Spotify Stations Free App Has Launched In US

Spotify’s like lean-back listening Stations app is now available in the U.S. for iOS and Android devices. The app had previously been tested only in Australia. Spotify Stations offers a minimalist approach that most closely mimics Pandora and broadcast radio. Free users get the occasional ad, while Spotify premium subscribers…

Goodbye iTunes: Apple Adds Music, TV, Podcast Apps For Mac

UPDATE: Apple is phasing out its aging iTunes software and launching standalone versions of its Music, Podcasts and TV apps for Mac users in the next macOS update. The new music app will be built on iTunes, but deliver faster service than the bloated current all-purpose iTunes app. “Customers love…

Austin Daboh Exits Spotify, Rumors Point To Apple Move

Austin Daboh, Head of Music Culture & Editorial at Spotify UK, has reportedly resigned. He joined Spotify in 2016 as Senior Editor, Shows & Editorial, from the music team at BBC Radio 1Xtra, and was promoted by the streamer last year. During his time at Spotify, Daboh launched and developed…

Victory In Europe: Two Year War Over Copyright Directive Has Begun

With the passage of new copyright legislation in Europe, many are assuming that Big Tech will finally be held accountable to the new laws, but Chris Castle takes a somewhat different view, predicting a two-year copyright war is just heating up. _____________________________ Guest post by Chris Castle of Music Technology…

Apple Set To Kill iTunes Today, New iPod Touch Unveiled

Apple is set to announce the end of iTunes today. Ironically, the company unveiled a new iPod Touch last week, the newest iteration of the hardware that made it so easy to put a whopping 1000 iTunes tracks in your pocket. During Tim Cook’s keynote at its annual Worldwide Developers…

Ramones Lyrics, Music Industry Metrics [Glenn Peoples]

As profitability returns to the recorded music industry, Glenn Peoples found some unexpected wisdom from one of the world’s greatest punk outfits, The Ramones. He draws lessons from the punk pioneers on how to navigate and understand music’s new and complex landscape ____________________________ Guest post by Glenn Peoples from Medium…

17 Million US ‘Fans’ Ripped Music Last Year, UP 13%

Despite the ongoing efforts of the RIAA and others, music piracy is far from dead. For most – and there numbers are growing – stream ripping is the piracy platform of choice. By Russ Crupnick of MusicWatch We are nearly a generation past the time when consumers bought stand-alone burners…

Want Streaming Success? Try These Int’l Trigger Cities [Chartmetorics]

As the global music economy continues to transform, it’s important to take a look at the various factors which feed into a song’s success, particularly when it comes to that song’s geographic origin. In this in-depth piece, we explore the concept of ‘trigger cities,’ and how streaming popularity often begins…

Spotify Tests Social Listening

Spotify is testng a new feature that enables users to collaborate with friends and listen to music together. Tentatively called Called Social Listening, the feature allows a users to control a friends music so everyone could listen together. Users must scan a unique code or link to listen to the…

8 Surprising Statistics Shaping The Music Industry

Brant David McLaughlin of Music Industry Insights breaks down eight music industry statistics, revealing some unexpected areas of growth, as well as. some indicators as to where the industry as a whole might be headed moving forward. ______________________________ Guest post by Brant David McLaughlin from the MidemBlog Across this last…