Spotify Launches Apple Watch App; Pandora Debuts Podcast Genome Project

Spotify officially launches its Apple Watch app — techcrunch.com

Spotify officially launches its Apple Watch app — techcrunch.com

Spotify has launched its long-awaited Apple Watch app. The app allows users to control the playback of Spotify’s streaming service from their Watch’s screen, as well as connect to devices like their computer, Wi-Fi speaker and more through Spotify Connect, toggle on Shuffle, access music playlists and other recently played items, favorite tracks with a heart, and more.

Podcast Choices Got Your Head Spinning? Pandora Launches ‘Genome Project’ for a Crowded Medium — www.billboard.com 
 Pandora is aiming to change all that with its ambitious new Podcast Genome Project, a system of recommendations inspired by their signature Music Genome analysis method, which was initially announced by CEO Roger Lynch in January and launches in beta today.

NetEase helps China’s indie artists out-sell Taylor Swift on its interactive music-streaming platform — www.scmp.com

NetEase has been investing heavily to support the budding careers of independent musicians with the aim of generating a fresh supply of high-quality content.

Stashimi now has more than 100 artists using its messaging bots — musically.com 
 Startup Stashimi is one of the companies launching messaging bots for musicians and brands, and it seems to have some traction.

Spotify launches in the Middle East and North Africa — musically.com 
 Rumours about Spotify’s impending debut in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) have been bubbling. Today, it launched in 13 countries in the region.

Rare, largely unseen Prince music videos now streaming — www.twincities.com

Prince fans are in for a treat every Friday through Christmas.

Spotify’s Uphill Battle Against Royalty Costs — www.statista.com 
 This chart shows the gross margin of Spotify and Netflix.

Amazon Music Adds Mexico As Anderson.Paak, Future Kick Off Major US, UK Marketing Campaign — www.hypebot.com

Amazon Music, has begun its first ever marketing campaign in the US, UK and Germany along with a platform launch today in Mexico.

Spotify Hires Conde Nast’s Sahar Elhabashi as VP of Content — variety.com 
 Sahar Elhabashi is joining Spotify, where she will work with Dawn Ostroff, her former boss at Condé Nast Entertainment.

Pandora Names Jason Roth Head of Product & Partnership Communications — variety.com 
 Pandora has named veteran music/technology public relations executive Jason Roth as its new Head of Product and Partnership Communications.

Hulu may expand globally — good news for Spotify? — musically.com 
 Disney will soon own a 60% stake in video-streaming service Hulu, thanks to its buyout of 21st Century Fox. That will give the company a bigger influence over Hulu’s strategy, including global expansion — which could have an impact for music-streaming service Spotify.

Good sports: what Fortnite and esports could mean for the music industry — musically.com 
 At Music Ally’s Sandbox Summit London conference last month, I gave a talk about what Fortnite and esports could mean for music marketing.