Google to buy Songza for US$15 million?

Google is said to be making strategic moves to acquire music streaming service Songza.

The Long Island City-based company’s 5.5 million active users competes with streaming juggernauts Spotify’s 24 million active users and Pandora’s 77 million, but while the search giant offers streaming products like Google Play and YouTube, it lacks the personalised touch of the aforementioned curators.

The New York Post reports Google has offered Songza US$15 million, a fraction of Spotify’s estimated US$4 billion worth, suggesting Google is after Songza’s curation, not its listenership.

It has been suggested that Apple’s $3.25 billion acquisition of Beats on May 28 could have influenced Google’s target of Songza. Much like the way Beats Music currently works, Songza makes playlist suggestions for almost any mood or circumstance, a few choice cuts from their website include: Rooftop Party Rock, Rich Girl Pop, Rib Eye of the Tiger: ‘80s Rock BBQ and Songs To Take A Dump To (!).

In April Google acquired drone company Titan Aerospace for an undisclosed amount, in January it acquired the British artificial intelligence company DeepMind for around US$500 million and in December last year bought robot manufacturer Boston Dynamics - the tenth robotics company Google has acquired in the last year.

In September last year, Songza raised US$4.7 million in an investment round from investors including Amazon, Justin Bieber’s manager Scooter Braun and Lady Gaga’s ex-manager Troy Carter.