Line Music
Line Music (stylized as LINE MUSIC) is a subscription-based music streaming service by Line Corporation that combines existing Line Messenger app with the entertainment system that users not only can stream the music on-demand, but users can share the music directly to Line Messenger.[1] The chairman for the Line Music division is Lim-Suk Jun.[2] The Line Music app is an alternative version of Naver VIBE in South Korea.[3] It is considered as the biggest listening app in the country.
Original author(s)
22 May 2015
History[edit]
Announcement[edit]
In December 2014, Line Corporation reveals their plan to expanding their Line product range beyond their messaging service Line to provide a one-stop entertainment portal where users can use Line services to consume media, in which these plan has been made in October 2014. This expansion has been announced during the Line annual event, on the same time the company also announces the introduction of online Manga service and also new game ventures, with investment of music streaming division worth ¥480 million.[4] Line Corporation, in the early stage, has signed the deals with Sony Music Japan and Avex Group to allows their works to be streamed in their services once the service has been launched.[5][6] Following the announcement on the same month, Line Corporation acquired MixRadio from Microsoft in order to make its expansion to music industry globally. Line Corporation, however stated that the MixRadio will continue to operate separately from parent company.[7]
Launch in Thailand[edit]
Line Music was initially launched in Thailand where Thailand is the second largest Line messenger market share in the world after Japan, with 33 million registered users using this service,[8]
compared to the Japanese market with 58 million registered users.[9] Line has signed deals with major labels in Thailand such as RS Music, BEC-TERO, SpicyDisc and What The Duck to allow their works to be streamed in this service.[1][2]
On 25 August 2016, Line Thailand announced their intention to shut down and move to Line TV on 1 October 2016.[10]
Expansion to Japan[edit]
On 11 June 2015, Line Corporation launched the Line Music in Japan,[11] with new deals with major labels has been signed such as Warner Music Group, Universal Music Group and King Records.[12]
Features[edit]
Integration with Line messenger[edit]
One of the main features of the Line Music is the integration with the Line Messenger where users can send the music track or playlists to friends or chat group in Line Messenger. In addition, users can stream the music simultaneously with the person the user is chatting with in order to hear the music at the same time. A user without a Line Music subscription can preview the music for up to 30 seconds only.[16]
Promotion[edit]
On 11 July 2015, Line Corporation air its first television commercial about Line Music in Japan. In this video, a girl is dancing and singing at home while listening to Carly Rae Jepsen's latest single, I Really Like You.[17][18]
Competition[edit]
Before the launch of the Line Music in Thailand, Deezer, Rdio[19] and Tidal[20] were the only competitors in the Thai music streaming market, at the time where other major services such as Spotify are still absent in Thai market.[2]
However, unlike in Thailand, Japan did not have any major streaming services launched in their country such as Spotify, Rdio, Deezer, Xbox Music, Pandora Radio etc., with the exception of Music Unlimited by Sony Entertainment Network prior to the launch of Line Music. However the pricing for the monthly subscription of Music Unlimited was high at ¥1,480 due to Sony's monopolistic practices and also their decision to withhold their catalogues from iTunes Store until end of 2012.[21] However, after the closure of the Music Unlimited and with the Sony's announcement to replace its service with PlayStation Music which is powered by Spotify on 28 January 2015.[22] On 30 June 2015, Apple launched Apple Music worldwide, which makes it the third competitor in music streaming industry in Japan.[23][24]