Line Music

Line Music (stylized as LINE MUSIC) is a subscription-based music streaming service by Line Corporation that combines existing Line Messenger app with the entertainment system that users not only can stream the music on-demand, but users can share the music directly to Line messenger.[1] The chairman for the Line Music division is Lim-Suk Jun.[2] The Line Music app is an alternative version of Naver VIBE in South Korea.[3] It is considered as the biggest listening app in the country

Line Music
Original author(s)Line Corporation
Initial release22 May 2015
Operating systemLaunch:
iOS
Android
Later:
Windows
OS X
PlatformCross-platform
Available inChinese
Japanese
TypeMusic streaming
LicenseProprietary
Websitemusic.line.me

History

Announcement

In December 2014, Line Corporation reveals their plan to expanding their Line product range beyond their messaging service Line to provide a one-stop entertainment portal where users can use Line services to consume media, in which these plan has been made in October 2014. This expansion has been announced during the Line annual event, on the same time the company also announces the introduction of online Manga service and also new game ventures, with investment of music streaming division worth ¥480 million.[4] Line Corporation, in the early stage, has signed the deals with Sony Music Japan and Avex Group to allows their works to be streamed in their services once the service has been launched.[5][6] Following the announcement on the same month, Line Corporation acquired MixRadio from Microsoft in order to make its expansion to music industry globally. Line Corporation, however stated that the MixRadio will continue to operate separately from parent company.[7]

Launch in Thailand

Line Music was initially launched in Thailand where Thailand is the second largest Line messenger market share in the world after Japan, with 33 million registered users using this service,[8] compared to the Japanese market with 58 million registered users.[9] Line has signed deals with major labels in Thailand such as RS Music, BEC-TERO, SpicyDisc and What The Duck to allow their works to be streamed in this service.[1][2]

On 25 August 2016, Line Thailand announced their intention to shut down and move to Line TV on 1 October 2016.[10]

Expansion to Japan

On 11 June 2015, Line Corporation launched the Line Music in Japan,[11] with new deals with major labels has been signed such as Warner Music Group, Universal Music Group and King Records.[12]

Expansion to Taiwan

On 10 July 2019, Line Corporation started to provide Line Music service in Taiwan.[13][14]

Features

Catalogue

At the launch, Line currently has 1.5 million licensed tracks from 30 music labels and publishers worldwide.[15] But the company will expand their catalogue to 30 million licensed tracks by 2016.[12]

Integration with Line messenger

One of the main features of the Line Music is the integration with the Line Messenger where users can send the music track or playlists to friends or chat group in Line Messenger. In addition, users can stream the music simultaneously with the person the user is chatting with in order to hear the music at the same time. A user without a Line Music subscription can preview the music for up to 30 seconds only.[16]

Promotion

On 11 July 2015, Line Corporation air its first television commercial about Line Music in Japan. In this video, a girl is dancing and singing at home while listening to Carly Rae Jepsen's latest single, I Really Like You.[17][18]

Competition

Before the launch of the Line Music in Thailand, Deezer, Rdio[19] and Tidal[20] were the only competitors in the Thai music streaming market, at the time where other major services such as Spotify are still absent in Thai market.[2]

However, unlike in Thailand, Japan did not have any major streaming services launched in their country such as Spotify, Rdio, Deezer, Xbox Music, Pandora Radio etc., with the exception of Music Unlimited by Sony Entertainment Network prior to the launch of Line Music. However the pricing for the monthly subscription of Music Unlimited was high at ¥1,480 due to Sony's monopolistic practices and also their decision to withhold their catalogues from iTunes Store until end of 2012.[21] However, after the closure of the Music Unlimited and with the Sony's announcement to replace its service with PlayStation Music which is powered by Spotify on 28 January 2015.[22] On 30 June 2015, Apple launched Apple Music worldwide, which makes it the third competitor in music streaming industry in Japan.[23][24]

Availability
Availability of Line Music in Asia as of August 2015

Line Music is currently available in Japan, Thailand and Taiwan.[9]

Reception

The reception for the Line Music was well received by the customers in both Japan and Thailand with 6.2 million downloads within the first months of availability.[25]

Accounts and subscriptions

Line Music provides different types of accounts, vary by countries. Currently, Line Music provide free-tier account in Taiwan.

Name Price Free of Ads Listening time Bit rate[16]
20 Hours Listening (Japan only) ¥500 per month[15] Yes 20 hours only per month 320 kbit/s, 192 kbit/s or 64 kbit/s
Unlimited ¥1000/60฿ per month; 1-month (Thailand)/2-month (Japan) free trial[15]NTD$149 and 180
  • In Japan, students can only pay ¥300 per month with a valid student card.[15]
 Yes Unlimited 320 kbit/s, 192 kbit/s or 64 kbit/s
Unlimited (Taiwan) NTD$149 and 180
Plan WOW 149 provides three tickets for personalized Line Ring Tone and Ring Back Tone per month; Plan WOW 180 provides unlimited tickets for personalized Line Ring Tone and Ring Back Tone.		 Yes Unlimited 320 kbit/s or 192 kbit/s

See also

References
  1. "Messaging App Firm Line Is Testing A $2 Per Month Music Streaming Service". TechCrunch. 22 May 2015. Retrieved 3 August 2015.
  2. "Line Messaging App Debuts Streaming Service for Under $2 in Thailand". Billboard Magazine. Retrieved 3 August 2015.
  3. "[檄文] Global Music 서버 개발자 모집". Naver. 20 February 2020.
  4. "Messaging Firm Line Partners With Two Labels To Launch A Music Streaming Business". TechCrunch. 11 December 2014. Retrieved 3 August 2015.
  5. "【Corporate Announcement】Announcing the Formation of LINE Music, a Brand New Music Streaming Business". Line Corporation. Retrieved 3 August 2015.
  6. "Social app Line confirms its move into streaming music". Musically. 12 December 2014. Retrieved 3 August 2015.
  7. "Messaging Firm Line Buys Microsoft's MixRadio To Take Its Focus On Music Global". TechCrunch. 18 December 2014. Retrieved 3 August 2015.
  8. "Line offers music streaming". Bangkok Post. Retrieved 3 August 2015.
  9. "Ahead of Apple Music, Line launches its own streaming service in Japan". The Next Web. 11 June 2015. Retrieved 3 August 2015.
  10. "Announcements | [CLOSED] LINE MUSIC THAI". notice2.line.me. Retrieved 30 August 2021.
  11. "Line beats Apple and Spotify to music streaming in Japan". The Verge. 11 June 2015. Retrieved 3 August 2015.
  12. Sisario, Ben (11 June 2015). "Music Streaming Service Aims at Japan, Where CD Is Still King". The New York Times. Retrieved 3 August 2015.
  13. Andy Yang (10 July 2019). "Line Music 服務今日正式在台灣上線" (in Chinese). Engadget. Verizon Media. Archived from the original on 17 July 2019. Retrieved 7 August 2019.
  14. Ashley King (12 July 2019). "LINE Music Officially Launches In Taiwan Where Only 6% Of Smartphone Users Stream". Digital Music News.
  15. "Line launches paid music streaming service in Japan ahead of Apple Music". PC world. Retrieved 3 August 2015.
  16. "【LINE MUSIC】LINE Launches New Music x Social Revolution On-Demand Music Subscription Service "LINE MUSIC" Released". Line Corporation. Retrieved 3 August 2015.
  17. "カーリー・レイ・ジェプセン「アイ・リアリー・ライク・ユー」が「LINE MUSIC」のCMソングに". HMV Corporation. Retrieved 25 August 2015.
  18. "【LINE MUSIC】女優 小松奈菜さん出演のテレビCMスタート!!". Line Corporation. Retrieved 25 August 2015.
  19. "Rdio expands to 9 new countries across Asia and Europe, including Indonesia, Singapore and Greece". The Next Web. 19 May 2014. Retrieved 3 August 2015.
  20. "Music Streaming Service TIDAL Launches in Thailand". The Next Web. May 2015. Retrieved 3 August 2015.
  21. "Japan's digital content struggles: the country of the future remains stuck in the past". The Verge. 15 November 2012. Retrieved 3 August 2015.
  22. Gilbert, Ben (28 January 2015). "Sony closing Music Unlimited in favor of Spotify-powered service (update)". Engadget. Retrieved 19 May 2015.
  23. "Apple Music launching at 11AM ET tomorrow". The Verge. 29 June 2015. Retrieved 3 August 2015.
  24. "Apple Music availability by country". Apple Inc. Retrieved 3 August 2015.
  25. "【Corporate Announcement】LINE Corporation Announces 2015 Q2 Earnings". Line Corporation. Retrieved 3 August 2015.
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