Yonder Music

Yonder
Founder Adam Kidron
Headquarters US
Services Mobile-only digital music download service

Yonder is a mobile-only digital music download service, founded by Adam Kidron. Its software is pre-installed in smartphones. It is compatible with Android[1] and iOS.[2][3] Yonder's music catalogue includes content from three major record labels (Universal Music Group, Sony and Warner Music Group), in addition to independent labels.[2]

History

Kidron's earlier music service venture launched in 2007, Beyond Oblivion, was the basis for Yonder. Between 2008 and 2011, Beyond Oblivion raised $33.2 million from Intertrust Technologies Corporation, Allen & Company, News Corporation, and Wellcome Trust; however, by the end of 2011, it became clear that it would not be able to raise enough capital to pay content owners under their licensing agreements. Beyond Oblivion filed Chapter 11 under the United States Bankruptcy Code in 2012.[4] The assets of Beyond Oblivion were sold at auction to Gee Beyond, Inc. Kidron founded Yonder in a renewed attempt to popularize the hard-bundled model.[4][5]

Launch

The seed capital for Yonder was provided by Cliff Burnstein, manager of musical artists such as Metallica, The Black Keys, and Red Hot Chili Peppers.[2] In May 2013, Yonder released a its commercial beta version; specifically on a limited number of HTC models in the US.[2][6]

Features

Yonder offers a set of features, such as progressive download, where music is downloaded from the cloud and added to the user's collection;[5] playlist sharing between users; patented algorithms that recommend artists, etc. to users according to their habits; and integration with Facebook and Twitter.[2]

Business model

Device manufacturers or mobile operators purchase Yonder licenses in bulk, and then hard-bundle the software with their product to enhance the user experience. The cost of the licensing fee is bundled with the cost of the mobile plan or smartphone. The license fee is a pre-payment for unlimited usage on a device, from which Yonder pays content owners royalties.[2][4] [9] In a May 2013 New York Times article by Ben Sisario, Adam Kidron said that Yonder is a model that “attracts the other 98% of people who are not paying” for music.[2]

Critical reception

In a May 2013 a review of Yonder hailed “its ability to compile all the music you like in one place". Responding to Yonder's relationship with paying musicians, another reviewer wrote, “Yonder will reach the masses and everyone gets paid.” In a video interview between Kidron and Fox Business, Yonder was described as a service that could “challenge all the music subscription models” by “really thinking outside the box.”[7] Although the response to the beta version has been generally positive, reviewers expressed that some features needed improvement.

References

  1. ↑ Sarpong, Sabrina. "Yonder Music Launches Android'Exclusive Digital Music Service". Stupiddope. Stupiddope. Retrieved 17 January 2015.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 SISARIO, BEN. "Digital Music Service to Pose New Challenge to Subscription Model". New York Times. Retrieved 2 January 2015.
  3. ↑ Smith, Clyde. "Beyond Oblivion: Adam Kidron's Back With Yonder". Hypebot. Retrieved 2 January 2015.
  4. 1 2 3 Van Buskirk, Eliot. "Beyond Oblivion: How a Promising Music Startup Imploded". Evolver. Retrieved 2 January 2015.
  5. 1 2 Hernandez, Alex. "Yonder Music Aims To Change Streaming And Downloading Music". Techaeris. Retrieved 2 January 2015.
  6. ↑ "New Mobile Music Service Democratizes the Music Industry by Embedding the Cost of Music in Smartphones - Addressing a Void for 99% of Consumers". Yahoo Finance. PRNewswire. Archived from the original on January 21, 2015. Retrieved 2 January 2015.
  7. ↑ "New service offers music on mobile devices". Fox News. Retrieved 2 January 2015.
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