Songl music streaming app closed with focus shifted to brand music solutions
The consortium behind music streaming app Songl has shut down the service after less than 18 months, after failing to gain traction in the crowded and competitive Australian market.
Southern Cross Austereo (SCA) and partners Sony Music and Universal Music today confirmed subscribers and trial members would be moved to the Omny app service, which will focus on “international expansion” from its Melbourne base.
The Digital Music Distribution consortium, which is being rebranded as Songl Solutions, and will offer music streaming solutions and live music events for brands as part of a business to business refocus.
In a statement they said the new entity would also focus on its “core business” of supplying linear music streams to Foxtel’s 32 music channels and Satellite Music Australia.
“The partner combination currently in place with Omny is strong and we are also looking forward to a year of success driven out of product innovation to achieve boundary-pushing business experiences that give brands direct access to music solutions.” – I’m going to need a translation for this.
Guess I’ll go back to bitteorrent to get my tunes. Us Aussies are sick of being screwed around in this space !!!!!
Songl was never going to work up against the likes of Spotify. A refocus of the strategy is a good idea.
Back in 2012, the Australian Radio Network CEO offered Austereo to be a partner on iHeartRADIO for free. All they had to do is make their 50+ nation wide live radio streams available to be on iHeartRADIO & they both companies would promote the service.
Austereo didn’t want a bare of it & thought Songl would change streaming listening.
Songl’s death is a win for iHeartRADIO & shows how much money Austereo can burn.
Every digital product developed by a Major Record Label consortium has appeared to crash in a heap over the last decade – remember download sites Duet, Pressplay or MusicNet?
Would have thought a focus on creating and promoting music, not producing world class consumer software experiences would be the way to go.
Great to read your comment Brad King, public affirmation of SCA’s wrong-footed decisions are always welcome. I am a shareholder, was aware of this and very disappointed at the way SCA passed up the opportunity.
Traditional media needs to band together in this era of new media to transform themselves, compete on content by all means, but end competition of duplicitous platforms.