The Download on Podcasts is a weekly feature sponsored by PodcastOne.
One bifurcation of the podcast market illuminates a new level of professionalism: Informal chatting vs. highly produced infotainment shows. What is the future of “chatcasting”? A suggestion for iTunes.
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App Annie released its April 2015 index of the top performing mobile apps in the U.S. Pandora held the top spot for top app by downloads and revenue, followed by Spotify. SoundCloud was fourth by downloads and iHeartRadio was fifth. In terms of revenue, Beats Music was the No. 3 app, while Rhapsody secured the No. 6 place. Continue Reading
Asian streaming platform KKBOX has inked a partnership with Merlin, an independent digital rights agency. As a result of the deal, some of the 20,000 independent labels and distributors represented by Merlin will be featured on the Taiwan-based streaming service. The deal covers Japan, Hong Kong, Macau, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, and Taiwan. Continue Reading
Android Auto is making its first appearance in new car models this week. The system will debut in the 2015 Hyundai Sonata. Although this is marks Android Auto’s launch in new cars, it became available as an after-market product through select Pioneer models beginning in March. Continue Reading
Standard Media Index (SMI), released growth statistics for Internet radio advertising, charting strong gains for April and the first quarter of this year. The data apply to U.S. ad spending only. Continue Reading
Brief news items and worthy reads from around the Internet: Spotify’s new competitive strategy; YouTube and the music industry; finding therapeutic potential in Pandora’s Music Genome. Continue Reading
Irish ad representation company Adforce.com announced today that it has signed with TuneIn to market TuneIn’s audience and inventory to key European markets. In its announement, Adforce.com promises to combine rich media and innovative audio formats. Continue Reading
James Cridland Weekly Links is a column by the U.K.’s radio futurologist. THIS WEEK: A problem with a Kuala Lumpur simulcast, and many more links from Africa, the U.K., and the U.S. Continue Reading
Media Broadcast has set a goal of increasing the number of DAB+ broadcasting locations from 61 to 110 by December 2016. The expanded network is projected to boost the range of digital radio from 60% to 82% indoors, while mobile reception coverage should grow from about 63% to 93%. Continue Reading
As rumored in December, Japan-based messaging app Line has launched a Line Music service for a trial in Thailand. The service is available within Line’s flagship mobile software as an in-app purchase for 60 Baht (about $1.80) per month. The new platform will let users listen to music and share songs with friends either in individual or group chats. Continue Reading
When Spotify announced last week that it was adding video to its content catalog, it signaled a directional shift and a competitive thrust into YouTube’s territory. YouTube, meanwhile, is inching its Music Key subscription platform onto Spotify’s front lawn. Other brands like Deezer and SoundCloud are also blurring their lines of identity. It’s all about un-platforming … while trying to succeed as a platform. Continue Reading
RAIN News lives at the nexus of traditional radio and new media. Informative, insightful, influential, entertaining — RAIN News is the preeminent source of information and commentary about the future of radio and the emergence of streaming audio. RAIN was… Continue Reading