radio

NAACP calls Pandora-backed legislation unfair

Pandora Media is facing a new and politically powerful opponent in its quest to see a bill passed in Congress that cuts the royalty rates Webcasters pay artists and labels.

The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) has come out strongly against the legislation known as the Internet Radio Fairness Act, a bill that is heavily backed by Pandora.

In a letter to members of the House subcommittee on Intellectual Property, Competition and the Internet, the NAACP said if the legislation was made law it "would unfairly deprive artists and performers of fair pay for their … Read more

MIT figures out how to power tiny devices with... the ear

Devices that monitor inner ear activity could eventually be powered by the ear itself, according to research detailed in the current issue of the journal Nature Biotechnology by scientists from MIT, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary (MEEI), and the Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology (HST).

They say that for decades we have known the inner ear houses its own natural battery, but this is the first demonstration of its ability to power something external without compromising hearing.… Read more

Pioneer doubles down on MixTrax for new car stereos

LAS VEGAS--At the 2012 SEMA Show, Pioneer announced all-new lines of CD and DVD/multimedia receivers. The changes for this new generation are sweeping, encompassing nearly every product Pioneer makes; subtle, consisting mostly of moderate upgrades; and significant.

Starting with the 6.1-inch AVH-X1500DVD ($300), MixTrax compatibility comes to Pioneer's line of DVD/multimedia receivers. MixTrax, Pioneer's automated DJ and playlist software, analyzes your music library and creates custom mixes that play back while you drive. Compatibility with those mixes and control over how they're played is now baked into every Pioneer receiver with an "X&… Read more

Record from the built-in mic or external device, but that's about all

Leawo Music Recorder is an app for OS X that allows you to convert your computer into a recording machine, taking inputs from any connected devices, the built-in microphone, or even the system audio. While we liked the concept, we found some flaws in the execution.

The Leawo Music Recorder interface is clean, and it's easy to get started, with the prominent red Record button at the top. Beneath that, the left pane holds a list of your recordings, and the right pane is used for prompts and a graphic animation that shows when recording is under way. It'… Read more

iPhone 5 comes one step closer to China release

A number of hurdles must be overcome for Apple to be able to sell the iPhone 5 in China. Today, one of those barriers has been conquered and it's looking more likely that Chinese users will soon be able to get their hands on the device.

A Chinese regulatory agency named State Radio Management announced that two models of the iPhone 5 -- the A1429 and the A1442 -- have been approved to run on China's mobile networks, according to Chinese blog Sina Tech. Reportedly, the A1429 supports China Unicom's 3G network and China Mobile's 2G … Read more

Pandora, music labels gird for Web-radio battle

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Pandora and the major record labels were busy this week drawing up battle plans and forming alliances in preparation for a coming Capitol Hill fight over the royalty rates Webcasters are required to pay for music.

CNET has learned that representatives from the three largest music-recording companies, Universal Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment, and Warner Music Group, plan to meet early next week with some of the industry's top artist managers in New York to discuss strategy about how to block passage of the Internet Radio Fairness Act.

The legislation seeks to reduce the rates … Read more

Apple's proposed Web radio service is no certainty

Apple is working hard to convince the major record companies to buy into its plan for a Web radio service, but some at the labels don't like what they're hearing.

Bloomberg reported this afternoon that Apple's negotiations with the three top labels have "intensified" over an ad-support Web radio service that Apple hopes to launch early next year. But music industry executives who spoke with CNET said that some decision makers at the big record companies want Apple to sweeten the offer.

The negotiations are ongoing so the terms could change, but the sources said … Read more

Listen to and follow the World Series online

Want to watch the World Series online? Sorry. Fox Broadcasting seems to have made that impossible (or just illegal) in 2012. But have no fear: when you're away from your TV, you can still listen to or follow the MLB championship games easily with a few choice Android apps.

Listen to the World Series live on your Android device

If you've sprung for a subscription from MLB At Bat, you're already covered. Those of us on the cheap can get our World Series broadcast on our Android phones for free with the ESPN Radio Android app. ESPN … Read more

Pandora offers song and dance about music sales

Pandora's represents a golden opportunity for artists to cash in on Internet radio, co-founder Tim Westergren wrote today.

To prove his case, Westergren rolled out some heady numbers. He noted that three little-known artists are on track to make $100,000 in performance fees from Pandora. Westergren says that the Web's top radio service will pay over $10,000 each to 2,000 individual artists over the next 12 months.

Some 800 artists will receive payments of $50,000 or more. Artists such as Coldplay, Adele Wiz Khalifa, Jason Aldean will receive $1 million or more and Drake … Read more