User:A Frog Prince/Bloom.fm

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Developer(s)Digital Distribution Networks Ltd.
Initial release
  • iOS (January 8, 2013; 11 years ago (2013-01-08))
  • Android (September 3, 2013; 10 years ago (2013-09-03))
Stable release
/
  • iOS (September 12, 2013; 10 years ago (2013-09-12))[1]
  • Android (September 13, 2013; 10 years ago (2013-09-13))[2]
Operating systemiOS 4.3 or later; Android 2.3 or later
Size1.6 to 4.5 MB
Available inEnglish
TypeMusic online service
LicenseFreemium
Websitewww.bloom.fm
As ofSeptember 16, 2013

Bloom.fm is a London-based mobile-focussed music online service which combines free streaming genre and artist based radios, music discovery tools, a local library player and a catalogue of over 22 million tracks.[3][4] The service allows a user to 'borrow' songs, making them available for offline playback. The maximum number of stored tracks is determined by the subscription level.[5]

Bloom is currently available only in the United Kingdom on iOS and Android with a Web version in development and set for release at some point in 2013.[6]

History[edit]

Bloom.fm was officially launched in January 2013 on iOS, previously being available to several thousand beta testers.[7] The service reached 250,000 registered users in August 2013.[4]

The Android app was released in September 2013.[8]

Features[edit]

Catalogue[edit]

As of September 2013, approximately 22 million tracks were available on the service, including content from EMI, Sony, Universal, and Merlin (representing over 120,000 independent labels) and various independent labels through aggregators such as TuneCore, IODA, The Orchard, PIAS, AWAL, Ditto, and CD Baby.[9]

Warner Music is the only major label not to have licensed its content to the service.[3]

Radio[edit]

The free tier of the service offers over 150 genre-based radios. Additionally, users are able to start a new radio based on most artists on the service.[10]

Borrowing[edit]

Bloom.fm refers to the process of caching the track on a device as ‘borrowing’. This allows offline playback. The tracks are available to a user for the duration of the subscription.[3]

Discovery[edit]

The artist discovery interface allows the user to explore related artists by tapping the icon in the bottom left of the player.

Playlists[edit]

Playlists of two types are available to all paying consumers. Normal playlists are created by manually adding borrowed tracks to them and smart playlists are created automatically by borrowing tracks from the predefined radio channels.[11]

Local content[edit]

The application supports integration and playback of local music libraries. This feature is available for free on all tiers. The company has expressed a desire for the app to become the default music player for all users.[12]

Pricing[edit]

The service offers a free tier (Bloom Zero) that gives the user access to streaming genre radio channels as well as artist-based radios.[5]

The service has been noted for a low entry price point.[3][7] The subscription tiers determine the number of tracks the users can store on their devices simultaneously. The entry-level £1 subscription allows the user to borrow and store 20 tracks, the £5 tier has an allowance of 200 tracks and the £10 subscription allows unlimited streaming and borrowing.

Notably, the subscription prices are different on the website of the service and Apple’s App Store. The company explains the higher prices in the App Store by stating that Apple takes a 30% cut of in-app purchases.[3]

Radio Discovery Free of ads Playlist Streaming Borrowing Monthly cost
Bloom Zero Yes Yes No No No No Free
Bloom 20 Yes Yes Yes Yes No 20 tracks £1/£1.49
Bloom 200 Yes Yes Yes Yes No 200 tracks £5/£6.99
Full Bloom Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Unlimited tracks £10/£13.99

Other versions and platforms[edit]

According to CEO Oleg Fomenko, several other versions are in active development, including dedicated iPad and web apps.[3]

Third-party service integration and sharing[edit]

Bloom.fm allows the user to use their Facebook account to log into the app. Tracks can be shared to Twitter and Facebook with an option to share via email.[5]

The service also supports scrobbling to Last.fm.

Partnerships[edit]

The company has partnered with music events in the UK, including The Liverpool Sound Concert, Tramlines Festival, and Toddla T Sound.[13][14][15]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "Bloom.fm". Apple Store. Retrieved September 16, 2013. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  2. ^ a b "Bloom.fm". Google Play. Retrieved September 16, 2013. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  3. ^ a b c d e f Stuart Dredge (January 16, 2013). "Interview: Bloom.fm talks mobile-first personal radio". Music Ally. Retrieved September 16, 2013. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  4. ^ a b Tina Hart (August 6, 2013). "Bloom.fm strikes Merlin deal and reaches 250k registered user milestone". Music Week. Retrieved September 16, 2013. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  5. ^ a b c Shane Richmond (February 7, 2013). "Bloom.fm app review". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved September 16, 2013. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  6. ^ "New Contract - Bloom.fm". EmuBands. December 7, 2012. Retrieved September 16, 2013. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  7. ^ a b Tim Ingham (January 10, 2013). "£1 per month streaming service Bloom.fm launches". Music Week. Retrieved September 16, 2013. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  8. ^ Nick Summers (September 3, 2013). "Bloom.fm brings its stunning on-demand music streaming app to Android in the UK". The Next Web. Retrieved September 16, 2013. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  9. ^ Thomas Rowbottom (May 17, 2013). "Bloom.fm agrees deal with TuneCore". Music Week. Retrieved September 16, 2013. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  10. ^ Nick Summers (January 18, 2013). "Bloom.fm combines Internet radio, streaming and a local music player into one stunning iPhone app". The Next Web. Retrieved September 16, 2013. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  11. ^ "Bloom.fm review". Stuff. Retrieved September 16, 2013. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  12. ^ Tina Hart (September 4, 2013). "Bloom.fm app launches on Android". Music Week. Retrieved September 16, 2013. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  13. ^ "Liverpool Sound City teams up with Bloom.fm". Liverpool Sound City. April 4, 2013. Retrieved September 16, 2013. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  14. ^ "Tramlines + Bloom.fm Join Forces". iHouse Limited. July 17, 2013. Retrieved September 16, 2013. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  15. ^ "Connecting people". Rootstock Trading. August 15, 2013. Retrieved September 16, 2013. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)

External link[edit]

Category:Companies based in London Category:Streaming music services Category:IOS software Category:Android (operating system) software

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