Beatport owner SFX Entertainment has expanded its recently-launched music streaming service into a mobile app for iOS and Android devices – but artists shouldn’t expect it to bring them in big bucks.
The free-to-download app asks no subscription from consumers, nor is there currently any advertising contained within it.
The only form of obvious monetisation for the creators behind its ‘million of new tracks’ is live event promotion – which will suit SFX, one of the biggest live music promoters in the US.
The app also allows users to access and stream all of the charts and playlists available on Beatport, as well as streaming any track “hearted” on the Beatport service, as well as view any DJ, event, or other profile marked as favorites.
“The evolution of Beatport involves far more than just streaming music,” said Greg Consiglio, President and COO of SFX.
“We’ve built the definitive home of electronic music in all forms and formats, including festivals and events, streaming, music downloads and news and information available on web and mobile.”
Telco T-Mobile will be integrated into the app, with its own profile page and playlist highlighting exclusive benefits for their customers including music downloads at no additional cost and access to event tickets.
The app contains two new features that showcase and promote live events:
- Beatport Shows is a calendar of electronic music events. Listings include not only events produced by Beatport parent company SFX Entertainment, plus Beatport has partnered with Bandsintown to include the company’s entire database of electronic music events.
- Beatport Live is a new video streaming platform where fans can watch live and recorded streams of DJs performing, broadcast in high-quality audio and HD video, along with aggregated social activity from Twitter and Instagram, with the ability to subscribe to updates about new streams. Active channels during the beta launch of this feature include the Beatport Sessions channel, consisting of live and archived streams from Beatport’s Denver and Berlin offices, and, soon, live streams from SFX events. Future versions of Beatport Live are planned to allow any DJ to broadcast any set live.
The original Beatport music download service, designed for DJs requiring high-quality files for performance and remixing, has been renamed as Beatport Pro, it is available at pro.beatport.com and is integrated throughout the new streaming service giving fans one click access to buy any track streamed.
“The release of the new Beatport marks the first step towards an aggressive and ambitious roadmap ahead,” said Beatport Chief Product Officer Richard Ziade.
“In the months to follow and on a regular basis, features will be added across the Beatport suite of products. The aim is twofold, to bring more features and functionality to fans of electronic dance music, and to empower both fans and artists to bring their own forms of expression to the platform.”
Founded in 2004 as the principal source of music for DJs, Beatport today attracts an audience of more than 50 million unique visitors a year consisting of DJs, producers, and their fans.Music Business Worldwide
