Since its debut, the iTunes platform has been synonymous with the music industry’s adaptation to a digital world. This week, Apple has rolled out its new operating system for Mac computers, Catalina, and with it, the company marks the end of its iTunes era, reflecting the entertainment business’ shift to streaming models that offer access rather than ownership. Continue Reading
Apple made several notable announcements at its WWDC event this year. The headline-making news is that the tech company is shuttering iTunes, the platform that secured Apple’s reputation as an innovator in music. Continue Reading
We noted last week that Apple Podcasts might launch a web browser version of iTunes Podcasts (or, similarly, the Podcasts iOS app). At that time the launch seemed incomplete. Now it seems like a full-on web product … and an important milestone. Continue Reading
Apple is reportedly looking to renegotiate its deals with record labels in a move that could reduce the share of revenue it needs to pay out to those industry players. Unnamed sources told Bloomberg that the talks cover both Apple Music and iTunes. The current deals are slated to expire in June, but could be extended if new terms are not reached, according to the sources. Continue Reading
Bozoma Saint John has left her role as global head of consumer marketing at Apple Music and iTunes, marking a major departure for the streaming service. Neither Saint John nor Apple have commented on the exit or what her next move will be and whether it will still be in music at large or digital platforms more specifically. Continue Reading
Slate-owned podcast network Panoply notified us of a few developments related to its Megaphone podcast content management platform. New high-profile publishers have joined Megaphone, and a new product called Megalink offers a user-friendly subscription process that also gives producers more intelligence about listeners. Continue Reading
Apple Music announced that it is incorporating acoustic fingerprinting into the platform in an update to its technology for accessing cloud-based music libraries. The streaming service had been using traditional metadata to match songs in a local library with the related iCloud Music Library. Continue Reading
Guest columnist Mark Mulligan projects the pace of disruption as consumers fade back from purchasing music downloads. “When new formats race to the fore it is easy to make the mistake of taking an eye off the legacy formats. This is risky because they usually still account for very large portions of existing revenue.” But a “download collapse” will happen to the iTunes Music Store. Continue Reading
Apple has added new functions to iTunes for podcast publishers. Existing users will be glad of the added controls. Newcomers to Apple distribution won’t know what they are being spared. The new service makes installing a show in iTunes faster and more direct. Continue Reading
Last week we reported that Spotify’s long-awaited video content, first announced last May, would finally appear in its mobile apps. Yesterday we were pleased to find a portfolio of video programming, plus audio podcasts, in a freshly updated Android app. Podcast listening in Spotify is a good experience, possibly a game-changer. Continue Reading
The Download on Podcasts is a weekly feature sponsored by PodcastOne.
In the space of two weeks, Midroll Media was wholly acquired by the venerable media company E.W. Scripps, and PodcastOne (sponsor of this weekly column) was partially acquired by Hubbard Radio, which bought into a 30% equity stake and collaborative partnership. Personalization is the hinge between radio and podcasting.
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Sponsored by AudioBoom
The weekly update of the streaming audio industry, from RAIN News. THIS WEEK: Pandora’s request denied; iTunes podcast anniversary, Sirius XM earnings; UK streaming growth; FM chips in phones. Continue Reading