Buzz, accusations, and legal jargon are swirling around the echosphere today in the wake of Spotify’s removal of the Victory Records song catalog from its library. Music licensing and royalty payouts in interactive streaming services are complex, sometimes compared to an impenetrable black box. Is there a solution? Continue Reading
Spotify has reportedly started laying the groundwork for a push into Japan and Indonesia. The company currently has a small team on the ground in Japan and is currently looking to hire a financial controller in that market. Spotify is also hiring a music editor in Indonesia, although it will be based out of its headquarters in Singapore. Continue Reading
Spotify’s UK subsidiary published financial results for 2014. Both subscription revenue and advertising revenue grew in 2014 from the previous year, in Spotify UK. The disparity in growth rates is interesting. Continue Reading
Spotify announced today that it has partnered with Katz Radio Group for sales representation. Katz will exclusively represent Spotify’s geo-targeted audio inventory throughout the U.S., starting immediately. Continue Reading
Spotify’s Discover Weekly playlists have quickly become a huge success with the streaming company’s listener base. The feature has had 1 billion tracks streamed in the 10 weeks of its existence. The tool is one of a handful of self-proclaimed recommendation engines that has really knocked it out of the park, and the reason is a very savvy use of listener data. Continue Reading
Spotify announced a partnership with the Amsterdam Dance Event music festival. The two parties are providing an integrated service to attendees that analyzes their past streaming listening and helps them choose acts to see at ADE. Within Spotify’s service, it has created an official ADE 2015 playlist that will be updated daily with new tracks. Continue Reading
Spotify has launched its Android app on MirrorLink, which brings the streaming platform to more connected cars. It was already available on CarPlay from Apple and Android Auto from Google, in addition to in-house systems from BMW and Ford. Continue Reading
Matt Baxter was installed as Global Head of Original Content at Spotify in July. This morning he was interviewed at MIPCOM (a trade show for communications industries, slanted to television), and revealed Spotify’s intent to create original video content. Continue Reading
Brief news items and worthy reads from around the web: How does Discovery Weekly work?; a conversation with a Spotify Asia exec; weird and wonderful genre names. Continue Reading
On the Move tracks hires, promotions, and other notable personnel changes within the online audio industry. Today’s moves include a new CEO at Cumulus Media and a new COO for 7digital. We also cover a promotion within the digital ranks at Universal and a new hire for Spotify’s Australia/New Zealand team. Continue Reading
Brief news items and worthy reads from around the web: Streaming execs chat at Advertising Week; will Aurous be legit or not?; IAB joining the fight against ad-blockers. Continue Reading
With yesterday’s release of music industry revenue for the first half of 2015, a definitive picture emerges of two things: How streaming has eclipsed CD sales over three years, and how ad-supported streaming delivers more revenue than music subscriptions. Continue Reading