Spotify has announced today that they have reached their first major milestone, one million paying customers.
Says the streaming music company:
It seems like only yesterday we were hatching ideas for a new music service in a tiny office-cum-apartment with a broken coffee machine, and the party we threw having reached one million users almost two years ago today was one to remember.
So it’s with a sense of real pride and excitement that we can announce a new milestone today, having welcomed our millionth paying subscriber to the service. It’s a testament to our fantastic users who continue to support us and spread the Spotify word, either by telling friends or sharing some of the 200 million playlists that you’ve put together so far.
From everyone at Spotify, we’d like to give you all massive thanks. We’ll continue to focus on providing you with the best music service possible, and look forward to adding even more cool new features over the coming months. What’s really exciting is that this is only the beginning.
Overall, the company has 7 million active users and over 10 million registered users.
Spotify is aiming for a U.S. launch soon, and has reportedly signed deals with EMI and Sony Music. The service is allegedly close to signing a licensing deal with Universal Music Group, the largest label in the world.
Result for: subscriber
Google has purchased Next New Networks this week, the producer of viral video programming.
The financials of the deal were not disclosed.
Since its launch in 2007, Next New Networks’ videos have collected 2 billion views and 6 million subscribers.
Says Google (via DMW):
Within YouTube, Next New Networks will be a laboratory for experimentation and innovation with the team working in a hands on way with a wide variety of content partners and emerging talent to help them succeed on YouTube.
NNN has raised over $27 million in funding, so far.
Result for: subscriber
Sirius XM has signed a new five-year deal with infamous ’shock jock’ Howard Stern, one that will pay him somewhere between $80-$100 million per year.
Stern’s current 5-year $500 million deal expires at the end of the year.
As part of the new deal, the shock jock can also be streamed via mobile/Internet apps, such as those found on the Apple iPhone and Android smartphones, alongside satellite radio devices.
Stern’s first deal blocked the host from being on Internet sources.
Since Stern’s original contract was signed, Sirius’ subscriber base has jumped from 600,000 to 19 million.
