Reports are circulating today that telecom giant AT&T will discontinue the Muve Music service currently available to a portion of AT&T’s user base. AT&T is invested in its partnership with Beats Music, and owns Leap Wireless, Muve Music’s parent company. There is logic in this rumor, if it plays out. Continue Reading
Internet Radio Rewind is a weekly program bringing you a quick and concise catch-up of the week’s top stories. Click the Play button, and be ready for the coming week. This week: Sprint and Spotify tie the knot … Royalty-free radio … One music service dies a quick death (maybe) … Rdio makes news … and a 100-day report from Beats Music Continue Reading
Beats Music put out a dedicated iPad app yesterday. Newsworthy? Well, it is for users who have begged, pleaded, and demanded an iPad version of the music service app. There is consistency across Android and iOS — generally a good thing for multi-device users. Continue Reading
Beats Music CEO Ian Rogers has issued a 100-days report on the company blog. Part marketing and part affirmation of company strategy, Rogers’ key message is that the service’s content strategy — personally curated listening — works. Plus, a nifty infographic. Continue Reading
Beats Music is reportedly signing up subscribers at a slower pace than hoped. Beats is taking one costly step to streamline the sign-up process: the service now allows users to sign up within the iPhone and iPad apps. By acceding to Apple’s business structure, Beats Music appears willing to swallow a 30% reduction in some of its subscription revenue. Continue Reading
Bloomberg reports that Beats Music disclosed sign-up numbers to its private investors in February, and that the subscription-only service attracted paid users at an average of 1,000 per day for the first month. The online jukebox service launched on January 20, and enjoys the advantage of bundling with AT&T smartphone plans. Continue Reading
Money is pouring into online audio.Recently-launched Beats Music has completed a new funding round totaling at least $60-million. (The exact amount is undisclosed.) News of this investment comes in the wake of Beats competitor Spotify acquiring a $200-million line of credit, and acquiring music-data leader The Echo Nest for a reported $100-million. Continue Reading
GM automaker Chevrolet announced over the weekend that Beats Music will be included in selected 2015 model cars, via the Chevrolet AppShop. AppShop is an in-car download service that works similarly to Apple’s App Store and Google Play for Android apps. Continue Reading
Dave Allen, iconic musician and participant in the “Spotify debate,” announced in the Beats Music blog that he has accepted the position of Director, Artist & Music Industry Advocate. “I am back in the music business after 13 years,” Allen enthuses. Continue Reading
As expected, Beats Music made its TV-ad debut with a Super Bowl commercial starring Ellen DeGeneres. It hit Beats’ consistent marketing angle of delivering music that is just right for each listener. How does Spotify’s marketing contrast? Continue Reading
In a frank and concise interview with Hollywood Reporter, Spotify founder Daniel Ek volleys a series of questions about his competitors. He denigrates Beats Music, and makes a mistake about Pandora, but, more interestingly, defines Spotify in a meaningful way. Continue Reading
Frequent flyers are well acquainted with waiting on the tarmac. The aircraft is boarded, the door is closed, the plane taxis out to its takeoff position … and sits, unmoving, while passengers grow irritable. Lots of irritability among Beats users today. Our test apps have failed entirely. Continue Reading