Fitbit removes support for Deezer, Pandora

If you picked up an older Fitbit for music playback, unfortunately, you're losing that option. The Google-owned brand will no longer support Deezer and Pandora on the Sense, Versa 2, and Versa 3. You won't be able to download Pandora stations or add Deezer playlists to your smartwatches. That means after March 31, Fitbit smartwatches lose the support for onboard music. 

Controlling media from your phone is still possible. But this move does further cripple Fitbit's offerings. As The Verge pointed out, it looks like Google wants users to turn to the Pixel Watch as their smartwatch of choice. 

Apple HomePod, HomePod mini get Pandora integration

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For the first time, Apple allows the integration of a third-party music service with its HomePod and HomePod mini. The first app to get said support is Pandora, which, unfortunately, isn't available here. An update to Pandora's iOS app will let users connect it to the HomePod. With a few simple taps, they can give the app permission to work with the speaker. So, they can ask Siri to play stations from Pandora directly on the speaker. Before, AirPlay 2 was needed to send audio from the app to the HomePod. 

Now, users can even set Pandora as your default music service in the iOS Home app. Amazon Music was another app that Apple teased could work with the Apple smart speakers. So, that's something we might be able to take advantage of. Engadget writes that developers could integrate this feature into their apps. So, even with Spotify's history with Apple, there's a possibility Spotify can implement this feature.

Google Clock now lets you use YouTube Music as your alarm

If you want to wake up to your favorite music from YouTube Music, then Google Clock will let you do just that. For US users, the feature also comes to Pandora. Last year, Spotify was the first streaming service to support this feature.

To use your streaming service of choice, you just need to head to the alarm section and tap on the sound option beneath any given alarm. Each music service gets its own tab. You can select from a popular playlist or select from Spotify's library of playlists.

Source: The Verge

Pandora, Apple Music also stops promoting R Kelly’s music

Following news of Spotify no longer promoting R Kelly’s music, Pandora announced it has stopped promoting singer R Kelly on its music streaming platform. According to an unnamed source, Apple has done the same thing quietly over the past few weeks. R Kelly’s music has been pulled from playlists like “Best Slow Jams of the 90s, Vol. 1 and Vol. 2. But he is still prominently featured in the artwork for the playlists. Also, several R Kelly playlists are still on the service.

A couple of weeks ago, the women of color of the Time’s Up movement joined the #MuteRKelly campaign and issued an open letter that calls on multiple companies (like RCA Records, Spotify, Apple Music, and Ticketmaster) to cut ties with the artist in the wake of the recent sexual and physical abuse allegations levied against him.

Source: Pitchfork