Digital distribution firm CD Baby has acquired music marketing platform Show.co and its playlisting and social listening app Soundrop.
Soundrop has lay dormant since Spotify scrapped its third-party apps capabilities in 2014.
Before that, it powered group listening rooms on streaming services where users could listen, vote and interact about songs.
The team behind the start-up then focused efforts on Show.co, which was developed as an offshoot of Soundrop to provide musicians with a way to market and promote their music and direct fans to social channels or music services.
CD Baby will now revive Soundrop as an alternative distribution approach that favours constant creation and single-first strategies.
Soundrop will be the new home for many Loudr artists, the distribution service CD Baby acquired earlier this year.
Meanwhile, Show.co will be offered as a marketing tool for the 5,000 independent labels and artists using CD Baby’s service.
“We are very happy to see a new home for Show.co and a new future for the Soundrop brand,” said Jørn Haanæs, Soundrop’s former CEO.
“Soundrop and Show.co were both about helping artists connect with their fans. To finally see the last part of our original vision take effect is wonderful.”
Jørn Haanæs, Soundrop former CEO
“Soundrop and Show.co were both about helping artists connect with their fans. To finally see the last part of our original vision take effect is wonderful.
“Entering into music distribution was always the dream, as that’s the ultimate fan connection, now it’s soon to be the reality.”
Kevin Breuner, VP of Marketing at CD Baby, added: “We see this as another high-calibre way to serve musicians and give them the best of what’s out there.
“For existing Show.co customers, it will be business as usual.”
Music Business Worldwide
