Rumours suggest Facebook is readying Spotify application

by Stevie Smith - Aug 26 2009, 16:30

Monday saw MySpace swoop from the shadows and steal leading music tool iLike away from beneath the nose of social network leader Facebook in an acquisition deal thought to be worth around $20 million USD.

Evidently, if related reports are to be believed, Facebook is now looking to react quickly to counter the purchase.

While Facebook has said the iLike application – the most popular of its kind – will not be blocked or removed despite ownership now residing with its main market rival, it would appear the network is turning its focus towards the introduction of a Spotify app in an attempt to twist the dimmer switch on iLike.

According to industry magazine TechCrunch, Facebook has been engaged in partnership talks with the European start-up for more than 12 months and those talks have progressed significantly as a result of the iLike share and download service recently becoming a MySpace property.

And, while we concede that it’s not exactly compelling evidence, rumours of a Spotify and Facebook melding have been conveniently bolstered by a timely statement of “Spotify is so good,” issued this week by Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg.

Based in Sweden and founded by Daniel Ek and Martin Lorentzon in 2006, the Spotify online service provides users with access to almost four million music tracks streamed from a comprehensive catalogue of popular recording artists. The service is presently free in certain parts of Western Europe.

In terms of the iLike acquisition, News Corp-owned MySpace has said it intends to develop the service’s existing traction to include content such as Hollywood movies and also videogame titles.

The Tech Herald: MySpace beats Facebook to iLike acquisition

The Tech Herald: Spotify adds two million tracks to its back catalogue

 

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