Creators of the once popular peer-to-peer file sharing program Kazaa are launching a new music subscription service.
The service, which they have named Rdio, is similar to other well-known subscription services such as MOG, Napster, and Zune Pass, but with a social twist.
For $5 to $10 a month users will have unlimited access to the services large catalog of artists.
As of now, however, the only major label who has licensed its catalog to the service isWarner Music Group.
Users who sign up for the $10 plan will be able to store music and stream songs both on their desktop and from their mobile device, which, as of now, is only available on theiPhone and Blackberry with an Android version due out soon.
The social twist the service is highlighting is the ability for users to follow friends on the site as well as see what those friends are listening too.
Ironically the creators behind site, Niklas Zennstrom and Janus Friis, who are now trying to befriend the major labels, were once their bitter enemies.
The pairs previous file-sharing program, Kazza, allowed users to download illegal movies, tv shows, and music, and led to a multi-million dollar suit brought against the pair by those same major labels.
Speaking to the New York Times about the past litigation, Warner Music Groupexecutive vice president for digital strategy, Michael Nash said, “We resolved the past. These guys are focused on the future.”
Rdio is set to be officially launched today, June 3.
Visit the site, rdio.com, for more information.
On a side note, Niklas Zennstrom and Janus Friis, are also the creators behindSkype, the popular VOIP service, which they sold to Ebay for $3 billion in 2005.
