Spotify “in talks” to take over rival service SoundCloudSeptember 29, 2016 - 13:48 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Spotify is reportedly in talks to take over rival service SoundCloud. As Digital Spy said citing the Financial Times, the companies are currently in advanced negotiations, though a price is unclear at the moment and insiders also suggest that talks could still collapse. It comes as Spotify faces increasingly heated competition from major rivals Apple Music and Amazon. Berlin-based SoundCloud is unique in allowing artists to upload their own music and share it across the web, though it has struggled to make a profit since it launched a pay-for-streaming service earlier this year. Although Spotify made revenue of $2.2 billion over the last year, it has also failed to turn over a profit. The FT reports that Spotify previously had "reasonably detailed" talks with SoundCloud about a possible takeover last spring, although its asking price broke talks. Spotify considered the acquisition again after its Twitter investment, although talks once again fell apart. Rich Greenfield, an analyst with BTIG Research, said: "Spotify buying SoundCloud could be a sign they are trying to extend their significant lead in online music, as Apple, Google and Amazon are gearing up to compete more aggressively in music." Spotify currently boasts 40 million subscribers, while Apple has acquired 17 million since it launched last year. This summer, Spotify passed 100 million monthly active users on its music streaming service for the first time, with 30% paying to subscribe to the ad-free version. Top stories Yerevan will host the 2024 edition of the World Congress On Information Technology (WCIT). Rustam Badasyan said due to the lack of such regulation, the state budget is deprived of VAT revenues. Krisp’s smart noise suppression tech silences ambient sounds and isolates your voice for calls. Gurgen Khachatryan claimed that the "illegalities have been taking place in 2020." Partner news Most popular in the section | The Power of One Dram to benefit Road of Life charity The companies inform that the May beneficiary of The Power of One Dram is the “Road of Life” charitable organization. Kazakhstan welcomes Yerevan, Baku’s agreement to meet in Almaty Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has welcomed the agreement of Baku and Yerevan to hold negotiations in Almaty. Armenia offers to temporarily host, preserve Gaza manuscripts The Armenian Foreign Minister has said Yerevan is ready to help preserve manuscripts from the conflict zone in Gaza. Aliyev says no need for mediators in Armenia-Azerbaijan process Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev believes that Baku and Yerevan do not mediators in the process of normalizing relations. |