Pandora, SiriusXM Launch Pandora NOW

SiriusXM and Pandora has launched the first cross-platform listening experience since the satellite broadcaster acquired the streaming service. Leveraging Pandora’s listener data, Pandora NOW is be both a SiriusXM channel and a Pandora interactive station and playlist for its combined audience of 100 million listeners. The music played on Pandora…

iHeartMedia Files For $100M IPO As It Nears Bankruptcy Exit

iHeartMedia, the dominant player in US radio broadcasting, has filed a $100 million IPO offering of Class A shares, just as it nears exiting bankruptcy. With 855 stations and numerous digital properties, iHeartMedia estimates a monthly reach of 275 million listeners over the age of 6, outpacing Google (251 million)…

There’s Still A Case For Radio: It’s Simple, Free & Easy

Despite the ubiquity of other media entertainment options, radio has endured into the streaming age, albeit with its own share of struggles. In this piece, consultant Fred Jacobs looks at recently collected data among radio listeners surveying why they still tune in. ___________________________ Guest post by Fred Jacobs of Jacobs…

Could The King Biscuit Flower Hour Survive Today?

In this piece Fred Jacobs recalls the era of Album Oriented Rock (AOR) and, more specifically, the ‘King Biscuit Flower Hour,’ a show which presented original concert programming through until the early ’90s. So could the such programming survive today, living as we are in the age of reboots? ______________________________…

LiveXLive, iHeartMedia Pact For Live Streaming, New Content

Live music streaming service LiveXLive has announced an exclusive multi-year agreement with iHeartMedia that combines content, distribution and promotion. The newly expanded partnership gives LiveXLive access to live streaming rights to 17 iHeartRadio events in 2019, including ALTer Ego, iHeartCountry Festival, iHeartRadio Wango Tango, Daytime Stage at the iHeartRadio Music…

Neighboring Rights: What They Are, Why They’re Important

The concept of neighboring rights parallels that of performance rights. Where performance rights reference the right to perform a composition, neighboring rights reference the ability to publicly perform the sound recording. So, why are these neighboring rights so important to artists and independent labels? _____________________________ Guest post by Randi Zimmerman…

Napster Turns A Profit, Partners With Univision

The latest financial filings from Napster proves that music streaming – at least, the all paid variety – can be profitable. From 2017 to 2018, Napster moved from a net loss of $13.1 million to a net profit of $10.3 million. But parent company RealNetworks still warned that “for Napster…

‘Local Radio Freedom Act’ Is Actually Anti-Creator, Anti-Property-Rights [Richard James Burgess]

The National Association of Broadcasters and its horde of well paid lobbyists are now working to coerce congress into cosponsoring a bill dubbed the Local Radio Freedom Act, an ironic title given the bill’s far more sinister anti-creator, anti-property rights content. Here A2IM CEO Richard James Burgess explains why both…

The Art Of Marketing Music

For many listeners, music is far more than just sound, and acts as a strong emotional force. This makes music, and the inextricably linked if sometimes adversarial format of radio a uniquely powerful platform for marketing. Here Fred Jacobs looks at examples of music marketing from the beginning of the…

SiriusXM Creates Pandora Content Team For Podcasts, Playlists, More

SiriusXM has created its first Pandora “content team” focused on sharing content between the two platforms. The team will also create original content in music, sports and talk content ranging across comedy, politics, music and entertainment. The team will report to SiriusXM’s Chief Content Officer, Scott Greenstein, and includes: Alex…