SoundCloud has introduced a distribution tool. SoundCloud Premier distribution allows creators to have their uploads sent to other music and digital services, opening up new audiences and new revenue streams for the performers. Continue Reading
Brief news items and worthy reads from around the web: SoundCloud at the Grammys. Apple Music’s Grammy deal. Smart speakers’ language options. Singing in tongues. Continue Reading
The text of the EU Copyright Directive has been finalized, meaning the stage is set for a sweeping legal update that could have unintended consequences for online communication in the bloc. With the final language decided, new revisions cannot be made and the legislation will go to the European Parliament’s legal affairs committee ahead of a final vote, which is expected to occur in March or April. Continue Reading
Google has several operating systems under its umbrella, and one of them is getting a pivot in response to the swelling interest in smart speakers. The Android Things operating system was initially designed as a simpler platform for use in Internet of Things hardware. Continue Reading
Universal Music Group’s fourth-quarter results have been posted by parent company Vivendi, capping a big year and leaving any potential buyers with more information about what the label has to offer. UMG’s revenue for the period totaled €6.023 billion. Continue Reading
Spotify’s latest original podcast is a collaboration with BBC Studios. The streaming service commissioned the UK broadcaster for a show titled Stay Free: The Story of The Clash. Continue Reading
Spotify has filed a 20-F with the SEC — that is a format for filing an annual report by companies of non-U.S. ownership. In it, Spotify discloses the cost of acquiring Gimlet Media and Anchor, and it is about 47% higher than the previously reported (rumored) amount. Continue Reading
Panoply Media has entered a partnership with audio analytics company Veritonic to examine the impact of podcast advertisements across listener demographics and ad verticals. This is Veritonic’s first partnership with a podcast-exclusive platform, and the deal will take advantage of its machine listening technology. Continue Reading
by Jeff Ulster
A guest column by Jeff Ulster, Chief Content and Technology Officer at The Podcast Exchange (TPX), examining the anatomy of podcast measurement. Second of two parts. Continue Reading
Amazon has made its Alexa Skills Blueprints program available to all users, a move that will allow anyone to create and publish content for Alexa-enabled devices. The program has a series of templates for making content available on the voice assistant ecosystem. Continue Reading
Qobuz has launched in the United States, a long-awaited move from the hybrid download and streaming service. The company, based in France, focuses on audio, with a library of 40 million CD quality tracks and millions more that are hi-res. Continue Reading
The NuVoodoo Ratings Prospects Study is sharing its latest statistics about smart speaker ownership and use in an upcoming webinar. The advanced results found that although ownership is still on the rise, people are encountering challenges with the voice assistants, particularly for use with radio. Continue Reading