LiveXLive

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LiveXLive
LiveXLive logo.svg
Type of site
Internet radio
Available inEnglish
OwnerLiveXLive
Key people
  • Robert Ellin (CEO)
  • Brad Kindig (CTO)
URLlivexlive.com
CommercialYes
RegistrationOptional (Limited Plays), Free
LaunchedMarch 15, 2007 (as Slacker Radio)
Current statusActive

LiveXLive (pronounced Live by Live) is a music streaming platform, combining audio and (often live) video, available in the US and Canada. Users can access the service on the web, through mobile apps on smartphones and on OTT devices. It allows users to create and share customized music stations. LiveXLive allows users to customize one of their programmed stations (for instance, Today's Hits) or start with music similar to an artist or song, and then customize that. Currently, LiveXLive powered by Slacker has 420 expert-curated music stations.

LiveXLive's business model offers free, ad supported access, and subscription levels that remove ads and offer additional features.

In September 2017, Slacker was acquired by LiveXLive.[1] In April 2019, the Slacker app rebranded as LiveXLive Powered By Slacker.[2]

History[]

The company was founded in 2004 by Celite Milbrandt[3] and Dennis Mudd who launched the company in March 2007.[4][5][6] Dennis was the former CEO of MusicMatch, which was purchased by Yahoo Music and became known as Yahoo! Music Radio.

In September 2007, the service as Slacker Radio[7] finalized its deals with four major labels: Sony BMG Music Entertainment, EMI, Universal, and Warner; it also announced deals with thousands of indie labels.[8]

In 2008, Slacker released the Slacker Portable Player, available in 2GB, 4GB, and 8GB capacities.[9] On January 9, 2008, the Slacker Portable Player received Laptop Magazine's Best of CES Portable Audio/Video Player Award.[10] On September 16, 2008, Slacker released a new portable player called Slacker G2.[11] Slacker consumer electronics, including the G2 Personal Radio Player, have since been discontinued in favor of an emphasis on smartphones and other mobile applications.[12] In April 2008, the company announced agreements with top music publishers, including EMI Music Publishing, Sony/ATV Music Publishing, Universal Music Publishing Group and Warner/Chappell Music. These agreements, signed before the Slacker Portable Player (since retired) launched, allowed Portable Player users to listen to cached Internet radio stations and premium radio users to save songs for later playback.[13]

Final Slacker logo prior to LiveXLive acquisition.

On February 13, 2013, Slacker retired its original look and logo in favor of a new, streamlined design and a simplified logo, now colored orange (as opposed to the black, white and gold colors of the old logo). On 14 December 2014, a redesign and relaunch incorporated a new logo, a red, white, and black color scheme, and a complete UI overhaul for all platforms.[14]

LiveXLive purchased Slacker at the end of 2017 and combined Slacker into its streaming service, rebranding the service in April 2019 as LiveXLive Powered by Slacker.[2]

In 2020, amid the COVID-19 pandemic, LiveXLive launched a partnership with American rapper Pitbull, which would grant the platform exclusive rights to concerts, behind-the-scenes, videos and more from Pitbull to be streamed to LiveXLive's premium subscribers.[15] Also in 2020, LiveXLive acquired podcast network PodcastOne.[16]

Basic functions[]

LiveXLive/Slacker offers traditional genre, specialty, and artist stations pre-programmed by professional DJs while also letting users build entire stations of specific artists. Users can continue to develop any of these stations by rating favorite songs and banning artists or songs. LiveXLive/Slacker also allows subscribers to customize any station to their liking by adjusting settings like: more hits or more depth, more or less of their favorites, and more current or more classic material. The music could also be interspersed with music, sports and ABC News updates, alongside some DJ banter. LiveXLive also offers access to over 40 live-streamed music events a year such as Rock In Rio, and iHeart Country.

When a user inputs the name of a specific band or artist LiveXLive/Slacker will instantly create a station based on that musician along with similar artists. This feature allows users to discover new artists similar to the ones they already like. Users can also create their own stations by inputting artists they like. The rest of the station is automatically populated with similar songs and artists. Pre-programmed themed stations (holidays, music festivals, and artists) are also available.

In July 2010, Slacker added the ABC News station, with an option to include headline news for top-of-the-hour updates on any Slacker Radio station.[17] In late summer 2011, ESPN channels were also added.

Account types[]

LiveXLive Basic Radio LiveXLive Radio Plus ($3.99/month) LiveXLive Radio Premium ($9.99/month)
  • Listening to ready-made stations
  • Creating custom stations
  • Skipping 6 songs per hour per station
  • Ads every 5 to 7 songs
  • Audio quality: 128kbit/s
  • Listening to ready-made stations
  • Creating custom stations
  • Unlimited skips
  • No ads
  • Audio quality: 320kbit/s
  • Listening to ready-made stations
  • Creating custom stations
  • Unlimited skips
  • No ads
  • Audio quality: 320kbit/s
  • Offline listening
  • Play on demand
  • Only available through iTunes

Mobile applications[]

The LiveXLive powered by Slacker mobile app works on iPhone, iPod touch, WebOS, Android, BlackBerry, Windows Mobile 6.x & Windows Phone 7.x/8.x smartphone platforms, and Windows 8.x/RT. The applications provide playback from 3G or WiFi connections. Features such as station creation, recently played stations, fine-tune options, artist biographies, photos, album art, reviews, station caching and lyrics (for LiveXLive Radio Plus or Premium subscribers) are available on the mobile applications as well. Slacker access is built into the music app of the Tesla Model S, X,3 and Y vehicles in the US including an ad free Slacker account at no charge.

Community[]

LiveXLive/Slacker has provided its listeners and all music fans with the opportunity to connect via Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook to further promote music discovery.

Twitter[]

Twitter users can log into LiveXLive/Slacker[18] and select the option to automatically or manually alert their friends and followers about the following:

  • Station changes/plays
  • Favorite song
  • Banned song
  • Banned artist

Facebook[]

Facebook users can find LiveXLive on Facebook and become a fan to get music news and learn about new features, promotions, and contests.

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ Singleton, Micah (September 15, 2017). "LiveXLive acquires Slacker Radio for $50 million". The Verge.
  2. ^ a b "Slacker Radio rebranded as LiveXLive, focusing on streaming live performances [APK Download]". April 25, 2019.
  3. ^ McBride, Sarah (June 18, 2007). "Internet Radio Races To Break Free of the PC" – via www.wsj.com.
  4. ^ "'Slacker' Music Service Combines Player, Recommendations".
  5. ^ "News | Austin Ventures". www.austinventures.com.
  6. ^ "Slacker's CEO isn't one".
  7. ^ "Slacker (beta)".
  8. ^ Van Buskirk, Eliot (September 20, 2007). "Slacker Music Service Signs Deals with All Major Labels, Thousands of Indies" – via www.wired.com.
  9. ^ "InformationWeek, serving the information needs of the Business Technology Community". InformationWeek.
  10. ^ "Best of CES 2008". Archived from the original on July 8, 2012.
  11. ^ "Chicago Tribune - Historical Newspapers". Chicago Tribune.
  12. ^ McMahan, Ty (October 21, 2009). "Slacker Ditches G2 Device In Favor Of New Mobile Strategy" – via www.wsj.com.
  13. ^ "Slacker Announces Major Publishing Agreements". Archived from the original on April 12, 2008.
  14. ^ Roettgers, Janko (December 10, 2014). "Slacker relaunches its radio service to finally land a hit". gigaom.com.
  15. ^ "Pitbull Partners With LiveXLive For Multi-Year Deal To Develop, Produce & Distribute Unique Original Content". www.prnewswire.com (Press release). LiveXLive Media.
  16. ^ Spangler, Todd (2020-05-08). "LiveXLive to Acquire PodcastOne in $18 Million Stock Deal". Variety. Retrieved 2020-09-27.
  17. ^ "ABC News' Press Room announces: Slacker Radio Links With ABC News".
  18. ^ "Slacker Radio Adds Twitter Functionality To Give Music Fans A New Method To Share Lady Gaga Songs". Archived from the original on October 14, 2009.

External links[]

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