Music-Subscription Service Deezer Enters Crowded U.S. Field
French music-streaming service Deezer is launching to the masses in the U.S. this week, stiffening the competition in an already-crowded market. Deezer, which had about 6 million subscribers world-wide, already has some users in the U.S., where it has been available only to AT&T Inc.’s Cricket Wireless customers or on Sonos and Bose speaker systems. Starting Tuesday, the 9-year-old service will be available for $10 a month to all U.S. consumers after 30-day free trials.
Catching up with competitors offering virtually the same product — unlimited access to tens of millions of songs — could be challenging.
Spotify AB, which launched a year after Deezer, counts more than 30 million paying subscribers world-wide and 70 million free users. The Swedish outfit has been available in the U.S. since 2011. Apple Inc. ’s year-old Apple Music has at least 15 million paying subscribers, many in the U.S. Tidal, controlled by rap star Jay Z, has 4.2 million subscribers.
Source: WSJ