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Dana E. Neuts

Dana Neuts is Subscription Insider's Editorial Director, covering our daily subscription news as well as member features, case studies, premium content, and reports. Dana is also a writer, editor, marketer and communications professional. Her work has appeared in AARP Bulletin, The Seattle Times, Seattle Business, 425 Business, 425 Magazine, South Sound Magazine, Northwest Travel and more. Her specialties include business writing, community news, senior issues, travel and, of course, subscriptions!

Dana E. Neuts

Spotify Premium Separates Music and Podcasts in ‘Your Library’ Refresh

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Spotify is trying to improve the user experience for subscribers by separating music from podcasts in a sleeker, cleaner, smarter update, released last week. In a June 13 post, Spotify says the reimagined library mixes form with function, making it easier for premium users to find the content they want faster. The streaming music and podcast provider also said the podcast experience is now more personalized, including everything from getting started and staying up to date on a listeners favorite podcasts.

Spotify Premium Separates Music and Podcasts in ‘Your Library’ Refresh Read More »

Axel Springer to Merge Insider Inc. and eMarketer Inc. Next Year

Business Operations, Business Strategy, Mergers and Acquisitions, News, Revenue and Sales /

Last week, German publisher Axel Springer announced it will merge its U.S. companies, Insider Inc. and eMarketer Inc., effective January 1, 2020. Insider Inc. publishes digital business news brands Business Insider and Markets Insider and general interest news brand Insider. Insider Inc.s sites have a combined audience of over 170 million unique visitors worldwide, according to Google Analytics.

Axel Springer to Merge Insider Inc. and eMarketer Inc. Next Year Read More »

Walmart to Offer Delivery Unlimited Grocery Subscription for $98 a Year

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Retail giant Walmart is upping its grocery game with two new offerings: an unlimited grocery delivery subscription service for $98 a year, or $12.95 a month, and InHome store-to-refrigerator personal delivery. Walmart has not officially announced or confirmed its unlimited grocery delivery service yet. However, TechCrunch reports that Delivery Unlimited allows Walmart grocery customers to pay an annual or monthly fee instead of a per-order grocery delivery fee, following a 15-day free trial period. Customers will order their groceries online or through the Walmart app and choose a timeframe for grocery delivery.

Walmart to Offer Delivery Unlimited Grocery Subscription for $98 a Year Read More »

Weekly Subscription News: Consolidations, Layoffs and Luxury Vehicles

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In this weeks subscription news, Microsofts Game Pass Ultimate brings together its Xbox subscriptions for a discount, magazine mogul Meredith quietly cuts 60 employees, and Mercedes-Benz expands its luxury vehicle subscription service. Also this week, Microsoft and Oracle cross-connect their cloud products, Apple reveals its plans for iTunes and new Macs, and GateHouse Media plans to consolidate 50 Massachusetts publications into 18.

Weekly Subscription News: Consolidations, Layoffs and Luxury Vehicles Read More »

illustration of the number five, representing the five subscription business topics for this column, Five-on-Friday

Five on Friday: Instant Articles, Antitrust and Unlocking Access

Business Services, Consumer Services, Entertainment and Streaming, News, Payment Processing, Regulation and Compliance, Revenue and Sales, Subscriber Acquisition, Subscriber Only, Subscription Business Marketing /

We hope youll find something interesting in this weeks Five on Friday to keep you going until the end of your workday: Facebook offers new subscription tools for publishers through Instant Articles; the House Judiciary Committee has launched an investigation into big tech for possible antitrust violations; streaming video on demand services are expected to grow by 119 million in 2019; Wired tries a new tactic to let advertisers unlock access for readers; and Foursquare tells us to skip generic messages and develop a more personal relationship with customers instead.

Five on Friday: Instant Articles, Antitrust and Unlocking Access Read More »

Slack Reports 67 Percent Increase in Total Revenue for Q1 FY2020

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Slacks fiscal year 2020 is off to a good start. For its first fiscal quarter of 2020 for the period ended April 30, 2019, global collaboration hub Slack reported total revenue of $134.8 million, a 67% increase year-over-year. The company ended the quarter with more than 95,000 paying subscribers, including 645 who generate more than $100,000 in annual recurring revenue, an 84% increase year-over-year. Launched publicly in 2014, the Slack collaboration tool has more than 10 million daily active users, in over 600,000 organizations in over 150 countries. Slacks net dollar retention rate was 138%.

Slack Reports 67 Percent Increase in Total Revenue for Q1 FY2020 Read More »

Googles Stadia Cloud-Based Gaming Service Available for Pre-Order Now

Auto-renew Subscription, Business Strategy, Consumer Services, Industry Announcements, News, Product Development, Subscriber Acquisition, Subscription Apps, Subscription Gaming /

Googles cloud-based gaming service, Stadia, is available for pre-order now with an exclusive Founders Edition. Because the platform is based in the cloud, gamers do not need to purchase a console to use Stadia, just a controller which connects to the game via Wi-Fi. Stadia users will be able to play games in 4K on their smart TVs or on laptops, desktops, and Pixel 3 and Pixel 3a phones without having to download games. They can play what they want, when they want, by purchasing their favorite games including Destiny 2: The Collection, Football Manager 2020, Assassins Creed Odyssey, Baldurs Gate III, Mortal Kombat 11 and Final Fantasy XV.

Googles Stadia Cloud-Based Gaming Service Available for Pre-Order Now Read More »

Copyright Royalty Board to Audit TuneIn for Payment of Royalty Fees

Business Operations, Business Services, Consumer Services, Entertainment and Streaming, Freemium, News, Regulation and Compliance, Subscription Apps /

Last Friday, the Copyright Royalty Board filed a notice of its intent to audit TuneIn, a streaming radio provider, for its collection and payment of royalty fees to copyright owners and performers. The audit was authorized by SoundExchange, the organization designated by the CRB to collect royalty payments and statements submitted by licensees such as TuneIn and distributing royalties to the appropriate parties.

Copyright Royalty Board to Audit TuneIn for Payment of Royalty Fees Read More »

Salesforce to Acquire Tableau in All-Stock Deal Worth $15.7B

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CRM and analytics provider Salesforce (NYSE: CRM) announced yesterday that it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire analytics platform Tableau Software (NYSE: DATA) in an all-stock transaction. Each share of Tableau Class A and B common stock will be exchanged for 1.103 shares of Salesforce common stock, in a deal worth an estimated $15.7 billion (net of cash), based on an average share price for Salesforce stock as of June 7, 2019.

Salesforce to Acquire Tableau in All-Stock Deal Worth $15.7B Read More »

Consumer Reports Receives $6M from Craigslist Founder for Digital Lab

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Last week, Consumer Reports announced that it received a $6 million donation from Craig Newmark Philanthropies to launch a Digital Lab focused on consumer rights. This donation is the largest in the history of Consumer Reports, a nonprofit advocacy membership organization. The Digital Lab will look at data privacy and security, fair market competition, transparency and consumer choice in the digital marketplace.The Lab may also help Consumer Reports put pressure on government agencies to respond more swiftly and seriously to consumer complaints about digital products and services.

Consumer Reports Receives $6M from Craigslist Founder for Digital Lab Read More »