Rdio today announces the expansion of its unique mix of free Internet radio and on-demand subscription into 24 new countries and territories to provide more music fans around the world access to over 32 million songs anytime, anywhere. As part of its expansion across the Caribbean, Central America and Asia Pacific, Rdio is exclusively partnering with mobile phone network provider Digicel in each of the 24 new markets and an additional seven regions to create a unique offering designed to customize the streaming experience for Digicel customers in each country and territory.
In the coming weeks, Digicel will offer all prepaid data customers 30 minutes of free Rdio Internet radio listening per day on their mobile phones without accruing data usage charges – all through the exclusive partnership. Digicel will serve as Rdio’s sales and marketing arm in each region while also helping to customize the Rdio streaming experience across Digicel’s territories.
Digicel and Rdio will collaborate closely to infuse the streaming service with local influence, curating playlists and stations together with Digicel Brand Ambassadors in each country and territory. Through this unprecedented arrangement, users in each market will have convenient access to popular music from around the world in addition to local artists they already enjoy.
The partnership will go on to develop and launch a pay structure that will fit the mobile usage behavior of Digicel’s significant user base, introducing a robust new economy to recorded music across these markets.
“Launching Rdio in each of these markets is a huge milestone for the company,” said Anthony Bay, CEO, Rdio. “We are excited to bring the vibrant music of these regions onto Rdio for the world to hear while also providing users in each new market access to international artists. Digicel will be instrumental in shaping the streaming experience locally and we look forward to a continued fruitful partnership with them.”
“We are delighted to be bringing the gift of music to our 14 million customers across the globe,” said Colm Delves, CEO, Digicel Group. “This unique partnership delivers the widest range of music – from local artists to international superstars – all through the app on their own smartphone.”
This latest expansion into new markets across Central America, the Caribbean and Asia Pacific follows Rdio’s recent launch in India and continues the company’s vision to deliver the best music streaming experience on mobile phones, on the web, and on connected devices to an expanding international audience. Effective today, Rdio is now available in the following new markets: Anguilla, Antigua & Barbuda, Aruba, Barbados, Bermuda, the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, Dominica, Fiji, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, St Kitts & Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent & the Grenadines, Suriname, Tonga, Trinidad & Tobago, Turks & Caicos and Vanuatu. In addition to the new markets where Rdio is launching, Rdio’s exclusive partnership with Digicel is effective in French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Martinique, Bonaire, El Salvador and Panama.