The Music Modernization Act has been signed into law, ending a long battle to overhaul mechanical licensing and rights for both publishers and songwriters at the federal level. The law, as compromised between the Senate and the House of Representatives, has the same three central components as it did while progressing through Congress. Continue Reading
Emmis Communications Corp announced in a quarterly earnings call that it will “dramatically reduce the operations” of its NextRadio project following years of losses. NextRadio was an effort to make mobile phones act like portable radios, with an app that let listeners tune in to FM stations. It also offered targeted advertising and other enhancements. Continue Reading
The Canadian Podcast Listener Report 2018 offers insights on the steadily growing audience for podcasts in Canada and the unique trends of this market. Jeff Vidler, president of Audience insights, and Jeff Ulster, chief content and technology officer for The Podcast Exchange, presented the full study on Wednesday at the RAIN Summit Canada in Toronto. Continue Reading
Apple Music has entered a partnership with Genius, a database of music lyrics and annotations. Under the terms of their deal, both parties will make their services available on each other’s platforms. Continue Reading
Podtrac has released its monthly ranker of the top podcast publishers. Only publishers that participate in Podtrac’s measurement platform for the entire month are included on the chart. The September 2018 chart includes all of the same publishers as the August list. Continue Reading
Triton Digital has signed Planet Broadcasting, a major independent podcast network in Australia, as a client for its delivery and monetization services. Planet Broadcasting will take advantage of tools from both Triton and Omny Studio. Continue Reading
The global RAIN Summit series too its latest step yesterday with the inaugural RAIN Summit Canada in Toronto. The event brought digital audio buyers and sellers together in RAIN’s key mission of knowledge and networking. Continue Reading
News from up north, as Corus Entertainment announces an acquisition for its Curiouscast podcast network. The platform has added popular true crime podcast Dark Poutine to its lineup, which has a growing number of original Canadian shows. Continue Reading
Pandora is partnering with Comcast Xfinity for a special showcase of music offerings on the telecom’s X1 set-top box and voice-control remote. The audio company has signed as the preferred partner for Comcast’s first ever Music Week. Continue Reading
Triton Digital announced that it will be powering the digital audio and podcast strategy for Quebecor Media Group, an integrated communications company from Canada. Under the terms of their arrangement, Quebecor will be a client of Triton’s audio streaming network for delivering digital audio online and of the Tap Ad Server for dynamic insertion of targeted ads into audio content. Continue Reading
Google is continuing to release new smart speaker designs to keep pace with its top rival, Amazon. The tech giant’s latest device confirms rumors from last month with the unveiling of the Google Home Hub, a speaker with a display screen, a low price point, and an emphasis on privacy. Continue Reading
The IFPI has released its annual music consumer insight report, offering a snapshot at how people listen around the world. The latest analysis confirms several ongoing trends in the music space, including the dominance of streaming, the reliance on mobile devices, and the threats posed by piracy. Continue Reading