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The Sonos One SL is a microphone-free version of its most accessible speaker
It's been about two years since Sonos released the One, its first speaker with built-in microphones for Alexa and, much later, Google Assistant support. The One was essentially an upgraded version of the Play:1, which didn't have mics. Sonos kept selling the Play:1, but its days appeared numbered with the company wasn't able to add AirPlay 2 support to the speaker when it arrived last year. Today, Sonos is officially discontinuing the Play:1 and replacing it with the One SL. That new speaker is nearly identical to the One, aside from a key difference: It has no microphones, so there's no way to use Alexa or the Google Assistant.
Apple Music for Android works with Chromecast devices in the latest beta
Good news for Apple Music users on Android: the music streaming service now works with Chromecast displays and speakers. The feature is available through the latest beta of the app.
Spotify ditches its Android homescreen widget
Spotify's latest Android update has riled some of its loyal users. The update removes the homescreen widget from Spotify's Android app. Now, to control functions like play, pause and skip, users must drag down the notification shade. While this may seem like a minor change to some, widgets are a prized Android feature, and nearly 2,000 users have petitioned the widget removal.
Chance the Rapper’s first two mixtapes hit Apple Music and Spotify
Before Chance the Rapper released his 2016 streaming-only album Coloring Book, he shared his first two mixtapes, 10day and Acid Rap, for free on SoundCloud. They've lived there since 2012 and 2013, respectively, but as of today, they're available on Apple Music, Spotify and other major streaming services, too. As Engadget's Billy Steele wrote when Drake's So Far Gone mixtape hit streaming services, these early works don't always make it to streaming platforms, so it's significant when they do.
YouTube Music will automatically download your favorite songs
YouTube Music is making it easier to keep listening to your favorite tracks even when you're away from a consistent internet connection. The app is getting a new feature called Smart Downloads that will automatically download up to 500 songs you've clicked the "like" button on. The feature will be available on Android devices for YouTube Music Premium subscribers.
Comcast is bringing Amazon Music to Xfinity X1 and Flex
Amazon Music might be coming to a TV near you soon. Comcast is bringing the music streaming service to Xfinity X1 over the next few weeks. It says it's the first time you'll be able to access Amazon Music on a TV via a pay-TV provider. You can say "Amazon Music" into the remote to access the service's library and playlists, or find it in the Apps section of the system.
Amazon may be working on a high-fidelity music streaming service
Amazon could be preparing to set itself apart from rivals like Spotify and Apple in the music space, as it's said to be working on a high-fidelity streaming platform. It might arrive later this year for around $15/month. Amazon Music Unlimited starts at $4/month, while Amazon added a free, ad-supported music service to Alexa devices last week.
Beyoncé's 'Lemonade' hits Spotify and Apple Music three years late
Three years after Beyoncé's Lemonade dropped with little warning, the album is at long last available on Spotify (at which she has taken jabs in the past), Apple Music, Deezer and other streaming services. Until now, it was only available to stream through Tidal -- the star is one of many artists who have a stake in that service -- and Pandora.
Alexa owners can listen to Amazon Music for free -- with ads
Rumors started circulating last week that Amazon was exploring a free, ad-supported tier of its streaming music service. Turns out there was something to those rumblings. Today, the commerce giant announced that Alexa device owners in the US will be able to listen to top playlists and stations on Amazon Music at no additional charge, even if they are not Amazon Prime subscribers. Of course, this news also comes on the same day that Amazon's frenemies over at Google launched ad-supported free YouTube Music streaming on Google Home smart devices.
Pandora adds SiriusXM talk shows as podcasts
Many music streaming services are looking at podcasts as a way to keep listeners increasingly plugged in and listening -- Spotify's recent purchase of Gimlet Media being just the most recent example. Pandora has had podcasts for a while as well, and today the company is announcing an expansion that comes via its new owner, SiriusXM. As of now, almost two dozen SiriusXM shows across a variety of genres will also be available to Pandora subscribers as podcasts.
Pandora Now highlights trending music as a playlist and SiriusXM station
It's been several months since SiriusXM purchased Pandora for $3.5 billion, and now we're finally getting a glimpse of how the satellite radio company plans to use its new toy. SiriusXM and Pandora announced Pandora Now, a new feature that will highlight popular and trending music for listeners on both platforms. Available starting today, Pandora Now will have a dedicated channel on SiriusXM for subscribers. Pandora Premium members will get to listen to Pandora Now as an interactive station, complete with song skippings and thumbs up and down ratings, or as a curated playlist.
SoundCloud puts music writers in charge of its new playlists
The streaming era is producing its own music stars and SoundCloud is tapping the industry's tastemakers to help you discover them. Putting its financial woes aside for a minute, the service is doubling down on playlists promoting its fresh artists across genres (hip-hop, electro) and moods (morning routines, first dates). This time it's getting a little help from music journalists including former Pitchfork editor-in-chief, Mark Richardson; electronic music critic, Philip Sherburne; hip-hop reporter, Sowmya Krishnamurthy; and Pitchfork and Rolling Stone contributor, David Turner.
Spotify is testing a cheaper Premium subscription for two people
Spotify is testing a discounted subscription for two in the hopes of curbing password sharing. Premium Duo gives you and a person you live with individual Premium accounts for €12.49 ($14) per month. There's unique perks including a Duo Mix playlist made up of tracks you both like, the ability to share your entire library of saved music, and a Duo Hub where you can manage accounts and settings. For now, the test is limited to Colombia, Chile, Denmark, Ireland and Poland, with no word on more markets. Spotify says the subscription is available to new and existing users -- and you keep all your saved Premium music and playlists when you switch.
Spotify will personalize some of its biggest playlists for users
Spotify isn't just reserving personalization for obvious playlists like Discover Weekly. The streaming giant is planning to personalize some of its other playlists based on your tastes. You won't get the exact same playlist as a friend, in other words. The company was betting that this will increase the odds of songs reaching the "right listeners," not to mention encourage longer listening sessions.
Apple Music is on Amazon Fire TV
Apple Music users in the US can now listen to their tracks on Amazon Fire TVs (or sticks). The news comes only months after Apple Music became available on Echo devices stateside. Apple's streaming service is also expected to come to Echo users in the UK in the coming weeks.
Spotify will be pre-installed on the Galaxy S10 and other new phones
Spotify and Samsung are expanding their partnership. The companies announced today that new Samsung smartphones will ship with Spotify preinstalled. For eligible owners of Samsung's latest flagship handset, the Galaxy S10, Spotify is offering six months of its premium subscription service for free.
Apple Music vs. the competition: A streaming music cheat sheet
The past few years have seen a shift from owning music to accessing as much as you want on various streaming services. Why pay $9.99 for a new album each month when you can get a firehose of content for the same price? Now Apple looks to get in on the action with its newest offering, Apple Music. They made a big splash with the introduction of the iTunes store in 2003 but here in 2015 there's a lot more competition for your listening attention. Does Apple Music have what it takes to stand out from its more established rivals? We've stacked up some of the bigger names to see which one can give you the most for your money.
Starbucks picks Spotify for radio, and baristas are the DJs
Starbucks and Spotify are teaming up to to build a music ecosystem across retail stores. By joining forces with the popular streaming service, the giant coffee chain hopes to create an experience that will benefit loyal customers, particularly those who are part of the My Starbucks Rewards program. If you're one of them, you'll have the chance to earn Stars as Currency points for subscribing to Spotify Premium, which offers access to millions of songs that can be played offline, ad-free and without any skip limitations. In addition to this, Starbucks will be curating a set of playlists for all Spotify users to enjoy, featuring tunes that have been popular at its coffeehouses in the past 20 years. The new partnership is set to kick off in the US later this fall, with Canada and the United Kingdom expected to follow suit soon thereafter.
Streaming music sales in the US beat CDs for the first time
Sorry, Taylor Swift, but streaming music isn't going anywhere. In fact, revenues from streaming services like Spotify and Rdio overtook CD sales last year -- a first for the music industry -- according to data from the RIAA. Streaming sales hit $1.87 billion last year, a 29 percent jump from 2013, while CD revenues fell 12.7 percent reaching $1.85 billion. Naturally, digital downloads still rule the music realm -- accounting for 37 percent of the total market and $2.57 billion in sales -- but it's also worth noting they dipped a bit last year. At this point, it's not a matter of if streaming music will overtake digital downloads, it's simply a matter of when. The big problem for artists, though, is that they don't make as much from streaming services as they do from downloads or CDs (that's basically Swift's entire beef). Don't be surprised if you end up paying more for your Spotify subscription at some point soon, as those services rush to ramp up their pay outs.
Daily Roundup: Tesla Model X, DARPA YouTube robots and more!
Tesla's Model X has been spotted in the wild; a new DARPA technology lets robots learn from YouTube videos; and Verizon is changing its policy on "supercookies." Get the details on these stories and more in the Daily Roundup.
