Google has surpassed 15 million subscribers to its paid music services. Bloomberg cited anonymous sources familiar with the tech giant who gave the figure as the paying audience for YouTube Music Premium and Google Play Music. Continue Reading
Triton Digital announced this morning an integration of its programmatic audio platform with Google’s Display & Video 360, a global cross-category campaign planning system. Triton asserts that this integration creates “the industry’s largest transparent marketplace whereby audio inventory can be transacted at scale across the globe.” Continue Reading
Google’s next smart home product appears to be a hub device. The new hardware will be called the Nest Hub Max, a smart display with a Nest camera and a 10-inch screen. The upcoming launch was leaked by accident in an update to the website for its Google Store. Continue Reading
The BBC has blocked its podcasts on platforms operated by Google. The block stretches to prevent access to BBC shows through the new Google Podcasts app, via Google Assistant, and from Google search. The move to restrict access began last week, according to Podnews. Continue Reading
Thanks to Podnews.net we learned that Google Podcasts now has a web-app presence in addition to its fuller-featured Android app. The experience is rudimentary for sure, but the experience does offer podcast playback in Google’s customary clean format. Continue Reading
Brief news items and worthy reads from around the web: Voice assistants struggle with discovery. The new journey for indies. What if Google buys UMG? Continue Reading
Google has several operating systems under its umbrella, and one of them is getting a pivot in response to the swelling interest in smart speakers. The Android Things operating system was initially designed as a simpler platform for use in Internet of Things hardware. Continue Reading
Google has discontinued the Chromecast Audio. A representative from Google confirmed that the specialized device, which streams audio from a mobile device or PC to a home speaker, will no longer be produced. However, Google will continue to provide support for Chromecast Audio owners. Continue Reading
Ad tech company AdsWizz, wholly owned by Pandora, announced new integrations with Google’s Display &Video 360 platform. The deal connects the AudioMax supply side platform, which is used to power Pandora’s programmatic buying solution, and AdWave, a global audio marketplace with more than 3 billion audio ad impressions each month worldwide, to Google’s massive footprint of buy-side users. Continue Reading
Google is continuing to release new smart speaker designs to keep pace with its top rival, Amazon. The tech giant’s latest device confirms rumors from last month with the unveiling of the Google Home Hub, a speaker with a display screen, a low price point, and an emphasis on privacy. Continue Reading
Google Assistant is getting a new look and new features. Most notably for developers, the voice platform now supports transactions for digital goods (physical goods were already supported). Continue Reading
Google has teamed with PRX to launch a podcast accelerator that will help remove barriers to entry and increase diversity among podcasters. The creator program will offer training and empowerment for underrepresented groups. Continue Reading