Quick Hits: Bob Lefsetz on podcasts; T-Bone Burnett on streaming
Brief news items and worthy reads from around the web. TODAY: Bob Lefsetz discovers podcasts; T-Bone talks streaming and tech. Continue Reading
Study shows big split in Apple Music’s audience retention
A study by MusicWatch reviewed the success rate Apple Music has had among the company’s pool of iOS users. The study found that 77% of iOS users in the U.S. are aware of the new streaming platform, but only 11% said they are currently using Apple Music. Among people who had tried the service, 48% said they are not using it at this time. Continue Reading
Apple rebrands iTunes Music Festival with streaming integrations
Apple has rebranded its iTunes Music Festival to the Apple Music Festival, pivoting the London event to focus on its recently launched streaming service. Outside of renaming the event, Apple also announced that it will have extensive tie-ins with the new streaming platform. The festival shows will be streamed live and on demand in Apple Music. Continue Reading
Deezer looking to fundraise for a $1 billion valuation
Deezer is reportedly looking to raise enough funds to be valued at about €1 billion ($1.1 billion). The company’s reps have not made any comment on the reports. If true, and successful, Deezer would be the third dedicated streaming-audio company to reach a valuation in the billions of dollars. Continue Reading
Rumor Fact(ory): SoundCloud nearing a deal with Universal?
We’ve been hearing whispers about SoundCloud and its outlook for months, with people across the industry questioning whether the audio platform is hovering on the brink of glory or disaster. The latest hints point to positive news, as rumors circulate that it is on the cusp of agreeing to a licensing deal with longtime critic Universal Music Group. Continue Reading
Sports Illustrated joins Panoply podcast network
Slate-owned podcast group Panoply announced that Sports Illustrated is joining as a partner program provider with 11 podcasts. The program selection includes existing and new on-demand shows. The agreement marks Panoply’s first venture into sports programming. Continue Reading
Larry Rosin: Where Americans Go to Discover Music (and Where They Go to Learn What the ‘Hits’ Are)
by Larry Rosin
How do people discover music? Since 2002, radio’s role as the first source of discovery has plummeted while the Internet has risen. In this guest column, Larry Rosin explains another way to see radio’s ongoing importance as a hitmaker. Continue Reading
Midroll Media launches Howl Premium subscription podcast listening
Midroll Media, freshly in its new home as a wholly owned subsidiary of E.W. Scripps, announced today the lauch of Howl Premium, a subscription service that delivers ad-free, curated podcast listening. A Neftflix-like approach to podcast discovery? Continue Reading
Mad Genius Radio to shut down this week
Mad Genius Radio, a lean-back listening platform that allows stream customization by mixing genres and balancing how each type of music is weighted in the stream, will close on Thursday, August 20. Founder Eric Neumann contacted RAIN with the news. Continue Reading
Lucian Grainge promotes “proper balance” of freemium to subscription
In what has come to be known as the “freemium debate,” arguments focus on whether ad-supported listening to vast catalogs of music, with limited interactivity, effectively funnel users to music subscription plans that yield high-margin royalty payments to labels and artists. The CEO of UMG thinks it’s all about balance. Continue Reading
Quick Hits: Dr. Dre exclusive; the price of streaming; Spotify targets tour stops
Brief news items and worthy reads from around the web. TODAY: Apple reveals streaming numbers of Dr. Dre’s exclusive album release; Spotify helps an artist know where to plan tour stops; the price of music subscriptions is examined in the context of what people paid for music in 1999. Continue Reading
T-Mobile says “Yes” to NextRadio’s FM chip campaign
Fresh from its celebration over AT&T’s commitment to ask its phone builders to activate internal FM reception chips, Emmis-owned NextRadio campaigned for T-Mobile to do the same. Today CEO John Legere agreed. Good momentum for NextRadio, but still an uphill climb before radio benefits. Continue Reading