It’s a new era for Apple Music. The streaming service’s initial wave of three-month free trials has formally ended, and it will need to start building an audience of paying customers. Based on a wave of news items from the first few days, things may not be starting on the best foot for the listeners or the company. Continue Reading
James Cridland Weekly Links is a column by the U.K.’s radio futurologist. THIS WEEK: British spies are reportedly tracking listeners; BBC releases stats; Zane Lowe of Beats 1 interviewed; and much more. Continue Reading
Triton Digital’s a2x programmatic ad exchange is going to France thanks to a partnership with French multimedia group NRJ Global. This is the first availability of programmatic purchases of targeted online and mobile audio impressions for the French market. Continue Reading
The Copyright Royalty Board is still in the throes of its decision-making process of setting webcasting licensing rates for 2016-2020. In the latest development, the CRB has asked the Copyright Office whether it can set different rates for different music suppliers. The query has sent industry leaders into heavy speculation about the intent behind it. Continue Reading
Programmatic advertising was a key topic at RAIN Summit Atlanta, where a discussion panel (Online Audio’s Programmatic Path) examined viewpoints from the buy and sell sides. In addition, a RAIN Summit interview with Jennifer Hungerbuhler of the global agency Dentsu Aegis landed on programmatic with a revealing prediction. Continue Reading
Shazam has released a fun interactive map showing the top tagged songs in major U.S. cities this summer. The Local Hot Tracks map displays what tunes people are discovering and identifying, from Augusta, Maine, to Honolulu, Hawaii. Continue Reading
New provisions in the UK’s Consumer Rights Act took effect as of Oct. 1. The revamped law includes some rules governing digital retailers such as the iTunes store. Streaming platforms would also be covered by the rules about quality and customer expectations. Continue Reading
Radical.FM has added a new feature to its free online radio. RadCasting is a social listening and discovery tool that lets its users broadcast what they’re listening to in real time. People can also tune into the casts of others, chat with each other, and connect with friends on social media. Continue Reading
We watched the Serial podcast break into the audio scene and rise in popularity to secure a huge listener base and professional accolades. Now the program, originally an offshoot of This American Life, is on the verge of crossing format borders and becoming a television show. Continue Reading
Getting accurate information about the exchange of money in streaming can be a challenge, since so much of the legalese is shrouded in mystery. But this infographic from Money Tips does a nice job of collecting some of the data points that we do have. Continue Reading
SESAC may have bought out Harry Fox Agency, but it appears to be more invested in the technology than the people. As much as 30% of the staff at the mechanical licensing company will be let go. Continue Reading
Brief news items and worthy reads from around the web: How does Discovery Weekly work?; a conversation with a Spotify Asia exec; weird and wonderful genre names. Continue Reading