Quick Hits: The Wild West. Spotify as MySpace.
Brief news items and worthy reads from around the web: Music’s wild west frontier in distribution. Spotify, the new…MySpace? Continue Reading
YouTube has 1.5 billion global monthly users
Today marks the start of VidCon, the online video convention that brings together creators, industry representations, and fans of the still-exploding media format. The event is usually a chance for YouTube to announce new features or new statistics, and this year it has done both. Continue Reading
Rumor Fact(ory): Tesla to make its own streaming service
Car manufacturer Tesla is reportedly considering the creation of its own streaming music service. Recode picked up the story, reporting that Tesla has had talks with the three major labels about licensing for a proprietary music platform. Sources have not disclosed the extent of Tesla’s music ambitions, but most likely a music service would be available exclusively in the manufacturers’ electric cars. Continue Reading
Apple Music loses an artist relations member
Dave Allen has stepped down from Apple Music’s artist relations team. The Gang of Four bassist spent three years with the streaming service, and was one of the artists involved at launch. He was with Beats Music before the company’s acquisition by Apple. Continue Reading
Triton Digital launches Yield-Op, a new supply-side platform optimized for audio
In an initiative to streamline the market for digital audio advertising, Triton Digital is introducing a new platform for audio publishers, called Yield-Op, which the company says is built from the ground up for audio. Optimization, cutomization, and reach are three values Triton is evangelizing with the new software. Continue Reading
RAIN Podcast Business Summit delivers key metrics, personalities, knowledge, and networking
The RAIN Podcast Business Summit, a breakthrough event that uniquely presented the business side of podcasting and its opportunity to advertisers, was a standout success to hundreds of attendees representing New York ad agencies, podcasting networks, advertiser brands, technology companies, and many others. Continue Reading
Edison/NPR study discovers that smart speakers are essential audio devices
The Smart Audio Report from NPR and Edison Research, which had its world release at yesterday’s RAIN Podcast Business Summit, revealed that the voice-activated devices (e.g. Amazon Echo/Dot and Google Home) encourage audio listening, music service subscription, and have become extremely valued additions to their owners’ lifestyles in sometimes surprising ways. Continue Reading
TuneIn sues Pandora over ad sales deal
TuneIn has filed a lawsuit against Pandora, alleging a breach of contract surrounding an ad deal, according to a report by Billboard. The radio streaming platform claims that did not meet ad sales goals or deliver payments during Q1 2017. Continue Reading
Midroll Media brings on three new hires
Podcast company Midroll Media announced three new additions to its team. “As we grow Midroll’s role as the leader in all parts of the podcast ecosystem — including content creation, monetization and distribution — we continue to build out a world-class leadership team,” Midroll CEO Erik Diehn said. Continue Reading
Apple seeking lower revenue share payouts to labels
Apple is reportedly looking to renegotiate its deals with record labels in a move that could reduce the share of revenue it needs to pay out to those industry players. Unnamed sources told Bloomberg that the talks cover both Apple Music and iTunes. The current deals are slated to expire in June, but could be extended if new terms are not reached, according to the sources. Continue Reading
Two long-time directors depart Spotify’s board; four more join
Spotify has shaken up it board of directors. Two long-time members — Sean Parker and Klaus Hommels — have exited the board. With those two departures, four new directors were added. The individuals joining the board are the same ones first rumored to be new directors in May. Continue Reading
Pandora launches Sounds like Pride campaign
Pandora has announced a special campaign in honor of Pride month, with a station recognizing the many contributions of the LGTBQ+ community to music. The Sounds like Pride station highlights those performers. Many performers have also used Pandora’s Artist Audio Messages to contribute statements calling for tolerance, human rights, and inclusion. Continue Reading