Universal Music Group could see an initial public offering if the music industry financials continue to improve. The label is owned by Vivendi, a Paris-based media conglomerate, and the parent company is considering floating a minority stake in its music business. Continue Reading
A new survey from AdWeek measures youth attachment to YouTube in a more dramatic light: 50% of Gen-Z respondents (from a survey field of 1,500) said they “could not live without” YouTube. Nearly all respondents (95%) use YouTube to some extent. Gen-Z’ers are just starting to emerge into the adult marketplace, unfamiliar with non-digital life and paying for daily media content. Continue Reading
An NBA team is making waves among fans and audio experts with its own online radio station. The Golden State Warriors has run the Warriors Sound online radio channel for two years now. Its programming includes a prerecorded mix of interviews, audio documentaries, historical retrospectives, and some music as suggested by the team’s community. Continue Reading
Apple is reportedly now charging listeners in some markets for what was previously a completely free trial of its streaming music service. According to AppleInsider, people in Australia, Spain, and Switzerland will be charged 99 cents for three months of preliminary access to the Apple Music platform. Continue Reading
Spotify has announced two changes to its team. First, it has hired M&A specialist Sheila Spence. The other personnel change is the departure of product director Matthew Ogle. Continue Reading
James Cridland’s Future of Radio is a column by the Australia-based radio futurologist. THIS WEEK: A look at one of radio’s biggest events. RAJAR results for Q1. United States radio rules. Much more. Continue Reading
This week, Spotify announced that it is now testing open exchanges for real-time buying for its audio inventory. The streaming company will be working with select SSP and DSP partners for this latest effort in programmatic advertising. Continue Reading
The latest blog post from Amplifi Media CEO Steve Goldstein discusses questions related to the burgeoning device category for voice assistants. His company has also partnered with Jacobs Media for a new company called Sonic Ai. Continue Reading
Vevo has rolled out a new app for the Apple TV, with more television support to roll out in the future. The new features for Vevo’s Apple TV presence include a pop-up navigation bar for browsing while viewing videos and curated video and playlist recommendations. Continue Reading
The Department of Justice is appealing a September decision by federal judge Louis Stanton which contradicted the DOJ on the issue of fractional licensing. The DoJ filed a brief with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, an action it had been planning to take for months. Continue Reading
Brief news items and worthy reads from around the web: A video experiment from Spotify; Troy Carter on music’s value chain; UK streaming data; FCC votes to start dismantling net neutrality. Continue Reading
The Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) has released a dense, highly-informed and descriptive whitepaper about programmatic advertising — which also suggests abandoning the term “programmatic” and replacing it with “automation.” There is also a great infographic. Continue Reading