U2 to Stream Concert on YouTube

Streaming music gets a foothold among listeners

(NEWSER) - The wide world of online music now offers a range of ways to stream your tunes, from pay sites to musical social-networking services. It’s hard to tell which will stick around, but experts say they may help save the music industry, CNN reports. A sampling:

• Napster: It’s back and it’s legal, and for $5 a month, you can stream 7 million songs and download five.

Reed Hastings meeting with cable company execs about proposal

(NEWSER) - In its latest bid to stay ahead of the competition, Netflix is looking to team up with cable companies. The proposal? Add its online streaming services as another "on-demand" option that cable subscribers could access through their set-top boxes. CEO Reed Hastings has quietly met with senior executives at some of the country's biggest cable companies recently, sources tell Reuters , and at least one company could experiment with a partnership by the end of this year, says one source. (Other industry watchers, however, indicated the plan was a long way from realization.) More»

Music gadget expected to mark start of new focus on hardware

(NEWSER) - Google has asked the Federal Communications Commission for permission to start testing an "entertainment device," sparking speculation about what is expected to be the search giant's biggest step into creating hardware. The device, which will be tested in employees' homes this summer, is an entertainment system that can stream music wirelessly through homes, an insider tells the Wall Street Journal . It will have Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, and will "connect to other home electronics equipment," according to Google's FCC application. More»

Instant Video selections streamed for free by Prime members

(NEWSER) - Another blow to Netflix ? Amazon.com announced today that it will increase the number of Instant Video selections that Amazon Prime members can stream for free. The new partnership with Viacom will add TV episodes from MTV, Comedy Central, Nickelodeon, TV Land, Spike, VH1, BET, and more networks, bringing the total number of Prime Instant Videos to more than 15,000. In short, it means that Amazon Prime members will soon be able to watch past episodes of Jersey Shore for free. More»

New streaming venture announced, but few details given

(NEWSER) - Watch out, Netflix: Verizon and Redbox are teaming up. Verizon announced today it will enter the video streaming business in a joint venture with Coinstar, the parent company of Redbox DVD rental kiosks, Mashable reports. Verizon said the new service, which will also include access to DVD and Blu-ray discs, will be available across the nation later this year. Anyone in the US, even those who are not current Verizon subscribers, will be able to use the subscription service. More»