by Jonathan P-Wright | Nov 10, 2023 | Business News, Latest |
Image credit: Ink Drop / Shutterstock.com
Spotify, the renowned music streaming platform, has recently made a significant stride in enhancing its user offerings. A mere month after the announcement of introducing a selection of audiobooks as part of its Premium subscription, the company is now extending this service to its U.S. user base for the first time.
A Progressive Leap
This expansion grants Premium subscribers 15 hours of monthly audiobook listening time, a notable rise from the initial 150,000 titles in the U.K. and Australia to a vast catalog of 200,000 titles. This move is a clear sign of Spotify’s commitment to diversifying its content and catering to the evolving preferences of its users. Spotify first ventured into the realm of audiobooks in September 2022, following its acquisition of Findaway, a digital audiobook distributor, in 2021. The company debuted with a catalog of approximately 300,000 titles for U.S. users, later extending its reach to other English-speaking markets. Canada was added to the list in early 2023.
apping into a Growing Market
Spotify has acknowledged the potential of tapping into the growing market of audiobooks. Even though audiobooks currently hold a 6% to 7% share of the broader book market, the category is witnessing a 20% year-over-year growth. This growth is majorly driven by Gen Z and millennials, with 72% of 18- to 34-year-olds indulging in audiobook listening.
Initially, accessing Spotify’s audiobooks was a somewhat complex process, primarily due to the company’s reluctance to share commissions with app stores on in-app purchases. Users had to purchase titles individually via Spotify’s website before listening to them in-app. However, the introduction of a certain number of hours in the Premium subscription has streamlined this process, enabling users to select a book and start listening with a single click. Users desiring more time can opt for an additional 10 hours by purchasing a “top-off.”
Discoverability and Content Diversity
Spotify has ensured easy discoverability of its audiobooks. They can be found on the app’s Home feed or by searching for a specific title. A curated selection of popular titles is also available for browsing in the app’s audiobook hub.
Notable titles include recent releases like Britney Spears’ “The Woman in Me” and Jesmyn Ward’s “Let Us Descend,” alongside works by renowned authors such as Janet Evanovich, John Grisham, Stephen King, Colleen Hoover, and musical artists like Willie Nelson and Dave Grohl.
The platform boasts over 70% of bestselling titles, encompassing books from the big five publishers as well as independent publishers and authors. The titles span across various genres and include classics like Emily Brontë’s “Wuthering Heights.”
Spotify’s Continued Growth
In its most recent quarter, Spotify reported a 16% year-over-year growth in paying subscribers, now totaling 226 million. Its monthly active users saw a 26% increase, reaching 574 million, surpassing the company’s forecast by 2 million. Revenue also rose by 11% year-over-year to €3.4 billion ($3.63 billion USD), aided by recent price hikes. This development heralds a promising upswing for Spotify, underlining its forward-thinking strategy and commitment to user satisfaction. The inclusion of audiobooks in its Premium subscription not only broadens its content spectrum but also positions it favorably to tap into the burgeoning audiobook market.
by Jonathan P-Wright | Nov 10, 2023 | Business News, Latest |
Image credit: Sundry Photography / Shutterstock.com
Amazon, the e-commerce giant, is altering its grocery delivery model in a bid to stay competitive in the rapidly evolving online grocery landscape. The company’s revised strategy for its grocery service, Amazon Fresh, could prove to be a significant turning point in the industry.
A Shift Towards Inclusivity
Amazon has announced changes to its grocery delivery service, Amazon Fresh, aiming to make it more competitive with rivals like Instacart, Walmart, Target-owned Shipt, and DoorDash. The most significant alteration? Customers no longer need an Amazon Prime membership to order groceries for delivery or free pickup from Amazon Fresh.
This move allows non-Prime members to avail themselves of Amazon Fresh’s services, giving the company a broader customer base. It is expected to roll out in locations across the U.S., where Amazon Fresh is offered, and soon, a similar option will be made available to Whole Foods shoppers.
Expanded Service and Delivery Options
According to the company, once this expansion phase is completed, customers in more than 3,500 U.S. cities and towns will have the option of ordering two-hour grocery delivery from either Amazon Fresh or Whole Foods Market, depending on availability.
In addition to this, Amazon shoppers can now order from local grocers and specialty shops through the Amazon website. These include stores like Bristol Farms, Cardenas Markets, Pet Food Express, Weis Markets, and Save Mart.
Pricing and Discounts
While Amazon Fresh is not a free service, even for Prime members, Amazon’s membership program will offer several discounts. For example, Fresh orders over $100 will still be free if you have a Prime membership, and won’t include a delivery fee. Meanwhile, two-hour deliveries will include a service fee of $6.95 for orders ranging from $50-$100, and $9.95 for deliveries under $50, for Prime members.
Non-members will be charged between $7.95-$13.95 depending on their basket size and the delivery window selected. Flexible orders with delivery times of up to six hours may also receive a fee reduction, while rushed orders may include additional fees.
Grocery Pickup and More
For grocery pickup with Amazon Fresh, the company offers stores in California, Illinois, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Washington, D.C., and Washington State. Some of these stores will also offer Amazon’s cashierless payment option, Just Walk Out where customers pay with a palm reader.
Both Amazon Fresh stores and Whole Foods Market locations can also be used for package pickup and return for Amazon.com orders, and those using this service in Fresh stores will receive coupons to use in-store.
The Bigger Picture: Amazon’s Grocery Market Position
This significant move of broadening Amazon’s grocery reach is indicative of how far Amazon has fallen behind in the broader online grocery market. Operating different grocery brands has led to consumer confusion — particularly in markets where both services are available with their own unique product selections.
by Enaysha Thompson | Sep 12, 2023 | Business News, Latest, Tech News |
Image Credit: Photo by Roberto Nickson on Unsplash
The autonomous driving scene in Europe is about to get shaken up. Deeproute.ai, an autonomous driving startup headquartered in Shenzhen, China, has plans to set up an operations center in Germany by 2024. The company, which has received over $350 million in funding and employs more than 500 employees worldwide, is the latest Chinese mobility upstart to establish a physical presence in Germany, home to some of the world’s largest automakers.
The move marks a significant step in the company’s global expansion strategy, which aims to collaborate with more local automakers and support OEM partners on smart driving mass production.
Unveiling The Plan
The announcement came during the International Motor Show Germany in Munich, where several Chinese mobility players marked their presence. The company has also revealed its plans to roll out its production-ready autonomous driving solution in Germany next year, with other European markets to follow.
Tech Behind The Wheel: Drive 3.0
The solution, dubbed Drive 3.0, works without HD maps and includes features like valet park assist. With a competitive hardware price of $2,000, the system is quite compelling. This affordability is largely thanks to Deeproute’s collaboration with its competitively priced Chinese lidar suppliers. Powering the system is Nvidia’s Drive Orin system-on-a-chip.
The Operations Center: A Mystery Unfolding
Details about the operations center remain sparse at this point. Deeproute has shared that it plans to hire a business development team in Germany, but the specifics about the operations center’s roles and responsibilities, as well as its geographical location, are yet to be disclosed.
Learning From History: Momenta’s Foresight
It’s worth noting that Deeproute is not the first Chinese autonomous driving company to establish a base in Germany. Suzhou-based competitor Momenta had the foresight to open an office in Stuttgart two years ago. This strategic move arguably paved the way for Momenta to foster closer relationships with its investor Mercedes-Benz, as well as other European OEMs.
Nio’s Footprint in Germany: A Case Study
Nio, another Chinese premium electric vehicle startup, already has a 1,500-sqm innovation center in Berlin and a design facility in Munich. In addition to these, it also runs a “Nio House,” a stylish members’ club and showroom in the German capital.
Deeproute’s Strategic Shift: From Robotaxi to Production-Ready Car
Like many ambitious Chinese AV startups, Deeproute initially focused on Level 4 driverless technologies to power robotaxis. However, over time, the company shifted its focus to less advanced driving solutions for auto partners, which could generate immediate cash flow. A representative from the company explained that they have been working with OEMs on mass production since last year, which prompted the shift in focus.
Deeproute’s Expanding Customer Base
As of the end of 2022, Deeproute’s services had provided over 800,000 passenger rides, most of which were executed by its robotaxis in major Chinese cities. With its impending expansion into Germany, the company hopes to grow its OEM customer base, which already includes Seres and Geely. A local business development team will be instrumental in connecting with more local automakers.
The Road Ahead: More Chinese Companies to Follow?
With Deeproute’s planned expansion, it’s possible that more Chinese robotaxi companies will consider venturing into Germany. If successful, Deeproute could potentially pave the way for other companies to follow suit, further solidifying China’s presence in the global autonomous driving landscape.
by Jonathan P-Wright | Dec 8, 2022 | Latest, Music News, New Music Alert |
Life is never about where you’re from, but what you become.
Sixteen thousand five hundred forty-three people reside in Stuart, Florida, as of 2019. The city of Stuart, Florida, is known for a lot of things, but not for Hip-Hop.
Major Recording Artist Cris Cray is driven to become a Hip-Hop Icon & open doors for future Generation Z music creators coming “Straight Outta Stuart.” The childhood of Cris Cray was influenced heavily by music, crime, drugs, economic struggles, rage, passion, & love. As a child, his parents encouraged his musical vision and inner desire to create music. Having watched the Notorious B.I.G. & 2Pac rap videos as a child, he started writing lyrics from them.
They inspired Cris Cray to dream of being an Icon of Hip-Hop due to their lyrical delivery & swag. Cris Cray’s lyrics always centered around his passion for life, self-empowerment, defining your purpose, & spiritual healing.
When Cris Cray was just 18, he experienced the harsh realities of incarceration. As a result of his imprisonment, Cris reflected on his life, mistakes, and associates and discovered a new purpose for his music.
Cris Cray is cut from a rare musical cloth in life.
For Cris Cray, crafting lyrics that uplift & motivate youth culture became his new mission. Cris Cray understood the power of God & how he was able to save himself during the darkest moments of his incarceration due to his divine intervention.
It is rare for a person in this world to be able to understand how blessings from the highest force in the universe should be interpreted. Cris Cray can extract raw emotions from his soul and convey them through music as spiritual, inspirational poems.
In 2018, Cris Cray launched his own Multimedia Company, which includes a record label, a clothing line, T.V./Film & global merchandising. Since 2018, Cris Cray has dropped multiple radio singles to critical acclaim from upper-echelon music executives.
The lead track, “Spiritual,” has become a favorite among fans on Instagram and Spotify. ‘Spiritual’ lyrics express people’s deepest desires, faith, and perspectives. ‘Spiritual’ is currently in heavy radio rotation on 99.7 DA HEAT MIAMI powered by iHeartRadio.
Cris Cray is a leading Generation Z voice in the NFT, Web3, and crypto markets. He’s currently integrating his music, message, and brand into the blockchain world.
by Jonathan P-Wright | Mar 4, 2022 | Business News, Latest |
The Rise of Celebrity-Run Tequila Brands in 2022
In recent years, the tequila market has seen growth in both the domestic Mexican one and the global international markets. Cultural symbols of Mexico, such as El Diablo and Patrón, have grown to prominence internationally, which is evident through Tequila Cuervo being sold in over 170 countries. On a smaller scale, celebrity brands provide yet another option for consumers within these markets.
Why more celebrities are starting their own tequila companies
Just like any brand, the tequila market is rising rapidly with many customers. As a result, many celebrities see this as an opportunity to start their own company and capture some of that market. Some stars want to break into the alcohol industry because it’s not saturated, and there’s money to be made.
Madonna, Justin Bieber, and Selena Gomez are just a few celebrities who have started their tequila brands. The reason is simple: the distribution system has improved considerably. Manufacturers produce much higher volumes of alcohol but ship it to brokers that then distribute it to the market, making it easier for pallet shipments to reach other regions and across borders.
What caused the rise of celebrity-run tequila brands?
Tequila sales in the US have been dropping since 1990 when they peaked at 180 million gallons, but since 2006, many celebrities have taken to marketing their brands.
The US is also behind this boom pushing back against heavy regulation and opening up new opportunities for small-scale production.
Celebrities are a massive marketing force for businesses to work their magic. Brands want celebrities to represent them because they know people will buy what the celebrity promotes, no matter what. Plus, celebrities are famous faces that can touch consumers emotionally and connect with them in ways that brands don’t have the chance to do.
The success of celebrity-run tequila companies continues to increase
Celebrities have taken on a new venture that focuses on the same core commodity and process as their previous celebrity branding ventures, tequila. As these brands begin to expand and the quality of life associated mainly with the celebrity niche marketers improve, more people will be convinced to try these brands. People need to maintain their brand by continuing to keep up their lifestyles, or else they will lose interest in what they promote.
Tequila as a drink and industry can be dated back to the 16th century. Often, artisanal tequila brands are associated with young, up-and-coming musicians or actors. Many celebrity-run brands sell their tequila line either at their concerts or online through their websites.
The latest tequila craze is nitrogen-frozen clear Agave liquor with an upscale price tag.
There seem to be no bounds on what celebrities will package under their name to make money in this current era!
Conclusions
The research found that more and more celebrity-run tequilas brands were surfacing, suggesting that consumers are becoming more aware and willing to buy products endorsed by celebrities. When purchasing a product, their trust in the celebrity may often outweigh their thoughts on the company’s authenticity. The explosive growth of the celebrity brand in the upcoming years is especially prevalent in popular social media platforms. When we first realized the numbers, the data analyst in me couldn’t help but sit back and think about the implications of this rise. The popularity of influencers is no secret, and trends usually show a spike when that person’s name is leveraged. Brands seem to be capitalizing on this.
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