Twitter will launch a music-specific app later this month, following its acquisition of hipster music discovery service We Are Hunted late last year, according to a report by CNet.
Part of Twitter's strategy to refocus on specific media products, a Twitter Music app would be launched for iOS devices, according to CNet, allowing users to follow their favourite artists and songs and share recommendations with friends, as well as follow personalised recommendations based on their account.
The deal would be big news for Soundcloud, the Berlin-based music sharing service, which would power the streaming on the app.
Staff at We Are Hunted have been tweeting tests using the hashtag #nowplaying for a month. The trial app has included a short tour, links to "suggestions" and "popular" and an emerging artists section. Follow an artist and the app brings up their Soundcloud biography and track previews on the iTunes Store.
Music is one of the most powerful genres for Twitter, with seven of the top 10 most followed users in the music industry. Justin Bieber recently pipped Lady Gaga to the top spot with 35.9 million followers. Gaga – bio: "Where pop sucks the tits of art" – has 35 million, followed by Katy Perrywith 33.5 million and Rihanna with 28.8 million.
Source: The Guardian
