Apple Music is offering a new, expanded deal to Verizon customers. The two parties had previously run a six-month free trial program for members of the Verizon Unlimited plan. Now, people who are part of the Beyond Unlimited and Above Unlimited plans on Verizon will have access to an ongoing Apple Music subscription as part of their service. Continue Reading
Podtrac has released its podcast publisher rankings for December, the second month of stats with its verification program. All ten publishers on the ranker stayed the same from the previous month, with only shifts in the order. Continue Reading
Audio was the big deal at this year’s CES. Google dominated. Autonomous cars hitting a speed bump? The founder of Amplifi Media shares CES impressions. Continue Reading
Tidal is back in headlines with questions about the accuracy of its internal stream counts, but the story is gnarlier than it appears. The Norwegian Authority for Investigation of Economic and Environmental Crime (Okokrim) has reportedly launched an investigation after receiving allegations from domestic artist associations about potential loss of income due to manipulation of streaming data, according to Bloomberg Quint. Tidal appears to be involved, but is reportedly not under investigation. Continue Reading
In a new development connecting several big audio trends, Pandora has launched a Voice Mode that lets listeners control its mobile app with spoken commands. Voice Mode is powered by SoundHound’s Houndify voice AI platform, and it will begin rolling out to users today. Continue Reading
Spotify has signed a global content deal with Indian entertainment firm T-Series. Under the terms of the agreement, Spotify’s audience will be granted access to T-Series’ entire music library, which includes Bollywood soundtracks and music from emerging artists. Continue Reading
Vevo has upped JP Evangelista to the role of senior vice president of content, programming and marketing. He will spearhead the company’s strategy for official music video releases, original content creation, and other global programming efforts in this expanded role. Continue Reading
In a gleaming example of a podcast crossing over to another media category, radio/TV comedian and correspondent Mo Rocca is launching complementary products under a new Mobituaries brand. It is a podcast + book arrangement lasting through 2019 or longer. Continue Reading
Amplifi Media CEO Steve Goldstein comes back from CES with a review. of podcasting and smart speakers. More about smart speakers tomorrow from the Amplifi Media founder, plus connected cars. Continue Reading
James Cridland’s International Radio Trends is a column by the Australia-based radio futurologist. THIS WEEK: Reflecting on resolutions, an SCA exec departs, and a good use of social media for radio. Continue Reading
Westwood One is announcing the broadcast launch of The Ben Shapiro Show on over 150 radio stations across eight of the top 10 markets. This is significant because The Ben Shapiro Show is a popular conservative talk podcast that has lifted Shapiro to fame as a right-side audio authority. The advertising structure is particularly interesting. Continue Reading
Tencent is reportedly preparing to launch a new voice-activated digital assistant for the popular WeChat app. Bloomberg reported that the upcoming assistant is named Xiaowei and will help the more than a billion users of the messaging app with simple tasks. Continue Reading