TikTok now has 200 million registered users, with 120 million using the short video app every month. The milestone comes as the company is in talks with major labels and publishers to launch a music streaming service. ByteDance, the Chinese conglomerate that owns TikTok, could launch its Spotify competitor as…
Author archives: Bruce Houghton
SoundCloud Promotes Michael Weissman To President
SoundCloud has promoted Michael Weissman to President. He will report to Chief Executive Officer, Kerry Trainor. Weissman previously served as SoundCloud Chief Operating Officer. Weissman was has been a key player in SoundCloud’s strategic partnerships and acquisitions including its ad sales partnership with Pandora in the U.S., several exclusive international…
DistroKid Links With Audible Magic To Verify Music Authenticity, Launches DistroLock
DistroKid has joined a growing list of music distributors and services using Audible Magic to fight unauthorized content by verifying the authenticity of both tracks and artists before it is distributed. CD Baby and The Orchard, both of whom have been tagged by Spotify and Apple Music as preferred partners…
Red Bull Records Bulks Up A&R Team
Red Bull Records has promoted Kenny “Tick” Salcido to Senior Vice President of A&R and added Charles “CB” Burks as Director of A&R. Salcido will report to Greg Hammer, Managing Director of Red Bull Records and Charles “CB” Burks will report to Salcido. Charles served as Director of A&R at…
Spotify Exec Shane Tobin Exits For Sofar Sounds
Spotify Head of Partnerships for Content & Creator, Shane Tobin, is leaving the streamer to become Sofar Sounds VP of Partnerships and Entertainment Relations, Hypebot has confirmed. Sofar Sounds recently announced $25 million in new funding led by Battery Ventures and Union Square Venture. Three months ago, former Spotify and…
Spotify Launches Your Daily Drive Music + News Playlist
Spotify has added Your Daily Drive, a playlist that combines personalized music with news and short features. At launch, the Wall Street Journal, NPR and PRI are providing non-music content. The music mixes old and new based on the user’s previous listening habits. Your Daily Drive has launched for all…
WED. BRIEF: Spotify’s Daily Drive • TikTok India ↑120M • YouTube Notifications • Billboard Acquires Zig • More
WEDNESDAY 6.12.19
Music Business News From Around The Web
Updated continuously under the More News tab
Beatstars Has Paid Out $50 Million To Producers
BeatStars has paid out more than $50 million to the producers who license and sell their work on the marketplace, the startup announced today. The site boasts has more than 340,000 active sellers, and its tracks have been used on a number of major hits, including Lil Nas X "Old…
5 Trends That Make Gen Z The Streaming Generation
The Culture Next Trends report commissioned by Spotify and research agency Culture Co-Op looks into the empowered, multinational, cross-cultural, socially aware, and informed group of 15- to 24-year-olds dubbed Generation Z. “We’re bold, fearless, careless, creative, and intriguing,” says Addy, a study participant from North Carolina. Powering this sentiment is…
Siri To Control Spotify, Pandora, Other Streaming Apps
Apple has included Siri support for Spotify, Pandora and other third-party music and media apps in the upcoming iOS 13. A new developer tool, SiriKit for Audio, now makes it possible for iOS audio app developers to integrate Siri’s search and play feature. Apple currently puts severe limits on Siri’s…