Pricing options are turning into one of the more interesting trends in streaming music, and now labels are also getting in on the act. Universal and Sony have collaborated on a limited access music app called NOW Music+. Continue Reading
Universal Music Group’s first-half results showed continued growth and dominance for streaming as a revenue source. Total recorded music revenue in the half was €1.83 billion ($2.07 billion) and streaming was responsible for 36% of it. Continue Reading
Universal Music UK has introduced a new brand focused on playlists and compilations. Universal Music On Demand is a response to the importance of playlists in the streaming music economy and could look to protect the role of professional curators. Continue Reading
In an important agreement that replaces music piracy with music industry revenue, Universal has inked a deal that will legally add its music to the Russian streaming music platform vKontakte. The agreement means that all of the major labels are working with the platform. Continue Reading
A new agreement for SoundCloud will expand its library available for Europe. The audio company entered a tie-up with Universal Music Publishing International and the Society of Authors, Composers and Publishers of Music (SACEM) in France. The licensing deal covers SoundCloud’s new Go subscription service and its free, ad-supported listening. Continue Reading
SFX Entertainment is working through bankruptcy proceedings, and the latest development involved selling an asset to Universal Music Group. The label bought up digital marketing agency Fame House for $1 million. Continue Reading
Universal Music Group posted its Q1 financials, which carried on the strong performance by streaming from its full-year 2015 report. Total revenue for the recorded music business edged up a fraction of a percent to €1.119 billion. Continue Reading
On the Move tracks hires, promotions, and other notable personnel changes within the online audio industry. Today’s moves include big hires for Universal Music Group and Gaana. Also a new face is joining Spotify’s Asian operations. Continue Reading
On the Move tracks hires, promotions, and other notable personnel changes within the online audio industry. Today’s moves include a new member of the C-suite for 7digital and a promotion for Universal Music Group. Continue Reading
Gracenote founder and chief strategist Ty Roberts is leaving the company he founded to join Universal Music Group as the company’s first chief technology officer. Gracenote was founded in 1998 as CDDB (Compact Disc Database) and built its reputation on its waveform-based identification of titles and other metadata of CD tracks. Continue Reading
Brief news items and worthy reads from around the web: Spotify not that into exclusives; Pandora as disruptor; MMF seeks streaming equity stance from Universal; a look at musical crowdfunding success. Continue Reading
Universal Music Group reported its 2015 financial results, which demonstrated continued growth for streaming and subscription services. The two formats doubled their share to account for 24% of the company’s total recorded music revenue. Continue Reading