
MixRadio is a music streaming service that allows users to create and share personalized radio stations.
The service was acquired by Microsoft in 2011, and later rebranded as Xbox Music.
MixRadio offers a vast music library with millions of tracks, including popular and niche genres.
You can access MixRadio on various platforms, including mobile and web.
Nokia Music Service
The Nokia Music Service was first announced on October 26, 2011, for the Windows Phone platform with the Lumia 710 and Lumia 800.
It was a radio-style music streaming service called MixRadio, which offered themed playlists curated by an in-house team at Nokia. The service also included an events finder called Gigfinder and allowed users to play locally stored music files.
The Nokia Music app was optimized for the new Windows Phone 8 operating system in late 2012, making it available on Windows 8 and Windows RT devices.
A premium subscription service called Nokia Music+ was later released in some territories, offering better audio quality, the ability to skip tracks, and cache playlists on the smartphone.
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The service was rebranded as Nokia MixRadio on November 20, 2013, and made its official global launch the following day in New York City with a special event featuring Nile Rodgers.
MixRadio was later renamed to simply "MixRadio" on July 1, 2014, to reflect the change of ownership from Nokia to Microsoft.
Here's a brief timeline of the Nokia Music Service's evolution:
- October 26, 2011: Nokia Music is announced for Windows Phone with MixRadio, Gigfinder, and music downloads.
- Late 2012: Nokia Music is optimized for Windows Phone 8 and released on Windows 8 and Windows RT.
- September 15, 2012: Nokia Music launches in the U.S. market with a performance by Green Day.
- November 20, 2013: Nokia Music is rebranded as Nokia MixRadio.
- July 1, 2014: MixRadio is renamed to simply "MixRadio" to reflect the change of ownership from Nokia to Microsoft.
MixRadio Features
MixRadio operated on the premise of playlists, named "mixes", which were created based on the user's favourite genres and artists.
Users could also select pre-made mixes by theme or genre, or create their own mix purely on the selection of artists.
The service allowed users to like or dislike songs as they played, saving their personal listening tastes and playing new songs based on their preferences.
MixRadio possessed a team of staff that personally curated mixes tailored to the data collected around listeners' tastes and habits.
The MixSharing feature enabled users to share three full tracks of a mix with friends via social media or SMS.
Users could also access exclusive mixes created by music legends like Nile Rogers through the MixSharing feature.
For a premium experience, Nokia MixRadio+ offered features like unlimited downloads for offline use and Lyric streaming for many songs.
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Mixes
Mixes are a key part of the MixRadio experience.
Upon loading the app for the first time, you're prompted to select some of your favourite genres, which will then ask for favourite artists that you can choose.
This is designated as your "My mix". You can also select pre-made mixes by theme or genre, such as 'Top 40 Australian charts' or 'Rock workout'.
Users can also create their own mix purely on the selection of artists.
Premium Experience
Want a premium experience? You can get it with Nokia MixRadio+, which adds more features to the service for just $3.99 (USD) per month.
With Nokia MixRadio+, you can enjoy unlimited downloads for offline use, so you can take your music with you wherever you go. This is especially useful when you're traveling or don't have a reliable internet connection.
Nokia MixRadio+ also gives you unlimited skips, so you can listen to the songs you want without worrying about running out of skips. I've personally tried this and it's a game-changer for music lovers like me.
The premium service also includes more sound options, Lyric streaming for many songs, and multi-device use, including access via the Web, tablet, and more. This means you can listen to your music on multiple devices and switch seamlessly between them.
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Nokia and Microsoft Exit
Nokia Music was renamed to Nokia MixRadio in 2013, a change that also affected the Windows 8 and Windows RT app stores.
In 2014, Nokia MixRadio was renamed again to MixRadio, reflecting the change of ownership from Nokia to Microsoft.
Microsoft announced in July 2014 that it was selling MixRadio after its acquisition of Nokia's mobile assets.
Five months later, LINE announced that they had acquired the innovative and creative team behind MixRadio, planning to continue and even expand the service.
The Microsoft name was finally removed from the Windows Phone version of MixRadio in late 2015.
LINE released beta apps for iOS and Android in 2015, in addition to continuing MixRadio's Windows Phone operations.
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MixRadio Experience
The MixRadio experience is a premium offering that takes your music streaming to the next level. For just $3.99 (USD) per month, you get access to a host of exciting features.
Unlimited downloads for offline use are included, so you can take your favorite tunes with you wherever you go. You can also skip tracks as many times as you want, without any restrictions.
More sound options are available, allowing you to customize your listening experience to suit your mood and preferences. Lyric streaming is also included, so you can sing along to your favorite songs.
You can access MixRadio+ on multiple devices, including your tablet and Web browser, making it easy to stream your music anywhere, anytime.
Nokia Music Service Launch
The Nokia Music app was announced for the first time on the Windows Phone platform with the Lumia 710 and Lumia 800 on 26 October 2011 in London.
It has a radio-style music streaming service called MixRadio, an events finder called Gigfinder, offers music downloads from its existing Nokia MP3 Store catalogue in 38 countries, and plays locally stored music files.
Nokia Music launched in the U.S. market on 15 September 2012 with a performance at Irving Plaza by Green Day.
Fans were treated to a special performance from the band, along with heavy social media involvement by AT&T, Nokia, the band themselves, and Warner Bros.
A premium subscription service called Nokia Music+ was later also released in some territories.
The service was later renamed to Nokia MixRadio, which made its official global launch on 21 November 2013 with a special event in New York City where Nile Rodgers played.
Here are some key features of the Nokia Music service at launch:
- Radio-style music streaming service called MixRadio
- Events finder called Gigfinder
- Music downloads from its existing Nokia MP3 Store catalogue in 38 countries
- Plays locally stored music files
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