Robert Ashcroft, CEO of PRS for Music, spoke about the concerns for UK publishers and songwriters at the performing rights organization’s annual general meeting. His critiques were focused on online platforms that thrive on user-generated content, such as YouTube and SoundCloud. Ashcroft said those services have been unfairly benefiting from safe harbor laws. Continue Reading
Until today, MixRadio was available only on Microsoft desktop and mobile platforms. Today, the Internet radio service expands to Android and Apple devices. AudioHQ announced that it has entered into an exclusive ad-repping deal for all U.S. inventory across platforms. Continue Reading
Triton Digital announced today that it will represent XAPP ad inventory in JAX, the mobile advertising service created in january by XAPPmedia and jācapps, the Jacobs Media app development company. The deal pivots on XAPP technology called XAPP Ads. Continue Reading
Data, and more data. Pandora announced this morning its acquisition of music analytics company Next Big Sound. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Continue Reading
Starbucks, which has a long history as a music purveyor within its larger mission of caffeinating the world, today announced a partnership with on-demand music service Spotify. The alliance is trumpeted as a “First-of-its-kind music ecosystem.” Continue Reading
Global on-demand music service Deezer is announcing today the integration of Stitcher audio programs, following Deezer’s acquisition of the long-established podcast app in October. The integration mixes news, entertainment, and sports programs to Deezer’s 35-million-song music catalog. Continue Reading
The role and value of free listening to on-demand services (freemium) has been under scrutiny for months. Industry finances might support the logic of arguments that freemium should be limited. But is that strategy near-sighted? Continue Reading
Latest research released by Juniper Research projects that annual global advertising spend on mobile devices is expected to reach $105 billion by 2019, up from an estimated $51 billion this year. Advertisers, drawn to the personalized and timely targetability that advertising on mobile devices offers, will drive spending on those devices to 44 per cent of total digital ad spend by 2019. RAIN CEO Jennifer Lane suggests a reinvention. Continue Reading
France’s Conseil supérieur de l’audiovisuel, also known as the CSA, has announced that it plans to launch a public consultation about digital terrestrial radio by the end of May. This consultation is expected to decide which regions of the country should be the next to receive digital radio infrastructure. More than a dozen French cities are up for consideration, and the new digital stations are projected to go on-air by September 2016. Continue Reading
Audible made its name in the digital space selling subscriptions to audiobooks. Now, as podcasting’s star continues to rise, the Amazon-owned company appears to be shifting its focus to take advantage of the newest trend. Audible hired NPR’s top content developer to a new role as SVP of original content. Continue Reading
James Cridland Weekly Links is a column by the U.K.’s radio futurologist. THIS WEEK: VOX conference; interesting events and articles from around the world. Continue Reading
Money continues to flow into the burgeoning podcast category as Bonnier Growth Media, a Swedish investment firm, today announced closing a $5-million capital investment in Acast, and podcast and advertising network, also in Sweden. Continue Reading