Spotify has hired a new exec as head of investor relations, the latest signal that an IPO is in the streaming service’s future. The new addition is Paul Vogel, who joins Spotify after most recently running Barclays’ Internet and media research group. Continue Reading
8tracks is now accepting investments in its Regulation A round. The crowdfunded investment round is officially open on SeedInvest. This type of SEC-regulated round allows anybody to invest in the playlisting company, buying ownership for as little as $100. Continue Reading
Merlin, a digital rights agency for independent labels, has released the results of its 2016 member survey. Digital income supplied a majority of overall business for 62% of respondents, up from about half of the respondents last year. Streaming is a core element in that digital growth. Continue Reading
Beginning this year, the Recording Academy will be able to consider streaming-only albums for Grammy recognition. The organization’s previous rules required a physical or digital release to be eligible for the awards. Continue Reading
PodcastOne announced that Jim Berk has come aboard as Chief Executive Officer. Berk comes from Participant media, where he was CEO for nine years. PodcastOne founder Norm Pattiz maintains his role as Executive Chairman, and Kit Gray continues as President. the announcement signals further expansion. (Video: Norm Pattiz interview at RAIN Summit West.) Continue Reading
Connected cars are either either a threat to radio or an opportunity, depending on who you talk to. But there’s not much talk at all about self-driving cars, which are on a quick development pace. Guest columnist Mark Ramsey holds forth. Continue Reading
Yesterday’s announcement that Rhapsody would rebrand as Napster across its global music service empire caused flashbacks in the minds of digital audio veterans. Matt Graves helped launch Rhapsody in 2001, and has worked in the online media fields for even longer. In this guest column he reviews the astonishing and unlikely history of Napster. Continue Reading
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When do we know that a media category has attained maturity? Many answers to that, the most viable probably being a thriving and sustainable financial ecosystem. But a more fun answer is when various groups give out awards designed to celebrate excellence and separate cream from crop. Continue Reading
One pre-1972 copyright case that has escaped broad awareness is Capital Records vs. Vimeo, the high-end video platform. Vimeo has just won an appeal that absolves it from treating pre-1972 music content differently from post-1972 music content. Continue Reading
Brief news items and worthy reads from around the web. Today: Internet radio’s history; the threat of Amazon; the future of podcasting. Continue Reading
Twitter has confirmed that it has made a capital investment in SoundCloud. Re/code is reporting anonymous sources who say the investment is worth about $70-million. So continues the long, unsteady relationship of micro-blogging service Twitter with music. Continue Reading