Rdio and Shaw Communications Announce Strategic Partnership in Canada

SAN FRANCISCO and CALGARY, Alberta, April 24, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Rdio, Inc. ("Rdio") and Shaw Communications Inc. ("Shaw") today announced a marketing, content and promotion partnership that will grow Rdio, the leading digital streaming music service in Canada and provide Canadians a seamless digital experience for music.

"Canada is Rdio's second largest market and is a huge priority for us. As one of the most diverse countries in the world, Canada has a rich and varied musical landscape of musicians and music-lovers, so we're very excited to align with Shaw to become the top music service in Canada," said Anthony Bay, CEO of Rdio. 

This announcement follows the recent news that Rdio has entered into a similar alliance in Brazil with Grupo Bandeirantes, a company that includes Brazil's top radio stations, newspapers and magazines, television networks and out-of-home media. "As we have seen in the U.S., Australia, Brazil and Mexico, local partnerships offer unique opportunities for growth. We're looking forward to start working with Shaw to reach Canadian music fans everywhere they are," Bay added.

"As Canada's leading network and content experience company, we believe our customers should have access to the best content available," said Brad Shaw, CEO, Shaw Communications Inc.  "Rdio is the best available digital streaming music experience and a great complement to our leading broadband and Shaw Go WiFi services. Our partnership with Rdio will develop great offers that will enable Shaw customers and everyone across the country to enjoy this service."

As part of the arrangement, Shaw Ventures has made a financial investment in Rdio's holding company, Pulser Media, Inc.

With Rdio, music fans can access a massive catalog of over 20 million songs or start a custom station. The New York Times recently called Rdio its "go-to music app" for its "beautiful design and user interface," while Mashable has lauded it as the "music discovery version of a candy store."  New users in Canada can sign up at rdio.com and start listening instantly for free on the web and get a 14-day trial of Rdio Unlimited with full access everywhere, including mobile.

About Rdio:

Rdio is the groundbreaking digital music service that is reinventing the way people discover, play, and share music. Play what you want, when you want, or turn on a station for a perfect mix of songs. Listen anywhere — the web, your phone, even offline — and follow friends and artists to see what they're playing.

Launched in August 2010, Rdio is headquartered in San Francisco and was founded by Janus Friis, the co-creator of Skype, and is currently available in 51 countries. For more information visit www.rdio.com.

About Shaw:

Shaw Communications Inc. is a diversified communications and media company, providing consumers with broadband cable television, High-Speed Internet, Home Phone, telecommunications services (through Shaw Business), satellite direct-to-home services (through Shaw Direct) and engaging programming content (through Shaw Media).  Shaw serves 3.2 million customers, through a reliable and extensive fibre network.  Shaw Media operates one of the largest conventional television networks in Canada, Global Television, and 19 specialty networks including HGTV Canada, Food Network Canada, HISTORY® and Showcase.  Shaw is traded on the Toronto and New York stock exchanges and is included in the S&P/TSX 60 Index (Symbol: TSX – SJR.B, NYSE – SJR).  For more information about Shaw, please visit www.shaw.ca

Media contacts:

Rdio       
Sabena Singh
Environics Communications
416-969-2735
[email protected]

Rogers and Cowan
Susan Yin
310-854-8122
[email protected]

Shaw Communications
Chethan Lakshman
Vice President, External Affairs
403-930-8448
[email protected]

SOURCE Rdio