Universal Music Group saw streaming grow to a larger portion of its second-quarter results. The major label’s EBITDA for the first half of 2017 rose 61.6% to €286 million over the year-ago period. Total revenue jumped 15.2% to €2.67 billion euros ($2.98 billion). Continue Reading
Spotify has two updates to its leadership ranks today. First, Zuzanna Gierlinska is the new head of programmatic for Europe. A 17-year veteran, she brings experience from work at Oracle, BlueKai, and Microsoft Advertising. The other personnel news is that Tom Calderone has departed the company. Continue Reading
Westwood One has updated its State of Podcasting 2017 report to reflect additional research on the audio format. It addressed the key takeaways in a blog post. The data point to steady, continual growth in the podcast audience. Advertisers have also been getting on the podcast bandwagon as the listener base grows. Continue Reading
Vevo has introduced a live talk show format to its music video platform. Vevo Live will deliver artist interviews in front of a studio audience in addition to interactions with online viewers. After testing over the summer, Vevo Live had its soft launch episode starring Fifth Harmony. Continue Reading
RAIN is pleased to announce the finalists in each of the five categories in the 8th Annual RAIN Internet Radio Awards, sponsored by Benztown. The prestigious RAIN Awards celebrate excellence in online audio. The annual program is judged by a panel of independent experts. Winners will be announced at RAIN Summit Austin, next Tuesday, September 5, at 3:30. Continue Reading
Radioplayer has made a new smart radio feed for connected cars. Audi/VW is the first car manufacturer to sign on to use the new Worldwide Radioplayer API platform. As a result, hybrid radios in new Audi models will use the WRAPI technology to display station logos and to switch between DAB, FM, and streaming audio. Continue Reading
Podcast company HowStuffWorks has raised $15 million in series A funding. The Raine Group, the financial institution that recently backed SoundCloud, led the round. During the next year, HowStuffWorks will continue investing in podcasts and bringing in new talent. Continue Reading
Engagement platform Second Street has acquired email database marketing company Presslaff Interactive Revenue, in a deal whose terms remain undisclosed. Continue Reading
Year-over-year listening to streams gained 14% in June, after a similar result in May, according to Triton Digital’s monthly Webcast Metrics report, released today. Webcast listening in June was mostly flat compared to the previous month, looking at Triton Digital’s top 20 streaming clients. The monthly Top 20 list contains leading pureplay and radio stream groups. Continue Reading
Pandora is getting a new data onboarding portal for brands to deliver their messages to listeners. Real-time information services company Neustar is building the self-service portal for advertisers to upload their data to Pandora at scale and help those brands to build up audiences. Continue Reading
We’re in the midst of a watershed year for streaming music, as industry reports continue to hit new milestones in revenue. That growth is likely to continue, according to a new report from Goldman Sachs. The latest analysis from the financial company projected that by 2030, the global recorded music industry will be worth $41 billion. Continue Reading
This week brings two updates from the growing Amazon entertainment and technology ecosystem. First is a new price option for its streaming music service, and second is a development for its Echo product line. Continue Reading