Apple has quietly tightened its reporting of how many people listen to podcasts, sending shock waves through an embattled audio industry still reeling from the end of the COVID-era production bubble. The shift, Apple wrote in a blog post, was technical: The dominant podcasting platform had begun switching off automatic downloads for users who haven’t listened to five episodes of a show in the last two weeks.
Data
158 million tracks had 1,000 plays or fewer on music streaming services last year
According to Luminate’s 2023 Year-End Music Report, fully 158.6 million tracks each received 1,000 or fewer plays on audio streaming services in 2023. That number amounts to a whopping86.2% of the 184 million music tracks that Luminate measured on audio streaming services at the close of last year via ISRCs. Even more tellingly, a total of 45.6 million tracks received zero plays in 2023.
How Nikon, Sony and Canon are fighting deepfakes with new technology
The three camera giants have agreed on a global standard for digital signatures, which will make them compatible with a web-based tool called Verify. This tool, launched by an alliance of global news organizations, technology companies, and camera makers, will allow anyone to check the credentials of an image for free. Verify will display the relevant information if an image has a digital signature.
Source: How Nikon, Sony and Canon are fighting deepfakes with new technology
Netflix Takes Big Data Transparency Step, Releasing Viewing Numbers for 18,000 Titles
Netflix has taken its biggest step toward data transparency yet with the release of an exhaustive list of viewing time on the platform in the first half of 2023. Original series and movies dominate the top of the chart, but Smith said the split between original and licensed titles was more even: About 55 percent of viewing was for originals and 45 percent was for licensed shows and films.
Source: Netflix Takes Big Data Transparency Step, Releasing Viewing Numbers for 18,000 Titles
Mechanical Licensing Collective Debuts Royalty ‘Matching Network’
The Mechanical Licensing Collective has debuted a ‘Supplemental Matching Network’ through which five companies will help match royalties. The MLC says it chose these businesses – London-based Blokur, credits database Jaxsta (now part of the overarching Vinyl Group), Too Lost-partnered Pex, Session parent Salt, and SoundExchange’s SX Works – based upon the results of a “comprehensive selection process” that encompassed pilot programs.
Source: Mechanical Licensing Collective Debuts Royalty ‘Matching Network’
Music credits company Jaxsta rebrands as Vinyl Group
Australia’s sole ASX-listed music company, Jaxsta, has announced a significant transformation that includes changing its name to Vinyl Group, after the company expanded into online vinyl sales earlier this year. This rebranding effort is not merely cosmetic as the company’s constitution has been updated to reflect the new name. The ticker code on the ASX will also change from JXT to VNL.
Source: Music credits company Jaxsta rebrands as Vinyl Group
Credits Due toolkit aims to boost music metadata campaign
Credits Due is the initiative launched in 2021 by ABBA’s Björn Ulvaeus to encourage musicians to create accurate metadata for their work. Backed by the Ivors Academy and Music Rights Awareness Foundation, it has since picked up support from PROs including PPL in the UK. Now it’s getting another push with the launch of a toolkit that music organizations can use to hold events promoting the initiative to musicians.
Source: Credits Due toolkit aims to boost music metadata campaign – Music Ally
California’s privacy watchdog eyes AI rules with opt-out and access rights
California’s Privacy Protection Agency (CPPA) is preparing for its next trick: Putting guardrails on AI. The state privacy regulator, which has an important role in setting rules of the road for digital giants given how much of Big Tech (and Big AI) is headquartered on its sun-kissed soil, has today published draft regulations for how people’s data can be used for what it refers to as automated decision-making technology (ADMT*). Aka AI.
Source: California’s privacy watchdog eyes AI rules with opt-out and access rights | TechCrunch
Netflix’s Ted Sarandos Defends Not Disclosing Streaming Numbers
Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos says that “part “of the reason the streamer has long been tight-lipped about viewership data — even when it came to disclosing numbers to those creating the TV shows and films for the platform — is because of the talent’s own concerns about feeling “pretty trapped” by ratings and box office performance.
Latest DiMA report explores streaming habits of hip-hop fans
As with previous DiMA reports, there are plenty of interesting stats, albeit tuned towards the positive impact of these DSPs. 78% of hip-hop streamers listen to music daily; they’re 25% more likely to use new features on streaming services than the average listener; and 75% are ‘lean-in’ listeners who like to pick their songs and create playlists.
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Source: Latest DiMA report explores streaming habits of hip-hop fans – Music Ally