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News September 29, 2016

Spotify launches in Japan, appoints new GM

Charts & New Music Editor
Spotify launches in Japan, appoints new GM

Image:Spotify’s CEO and founder, Daniel EK

Streaming giantSpotify launched last night in Japan, increasing the service’s scope to 60 markets worldwide.

Spotify have also announced the appointment of Ichiro Tamaki, as Spotify’s General Manager, Japan. Tamaki was the former Vice President of Amazon Devices and Kindle Content, Japan.

Spotify’s current Managing Director, Japan, Hannes Graah, who has held the role since 2013, will assume the newly created position of Global Head of New Markets.

While the streaming service is freely available to all individuals wishing to the use the service in Australia and most other countries across the world, Spotify will initially be available on an invite-only basis in Japan before opening to all users.

People who are interested in using the service in Japan have been encouraged to request an invite code on Spotify’s website. The service can currently be accessed by select users via mobile, tablet, desktop and PlayStation.

Spotify is the first music service to enter the Japanese market that offers both a free-to-the-user ad-supported music service and a fully featured ad-free subscription service.

If users in Japan wish to upgrade from a “freemium” service, a subscription fee will cost 980 Yen per month which can be paid by credit card, carrier billing, in-store and online bank payment.

The Japanese version of Spotify will contain all the major features of the Australian and US variant, including Discover Weekly and Release Radar, plus additional playlists curated by Spotify’s Tokyo-based team of music experts.

Furthermore, Japan will globally deputise Spotify’s new mobile song lyrics support feature. The announcement of the unique Japanese feature comes alongside a new desktop lyric support component.

Spotify’s CEO and founder, Daniel EK, is delighted to be able to offer the streaming service to the Japanese market, which is set to build on its 40 million subscribers and inject further revenue into the company.

“We’re incredibly excited to launch Spotify with a uniquely Japanese music experience,” he says.

“With Spotify’s revolutionary discovery and personalisation features that fit your every mood, we aim to help people enjoy more music and connect more artists with fans than ever before.”

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