Rdio taps former Amazon and Microsoft executive as new CEO
The streaming music service Rdio has tapped Anthony Bay -- a former digital media executive at Amazon.com Inc., Microsoft Corp. and Apple Inc. -- as its new chief executive.
This ends a search that began in June when the company’s former CEO, Drew Larner, said he would step down after a replacement was found. Larner will become vice chairman and strategic advisor to Rdio’s board of directors.
Rdio, the San Francisco company founded by Skype co-creator Janus Friis and launched in 2010, has been trying to compete in a crowded industry that includes larger competitors such as Spotify and Pandora.
To do so, Rdio, which charges a subscription for its on-demand service, has introduced new offerings, including free mobile access to its revamped music stations. Terrestrial radio giant Cumulus Media Inc. recently took a significant equity stake in Rdio’s parent company, Pulser Media, a deal that will result in a free, ad-supported version of the service.
“We set out to build the best music streaming experience and we feel we have accomplished that,” Friis said in a statement. “Now we need to expand our global reach and subscriber base.”
Before being named Rdio’s CEO, Bay was the head of Amazon’s global video business. He has also served as the chairman of the digital music provider Loudeye, after working in a variety of leadership roles at Microsoft and spending eight years at Apple.
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