Nokia has announced Nokia Music+, a new subscription-based upgrade to its free-to-stream mobile music service, offering a range of additional features for a minimal monthly fee.
It will be rolling out as an optional update to the existing service in Q1 2013. The existing Nokia Music service will continue to be available free of charge, with no advertisements, registration or subscription to Nokia Lumia owners.
Nokia Music users create their own mixes or stream from playlists curated by an expert team of musicologists and international artists. Mixes can also be saved for offline playback.
The subscription fee in Europe is €3.99 per month, which is likely to translate into around R49 a month in Sotj Africa.
Nokia Music+ offers the following additional features:
+ The ability to download unlimited mixes for offline playback
+ Unlimited track skips providing greater opportunities to self-curate streamed music
+ The option to select higher quality audio when connecting via Wi-Fi
+ Lyric streaming for many tracks
+ Listening to Nokia Music via Internet-enabled devices, including PC or tablet
Jyrki Rosenberg, VP for Entertainment at Nokia said: ‚”By removing barriers like adverts and sign-ins, Nokia Music makes it easy for users to discover and enjoy music on the go. Nokia Music+ now provides increased control over the listening experience at half the cost of many third party services.‚”
Stephen Bryan, Executive Vice President, Digital Strategy and Business Development, Warner Music Group commented: “We know that many music fans enjoy a curated, radio-style experience that mixes their favourite tracks with new discoveries. By bringing a well-designed digital radio service to its massive distribution footprint, Nokia is catering to a global audience of under-served, casual music fans. Not only that, Nokia Music+ will help introduce mobile subscribers to the benefits of cloud-based music streaming, while creating exciting opportunities for artists and songwriters.‚””
Nokia Music+ will be available to Nokia Lumia owners as a paid for update to the existing free service. It will be rolling out in the first quarter of 2013.
* “