One of the reasons that Internet music streaming services Pandora, imeem and Last.fm have been able to build large audiences is because they are run by people who have a passion for music. Or should I say, a passion for music beyond pop music. With Goom Radio, I’m not so sure.
Not only is Goom clearly trying to play the popular music card with a website littered with the likes of Coldplay, Kanye West, Beyonce and Britney Spears, but it promises to have “passionate programmers” and DJs. I don’t know about you, but I had two core reasons that I stopped listening to traditional radtio long ago: Crap music, and DJs. Goom, apparently, sees those as strong suits.
Not that there’s anything necessarily wrong with that. Pop music got that name for a reason, it’s popular. And popularity on the web means users. And users means people you can serve ads to and get paid — which is Goom’s business model for the time being, according to VentureBeat.
To be fair, you can also tailor your own stations based around your musical tastes, just as you do on the aforementioned Pandora. And you can upload your own music to the service to stream yourself from anywhere, just as you can with imeem. And the services promises high quality with its proprietary HD sound. But Goom is clearly putting resources into hiring “experienced” DJs, conducting interviews and even dishing out news (presumably about music). And it has raised a $16 million round of funding from Wellington Partners Venture Capital, Elaia Partners and Partech International to help it do all of that.
The service features the tagline “redefining radio for the digital generation,” but I wonder if the other services that already exist in the field haven’t already done that? Instead, Goom looks to be a way for the digital generation to rediscover traditional radio. And at a time when web radio is struggling to monetize against high streaming royalty fees, is bringing in DJs and programmers really the best use of funding?
You can sign up to be a part of Goom’s beta launch on its site.
Update: Goom contacted us to let us know that one of the key advantages it feels it has over its competitors is its solid executive team, which consists of a team with more than 20 years of experience inside both the realms of radio and technology. This includes CEO Rob Williams who previously was the President and Market Manager for Clear Channel New York. A fair point, though that doesn’t change my opinion about how the product is being sold to the public.
Will a startup somewhere please come up with something new? Not just another music player.
I second that…
Go for it guys. Nobody is stopping you.
we’re doing it
I third that
I don’t know what you’re complaining about, you’re perfectly free to say you like a band without ever having listened to them.
funny!!! We are all thinking the same thing…It takes a lot of work to change peoples way of thinking
If somebody that much in charge of the NEW YORK division of CLEAR CHANNEL has to do with this, I call TIME OF DEATH? Stillborn.
Completely agree. I think management experience from Clear Channel can only hurt. Clear Channel radio is just such a crappy product. I think Clear Channel will eventually be killed by internet radio once Wi-max or something similar becomes widespread.
Word!
Has anybody got a private beta invite from http://www.jamwee.com ??? i singed up last night, it looks pretty interesting….
This company may be worth 500 million at least. long live web 2.0 http://iamned.com/blog/
Well said MG Siegler. I loath hip hop DJs. Why would one need to go to the internet to hear was is being played by a plethora of top 100 radio stations around the country? What I like about last.fm is checking out the eclectic music tastes of audiofile users who hang there.
“littered”
Awesome phrase.
I dont understand who gave this company $16M when you have already have better and more established websites offering a better product. Sat radio and my local radio already do what Goom is trying to do. Just doesnt make sense
I ♥ MG Siegler @ TC
I hope that’s supposed to be a heart.
Goom is already available in France and I don’t understand its aim.
It is composed of 16 professional radios (with some bad shows) and user’s radio. In my opinion Goom Radios are webradios.
An Internet radio startup hits the deadpool every week. Baffled by this investment.
Whatever works I guess.
No matter how sense less some ALPHA BETA THETA rounds look like, I am sure the companies investing have see something that we can’t…
If the listening experience is good why not… I thought Pandora was another radio station till I tried it myself and got hooked
random. i imagine they must be showing investors something different to the platform they launched a few months back in france….
just curious if a key avantage the company should touting should be less about the executive team and more about the product, technology or the impact they expect to have. Sounds like someone’s ego needs to be checked and the value proposition needs to be restated. Ad delivery has become a necessary evil, how/when will someone deliver ads that are expected and enjoyed rather than tolerated. The only place it works is during the Superbowl where ads are anticipated.
MG Siegler, you obviously do not know what your talking about.
Goom Radio has a great potential of being the best internet radio on the web, beating their competitors such as pandora.
They obviously will bring on independent music very soon into their program, however mainstream music is still the big thing.
MG Siegler, stop trying to be the poser you are and pretend you actually listen to indie music. Your most likely an old hag still secretly listening to Britney Spears and Beyonce in your closet.
“One of the reasons that Internet music streaming services Pandora, imeem and Last.fm have been able to build large audiences is because they are run by people who have a passion for music.”
Unfortunately it might also be one of the reasons why none of these companies has found a way to live from that audience so far ? Entrepreneurs should be passionate about what they’re doing, but it isn’t always enough to build a company. Having someone on board with a bit more set-back about the topic is a good thing.
Listening all day to the service, it’s nice to hear good music from real people and not selections chosen at random by machines. I’m sure the 99% of the general public who have no idea who Pandora and Imeem are will enjoy this service.