[Posted on July 21, 2008 - 9:47 PM]
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Venture-backed social music site and widget developer iLike Inc. today introduced several new features, including an advertising platform for live music promoters and streaming-song functionality powered by Rhapsody, the subscription service offered by RealNetworks Inc. [RNWK]. The company is also planning to open an API that will allow third-party developers to syndicate music from iLike into other applications.iLike chief executive Ali Partovi, who established the company from the remnants of the original Garageband.com, says advertising for live music hasn't previously translated well to Internet platforms. The company is introducing a self-service tool that allows promoters to create advertisements targeted at users who are interested in live music events. "When you hear a concert ad on the radio, there are three things going on," he says. "They know you're in the right city, they know what kind of music you listen to and they can play you a song by the artist. We're doing all three of those things, but translating them for the Internet."
iLike's concert-calendar tools compete with calendaring services Songkick.com Inc. and SonicLiving Inc. as well as a component of social music site Last.fm Ltd., although the others variously emphasize ticket-buying, social profiles and Internet radio alongside live music.
Partovi says iLike's API could enable Facebook widget developers to create "add-a-song" features to accompany games or other activities within the Facebook platform -- perhaps allowing, for example, online Scrabble players to send a song to their opponents. "We see it as a way for developers to weave music into other parts of the platform," he says.
iLike users who are not subscribers to Rhapsody's service will be able to stream up to 25 full-length songs per month, while paid subscribers will receive unlimited streaming. The deal places iLike more squarely into competition with ad-supported streaming site Imeem Inc., while Last.fm also offers limited on-demand streaming. iLike had previously offered 30-second samples, as well as a small catalog of promotional full-length songs. Rhapsody revealed its agreement with iLike about three weeks ago, concurrently with the announcement that it was opening a downloadable music store.
Partovi says iLike is considering another venture round, although it does not plan to start fundraising for some time. Former AOL executive Bob Pittman and key venture investor Vinod Khosla supplied the startup with $2.5 million in early 2006, while the Ticketmaster unit of IAC/InteractiveCorp [IACI] led its $13.3 million second round in December 2006. iLike may consider working with VCs or strategic investors in a future round, Partovi says. -- Paul Bonanos
See previous post from Tech Confidential concerning Rhapsody's agreement with iLike
See press release from iLike
