Amazon’s Alexa available in Amazon Music app on iOS and Android

Posted on by Anna Washenko

Amazon’s Alexa voice control system can now be used to control the Amazon Music app on both Android and iOS mobile devices. This mobile integration is being rolled out in the U.S., UK, Germany, and Austria. Alexa can respond to the same range of queries as on the smart speaker of an Amazon Echo: asking for music from a certain artist, album, genre, time period, or activity will bring up songs that meet the criteria. Continue Reading →

Vox announces new editor-in-chief as it expands podcasting, TV efforts

Posted on by Anna Washenko

Vox Media is making more moves to shore up its leadership as the company moves into new directions for journalism and reporting. The media operation is working with Midroll Media on a daily news podcast, a large undertaking, slated to begin in 2018. In light of these plans, Vox has announced that Lauren Williams will be its new editor-in-chief. Continue Reading →

YouTube tweaks programs for direct support of creators: Paid channels out, sponsorship in

Posted on by Anna Washenko

YouTube has adjusted its approach for how content creators can get paid by their fans. Last week, the video platform announced that it is ending its paid channels initiative, a program that allowed channel owners to directly sell access to their videos to individual subscribers. In its place, YouTube is broadening its sponsorship model. Continue Reading →

Pandora, Sirius XM close investment. Sirius execs join board.

Posted on by Brad Hill

Pandora and Sirius XM have closed the strategic investment announced in June. Sirius XM has purchased 307-million Series A shares of P stock for a $480-million investment in the internet radio firm. At the same time, Sirius execs James E. Meyer (CEO), David J. Frear (CFO) and Gregory B. Maffei (Chairman) joined the Pandora board. Maffei is now chairman of both companies. Continue Reading →