Amazon Music has hired former Sony exec Andre Stapleton as its new head of U.S. label relations. In addition to this new role, Amazon Music is looking for a head of digital music in Brazil. Continue Reading
Amazon and Microsoft have integrated their digital assistants, which could open up new possibilities for cross-support of features and services outside of whatever hardware brand a user owns. Plans for an integration were announced last year, and the integration is just available as a preview in the U.S. right now. Continue Reading
New market research projects that Amazon will not hold its massive lead over the smart speaker space indefinitely. Strategy Analytics’ latest report expects that Google will pose the most immediate challenge to Amazon and Echo’s dominance. Continue Reading
Pandora and T-Mobile are partnering for a limited-time streaming music subscription deal. On August 28, customers of the mobile company can sign up for a full year of free access to Pandora Plus as part of its T-Mobile Tuesdays promotions. Continue Reading
Facebook marches on with its retinue of licensing partners, this time forging an international alliance. The social media company has inked an agreement with APRA AMCOS, the combined performance and mechanical rights society serving Australia and New Zealand. Continue Reading
Podcast platform Acast has added a new voice development that hits close to home. The company, headquartered in Stockholm, has launched a new voice app for Google Assistant in Sweden. Continue Reading
Public Radio International and PRX, an audio and podcast platform, have announced a merger. The resulting public media company will support the next generations of both creatives and listeners. The joint public media entity, which does not have a new name yet, will have some financial backing from WGBH, a public media outlet in Boston. Continue Reading
Voice assistants have a steadily growing presence in smartphones and at-home entertainment. Now the technology is making a decisive move out onto the road with industry-leader Amazon. Continue Reading
Podtrac has released its monthly ranking of podcast publishers for July. Total global downloads for the ten parties on the list dipped 2% from the June 2018 figures, but increased 57% year-over-year. NPR tops the chart yet again. Continue Reading
Brief news items and worthy reads from around the web: Spotify adds songwriter and producer credits on iOS. Audio Recording Through the Ages. Continue Reading
AdsWizz has entered a partnership with Univision, a media company specializing in Hispanic-American audiences. Under the terms of the arrangement, Univision will use the AdsWizz AudioMax platform for programmatic ad buying on its Uforia radio and streaming music service. Continue Reading
RadioPublic has attracted yet another investor for its podcast listening and discovery platform. Automattic, the parent company behind blogging and web content service WordPress.com, is the latest to put resources into the venture. Continue Reading