Tuesday, April 16, 2013

Spotify launched in Singapore, Hong Kong and Malaysia


Music streaming service Spotify has finally launched in Singapore, Hong Kong and Malaysia, 4.5 years after October 2008 launch of the service by Swedish startup Spotify AB. Spotify proves DRM-protected content from a range of major and independent record labels, including Sony, EMI, Warner Music Group and Universal. Its database currently holds 20 million plus songs available legally and freely on desktops. To access the same content from mobile phones and tablets, you need to be a premium member for $US 4.99 or $US 9.99.

Spotify subscription price in Singapore will be $7.99 (S$9.90) per month while in Hong Kong subscription price will be $6.18 (48 HKD) per month and in Malaysia it will be $4.90 (14.9 MYR).

Spotify announced their first entrance to Asian market as Hola. Helo. Tere. Sveiki. 你好. Selamat datang:

Exciting times! Today we’re thrilled to announce that we’re bringing a new world of music to eight new markets across the globe. We’re taking our first steps in Latin America with Mexico, and Asia with Hong Kong, Malaysia, and Singapore. Plus we’re thrilled to make new friends in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Iceland.

This fantastic step now brings us to 28 markets and closer to our dream of making all the world’s music available instantly to everyone, wherever and whenever they want it.

This calls for a playlist!

Spotify was already available in US, Europe, Australia, New Zealand and  highly popular with 20 million users, 5 million of whom are paying customers. The free desktop version comes with ads and when you start to pay, you can have it ads-free on your desktop and also can use it on mobile devices. The premium users also get functions like offline caching, where songs are stored in devices and can be played without an Internet connection and also listen at 320 kbps, while free accounts stream at 160 kbps.

The system is currently accessible using Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X, Linux, Telia Digital-tv, iOS, Android, BlackBerry, Windows Mobile, Windows Phone, S60 (Symbian), webOS, Samsung Smart TV, Squeezebox, Boxee, Sonos, WD TV, Roku, MeeGo, and TiVo.

Spotify takes aim at music piracy as company's head of new markets for Asia Pacific Sriram Krishnan told CNet | Asia that the biggest competitor was music piracy. "Piracy is very big in Singapore, Malaysia and Hong Kong, we know that. And Spotify was founded to actually be a more convenient alternative to piracy. So we are here to combat piracy," said Sriram.[1]

The desktop client for Spotify
(Screenshot by CNet Asia)
Spotify already has an office in Hong Kong office and Sriram Krishnan is based there. They are now in process of hiring sales and consumer marketing execs in their brand new Singapore office.

As a launch promotion, users in Asia will be able to enjoy a free 30-day Premium subscription to Spotify. Other than Spotify there are some other music streaming services available in Singapore such as Deezer, MeRadio and Starhub’s Music Anywhere.

[1] - Spotify launches in Singapore, Malaysia and Hong Kong

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