One of the perpetual stories that kept appearing in out 2017 headlines was the lingering question of Spotify and its plan for an IPO. The signs had pointed toward the streaming service pursuing a direct listing. Now, news has emerged that Spotify filed the confidential documents with the SEC to begin the IPO process in the final days of December. Continue Reading
The UK saw its total music sales increase 9.6% between 2016 and 2017, reaching a total of £1.2 billion, according to the Entertainment Retailers Association. Streaming was a key factor in the positive performance thanks to 41.9% growth in sales. Continue Reading
Publisher Wixen has sued Spotify over claims that the streaming service used thousands of songs without the proper license. The suit was filed on December 29 in California federal court. Wixen is looking to recoup damages of at least $1.6 billion plus injunctive relief. The publisher represents titles by several well-known artists, including Tom Petty, Neil Young, and Stevie Nicks. Continue Reading
Never a dull moment, or a dull year, in the online audio field. Here, we present RAIN’s annual Predictions feature, provided by industry leaders around the world. 2018 will carry forward the audio industry’s reputation for quick, disruptive change. Continue Reading
Brief news items and worthy reads from around the web: Questioning the top Podtrac “Snackable Podcast.” Big holiday download numbers for Alexa on Android. Start 2018 right with a hilarious podcast parody. Continue Reading
Tidal is a perpetually up and down story. The platform ended 2017 with an upswing, as owner and hip-hop legend Jay-Z released a massive new music video for his 4:44 album exclusively on the platform. The opulently shot eight-minute music video is directed by Ava DuVernay and stars what seems like half of Hollywood’s A-list. Continue Reading
Vevo posted 2017 revenue of $650 million, and the music video platform broke even for the year. The revenue total was up 30% over the year prior, and Vevo claims it will be profitable by early 2018. Continue Reading
James Cridland’s Future of Radio is a column by the Australia-based radio futurologist. THIS WEEK: Rest in peace, Dick Orkin. Other news and updates from around the audio world looking back on 2017 and ringing in 2018. Continue Reading
Anna Washenko (RAIN News editor) and Brad Hill (RAIN president) offer a few points of outlook for 2018. China, startups, rivalries, smart OS, playlists, cars, and more. Continue Reading
LG has released a new smart speaker with Google Assistant integration. The LG ThinQ is LG’s first in the premium smart speaker niche. It uses Meridian Audio technology and offers high resolution audio for services that support lossless listening. Continue Reading
Deezer sent Digital Millennium Copyright Act takedown notices to GitHub in an effort to block tools that allowed pirating of its catalog. The streaming service appears to have been successful in its move to end access to multiple applications on GitHub, a prominent software developer platform that allowed open sharing and distribution of code programs. Continue Reading