This morning, Pandora rolled out Voice Mode for all users. The advanced, conversational voice interface combines voice-recognition and Natural Language Processing with Pandora’s Music Genome Project personalization technology so that users can talk conversationally with Pandora as specific or vague as they want. Pandora is calling Voice Mode "the most…
Category archives: Musician
Incubus Guitarist Michael Einziger’s Startup Mixhalo Raises $10.7M To Improve Concert Sound Quality
Live music audio startup Mixhalo has raised $10.7 million in Series A funding. The company was co-founded by Incubus guitarist Mike Einziger and his wife, violinist Ann Marie Simpson-Einziger. The new funding was led by Foundry Group, alongside Sapphire Sport, Founders Fund, Defy Partners, Cowboy Ventures, Red Light Management, Another…
‘Old Town Road’ Ties For Longest #1 In US Chart History
Lil Nas X’s "Old Town Road" is tied for the title of longest-running #1 song in US chart history. Even the 2017 smash "Despacito" remix with Luis Fonsi, Daddy Yankee and Justin Beiber could not match the 21 year old record. In 1995, Mariah Carey released her fifth album, Daydream,…
Gibson Guitar Formalizes Hands-Off IP Enforcement Approach Through Authorized Partnership Program
In the wake of a recent rash of lawsuits surrounding Gibson Guitar, the company has formalized its IP enforcement approach into something called an authorized partnership program. While a step forward for fans of the company looking to create guitars inspired by Gibson, the new program has a long ways…
Queen’s ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ Is Oldest Song with 1 Billion Views On YouTube
The official video for Queen’s 1975 single “Bohemian Rhapsody” has now passed 1 billion views on YouTube. The video is the first pre-1990s song to reach 1 billion views on YouTube. “Bohemian Rhapsody” is generally recognized as the first-ever promotional music video. To celebrate the milestone, a newly remastered HD…
TikTok Acquires AI Music Pioneer Jukedeck
TikTok parent Bytedance has acquired UK based music AI startup Jukedeck, according to multiple reports. The purchase, which could offer AI-created music to TikTok’s 500 million global users even as the social video app continues contentious re-licensing with the major labels and battles performing right organizations. The Jukedeck site is…
Piracy Is Not The Problem, Free YouTube and Spotify Are, says Music Industry Trade Group
With efforts to fight music piracy seen as largely successful, at least one music trade group executive is saying out loud what others in the industry have only dared whisper – the real problem keeping artists and labels from earning more from music isn’t stream-ripping, it is the free music…
Building A Thriving Music Ecosystem: An Interview with Bandsintown Co-founder Fabrice Sergent
“Live music is one of the last tribal experiences which connect people in unique manners, to live their passions, express their personalities and ultimately bring more happiness and understanding to the world," said Bandsintown co-founder Fabrice Sergent during a wide-ranging interview on the Music Business podcast hosted by Sam Hysell…
Secrets For Digitally Advertising Around Your Next Tour
We have reached a point where artists can run digital advertising simultaneously across Facebook, Instagram, and even YouTube with relative ease, but with your budget likely already tight, making every dollar spent on digital advertising go as far as possible is paramount. Here we look at some secrets for getting…
Etsy Acquires Musical Instrument Marketplace Reverb For $275 Million
Reverb has a sign a deal to be acquired by Etsy for $275 million. The cash deal for the new and used musical instrument marketplace is expected to be finalized in the third or early fourth quarter of the year. "Reverb will remain a standalone business," says Reverb founder and…