JB Hi-Fi to shutter its music streaming service
Electronics retailer JB Hi-Fi is set to close down its JB Hi-Fi Now music streaming service after just over four years of operation.
It is the latest local casualty in the streaming wars following Deezer closing its Australian office, Rdio shut down in December and Telstra cutting its Mog service in favour of the Apple Music offering.
While JB Hi-Fi’s offering did not offer any opportunities for advertisers as a subscription-only service it will leave what is understood to be around 12,000 subscribers looking for a new provider.
In a statement on the Now website, the company said it will operate until March 17, but will no longer accept subscribers, stating that anyone with a Now gift card can redeem its full value on in-store purchases instead.
It added: “We would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your support of the JB Hi-Fi NOW streaming service. We remain passionate about music and will continue to offer Australia’s largest range of CDs and Vinyl through our 180 stores nationally and via our online site.”
Local players have found it increasingly difficult to gain traction against global giants like Spotify, radio streaming service Pandora, and more recently Apple.
Alex Hayes
Matter of time – I remember when every man and his dog launched a music streaming service – it was always going to be unsustainable in a market like Australia.
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JB-HIFI had a music streaming service… really?
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At this rate the only ones that will be left is CDs, Vinyl and piracy of course, that will never die.
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Back in the day it won a tonne of awards. http://www.isobar.com/au/work/.....-hi-fi-now
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Bummed about this, as one of the 12,000 I’ll need to find a new provider! Jbhifi was the easiest to navigate by far
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Is it just me or does anyone see a correlation between whats happening in the Streaming Music vs SVOD. I do!
Take note, Stan and Presto. This could be you down the track…
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