Australia is one of the most crowded markets for streaming music in the world right now, with numerous services jostling for attention. That isn’t putting Samsung off: it has launched its Milk Music personal radio service there, taking the place of its recently-shuttered Music Hub.
The Australian rollout follows Milk Music’s US launch last March, and as in that country, it will be tied to Samsung devices in Australia. One body that’s not happy with the launch is indie licensing agency Merlin, though, which has made Milk Music its latest villain for its lack of a deal. “Samsung did not bother to license the world’s major independents via Merlin before they launched in Australia,” CEO Charles Caldas tells Billboard. “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.”
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