The primary focus of Amazon’s big event in Seattle yesterday may have been on the new home technology, but the company also announced that its Alexa voice control systems will be integrated into BMWs and select models of the Mini. BMW and Amazon had already worked on an Alexa skill for the use in the car, but yesterday’s news shows a deeper and more comprehensive application of what voice control can do in a vehicle. Continue Reading
Amazon hosted a jam-packed day of announcements on Wednesday, with a heavy focus on expanding its Echo product line and bringing its Alexa voice controls to more places. Continue Reading
Amazon’s Alexa voice control system can now be used to control the Amazon Music app on both Android and iOS mobile devices. This mobile integration is being rolled out in the U.S., UK, Germany, and Austria. Alexa can respond to the same range of queries as on the smart speaker of an Amazon Echo: asking for music from a certain artist, album, genre, time period, or activity will bring up songs that meet the criteria. Continue Reading
Voice is a platform, not a device, and will eventually exist everywhere. That perspective enlarges the stakes, and deepens the urgency, for all audio publishers to get up to speed with skills and content. Continue Reading
This week brings two updates from the growing Amazon entertainment and technology ecosystem. First is a new price option for its streaming music service, and second is a development for its Echo product line. Continue Reading
Beasley Media Group has partnered with SonicAi for the creation of Amazon Echo voice skills for the entire broadcast company. Beasley has 63 radio stations, and the new Alexa voice skills will make those channels easier to access on-demand from Amazon’s smart speaker and will highlight specific station features. Continue Reading
Amazon is rolling out several new Alexa voice commands for using its music streaming platform on the Amazon Echo, according to Billboard. The additions include more than 500 activities that Amazon Music can now provide the soundtrack for through the smart home speaker device. Echo owners can also pair the activities with specific music genres such as pop, country, jazz, classic rock or classical. Continue Reading
Amazon is hiring for hundreds of positions in Australia, with a heavy focus on the music department. This has sparked speculation that the tech giant will be launching its Amazon Music streaming platform in that market in the coming months. Continue Reading
Amazon has ordered two seasons of a television adaptation of the podcast Homecoming. The Gimlet Media show is an audio drama, and is the second program from that podcast network to receive television treatment (a version of Start Up was picked up by ABC this spring). Hollywood’s recent forays into podcasting are further evidence that the audio format has entered mainstream awareness. Continue Reading
MIDiA Research has published an assessment of Amazon’s music efforts. “Based on conversations with rights holders and other industry executives we can confirm that Amazon is now the 3rd largest subscription service,” the MIDiA blog post read. “Amazon can now discard its dark horse guise and be revealed for what it is: one of the top streaming music players.” Continue Reading
Amazon announced that July 11 will be Prime Day, a promotion where the online retailer offers a swath of big discounts. For RAIN readers, the notable deals include cheaper access to some of its subscription services. Continue Reading
Brief news items and worthy reads from around the web: Apple Music shifts focus on exclusive music releases; Amazon building up multiple music strategies; Gimlet Media podcast getting a TV season. Continue Reading