Pandora announced today that it will be the “exclusive streaming partner” for the second season of hit podcast Serial. In 2016 the agreement will extend to This American Life, the public radio program which distributes its shows as on-demand podcasts, and which is the creator of Serial. Continue Reading
James Cridland Weekly Links is a column by the U.K.’s radio futurologist. THIS WEEK: This week’s edition is dominated by RAJAR ratingsof U.K. radio and podcast stories. Also, worlds collide; the ever-controversial Audials, and the Belfast Media Festival. Plus much more. Continue Reading
Rhapsody-owned Napster launched in Canada today. The ad-free premium music service is offering subscriptions costing C$9.99 a month, but it has a launch offer of three months for just C$1. Continue Reading
SoundCloud has launched a new standalone mobile app specifically for audio creators. SoundCloud Pulse helps creators manage their accounts and communities. For now, Pulse is only available on Android, but an iOS version and new features are in the works. Continue Reading
Guest columnist Steve Goldsteing addresses the ever-relevant question of whether brand or talent is more important. Along the way he mourns the passing of ESPN’s Grantland, and points to what happened. Continue Reading
Radical.FM, a distinctive online radio service that allows multi-genre mixing, has temporarily shut down the service to concentrate its resources on an upcoming launch of TALK, a new broadcast feature. TALK will allow real-time voice injection to RadCasting, Radical’s new station broadcasting function. Continue Reading
Global Interactive Media has gone on a tear of lawsuits on charges that several broadcasting companies have violated its patents. That intellectual property covers an “apparatus and method to generate and access broadcast information.” At this stage, it seems possible that the Belize-based company is looking to make money by pushing litigation over patents of questionable validity. But if the patent claims are legitimate, it could mean one more set of royalty payments for many types of audio companies. Continue Reading
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The weekly update of the streaming audio industry, from RAIN News. The weekly update of the streaming audio industry, from RAIN News. The weekly update of the streaming audio industry, from RAIN News. THIS WEEK: Sirius XM earnings and quotes; Beats 1 might spawn numbered children; Deezer and Google bring on the podcasts; RAJAR quarterly numbers; more. Continue Reading
On the Move tracks hires, promotions, and other notable personnel changes within the online audio industry. Today’s moves are restructuring of top management at UMG, a promotion at CBS Radio, and two spot radio hires for NPR. Continue Reading
With the big boom in podcast popularity, a few new upstarts have emerged to offer related services to listeners. One of the newer platforms is Jabbercast, a mobile iOS app for podcasts that explores new options in building community. Continue Reading
A combination of conversation, presentation, music, and meeting will characterize RAIN Summit Europe, November 9 in London. Hundreds of attendees will have an opportunity to meet industry leaders of streaming audio, while learning from 16 knowledge sessions covering advertising, podcasting, research, mobile listening, metrics, and radio innovation in a digital world. Continue Reading