CRB royalty rates arrive today; here is the prep sheet
The Copyright Royalty Board (CRB) will finalize the Webcaster IV proceeding today. Here’s the background, the players, and what’s at stake.
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Pandora
Broadcast group publishes attack on Pandora; we question the author, SCBA prez Thom Callahan
“Reports of my demise are greatly exaggerated,” Mark Twain wrote. Pandora execs might be thinking the same thing after reading a Special Report released by Thom Callahan, President of the Southern California Broadcasters Association. We questioned Callahan about the report’s premise, assertions, and predictions. He held steady during a challenging interview, and the conversation extended to programmatic advertising, connected cars, and how radio sells ads. Continue Reading
Pandora arrives on Apple TV
Pandora has launched a new native app for the Apple TV. The program brings the core Pandora features of managing, creating, and listening to radio stations to the Apple hardware. The Apple TV poses an interesting challenge in the living room entertainment space. Continue Reading
Serial’s back with season two
Cue the listening binges: Serial is back on the digital airwaves. The first episode of season two for the popular investigative podcast launched today on its website, iTunes, and Pandora. Continue Reading
Pandora inks direct deal with publisher SONGS
Pandora has added another direct licensing deal to its arsenal, this time with independent outfit SONGS Music Publishing. Details of the multi-year agreement were not disclosed. “Now is the time to move past the over-regulation of songwriter rights and towards a market-based approach to streaming music,” SONGS’ Matt Pincus said. Continue Reading
Pandora will get its $300-million next week as stock nears YTD low and CRB decision looms
Pandora issued a follow-up press release today, after announcing yesterday that the company is issuing a $300-million debt offering to institutional investors. Pandora stock closed down 11.5% yesterday, and has inched downward another 2% this morning, nearing the year-to-date low of $11.51 per share. Continue Reading
Internet Radio Rewind #67: Adele makes history; Pandora raises cash; Songza bids farewell; more
A weekly podcast from RAIN News
Sponsored by AudioBoom
The weekly update of the streaming audio industry, from RAIN News. THIS WEEK: Adele’s history-making album; Pandora raises $300-million for ambitious 2016; Songza nears the end; Acast raids WNYC in U.S. launch. Continue Reading
Pandora offers $300-million debt as it positions for a huge bet in 2016
Pandora has announced a private placement of $300-million worth of convertible notes — essentially, the company is raising cash. Wall Street is sending P stock tumbling down a steep hill. Pandora is gearing up for a monumental redefinition of its business in 2016. Continue Reading
Dave Grimaldi to join IAB from Pandora to head DC lobbying efforts
Dave Grimaldi, currently Director of Public Affairs at Pandora, has been appointed Executive Vice President of Public Policy for the IAB, and head of that organization’s Washington, D.C. office. Grimaldi joined Pandora in April, 2014, and was on board through Pandora’s participation in the “Webcaster IV” process which ends this month. Continue Reading
The Download on Podcasts: Podcasting leans back into streaming radio
sponsored by PodcastOne
Two recent innovations, from Pandora and Live365, indicate that podcasting is entering the realm of lean-back Internet radio. If it becomes a trend, podcasts could be woven more tightly into the streaming audio ecosystem. Continue Reading
Adweek’s hottest music apps of 2015 mirror last year’s picks
The end-of-the-year roundups continue apace, this time with Adweek’s Hot List detailing the top 24 digital brands, startups, and games from 2015. The list included nods for the ‘hottest music app,’ and if you can remember back to last year’s choices, you’ll be seeing very familiar names. Continue Reading
The Adele referendum
The results are in! Sound like election night? In a sense, the release of Adele’s new album, 25, served as a referendum in many people’s minds. The issues? Magnitude of stardom, and distribution strategy. Some numbers, a bit of conjecture, and a conclusion. Continue Reading