New Coalition Launched To Promote Internet Radio Fairness Act Even though Congress is unlikely to touch the proposed Internet Radio Fairness Act [IRFA] legislation until January, a group of tech trade associations, broadcast radio companies, and online streaming services today (Oct. 25) launched a new coalition aimed at lowering performance royalty fees. According to The Hill, the Internet Radio Fairness Coalition claims the current royalty rate-setting standard for Pandora and other internet radio services is outdated, and the current music royalty rules prevent other internet-based radio services from becoming established because such a large percentage of their revenue is spent on steep royalty fees for streaming songs. Instead, the coalition proposes that all digital radio services - including cable and satellite stations - be put on the same royalty rate-setting standard. "Legislation that establishes a fair royalty rate-setting standard for internet radio will drive investment in webcasting, which ultimately offers greater opportunities and more revenue for working artists," Tim Westergren, the founder of Pandora, said in a statement. "Internet radio has been shown to help decrease music piracy and increase music sales. When the digital music sector is allowed to grow and innovate, everybody wins." The IRFA was introduced last month by Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-UT) and Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR). [Full story: The Hill] |
Time Spent On Mobile Devices Is Up More Than 50% Vs. Last Year A new report from eMarketer shows that time spent on mobile devices is up more than 50% in 2012 vs. last year, even as the growth in time spent on desktop internet slows. The research indicates the amount of time on mobile devices (excluding time spent talking on the phone) will grow 51.9%, to an average 82 minutes per day in 2012, up from 54 minutes in 2011, and 34 minutes in 2010. Television remains the Number One medium, with people spending an average 278 minutes with it per day, up from 274 minutes last year. Online usage is second, growing from 167 minutes in 2011 to 173 minutes in 2012, while terrestrial radio finished in third place, even though it slipped slightly from 94 minutes per day in 2011 to 92 minutes this year. "The surge in mobile activity comes as growth rates slow for both the time people spend online with their desktop and laptop computers, and internet-connected televisions, and the dollars marketers spend on online ads," the Financial Times reported. "People now spend an average of nearly three hours a day online, and double-digit growth rates are not likely in the future. Consequently, growth in online ad spending has slowed. The U.S. online ad business is expected to increase 13.6% this year to $34.7 billion, after growing 19.6% last year. By 2016, online ad spending should increase just 1.5% to $43.4 billion." [Full story: All Access] |
RealNetworks Launches Express App For Windows 8 RealNetworks today (Oct. 25) announced the launch of the new RealPlayer Express for Windows 8 app, designed to aggregate the most popular user-generated and free content (including music videos) from the web. The new app reportedly takes an all-inclusive approach, combining multiple video sources, social interaction, searching, sharing, and saving all in one easy-to-use app. "Over 72 hours of video is posted on the internet every minute," said RealNetworks SVP Scott Uomoto."The new RealPlayer Express automatically finds the videos users care about the most - the ones from their Facebook friends, as well as the best of the best from the web - and makes it super easy for users to watch, save, and share them." And John Richards, senior director of Windows App Marketing for Microsoft Corp., added, "RealPlayer Express is a great example of an app that takes advantage of the new Windows user interface and navigation to bring a quality experience to the user. It's easy to check out the videos that people are talking about and see what's trending on the Internet at any given moment. We're pleased to be the first platform for RealPlayer Express." [Full story: Yahoo] |
RIM Picks 7Digital As Music Partner For New BlackBerry 10 Devices Research In Motion (RIM), the manufacturer of BlackBerry devices, this week reported it has selected 7digital as the official music partner for the new BB 10 smartphones. Under the agreement, the music section of BlackBerry App World will feature new releases, regional selections, and over 22 million tracks from the 7digital catalog. The news comes right on the heels of the announcement of expansion plans by 7digital, which says it is moving beyond downloads with the introduction of new digital music products and services, including scan and match technology and streaming functionality. "We've seen phenomenal growth over the last 12 months across the 7digital open platform with millions of users across the globe using our services and hundreds of partners actively using our technology," 7digital CEO Ben Drury said in a statement. "7digital technology has been integrated into millions of devices - we're in smartphones, tablets, connected Hi-Fi's, and even in cars." Such brands as Samsung and Pure also recently adopted 7digital's unlimited streaming platform, and the company says it has seen a 400% year-over-year increase in usage for its open "API" platform, with over 250 services now deployed. [Full story: Brand-E-Biz Music Week] |
Study Suggests Music Can Be More Arousing Than Partner's Touch A new study commissioned by Spotify to examine the relationship between music, romance, and seduction suggests it may be critical to have music playing in the background in order to find "success in the bedroom." In fact, 40% of respondents to the study, titled "Science Behind The Song," said background music is more likely to turn them on than the touch or feel of their partner. "It's no surprise that so many respondents claimed to find music arousing in the bedroom," said the study's author, music psychologist Daniel Mullensiefenand, who noted that men appear to be more willing to adjust their tastes in music in order to ensure greater satisfaction. In fact, Mullensiefen said music seems to activate the same pleasure centers of the brain that respond to such rewards as food, drugs, or sex. Interestingly, one out of three participants identified Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody" as a song that is "better than sex," with Kings of Leon's "Sex on Fire" next on the list, followed by Robbie Williams' "Angels." Mullensiefen describes these as songs that take unexpected turns that people respond to in highly emotional, but positive, ways. The study interviewed 2,000 people in the United Kingdom between the ages of 18 and 91, with an almost equal gender split. [Full story: CNN] |
Al Bell Presents American Soul Music ... And American Soul TV If you're into classic and contemporary Soul, R&B, Blues, Gospel, Jazz, Hip-Hop Soul, Rap Soul, and Neo-Soul, we invite you to listen to Al Bell Presents American Soul Music. Former Stax Records owner and Motown Records Group President Al Bell personally has programmed this awesome radio station online, presenting your favorites from the 1960s and '70s [and some '80s], a lot of the best new music that's being released today, and some real gems you haven't heard in a long, long time. Come to www.AlBellPresents.Com and hear it for yourself! |
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