseen and ambitious expansion, Edison Research has announced new components of its long-running Share of Ear consumer study. Taking advantage of a staff increase announced over a year ago, the research company is adding Eye, Nose, and Throat to its famous measurement of American listening. Continue Reading
Podtrac released a new set of data today exploring the most popular podcast topics. In both February 2019 and February 2018, the top three podcast categories were comedy, news and politics, and society and culture. Continue Reading
Google’s next smart home product appears to be a hub device. The new hardware will be called the Nest Hub Max, a smart display with a Nest camera and a 10-inch screen. The upcoming launch was leaked by accident in an update to the website for its Google Store. Continue Reading