Music streaming service Moodagent launches locally with former Spotify exec Tom Mee at the helm

Australia has another music streaming service, with Moodagent officially launching its local push.

The ad-free service will cost $11.99 per month and is said to have distribution agreements with a wide range of international and domestic distributors, aggregators, record labels and publishers.

The platform said its point of difference is its desire to improve music discovery, expose listeners to more music and connect artists to new fans.

“While other streaming services offer personal recommendations, they are often based on prior listening, editorial selections, or what is topping the charts, and as a result, do not create many opportunities for discovery,” publicity for the local launch said.

“Moodagent’s approach is different. Patented AI technology analyses each listener’s taste to create a truly personalised listening profile, resulting in unique playlists and recommendations.”

Moodagent said its patented technology combines machine learning, audio analysis and tens of thousands of hours of human musicology. Using these tools to analyse key characteristics is songs, including emotions, moods, genres, instruments, vocal styles and more, it said it is able to understand music and create personal experiences for users.

The company’s chief innovation officer and co-founder, Peter Berg Steffensen, said Moodagent gives listeners a similar experience to listening to an album back in the day – “an order, the right tracks in the right sequence, but presented in a way that matches the mood of the listener while giving them complete control”.

Locally, the operation will be headed up by Tom Mee.

Image credit: Pat Stevenson 

Mee, Spotify’s former head of artist & label marketing across Australia and New Zealand, said he’s thrilled to bring Moodagent to Aussie music fans.

“It’s a unique streaming service with a proposition that tackles the challenge of music recommendations and discovery in a very personal and interactive way. With Australia having such a vibrant and diverse music culture Moodagent is perfectly suited to cater to the musical tastes of every fan, no matter what their mood,” he said.

The company has also hired Toni Pipicelli as director of music and editorial, and Bushra Abel as regional marketing director.

The company was founded in Denmark in 2001 and is aiming to be present in 25+ countries by 2023, including an imminent expansion into New Zealand.