Microsoft to Launch Music Streaming Service

UK newspaper The Telegraph today reports that Microsoft is working on a music streaming service which it hopes to have ready by the end of this month. The Telegraph cites Peter Bale, executive producer of MSN who said, “Music is an important area for Microsoft. We are looking at launching a music streaming service imminently." Bale went on to say that it would be a similar service to Spotify, but that Microsoft is still examining how the business model will work.

Bale told the Telegraph that the service would be operated and owned by Microsoft, while being promoted through MSN and other parts of the Microsoft network. However he also hinted the service could be tied in with Microsoft’s Xbox gaming console, which would make for a nice addition to the Netflix partnership Microsoft has in place.

For those unfamiliar with Spotify, the service (currently only available in Sweden, Norway, Finland, the UK, France and Spain) allows users to listen to free music through a stand-alone application. In exchange for the all you can eat music buffet, users are served one minute of advertising every 30 minutes. If you decided to pay £9.99 a month for the service, you can cut out the aforementioned ads.

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