Guvera launches in Indonesia

Australian-based music streaming service Guvera has launched in Indonesia as part of a partnership with B2B cloud-based digital music service provider Omnifone and IT company Skybee.

The expansion makes Guvera the first global unlimited music service to offer comprehensive domestic and international content in Indonesia.

Omnifone and Guvera have secured music licensing deals with rights owners and local labels such as Musica, Nagaswara, Trinity, Aquarius as well as all four major internationals.

Jeff Hughes, CEO, Omnifone, said in a statement: “Emerging economies will significantly boost global digital music service subscriber numbers in 2014 […] By taking the time to work with local rights owners, we were able to help Guvera agree a business model that realistically suits the lifestyles and financial needs of Indonesian consumers.”

The service is powered using the core platform of Omnifone’s cloud music platform, MusicStation.

Interestingly, despite Guvera making its name with the slogan ‘Unlimited music. Zero cost’ in Australia, the business model in Indonesia is a pay-for-play subscription service. A monthly subscription costs around IDR 55,000 (US$5) and offers users unlimited access online and offline on web, Android and iOS devices. This issue was broached by DailySocial in an interview with Skybee CEO Pontus Sonnerstedt last year, he told the website the decision was made due to agreements with labels and artists but they may consider a freemium model in the future.

Guvera now has six staffers in Indonesia but plans to expand to as many as 20 in the coming months.