Taylor Swift right to shake off Spotify: Why music streaming services are bad economics January 8, 2015 Did Taylor Swift make the right call when she withdrew her music from Spotify? A new report on the profitability of the music streaming industry suggests she was. Strategy Analytics, a technology advisory and consultancy firm, argues that despite the music streaming industry’s rapid growth, it will continue to struggle to provide adequate royalty [...]
Spotify backer sets up new fund December 15, 2014 NORDICS-focused venture capital firm Northzone today closed its latest Fund VII reaching a hard cap of €250m (£199m), as it looked to new opportunities in Europe and the US. Oversubscribed, the fund represents one of the largest early-stage venture funds raised globally in 2014. In recent years, Northzone has set up offices in London and [...]
Dear Uber drivers: As its Spotify tie-up launches, you’re going to hear way more Kate Bush, One Direction – and Kirsty MacColl November 21, 2014 The tie-up between Spotify and Uber launches today, meaning anyone who gets in an Uber cab can listen to their own tunes. The system works using a feature inside Uber's app which connects to the driver's phone. As long as it is plugged into the sound system, it allows passengers to determine what plays over [...]
Apple to take on Spotify by integrating Beats streaming service into every iPhone and iPad November 19, 2014 Apple will start integrating the Beats music subscription service into every iOS device early next year, as the battle for music streaming supremacy intensifies. The paid-for Beats service will be introduced to iPads and iPhones in an iOS update that could take place as early as next March, according to the Financial Times. [...]
Uber’s in-car Spotify tie-up launches in London on Friday November 17, 2014 In a move which will surely prompt a rash of one-star ratings from irate Uber drivers tired of being subjected to death metal, the private hire cab app has announced it's teamed up with Spotify to allow passengers to stream their playlists through their cabs' soundsystems. In a joint press conference today, founders of the [...]
The rise of Spotify (minus Taylor Swift): From Radiohead’s “dying corpse” dig to 200m weekly streams November 12, 2014 The irrepressible rise of Spotify, the streaming service that Taylor Swift left last week OCT 2008 Spotify goes live Spotify is founded in 2006 by CEO Daniel Ek, but it isn’t until two years later that it’s launched for public access. The same year, the Swedish company announces that it has negotiated licensing [...]
Taylor Swift’s withdrawal signals trouble for Spotify – Brand Index November 11, 2014 To the dismay of fans the world over, in the last week Taylor Swift decided to remove all her songs and albums from the music streaming service Spotify. But what does this say about the future of the service, the way we engage with music, and the industry itself? The numbers leave us in no [...]
Taylor Swift withdraws music from Spotify November 3, 2014 TAYLOR Swift’s entire catalogue of music was removed from streaming service Spotify yesterday. The singer requested her work be removed following a dispute over her latest album, the Swedish company said. Swift had withheld the album from Spotify, a move which helped maximise full-price CD and iTunes download sales.
Taylor Swift pulls all her music off Spotify November 3, 2014 More in-fighting between artists and Spotify: Taylor Swift, the singer as much known for reaping revenge on a series of exes as hits such as Love Story and (ironically) Stay, Stay, Stay, has turned her wrathful eye to the music streaming service, pulling all her music off it. Spotify announced her departure on its blog [...]
Spotify serendipity: music streaming service rolls out map showing the social side to music August 21, 2014 Spotify has rolled out a new feature: a map that shows two people on the planet listening to the same tune, at the same time. As you watch, the map dances from place to place, offering audio glimpses of the tracks the pairs are listening to. You can click to decide to continue listening at [...]