‘Welcome to the Sound Wellness Revolution’: Endel’s AI-Generated Soundscapes and the Commodification of Passive Listening

Building on the popularity of passive listening practices, functional music companies like Endel take things a step further by offering personalized soundscapes that target specific goals. Endel’s current soundscape offerings include “Focus,” “Relax,” “Move,” “Study,” and even “Intimate Connections.” What’s more, the company promises that its AI will adapt these soundscapes in real time to optimize their efficacy. But what do these soundscapes sound like, and is their science sound?

BVMI hails German-language music’s streaming popularity in 2023

German labels body BVMI has published its annual music-consumption data for 2023. It reveals the latest streaming stats from Germany.

How Spotify helped Afrobeats go global

Nigerian music industry experts say Spotify has helped Afrobeats reach a global audience and connect African talent with the world. Spotify’s on-the-ground work in Nigeria, such as hiring local staff, has contributed to the success of Afrobeats. Between 2017 and 2022, there was a 550% growth in Afrobeats streams on Spotify.

Streaming fraud detection platform Beatdapp raises $17m, inks partnership with Universal Music Group

Beatdapp plans to use the latest funding to recruit senior leaders, expand its data science and technical teams, and venture into new markets.

AI Threats Emerge In Music Publishers’ Battle With Big Tech

Universal Music Publishing Group, Concord Music Group and ABKCO have sued Anthropic, an artificial intelligence company backed by the likes of Amazon, Google and Zoom, over its use of copyrighted song lyrics.

Four Ways Unified Music Systems Help Music Copyright Holders Get Paid

Similar in concept to a CMS, which is the backbone of all web content management for businesses, a UMS is a two-sided platform that handles the entire workflow for music licensing and integration, including clearance, content management, streaming technology, and revenue tracking.

Canada’s CMRRA and SX Works Global Publisher Services strike partnership with Barbados’ COSCAP

COSCAP’s partnership agreement with CMRRA will see the latter oversee the mechanical reproduction rights of COSCAP’s members across the Canadian marketplace.

DJI's wireless mic gets audio quality bump and smart noise cancellation

The 28-g (0.9-oz) omnidirectional transmitter microphone module is now available in black or white, and benefits from cooked-in noise canceling technology and vocal clarity optimization, plus there's a windshield for recording in the breezy outdoors.

Hipgnosis offers £20m carrot to potential bidders for its assets

Hipgnosis Songs Fund has revealed how it hopes to drum up interest in the sale of its assets to potential buyers.

Bose Ultra Open Earbuds clip onto your ears and cost $300

Initially, they'll only be available via a collab with fashion brand Kith.

TRAX, a web3 music startup for ‘superfans’, raises $2.9M in decentralized funding round

This injection, completed on December 23, 2023, allows TRAX to operate its decentralized autonomous organization (DAO) guided by the holders of its $TRAX tokens. The funds will be allocated to TRAX DAO’s treasury, with token holders deciding on how they are utilized.

ClicknClear strikes catalogue deal with Warner Chappell Music

$1 billion USD of additional annual revenue is now accessible to the music industry via ClicknClear's platform following agreements with the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) and International Skating Union (ISU).

Stingray launches FAST Channels in Europe on Xiaomi TV+ with THEMA

The offering is now live and available on all Android TVs (through the Xiaomi TV+ app) in Germany, Italy, Spain, France, and the UK. Expansion to other countries is planned for next year.

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