Rdio continues its expansion into markets across the globe. The music streaming service recently announced its expansion in India, and now it is expanding its reach into twenty-four new markets. The company will now offer free Internet radio and on-demand subscriptions in these markets and territories, which will provide the music fans access to over thirty-two million songs anytime. Included in its expansion across the Caribbean, Central America, and Asia Pacific, Rdio is partnering with Digicel. Digicel is a mobile phone network provider in the new international markets, and it will service seven additional regions by creating customized streaming services.
One of the music services will include offering prepaid data customers thirty minutes of free Rdio Internet radio listening, without accruing data usage charges. Digicel will also provide the sales and marketing for each of Rdio’s regions. The mobile company will customize the Rdio streaming experience across Digicel’s territories as well. The two companies will closely collaborate to combine the streaming service with local influence. This will be made possible by curating playlists and radio stations together with Digicel Brand Ambassadors in each country and territory. The arrangement will allow Rdio users access to mainstream and local artist’s music. Rdio and Digicel’s new partnership will develop a reasonable pay structure for their users. The pay structure will be consistent with how the customer uses their mobile phone data, introducing a robust new economy to recorded music across these markets.
Rdio’s CEO, Anthony Bay, released the following statement in regards to the new deal, “Launching Rdio in each of these markets is a huge milestone for the company.” Bay continued, “We are excited to bring the vibrant music of these regions onto Rdio for the world to hear while also providing users in each new market access to international artists.” Bay concludes, “Digicel will be instrumental in shaping the streaming experience locally and we look forward to a continued fruitful partnership with them.” Rdio is one of the largest licensed music services, offering eighty-five countries and territories worldwide. The company’s mission is to provide access to every song, on every device, anywhere in the world instantly, whether it is online or offline.