Music-streaming service Spotify has announced it is cutting 17 per cent of its workforce, approximately 1,500 staff, in a cost-cutting measure. Chief executive Daniel Ek said “substantial action to rightsize our costs” was needed for the Sweden-based company to meet its objectives. “I recognise this will impact a number of individuals who have made valuable […]
The French Senate is discussing a streaming music tax. The proposal, if adopted, will be made through amendments to the Finance Bill (PLF) 2024, the principle of taxing music streaming platforms. The tax contribution will fund the National Music Centre (NJC). Currently, the organisation receives government support and a ticket tax for live performances. The […]
BBC Studios has launched BBC Podcasts Premium, its exclusive Apple subscription podcast service, for listeners in 166 new countries in Africa, Asia, Europe, Middle East, Latin America and the Caribbean. BBC Podcasts Premium offers early access and ad-free listening for a range of the BBC’s most popular titles for listeners on Apple Podcasts. The international […]
FuboTV, the sports-first live TV streaming platform, and Super Hi-Fi, a specialist in AI-powered radio services for broadcast and digital media platforms, have announced the launch of 10 fully branded FAST channel radio stations on Fubo in the US. It is a radio experience created from the ground-up for an OTT service, with a TV-first […]
TV and radio audiences could see more high quality British programmes hitting screens and speakers as new laws to maximise the potential of UK broadcasters are debated in Parliament today [November 21st]. The Media Bill, which has its Second Reading in the House of Commons, will update decades-old legislation to unleash the power of British […]
The Culture, Media and Sport Committee of the UK House of Commons has published the Government response to its reports on the draft Media Bill. The Bill was introduced to Parliament after its inclusion in the King’s Speech. The Secretary of State confirmed that the Government has accepted the majority of recommendations made by the […]
Listeners with Alexa-enabled smart speakers are now able to listen to BBC Sounds on multiple Alexa devices at once. Aniruddh Dimri Head of Product, BBC Sounds, commented: We know that this is something our listeners have been wanting for a long time, and we’ve worked hard with Amazon to make it happen. If you have […]
SiriusXM has unveiled its refreshed branding built around a star icon. The North American pay-radio broadcasters states that the new logo takes inspiration from the night sky, putting a star at the centre of its iconic ‘S’ to represent Sirius, the ‘Dog Star’. The star is defined to “harken back to the brand’s origins as […]
Commenting on the inclusion of the Media Bill and the Football Governance Bill in the King’s Speech, which sets out the Government’s legislative agenda for the year ahead, Culture, Media and Sport Committee Chair Dame Caroline Dinenage MP said: “The Media Bill will be vital for ensuring our public service broadcasters can continue to thrive […]
AudioUK, the trade body for independent audio production companies, has responded to the BBC confirming that it will be moving a significant part of its speech audio production to BBC Studios by April 2024. This will mean the BBC will be competing against the independent audio production sector to make audio content, including podcasts, for […]