Rdio’s international outlook in Canada and Brazil

Two recent articles reviewed the international scope for Rdio. The service is available in 60 countries, but its top markets outside of the U.S. are Canada and Brazil. Mediacaster reviewed Rdio’s business activities in Canada, the service’s second-largest market. While smartphone use in third-largest market Brazil is on the rise, ZDNet cautioned that the country does struggle with the quality of its mobile Internet services. Continue Reading

Spotify to test optional ‘takeover’ video ads on its free tier

Spotify is getting visual with its latest advertising approach. The streaming service said it will test a new approach on its free version that offers listeners 30 minutes of uninterrupted listening in exchange for watching a video ad. If listeners choose to skip the video, they’ll continue to hear their regular ad-supported tunes. Continue Reading

This Is My Jam leverages YouTube, SoundCloud, and Spotify for sleek sharing and curation

Most online music platforms have such a large volume of songs and listeners that they unintentionally make sharing difficult. With the days of the mixtape long gone, there are few ways for people to share that song stuck on loop in their head with their friends. Enter This is My Jam, a polished resharing and curating service. Continue Reading

Why Digital Music Services Always Steal Each Other’s Customers (Mark Mulligan)

by Mark Mulligan

Mark Mulligan is one of the industry’s most astute observers and analysts. This guest column examines customer sharing, revenue cannibalization, and the next five years in music — “one of the music industry’s most dramatic periods of change. The last ten years might have been disruptive but the change that is coming will be even more transformative.” Continue Reading

Spotify partners with BandPage to give artists merchandise hubs

Spotify announced a new partnership with BandPage that will integrate a digital storefront to artists’ presence on the streaming platform. Musicians will have an option to sell their BandPage merchandise and show tickets, or promote unique fan experiences, from their artist pages on Spotify. The new feature is free for the artists to use, and could be a way for them to turn the streaming service into a hub for fan engagement and revenue. Continue Reading