October 2021

Get 3 months of Qobuz free with THX Onyx DAC

24/10/2021

Get 3 months of Qobuz free with THX Onyx DAC package offering plug-and-play 24-bit sound quality from a variety of listening devices. The THX Onyx is a portable USB DAC/Amplifier that provides improved audio enjoyment over wired headphones. THX Onyx, with its powerful THX AAA™ and ESS chips built-in, effortlessly handles Qobuz’s top HiRes streams at 24-bit/192 kHz, along with every other resolution the music service offers. With an extensive catalogue of exclusive HiRes releases across genres […]

COVID-19 wiped out a third of music jobs in UK

24/10/2021

COVID-19 wiped out a third of music jobs in UK according to a recent study by UK Music, an organisation that represents all sectors of the UK music industry. In its annual report, This is Music 2021, it reveals the devastating impact of COVID-19, which wiped out 69,000 jobs – one in three of the total workforce. Key findings of This is Music 2021 Employment plunged by 35% from 197,000 in 2019 to 128,000 in […]

Fans around world are listening to more music

23/10/2021

Fans around world are listening to more music according to a recent study by IFPI, representing the recording industry worldwide. Engaging with Music 2021 measured how 43,000 people across 21 countries, the largest study of its kind, engage with music. Engaging with Music 2021 report highlights Fans make their own listening choices thanks to streaming – The main reasons fans gave for their engagement with streaming were being able to choose their favourite songs, artists, and […]

Audio (excluding visual) by device share % for all adults

Smart Speakers may be forced to stream UK radio

23/10/2021

Smart Speakers may be forced to stream UK radio according to a recent report by the UK’s Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS). The report entitled Digital Radio and Audio Review concluded that new rules are needed to protect British radio output on smart speakers. It found that smart speakers such as Amazon Echo and Google Home are owned or accessed by a third of all UK adults and now play a central […]

Amazon Music brings spatial audio to Alexa Cast devices

20/10/2021

Amazon Music brings spatial audio to Alexa Cast devices as well as iOS and Android devices with their existing headphones. Originally introduced to Amazon Music subscribers in 2019, spatial audio provides an immersive, multidimensional audio experience with new releases from artists including FINNEAS, Lil Nas X, and Remi Wolf. You will also be able to hear Alicia Keys’ full catalogue in 360 Reality Audio, including classic albums like Songs in A Minor and Girl on Fire. In November, Amazon Music will exclusively release Mercury – […]

US Latin music market grew 37% in first half of 2021

18/10/2021

The US Latin music market grew 37% in first half of 2021 with streaming accounting for 96% of this market according to the RIAA, the US recording industry association. During this period revenues from Latin music in the US grew to $407 million and represents 5.8% of the total US music market. Paid music subscriptions continued to be the biggest driver of Latin music revenue growth. Revenues from paid subscriptions grew 41% to $279 million, accounting […]

Spotify releases new version of Car Thing

18/10/2021

Spotify releases new version of Car Thing which is only available in the US and has both a limited availability and a wait list. Car Thing was initially released in April this year as a smart player that fills your car with music, news, entertainment, talk, and more. Available for just the price of shipping, Spotify are now expanding this limited US release of Car Thing to users who are interested in purchasing the device. Spotify […]