SAN FRANCISCO – Digital music service Rdio has updated its app to include a free Internet radio service as well as new features designed to make it easier for users to listen to music any way they want.
Rdio said Thursday that its free stations-first offers more music and a wide variety of station types, including algorithmic artist and genre-based stations, human curated stations programmed to fit any mood or activity, personalized stations tuned to each individual listener, and stations based on tastemakers. Users may also upgrade to a full on-demand subscription service that offers access to any song, album or playlist, and additional stations features.
The new features include:
– Home – An evolving and constantly refreshing feed of personalized music stories that surfaces the best of Rdio in a single destination. Stories are built around the listener’s music preferences, recent activity from tastemakers and friends, recommendations from Rdio experts.
– Favourites – Expanding listener’s collections so they can keep track of everything they love, all in one place.
– Browse – Where Rdio’s new curated stations can be explored.
– Trending – See which stations, songs, albums, artists, or playlists are popular among all Rdio music lovers, or toggle to people you follow and make it more personal.
In Canada, Rdio’s free stations-first offering is being promoted through its new marketing, content, and promotion partnership with Shaw Communications. Additionally, Squarespace and BBM have signed on as some of the first advertising partners to utilize Rdio’s advertising products.
“We're focused on offering the world's best music experience built around the listener”, said CEO Anthony Bay, in the news release. “We now lead with a free stations experience combined with the ability to upgrade to a full on-demand subscription service that offers access to any song, album or playlist, and additional stations features. Internet radio and music subscription have traditionally been seen as two different options – we believe there are compelling reasons for them to go hand-in-hand as one."
“Rdio’s already exceptional product has been made even better by this updated functionality, and we’re confident both users and Shaw Internet customers will come to value this service even more”, added Jim Little, Shaw’s senior vice president and chief marketing officer.
Rdio is currently available in 60 countries and offers a catalog of over 30 million songs.
