Monday August 4th,
Thoughts from the CEO:
Another progressive week in Music Tech Culture. The Apple and Beats deal is now officially completed, finalizing the marking of a new era for our friends at both companies. Soundcloud making power moves and continuing to be one of the most interesting companies for discovering new music and a potential major acquisition in the space. We’ve been buzzing about what BitTorrent has been doing with their BitTorrent Bundle. It’s a great way to showcase an artist’s new mixtape or promo release.
Lot of happs. And a lot more to come as the last month of summer heats up and everyone prepares for mad dash to the end of the year & all the excitement that comes with it. - Jesse K (@JesseKay)
STREAMING & SUBSCRIPTION
Stephen Bryan of Warner Music Group heads to Soundcloud - right after label equity deal via Billboard
Stephen Bryan has been with WMG for 17 years
Bryan has negotiated deals with Spotify, YouTube, other tech platforms in past
Bryan: "its inevitable that global listening will move to a streaming model"
CULTURE
Diplo talks Skrillex collab in Reddit AMA via Dancing Astronaut
Announces upcoming mixtape for JackU project w/ Skrillex
Discusses future plans for Major Lazer
Hints that Mad Decent could sign a K-Pop artist
TECH
Snapchat could be worth $10 Billion via GigaOM
In financing talks with Chinese company Alibaba
Investing round could bring Snapchat's valuation to $10B
Would put it on the same growth pace as Facebook
Apple - Beats deal now finalized via Billboard
Both companies made official announcement online
Confirmed by EU early last week
Large percent of Beats staff will soon be let go
Kendrick Lamar to screen "m.A.A.d." short film via XXL
Based on his album "good kid, m.A.A.d. city"
Will debut at Sundance's NEXT Fest
Directed by award winning director Kahlil Joseph
HTC to make Windows phone via Gizmodo
Will be modeled after popular M8 phone; called W8
Could be released as early as end-August
Comes at interesting point in Microsoft's company development
NPR to release curated news radio app via Tech Crunch
Smartphone app will be called NPR One
Curated to users specific interests
Can also specify region-related content
Lorde to curate new "Hunger Games" soundtrack via Billboard
Will handpick each artist featured on soundtrack
Lorde will also be creating the lead single
Director was "struck by how she understood...what we were trying to accomplish
Indiegogo makes iPhone app via Venture Beat
Allows users to discover ventures and invest on mobile
Competes with Kickstarter's mobile apps
Resulting from mobile traffic doubling in last year