Sonos is debuting its own free music streaming service, Sonos Radio. This ad-free, radio streaming service will be available for free starting today for Sonos customers through a software update.
The company says that nearly half of its customers’ listening time on Sonos has been dedicated to radio which prompted them to create this new service. To that effect, Sonos Radio offers customers a new way to explore and discover new music through the Sonos devices they already have.
Sonos Radio will give users access to more than 60,000 stations from different streaming partners as well as original programming. Users will also have access to multiple internet radio services like TuneIn and iHeartRadio. Basing on a customer’s zip code, Sonos Radio can provide access to local stations for news and current events, but global music and news will also be within reach with access to different stations worldwide. The company says that the new partner stations will continually be added over time with UK-based radio service Global and Radio.com coming soon.
Sonos Sound System is the company’s own ad-free station that will feature curated playlists by selected members of the Sonos team, as well as by artists and DJs. The station explores various genres and sounds to suit every kind of listener. It will also feature behind-the-scenes stories and a weekly artist-hosted radio hour.
Artists stations, which are also ad-free on Sonos Radio, will feature selections that are handpicked by artists that include the likes of Thom Yorke, Brittany Howard, and Davin Byrne. The company says that there are about 30 or more other Sonos stations that are inspired by its customers and their preferred genres.
With its custom programming and curation tools, Sonos promises that its stations will regularly dispatch fresh hand-picked music. Unfortunately, Sonos’ original programming will initially only be available to customers in the US, Canada, UK, Ireland, and Australia.