Spotify unveiled a new blog that will focus on trends and concepts stemming from its various data collections. Dubbed Spotify Insights, the information will be a combination of the global listening numbers that Spotify tracks and the recommendation-based data from its subsidiary The Echo Nest. Continue Reading
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
Brief news items and worthy reads from around the web: Musicians should speak up about YouTube features; buy music and more from a tweet; Calvin Harris’ billion Spotify streams. Continue Reading
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
Brief news items and worthy reads from around the web: Blinkbox hits a billion streams; WiMP expands internationally with Tidal; Spotify CEO on musicians making money. Continue Reading
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
KKBOX, a leading Asian streaming music platform, has obtained a $104-million venture investment from GIC, which the company calls “Singapore’s sovereign wealth fund.” The company says it will use the money to develop its listening platform and expand to new markets. Continue Reading
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
Brief news and worthy reads from around the web: Spotify debuts Serendipity music map; a musician’s guide to streaming; digital music’s slow growth in Finland; how tablet market impacts music. Continue Reading
Brief news and worthy reads from around the web: play counts Spotify’s top 50; Bop.fm adds follow feature; billions of bucks expected in subscriptions. Continue Reading
Brief news items and worthy reads from around the web: Spotify’s unfilled job listings; Sinfini Music hits Australia; music business considering global release dates; two more execs join ADD. Continue Reading
Market-leading music-identification app Shazam has added Spotify to its list of music services that will play full tracks identified by Shazam. The updated app can hook into Rdio (in a longer-standing relationship), Beats Music, and Spotify. Continue Reading