Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) gave a speech about business competition with some pointed remarks about three of the top tech companies in the U.S. She criticized Google, Apple, and Amazon for using their size and clout to limit inroads from other companies, particularly smaller upstarts. Continue Reading
In recent months, we’ve seen some hints and rumors that Amazon might spin out its Prime Music streaming platform from under the umbrella of its broader Prime subscription. Unnamed sources told Reuters that Amazon is preparing to unveil a separate streaming music service in late summer or early fall. Continue Reading
Google recently threw its hat into the ring of voice-activated personal assistants, and the latest industry speculation finds Apple working on its own entry. Apple is reportedly developing an at-home speaker assistant powered by Siri. Continue Reading
The big tech companies usually wind up butting heads in their overlapping product categories. Amazon got out of the game first with the Echo, its portable, voice-activated speaker system. Now Google has joined the race with last week’s announcement of a rival product: Google Home. Continue Reading
Brief news items and worthy reads from around the web: Questioning the conglomerate approach; how voice controls are influencing music at home; album art endures. Continue Reading
Amazon’s video plans saw a new development with the launch of Video Direct, a new video posting platform that offers professional creators options for distribution and payment. The service is rolling out in the U.S., UK, Germany, Austria, and Japan. This move does target YouTube, but only the tier of its members who are using video as a core business. Continue Reading
Amazon announced new month-by-month options for how its users can access Prime membership perks and its streaming video features. The entire Prime service can still be bought as an annual subscription for $99, but now is also available for $10.99 a month. That alone is a marked shift in Amazon’s model, but it has also made the Prime Video streaming service available as a standalone for $8.99 a month. Continue Reading
Audible announces a new audio initiative, and guest columnist Steve Goldstein notes that Audible’s scaling of podcast content will have a profound effect on the larger podcast industry in multiple ways. Continue Reading
Amazon has created a new Echo product that’s smaller, cheaper, and designed to amp up your music options. The Amazon Echo Dot has the same type of features as the company’s original voice assistant: control smart devices, check the weather, fetch information, and play music. But it’s intended to make the music component sound a little better than the first Echo. Continue Reading
The Amazon Echo has added support for Spotify. However, the voice-controlled speaker will only work for subscribers of the streaming service. The Echo is one of many new challengers in the field of WiFi speakers and connected home audio, where Sonos has been the leader for some time. Continue Reading
We covered the rumors out of the New York Post that claimed Amazon might be gearing up Prime Music to be a bigger threat to the rest of the streaming industry. Even though those speculations have not been confirmed, we are seeing signs that Amazon does have new programming efforts underway through Audible, the audiobook company it purchased in 2008. Continue Reading
The New York Post is reporting that Amazon may have a vision for Prime Music far beyond the casual listenership it has attracted so far. The Post’s Claire Atkinson cited sources who said Amazon has hosted meetings about licensing music to create an on-demand music service. It is possible, likely in fact, that Amazon does have a grander plan for its music platform. But what exactly will they be? Continue Reading