BMI announced that it will pay bonuses to the top songs on select streaming platforms. The performing rights organization’s new payment system complements the existing structures for premiums distributed to the top songs on radio and television channels. Continue Reading
James Cridland Weekly Links is a column by the U.K.’s radio futurologist. THIS WEEK: Radio X launch; conference conflict; Microsoft re-enters the digital dashboard; radio innovation in Australia; and much more. Continue Reading
This week we are revealing finalists in the Sixth Annual RAIN Internet Radio Awards. Today we are pleased to announce the advancing finalists in the “Best Overall Digital Strategy” category. Continue Reading
One of Tidal’s artist-owners has confessed that the launch of the boutique streaming service was a bit disastrous. Win Butler, frontman of The Arcade Fire, also pointed to the major label demands as a factor in Tidal’s pricing at $20. Continue Reading
Apple Music had two big business developments break yesterday. First, the streaming service debuted a surprise mixtape by hip-hop superstars Drake and Future. Then a new commercial marked a shift in rhetoric for the streaming platform. Continue Reading
Sponsored by AudioBoom
The weekly update of the streaming audio industry, from RAIN News. THIS WEEK: Two new and unusual stations; Nielsen report on streaming and music; podcast research; more. Continue Reading
by Kurt Hanson
Do high data costs inhibit listening to streaming audio through mobile devices? Kurt Hanson notes new plan prices from T-Mobile and does some math. The outcome? Mobile bandwidth is trending cheap. Continue Reading
Pandora successfully acquired KXMZ radio station in South Dakota in May, but that doesn’t mean the ownership stayed on secure footing. ASCAP challenged two elements in Pandora’s action to buy the station shortly after the purchase closed, but the FCC today denied them both. Continue Reading
SFX announced that it has secured $60 million in new financing. The company also refinanced its $30 million revolving credit facilities for a total of $90 million. Its founder had made an effort to take the company private but was unable to secure backing as share prices have been dropping. Continue Reading
Pandora CFO Mike Herring participated in a session at a Goldman Sachs conference, fielding questions from one of the financial company’s analysts. His talk touched on how Pandora measures its advertising, it’s latest efforts in mobile ads, and the looming CRB decision. Continue Reading
Brian Benedik, previously head of North America advertising at Spotify, has been promoted to a newly created position as Global Head of Advertising Sales. He will take charge of the company’s entire advertising sales effort across the 58 global markets in which the music service operates. Continue Reading
Geico became the first advertiser to place a buy on Expressway from Katz, the Jelli-powered programmatic platform for broadcast radio spots. The announcement from Horizon Media, which piloted the transaction, claims Geico’s campaign as the first-ever live programmatic buy for spot radio. Continue Reading