Audio Ink

Slacker Radio and XAPPmedia announced that Slacker will now use XAPP’s content discovery service across its stations. XAPP's content discoveries are served between music tracks, to promote stations, songs, and artists, and other features available on Slacker.

The former WRKO Program Director, who also spent eight years with SiriusXM, has been with TuneIn since 2011 as Vice president of Programming. He becomes TuneIn's first Chief Content Officer with this promotion putting him in charge of content acquisition, content strategy, and programming management.

According to The Verge, Volvo will begin integrating Spotify into some of its cars this spring. Models XC90, S90, and the V90 will include the music app, but drivers will need to upgrade to the paid version, Spotify Premium in order to have access. That's $10.00 per month, or drivers can use their aux cord or Bluetooth to stream from a phone and save the $10.00.

The new mobile app, for the syndicated host, is being powered by Clip Interactive. The app enables listeners to hear and interact with the show and its content. Listeners can directly connect with Metaxas in the studio using the app's "call the studio" feature.

WEEI is Entercom's sports station in Boston. Last week the station launched its first custom podcast called Enough About Me, and it's off to an amazing start, proving radio listeners will follow the hosts they love no matter where and when they broadcast. As long as the content is killer, of course. And this podcast is certainly excellent.

Sonos announced on Wednesday that Apple Music is now available on Sonos systems worldwide. Users now have access to Apple Music features like For You, New, Radio, and My Music, and will also be able to stream the entire Apple Music catalog through Sonos smart speakers.

Tuesday, Spotify announced the launch of the Music Matchmaker app, to help users in media agencies find love and friendship this Valentine’s Day.

NextRadio saw "tremendous" growth in downloads, listening, viewing, and interactions in 2015. Some stats for the app, which enhances FM listening on cell phones: Overall listening more than quadrupled, rising 334 percent in 2015 compared to 2014. Average session length went up 25 percent, to 57 minutes, while average time spent listening via NextRadio went from 21 minutes to 26 minutes (compared to 13 minutes for traditional radio).

Mark Ramsey calls Hivio the first and only audio future festival and it will be held in Los Angeles on June 2 and 3, 2016. It's the 4th year for the event and Ramsey says it brings together people from radio, online radio, podcasting, talent, agencies, social media, platforms, and more.