• Sweden edition
Business & Money

New music service takes up the Spotify gauntlet

Published: 24 Feb 11 13:38 CET | Print version
Online: http://www.thelocal.se/32246/20110224/

Scandinavian mobile technology firm Aspiro has announced the impending launch in Sweden of WiMP, a new music streaming service hoping to imitate the success of pioneering Swedish site Spotify.

The new service, which has been named WiMP, opens to Swedish users on March 3rd and is already available to customers of mobile telecoms firm Telenor.

"WiMP offers an editorial profile, guiding users to millions of songs. Our country editors will select material relevant for each market to help users to cope with the amount of music that a music streaming service can offer," said Kristin Castillo Eldnes at Aspiro to The Local on Thursday.

"We think it is more important to take about the relevance, than how many millions of songs are in the catalogue," Eldnes added.

It is this strong editorial profile which WiMP hopes will enable it to compete with the likes of Spotify, the pioneering Swedish music service which is soon to add the US to its growing list of markets.

WiMP will be priced at 99 kronor ($15) per month, the same as Spotify but without the free advertising funded option.

"By being a pure payment service, WiMP contributes financially to artists, record labels and rights holders and helps to create a sustainable music industry. This ensures that WiMP’s music catalogue will always be extensive and deep," the firm wrote in a statement.

WiMP was launched in Norway, Denmark and Portugal during 2010, and the firm plans to expand the service beyond Sweden during the remainder of 2011.

"We have said that we will definitely open in more countries during 2011, but we don't know which yet," Kristin Castillo Eldnes said.

Peter Vinthagen Simpson
news@thelocal.se
+46 8 656 6513

What do you think? Leave your comment below.

Your comments about this article:

The comments below have not been moderated in advance and are not produced by The Local unless clearly stated. Readers are responsible for the content of their own comments. Comments that breach our terms and conditions will be removed.

ADD YOUR COMMENT   (YOU MUST LOG IN OR REGISTER TO MAKE A COMMENT)
Business & Money headlines
Ericsson probed over suspected bribes

Ericsson probed over suspected bribes

Swedish telecom equipment maker Ericsson is suspected of having bribed ministers in Romania in connection with being awarded a contract for the country's emergency number and is now under investigation in the United States. READ () »

Warning over 'long-term' Swedish export slump

Warning over 'long-term' Swedish export slump

Sweden's largest business confederation has gone out guns blazing, criticizing politicians for not facing up to the challenges of "a lost year for Swedish exports" in 2012. READ () »

'Lean hospital a sign of Swedish welfare reform'

'Lean hospital a sign of Swedish welfare reform'

A Stockholm hospital saved from closure by private health care providers has been hailed by the Economist as one of modern's Sweden public-private success stories. READ () »

H&M mulls production in South America and Africa

H&M mulls production in South America and Africa

Swedish clothing giant H&M is looking into the possibility of sourcing its production to South America, Central America, and even Africa, chief executive Karl-Johan Persson said on Monday. READ () »

Nord Stream plans new gas pipelines

Nord Stream plans new gas pipelines

Gas pipeline firm Nord Stream will hold an information meeting on the Baltic island of Gotland on Monday to introduce a proposal to extend its controversial gas pipeline project. READ () »

'Sweden next in line for housing market crash'

'Sweden next in line for housing market crash'

Sweden tops a list of countries that risk suffering a housing market crash, Germany's Commerzbank has warned, citing the slackening off of Swedish property prices as a harbinger of a potential downswing. READ () »

Solna voted best place to live in Sweden

Solna voted best place to live in Sweden

Solna, a suburb just north of Stockholm, is the best place to live in Sweden, according to a new ranking published on Friday by Swedish news magazine Fokus. READ () »

Ikea founder rated fifth richest in the world

Ikea founder rated fifth richest in the world

Ingrad Kamprad, the founder of Swedish furniture giant Ikea, finished fifth on the Bloomberg Billionaires Index published on Friday, with an estimated fortune of $55.6 billion. READ () »

LinkedIn profile lands Swede with hefty tax bill

LinkedIn profile lands Swede with hefty tax bill

A Swedish man is facing a five-million kronor ($750,000) add-on to his tax bill after the authorities took a proper look at his account on the professional networking site LinkedIn. READ () »

India in no rush to open first Ikea store

India in no rush to open first Ikea store

The first Ikea store to open in India may not be ready for years, with the India head of the Swedish furniture giant prepared to wait until the the perfect location is found for the first of the 25 planned stores. READ () »

More Business & Money

Find a new job in Sweden now
21/05 .Net Software Architects
Volvo Information Technology AB
Göteborg, VTG
21/05 Application consultant
Capgemini Sverige AB
St5ockholm, STHM
21/05 Är du vår kunds nästa tekniska
Framtiden
Linköping
21/05 Area Manager, Endovascular(EVAR):- Scandinavia
Sverige
21/05 Betting Connections Recruitment
Betting Connections
Sweden
21/05 Business Analyst or Requirement Specialist
Capgemini Sverige AB
Stockholm, STHM
21/05 Business Consultant
Stockholm
21/05 Business Controller
Stockholm
21/05 Controller Tele2 Group Product Management
Tele2 AB
Kista, STHM
21/05 Enterprise Architect
Stockholm

ALL JOBS »


 
Latest Business & Money news from Germany
The Local's new Marketplace
Find products and services that are specifically focused on English speakers living in Sweden!
FULL DETAILS
Counseling in English
Individuals & Couples - Stockholm Beth Rogerson PhD - Clinical, Marriage & Family Therapist
Click or call 08-5580 1266 now
Trade binary options
Create an account with Banc De Binary, the world’s most reputable binary options firm, and start cashing in today! You can start by practicing with our free $50,000 demo account.
www.bbinary.com
Therapy in English
Expat counsellor & talk therapist offers counselling for stress, relationship issues, sexuality, culture adjustment & life coaching. Private & confidential. Stockholm or Skype. Contact me today! 08-559 22 636 or
CLICK HERE
Holiday Luxury Villa in Portugal
Casa Birgitta in Algarve, Portugal. Reduced price in best location. Private estate on white sand beach. All amenities included. Book here today! edward_george1@hotmail.com