Business News Deals Digital

Japanese messaging app firm Line buys MixRadio

By | Published on Friday 19 December 2014

MixRadio

The company behind messaging app Line yesterday announced it was acquiring MixRadio, the streaming music service set up by Nokia, which confirmed it would be spun off from its parent company earlier this year as a result of changes made following the phone maker’s acquisition by Microsoft.

Line says that it is purchasing MixRadio “to expand its range of services to become an integral part of consumers’ daily lives”, calling its new buy “a highly acclaimed service that offers the world’s most personal and truly mobile-optimised music streaming service to millions of listeners across 31 countries”.

Line’s purchase of MixRadio follows the announcement in October that, in its home country of Japan, the messaging app firm had struck up an alliance with music majors Sony Music and Avex to launch a streaming music platform for the Japanese market.

Last week it was confirmed that the tech firm and the two music companies were each shareholders in Line Music, a venture that is seen by some as Sony and Avex’s last attempt to control the very-much-still-emerging Japanese streaming sector.

It’s thought rivals Universal and Warner are more keen to see global streaming set-ups like Spotify, Rdio and Deezer, and of course MixRadio, launch in Japan. Though MixRadio will operate autonomously from Line Music, retaining its base in Bristol, despite the acquisition.

Confirming the deal, Line’s Jung-ho Shin told reporters yesterday: “Line has been ceaselessly evolving to become the world’s leading mobile life platform. I am confident that MixRadio provides an outstanding music service, which is an important component of consumers’ life. I also believe that Line’s global footprints will further enable MixRadio to bring endless pleasure to them”.

Meanwhile MixRadio’s Jyrki Rosenberg said: “Line shares our vision and passion for simple, personal and fun user experiences while constantly delivering innovation to our listeners. This partnership presents huge scope to expand our service to even more people around the world”.



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