TikTok turns up on the volume on its mus...

LGND has raised $9 million to convert geographic data into vector embeddings to power AI models that understand the Earth. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices 

Mastodon, the open source, decentralized social network offering an alternative to Elon Musk’s X and Meta’s Threads, is rolling out a number of updates with Tuesday’s release of Mastodon 4.4. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices 

The independent online bookseller Bookshop.org took a swipe at Amazon to celebrate the start of Prime Day, Amazon’s annual sale (which, despite its name, is actually four days this year). Like many other retailers, Bookshop.org holds a sale to coincide with Amazon’s big event — i ... Show More

On TikTok, pop stars — Halsey, FKA Twigs, and Florence Welch among them — have been complaining a lot lately about their labels forcing them to make TikToks. As people spent the early part of the pandemic staring at their phones instead of flocking to concerts, the short-form-vid ... Show More

Snapchat launches new AR and ML tools for brands and advertisers; TikTok expands its premium ad slots despite potential US ban; Spotify quietly moves lyrics behind a paywall Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices 

TikTok and Billboard team up to launch a top 50 song chart; Meta’s Horizon Worlds is rolling out on web and mobile; Pinterest’s Gen Z-focused Shuffles app has now inspired a new Pinterest feature Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices 

Google outlines new methods for training robots with video and large language models; Apple Fitness+ introduces sound meditation, a workout program for golfers and more; TikTok aims to grow its TikTok Shop Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices 

From electric guitars to samplers to drum machines and beyond, the music we love is only possible thanks to the technology used to create it. In many ways, the history of popular music is really a history of technological innovation. In this episode, we partnered with BandLab to ... Show More

Shopify is rolling out an AI-powered image editor for products; Threads is working on surfacing Trends; Pew report shows TikTok’s rise/YouTube’s ubiquity Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices 

There’s no denying that TikTok shaped the music industry in 2020, one viral song at a time. So, which of these artists will have a massive 2021? This is Billboard News Now. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices