Category archives: music streaming

Does Spotify’s New Playlist Consideration Feature Mean the End of Playlist Payola Companies?

I’ll be honest – Spotify’s new ‘playlist consideration’ feature looks good.  Yet, don’t expect playlist payola companies to go the way of the dodo just yet. Let’s face it – Spotify has a major payola problem. To land on most major playlists on the musi…

The Streaming Exclusive Is Back, Baby — But Is That Good for Business?

Streaming music services are storming back with a different flavor of exclusive.  But is this still damaging to the business? Last year, a surge in album release exclusives on rival platforms raised some serious concerns within the industry.  And chief…

Spotify Taps Palestinian Artist Suhel Nafar as Its Middle East Ambassador

Spotify is breaking ground in the Middle East — and tapping Suhel Nafar as its emissary. Spotify has tapped Palestinian artist and musician Suhel Nafar to help guide its aggressive expansion into the Middle East.  Currently, Nafar is Senior Editor for …

“November Rain” by Guns N’ Roses is Oldest Music Video to Reach One Billion YouTube Views

Guns N’ Roses’ “November Rain” makes YouTube history with one billion views… decades later. Guns N’ Roses’ “November Rain” came out in 1992, 13 years before YouTube launched.  The nine-minute video …

Smart Speaker Installations Will Cross 100 Million This Year Alone — and Amazon Music Can’t Wait

A new report from Canalys analytics suggests that the number of smart speakers installed in homes across the world could surpass 100 million by the end of 2018. That’s a remarkable period of growth, considering less than 50 million smart speakers…

Maroon 5 Singer Adam Levine Is Now a YouTube Executive Producer

Those who enjoyed Maroon 5’s video for “Sugar” will soon have a lot more to enjoy.  Think ‘Sugar’ + The Wedding Crashers on steroids, directed by Adam Levine. Maroon 5’s frontman, Adam Levine, will be executive produ…

Streaming Exclusives Are Back! — Thanks to Amazon Music

Back in 2016, Universal Music Group chairman Lucian Grainge banned streaming music exclusives.  But that decree only goes so far… As of Thursday (July 12th), alternative/rock group Awolnation has released the brand-new remix version of their hit …

Major Labels Are Upset That They Aren’t Getting More Songs Onto Spotify Playlists, Deutsche Bank Says

Deutsche Bank’s analysts recently reported that the top three record labels are not happy that Spotify doesn’t include enough of their songs in its curated playlists. If playlists are the new radio, then Spotify controls one of the most imp…

Introducing Portal, the ‘Middle Finger’ to YouTube’s Failed Ad Model

Have artists and content creators finally found a viable alternative to YouTube?  Portal co-founder Jonathan Swerdlin believes so. YouTube doesn’t have a great reputation with the music industry or its own content creator community. From tragically low…