Spotify is best testing a new process that will allow independent artists to upload their music directly to the streaming platform. The feature is being offered to a small group of performers through the Spotify For Artists management dashboard. Continue Reading
The Amazon Alexa voice assistant platform is coming to more and more gadgetry around the home. This week began with rumors of at least eight new Alexa devices to come before the year’s close, and the week is ending with a leak confirming two of them. Continue Reading
BuzzFeed News has closed down its podcast production studio, a move that will end several of its in-house shows. According to sources, BuzzFeed News will continue to greenlight podcasts, but will do so with third-party production studios. Continue Reading
SoundCloud announced that it will have a presence on the Official Charts Company in the UK. All plays of licensed, monetized tracks on SoundCloud will be counted towards chart performance. Continue Reading
Amazon may have held the lead as smart speakers entered the marketplace, but Google is hot on its trail. According to Strategy Analytics, the Google Home Mini was the top-selling smart speaker in the world during the second quarter. Continue Reading
The Guardian is the latest news publication to create a daily podcast for a deeper dive into current events. The new show will be hosted by political editor Anushka Asthana and is slated for launch by the end of the year. Six audio journalists have been hired by The Guardian to produce the currently unnamed program. Continue Reading
DAX, the digital audio arm of Global, announced that it is the exclusive distribution and monetization partner for an audio drama titled America 2.0. The serial political drama, an original podcast from Global, is co-created by J.S. Mayank and David Carlyle. Continue Reading
The Music Modernization Act has passed by unanimous consent in the Senate, an approval that marks a huge step forward towards overhauling mechanical licensing in the United States. The legislation took a risky path of hotlining, where unanimous support is required for approval. Continue Reading
AdsWizz has teamed with Communicorp Media for a new digital audio advertising exchange in Ireland. The audioXi service launches with 20 million monthly impressions from more than 20 independent publishers. Continue Reading
Years after the decision, SoundExchange is still pushing for an appeal of the Copyright Royalty Board’s determination of webcasting rates for the 2016-2020 period. Legal expert David Oxenford shares some background on how appeals courts review these cases and breaks down the latest ruling. Continue Reading
Spotify is losing another high-level leader, the latest in a continuing exodus from top positions within the streaming service. Seth Farbman is departing his role as chief marketing officer, which he has held for three and a half years. Continue Reading
Music Biz and AudienceNet have released their Audio Monitor report on U.S. music consumption habits. The survey examined trends for on-demand streaming, which are being heavily driven by the youngest listeners, as well as AM/FM radio and smart speakers. Continue Reading