Audiomack

Last updated

Audiomack
Audiomack logo.svg
Logo used since its launch
Type of business Streaming media
Available in English
Founded2012 (2012)
Headquarters
New York
,
United States
Founder(s) Dave Macli
David Ponte
Thomas Klinger
Ty Wangsness
and Brian Zisook.
Key peopleDave Macli (CEO)
IndustryMusic, podcast, and video
Services Music streaming
Revenue €2,851,225 million in 2023 ($3.1 million) [1]
URL audiomack.com
CommercialYes
RegistrationRequired
Current statusActive
Native client(s) on Web, Android, iOS, Windows, Windows Mobile, BlackBerry OS, macOS, Android TV

Audiomack (often stylized as audiomack) is a music streaming and audio discovery platform that allows artists to upload music and fans to stream and download songs. It is especially popular among emerging artists, offering a space to share their music . The platform supports genres such as Hip-hop, R&B, Afrobeats, and Latin music, with a focus on providing a free, user-friendly streaming experience. Audiomack is available as a web-based service and as an app on macOS, Android devices and Windows.

Contents

History

Audiomack was co-founded in 2012 [2] by Dave Macli, David Ponte, Thomas Klinger, Ty Wangsness, and Brian Zisook. [3] The platform originally allowed artists to freely share their mixtapes, songs, and albums. [4] In April 2013, J. Cole (Yours Truly 2) and Chance the Rapper ( Acid Rap ) released new projects exclusively on the platform. [5] In September 2018, Eminem released "Killshot", a diss track about Machine Gun Kelly, exclusively on Audiomack, earning 8.6 million plays in four months. [5] In February, 2019, Nicki Minaj released three songs exclusively on the platform, [6] including a remix of Blueface's "Thotiana." [7]

In November 2020, Audiomack signed a music licensing agreement with Warner Music Group, covering the United States, Canada, Jamaica, and five "key African territories," including Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, and Tanzania. [8]

In December 2020, Audiomack launched its monetization program, AMP, to all eligible creators based in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. In July 2021, Audiomack expanded the program to creators worldwide and introduced a partnership with Ziiki Media to help promote artists across Africa. [9]

In February 2021, Variety reported Audiomack has music licensing agreements in the United States with Universal Music Group and Sony Music Entertainment. [10] Audiomack also receives music through licensing deals with labels and distributors such as EMPIRE, [11] among others. Also in February 2021, Billboard announced Audiomack streaming data would begin informing some of its flagship charts, including the Hot 100, the Billboard 200, and the Global 200. [12]

In March 2021, Fast Company magazine named Audiomack one of the 10 most innovative companies in music. [13]

In April 2021, Audiomack partnered with telecommunications company MTN Nigeria to offer its 76 million users cheaper data to stream music in its app. [14]

In December 2021, Audiomack launched Supporters, a "feature that will enable loyal fans to tip their favorite artist's music." [15] Fans fund artists or rights holders directly by purchasing 'support badges' for individual song and album releases. [16] Warner Music Group, which was Audiomack's first major label partner, signed on as the first major label participant in "Supporters." [17] Other participating partners include Amuse, AudioSalad Direct, DistroKid, EMPIRE, FUGA, Stem, and Vydia. [18]

In February 2023, Audiomack announced a partnership deal with MTV Base to improve listeners' access to quality music material while raising awareness of African musicians throughout Africa. [19]

In July 2023, Audiomack announced a partnership with Love Renaissance (LVRN), an American record label and management company, to identify emerging musicians. [20]

In April 2024, Audiomack and Merlin announced a "strategic, indie-centric partnership." Through the partnership, Merlin's membership gained access to Audiomack's global audience of engaged listeners. [21]

As of November 2024, Audiomack is reporting 10 million daily active users and 36 million monthly active users globally. This news was reported alongside a partnership announcement with Indian music label Saregama. [22]

Features

Offline playback is free to all users and not blocked by a paywall. Users and artists can upload their music to the service through its website. Audiomack uses a combination of audio fingerprinting, DMCA takedown requests, and manual curation to police unauthorized uploads. [23] Audiomack does not limit or charge creators for storing content on its service.

In February 2022, Audiomack launched Creator App, giving its users the ability to "upload new music, analyze data, and connect with fans all in one app." [24] The Creator App surpassed 1 million downloads in spring of 2023. [21]

In May 2023, Audiomack updated its Creator App, adding Promote, "a new tab that provides creators with downloadable assets for marketing and promoting their work." [25] In July 2023, the company announced Connect, a "free, first-of-its-kind feature" that allows creators to message their followers on the service. [26]

Audiomack introduced Audiomod, "a new set of tools that allow users to fiddle with tracks by changing the tempo, modifying the pitch, or swaddling them in reverb," in late 2023. [27] The user-facing feature is the first of its kind in the music streaming space. [21]

Features

Music Library Audiomack allows artists to upload their music directly to the platform, making it accessible to listeners for free streaming and downloads. It offers a catalog of millions of songs, ranging from popular tracks by mainstream artists to independent releases. The platform is known for hosting exclusive mixtapes, singles, and albums, especially in hip-hop and Afrobeats genres. [26]

Free and Premium Streaming Audiomack offers a free, ad-supported streaming model, allowing users to stream and download tracks at no cost. The platform also includes a premium subscription, Audiomack Premium, which provides an ad-free experience, higher-quality audio, and the ability to download music for offline listening.

Trending and Charts Audiomack features a trending section that highlights the most popular songs, albums, and playlists based on user engagement and activity. The platform also includes curated playlists and editorial content, helping users discover new music. It offers genre-specific charts, including the Top Songs , Top Albums, and Top Trending tracks across various regions, providing a snapshot of trending music worldwide. [28]

Artist Monetization and Support Audiomack allows artists to earn revenue through its Audiomack Monetization Program (AMP), which is available to select creators. [29] Through AMP, artists can monetize their streams on the platform, offering them a way to generate income from their music without a major label backing. [30] Audiomack also provides promotional tools and analytics to help artists understand their audience and grow their fan base. [31] [32]

Accounts and subscriptions

As of October 2024, the two Audiomack subscription tiers are:

TypeRemove adsMobile listeningSound qualityListen offlineSpotify Connect
Audiomack FreeNoLimited
(shuffle-only mode)		Up to 160 kbit/s Vorbis or 128 kbit/s Advanced Audio Coding for the web playerYesLimited
(Audiomack Connect device using the new SDK)
Audiomack PremiumYesYesUp to 320 kbit/s Vorbis or 256 kbit/s AAC for the web playerYesYes

Content

Audiomack produces several original video content series, including Trap Symphony, with past episodes including Migos, [33] [34] Chief Keef, [35] and Rich the Kid, [36] among others. Other series include Bless The Booth and Fine Tuned, which featuring YNW Melly, [37] among other acts.

In March 2021, Audiomack officially launched Audiomack World, the editorial arm of the company. Users can read articles in the Audiomack app on Android and iOS, as well as their desktop site. [38]

In February 2024, Audiomack introduced You Need To Hear, a global rising artist program. The first artist selected for the series was FOURFIVE, a rapper from New York City. [39]

In 2022, Audiomack launched Keep the Beat Going, an annual campaign aimed at amplifying emerging artists' profiles and introducing them to global markets through billboards in major cities, curated playlists, digital ads, and creator workshops. The campaign has highlighted 72 artists between 2022 and 2024 from countries such as Ghana, Tanzania, Nigeria, South Africa, and Kenya, including notable names like Ayra Starr, Burna Boy, Rema, and Uncle Waffles. [40]

See also

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References

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  2. ↑ Payne, Ogden. "How Audiomack's Niche Value Proposition Established It As A Competitor In Music Streaming". Forbes. Retrieved March 21, 2019.
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  4. ↑ Suarez, Gary. "How Chief Keef Gave Audiomack A Boost In The Streaming Music Wars". Forbes. Retrieved March 21, 2019.
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  6. ↑ QUEEN (February 2, 2019). "Barbie Goin Bad Barbie Drip". @nickiminaj. Retrieved March 21, 2019.
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  11. ↑ "Songtrust Partners With Youth-Focused Streaming Platform Audiomack to Help Creators Get Paid". Billboard. Retrieved March 21, 2019.
  12. ↑ Trust, Gary (February 8, 2021). "Olivia Rodrigo's 'Drivers License' Leads Hot 100 for 4th Week, The Weeknd & CJ Hit Top 10". Billboard . Retrieved February 8, 2021.
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  18. ↑ "AUDIOMACK OPENS THE TIP JAR FOR ARTISTS". HITS Daily Double. Retrieved December 9, 2021.
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  21. 1 2 3 "Audiomack signs partnership with Merlin, as streaming service aims to monetize and legitimize modified audio". Music Business Worldwide. April 18, 2024. Retrieved May 10, 2024.
  22. ↑ "Audiomack hits 10m daily active users; strikes partnership with India's oldest label, Saregama". Music Business Worldwide. November 5, 2024. Retrieved December 17, 2024.
  23. ↑ "How Audiomack Is Playing Major League Ball With Minor League Talent". The FADER. Retrieved March 21, 2019.
  24. ↑ "Control Your Career With Audiomack's Creator App". Audiomack World. February 3, 2022. Retrieved May 10, 2024.
  25. ↑ "Promote Your Music With Free, Personalized Assets on the Audiomack Creator App". Audiomack World. May 15, 2023. Retrieved May 10, 2024.
  26. 1 2 "Connect With Your Fans Directly on the Audiomack Creator App". Audiomack World. July 26, 2023. Retrieved May 10, 2024.
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  28. ↑ mildtyrant (May 3, 2024). "Black Sherif's "The Villain I Never Was" Breaks Audiomack Record". Album Talks. Retrieved October 23, 2024.
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  34. ↑ Fleischer, Adam. "Migos Turned 'Hannah Montana' Into A Symphony". MTV News. Archived from the original on July 24, 2015. Retrieved March 21, 2019.
  35. ↑ Haffenden, Dayna (November 7, 2018). "Chief Keef Performs "Love Sosa" and More With an Orchestra - XXL". XXL Mag. Retrieved March 21, 2019.
  36. ↑ "Rich The Kid Performed 'Plug Walk' With An Eight-Piece Orchestra". UPROXX. February 20, 2019. Retrieved March 21, 2019.
  37. ↑ Chesman, Donna-Claire (January 17, 2019). "Watch YNW Melly Perform "Murder On My Mind" With an Electric Guitar". The Audiomack Blog. Retrieved March 21, 2019.
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  40. ↑ Mamo, Heran (December 12, 2024). "How Audiomack Became a Streaming Power Player in Africa". Billboard. Retrieved December 17, 2024.
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