End of music service purchased by LINE in just one year & dismiss employee without prior notice

LINE is February 16, 2016, the music distribution service "Mix Radio"We announced to end. Although it seems that the business will be settled when the service is terminated, it is clear that the staff is in a direction to be dismissed in accordance with liquidation, without prior notice of the suspension of the business being done.

The end of MixRadio as LINE quietly kills off music streaming service | Windows Central
http://www.windowscentral.com/line-kills-mixradio

LINE announces the end of MixRadio's business on the site, and the service will be terminated within the next few weeks. Regarding the reasons for withdrawal, we carefully considered the performance of this project, the cost of service management, the priority order as LINE, judged that future growth is difficult and decided to end MixRadio's music distribution service business We did it. " The release is published in both Japanese and English.

[Corporate] Notice Regarding MixRadio Business Withdrawal | LINE Corporation | News
http://linecorp.com/ja/pr/news/ja/2016/1234


[Corporate Announcement] Notification of Termination of Mix Radio Limited Operations | LINE Corporation | News
http://linecorp.com/en/pr/news/en/2016/1235

Although MixRadio was started by acquiring business division from Microsoft in March 2015, it came to end in just less than one year. In addition to the major "Spotify" music distribution service market, Apple's Apple Music and Google's "Google Play Music" have entered, Amazon also offers "Prime Music", and the appearance of intensifying competition I am exhibiting. Meanwhile, LINE entered the market with MixRadio acquired from Microsoft, but since it is difficult to monetize, LINE has decided to exit this time.

When withdrawing, the subsidiary that provided the service will be liquidated and employment of employees will be discussed in the future.

LINE, withdrawal of overseas music distribution less than one year after acquiring business: Nihon Keizai Shimbun
http://www.nikkei.com/article/DGXLASDZ16HY2_W6A210C1TI5000/

◆ No advance notice to employees
Although it is a subsidiary whose liquidation is decided, Neowin has revealed that its employees had not been informed in advance of MixRadio's decision on service suspension and dismissal.

LINE gave no notice to MixRadio employees before terminating service
http://www.neowin.net/news/line-gave-no-notice-to-mixradio-employees-before-terminating-service

When Neowin interviewed MixRadio's employee and asked "Were there any prior notice?", "No, they suddenly dropped the bomb at 15 o'clock yesterday," announcing no premonition I tell you something. In addition, he said he was told that "Everyone will be fired" against the question "Will another position of work be given at LINE?"

MixRadio started as a service "Nokia Music" offered by Nokia, and then changed its name to "MixRadio" when Microsoft acquired Nokia. Five months later, in March 2015 it became a subsidiary of LINE.

LINE was seeking to expand overseas through MixRadio and the dialog application "LINE", but in future it will be forced to rework the strategy. In addition, it is announced that "LINE MUSIC" provided in Japan and Thailand will continue as it is.