Japanese messaging app Line has announced that it is closing its music streaming service MixRadio, a year and two months after it bought the business from Microsoft in December 2014. In a statement, Line hints that a lack of revenue was behind the decision to shut down MixRadio.
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.
The app will be phased out in the coming weeks. Line says it will continue to offer music streaming via its Line Music app, which is currently live in Japan and Thailand.
