Popular finance and economics radio show and podcast Marketplace has launched an Alexa experience which might represent an early foray into original smart-speaker audio content. Called Make Me Smart from MarketPlace, it contains wholly original information pieces that extend the Marketplace brand and voice into the leading smart speaker platform. Executive comment from Sitara Nieves. Continue Reading
Mood Media, an in-store media solutions specialist, announced the acquisition of focus4media. The company is the largest Mood Independent Affiliate in North America, and Mood Media has acquired all of its assets for providing sight, sound, scent, and systems solutions to brick-and-mortar storefronts. Continue Reading
Podcast listening is on the rise in Germany. A survey of more than 1,000 Germans by digital association Bitkom found that 22% of the nation is tuning in to podcasts, compared with 14% in 2016. Among ages 14-29 and ages 30-49, the rate of podcast listening is 30%. Continue Reading
Former Vevo executive Tom Connaughton left the video platform for a position at Spotify in March and he’s already rising through the ranks. Connaughton initially joined the streaming company as head of artist and label marketing for the UK. Continue Reading
This weekend officially marked the end of an era for retailer Best Buy. The company ended its sales of compact discs on July 1, a move that was first hinted at back in February. The move is a strong reaction from the retail sector in response to the steady drop in physical music sales. Continue Reading
AdvertiseCast announced an ad deal with the Taste of Taylor podcast. Host Taylor Strecker is also a radio personality and current presenter for TV Land’s Getting Younger. Under this arrangement, AdvertiseCast will be the exclusive ad sales partner for her podcast. Continue Reading
Digital distributor TuneCore has entered a partnership with Sentric Music, a British publishing rights organization, to improve its services for independent artists. Under the deal, TuneCore will use Sentric’s technology and direct global collection network for an all-in-one publishing administration service that offers members more chances to collect revenue on their work. Continue Reading
Spotify is testing a scaled-back version of its Android mobile app that cuts down on features in favor of less data use. Spotify Lite has appeared on the Google Play Store as a beta version in select markets. Continue Reading
James Cridland’s Future of Radio is a column by the Australia-based radio futurologist. THIS WEEK: New BBC Sounds app launches in the UK. Some questionable research into ad length. Much more from across the audio landscape. Continue Reading
Brief news items and worthy reads from around the web: Three years later, Tidal is still waiting for its big wave. WhoSampled Remixes Mobile App With Music Recognition Feature. Continue Reading
WAMU, the NPR station for Washington D.C., has announced a new initiative to train, support, and promote local podcasters. The Pod Shop is a three-month program that will host as many as five podcasters for twice-weekly sessions. Continue Reading
We received a note from Tom McAlevey, streaming audio innovator and contributor to RAIN’s annual new-year predictions, alerting us to an announcement scheduled for later today that Radical.FM will be shut down this weekend. The platform’s technical assets are for sale. Continue Reading