Spotify has hired Horacio Gutierrez as its new general counsel. He most recently held the same title at Microsoft, departing after 17 years with that company. He is scheduled to start with the streaming service in April. Continue Reading
Sony is moving to assume sole ownership of its Sony/ATV publishing arm. It is buying the 50% stake in Sony/ATV from Michael Jackson’s estate for $750 million. The parties are slated to have a definitive agreement by March 31, and the deal will be subject to regulatory approvals before closing. Continue Reading
How do broadcasters and webcasters gather and use data about their audiences, and engage those audiences? That is the subject of a research project jointly conducted by Presslaff Interactive and RAIN News. The 12-question survey is open now to industry professionals. Continue Reading
Apple Music has inked a deal with Dubset Media Holdings to add remixes and DJ mixes to the streaming service’s library. That type of music has usually been left out of legal streaming platforms because of the complexity of correctly identifying all the rights holders who should receive royalties from the final creation. However, digital distributor Dubset uses proprietary technology to analyze these music files, identify the recordings used in them, and break out the requisite royalty payments for them. Continue Reading
Ad-tech company AdsWizz has announced the expansion of its AdWave, its digital audio marketplace platform, to Canada. Key to this expansion is a partnership with Media Sales Lab, an ad-sales firm. Also participating is streaming tech company leanStream. Continue Reading
Brief news items and worthy reads from around the web: One take on the licensing lawsuits…and a second opinion on them; Instagram, home of music superfans; Chris Price questions data deluge. Continue Reading
The big brands are getting into the act with futuristic headphones. At SXSW, Sony’s new Future Lab division unveiled a prototype of directional headphones, a new approach to personal listening that eliminates over-ear and in-ear sound. Continue Reading
The first smartphone equipped with built-in DAB+ radio was announced at Radiodays Europe 2016. LG Electronics introduced this feature for its new mobile device, the LG Stylus 2. The phone comes equipped with a DAB+ chipset and built-in app for listening to digital broadcasts. Continue Reading
Sirius XM announced that it will increase its subscription rates for satellite radio access. Beginning April 27, the Select subscription cost will increase from $14.99 to $15.99 per month. Standalone access to Sirius XM Internet radio will also go up $1. Continue Reading
YouTube’s penetration into the music lives of Americans is a snapshot of quiet domination captured by last week’s Infinite Dial release. When you cross-reference different parts of the Edison Research / Triton Digital study, startling comparisons emerge. Continue Reading
Radioplayer has shared research into the role of radio in cars, and even though new technology is posing a growing threat to the traditional format, it found that radio remains a valuable feature for vehicles. The organization’s survey of drivers from the UK, France, and Germany found that 82% said they would not consider buying a car without a radio. Continue Reading
New consumer research found that 68% of smartphone owners listen to streaming music every day. The study from Parks Associates revealed that smartphone owners spend more time with their tunes than any other form of mobile entertainment, clocking in at 45 minutes per day with streaming music. Continue Reading