Two members of Congress wrote a letter to FCC Chair Tom Wheeler, advocating for activated FM chips in smartphones. RAIN founding editor Kurt Hanson analyzes why this is the best strategy for getting those chips activated. Continue Reading
The 2015 edition of The Infinite Dial was unveiled today in a webinar hosted by survey producers Edison Research and Triton Digital. In its 23rd edition, The Infinite Dial is one of the most significant and respected research projects in the streaming audio industry. The results illuminated the online radio audience, music discovery, podcasting, device ownership, and in-car listening. Continue Reading
A power-packed podcasting panel will highlight RAIN Summit West, April 12 in Las Vegas. Called On Demand Is In Demand, the panel will gather podcast personalities and podcast network executives onstage to discuss their shows, and the future of this hot industry segment. Continue Reading
WideOrbit announced this morning the launch of WO Streaming, a re-branding and integration of the Abacast Clarity product in the company’s software suite. WideOrbit acquired Abacast last June. Clarity (now WO Streaming) is Abacast’s cloud-based streaming and ad-insertion solution. Continue Reading
CDs are having a tough time of it on the sales charts, and some retailers seem to be throwing in the towel. Starbucks announced that it will no longer have discs for sale at its counters. Grocery chain Whole Foods may be considering the same move. Continue Reading
Pandora isn’t the only one getting in on the SXSW fun. NPR also is gearing up for the music facet of the event with the launch of an interactive app called The Austin 100. It features 100 songs from its recommended performers to see at the festival. Continue Reading
RealNetworks has released its 2014 financial data, and it includes a snapshot of the performance for Rhapsody. Rhapsody posted net revenue of $173.48 million in 2014 with a net loss of $21.34 million for the year ending Dec.31. Continue Reading
Guest columnist Jon Maples analyzes Rhapsody’s release of 2014 financial results. Revenue up for the on-demand music service. Losses up, too. What does it mean for the model? Continue Reading
The Download on Podcasts is a new weekly feature sponsored by PodcastOne.
Podcasting is generally known as a spoken-word audio category. But there is no technical roadblock to publishing musical podcasts. Legal restrictions are the problem — U.S. music licensing law that dates back to early days when podcasting operated differently than it does now. Everyone loses without an easier licensing framework for podcasts, but there are legal options. Continue Reading
Last July Mark Mulligan produced a study of “digital natives” — the generation which has never known a world without online connectivity and unlimited content. Another name for digital natives is Centennials, marking a demographic born in 1997 or later. A new infographic illustrates a research study about this key cohort. Continue Reading
Wearables have been the big buzz of the tech world recently, and where the tech game goes, the app developers will follow. Rich Riley, CEO of Shazam, spoke with Gizmodo at MWC 2015 and said that the company is looking to push into the world of smaller screens and wrist access. “I think you’lll see us move into wearables in 2015,” he said. “You’ll see us do something there for sure.” Continue Reading
Later this month, creatives, thought leaders, pundits, and music fans alike will converge on Austin for SXSW. Pandora will be hosting a concert series at the event. In its blog post announcing the lineup, Pandora said that it would provide live broadcasts of all the performances. It already has the dedicated SXSW station up and running. Continue Reading