LINE – has just posted a late-night press release noting that the company is discontinue the MixRadio music streaming service.
MixRadio that many Nokia old-timers would remember as Nokia music , was later renamed as MixRadio and bought by Microsoft as part of Nokia-Microsoft Deal. Microsoft sold it to LINE as part of restructuring and now bit sadly it goes to its grave.
Reasons for Termination of MixRadio Operations : The financial challenges posed by the music streaming market, and priorities of LINE Corporation, LINE has determined that future growth would be difficult to ensure and decided to discontinue the MixRadio music streaming service.
Line will continue to provide its LINE MUSIC service in Japan and Thailand.
The full press release is below:
[Corporate Announcement]Notification of Termination of MixRadio Limited Operations
2016.02.16 Corporate Announcement
Tokyo, Japan – February 16, 2016 – LINE Corporation, owner and operator of the free call and messaging app LINE, today announced its decision to discontinue the operations of its subsidiary MixRadio Limited. The MixRadio music streaming service will be discontinued in the coming weeks as we work with the technical team and partners to ensure a smooth closure.
•Reasons for Termination of MixRadio Operations
LINE agreed to acquire the business and assets making up the music service known as MixRadio from Microsoft Mobile OY in December 2014. The newly established company continued to provide a radio-style music streaming service intended to provide a broader user experience. Nevertheless, after a careful assessment of the subsidiary’s overall performance, the financial challenges posed by the music streaming market, and priorities of LINE Corporation, LINE has determined that future growth would be difficult to ensure and decided to discontinue the MixRadio music streaming service.
LINE will continue to provide a unique user experience that blends music and communication via its LINE MUSIC service, which is currently available in Japan and Thailand.
LINE and the MixRadio team would like to thank the users of MixRadio for all of their support of the service.