MTN has unveiled a revamped and new-look version of of MTN Music+, its online music streaming platform bundling digital music and data together.
The firm says the revamp will allow a customer who have active bundles to perform any activity on Music+ at zero-rated charges.
According to Maxwell Nonge, Chief Digital Officer: MTN SA: “The revamped Music+ strengthens our focus on developing local content and contributing meaningfully to the development of the music industry in South Africa.”
The firm is promising to partner with artists to empower them to take control over the success of their brands.
The streaming pricing will be tiered by daily, weekly and monthly subscription fees, and downloading prices for subscribers will be discounted.
With the revised Music+, customers with an internet capable device and a balance of data bundles can stream content online and offline via the mobile app, mobile portal, web portal and mobile app interfaces on the 2G, 3G and LTE network.
Other new Music+ functionalities include a music library with over 670 000 tracks, 40% local and 60% international and ability to download music.
Says Maxwell Nonge, Chief Digital Officer: MTN SA: “We are excited to offer our subscribers an improved version of our online musical proposition. This is part of our strategy of providing exciting value added services to our customers and cementing our foothold in the digital space. As a company that always strives to stay ahead of the curve, we believe that this revamped proposition mirrors the trends in the music space and resonates with our customer’s demands.
We believe that the revised offering will also help to combat piracy which is the nemesis of the music industry, and will further bolster the live music market in South Africa.”
According to research, in 2014 the global digital music revenues had overtaken physical music revenues. Downloads and subscriptions accounted for 75% of this revenue. In South Africa digital music is experiencing high growth as well, driven mainly by local artists. Research by PwC and GMR has found that physical music sales have declined by 17%, while digital music sales are increasing by 9%.
“As MTN, we want to be at the forefront of this revolution and leverage our infrastructure to ensure that our customers and the industry benefit from this changing eco-system,” Nonge concludes.