Merlin blasts Samsung over Aus launch of Milk Music

Samsung’s station-based internet radio service hasn’t even been live in Australia for a week and it’s already ruffled a few feathers.

Earlier this week, an advertisement run by Samsung in South Korea read: “Attention Galaxy users! No more paying for streaming music.” Samsung later pulled the ad and issued an apology. Now, Merlin, the global rights agency for the independent label sector, has spoken out against Milk Music for not consulting them over licensing.

Speaking to Billboard, Merlin’s CEO Charles Caldas said: "Samsung did not bother to license the world's major independents via Merlin before they launched in Australia. Given the success our labels have enjoyed in the Australian market, I'm sure Australian consumers will notice that, and be disappointed at their absence."

Australia is the third market to receive a Milk Music launch, following the US and Canada, bringing our total number of streaming services to 36. The oversaturation makes Australia the only other territory other than the US to feature all of streaming's major players: Spotify, Rdio, Pandora and Google Play Music All Access - who are all licensed via Merlin. However, according to ARIA's annual wholesale figures for 2014, subscription service income doubled to $23 million, up 111% from 2013.

Samsung shuttered its Music Hub in Australia on December 31 in preparation for Milk Music’s launch last Thursday. The service, exclusive to owners of Samsung’s Galaxy devices, has built-in curation on around 200 stations that cover 150 more than genres. Milk Music is powered by the people behind Slacker Radio.

The US service includes a Premium $3.99/month subscription tier, which is expected to roll out locally in the future.