Connected software solution developer Access Europe is to partner with Stingray Group, a music, media and technology company, to bring streamed music services to cars, for the US and Canadian markets initially.
Through the partnership, Access says it will make Stingray’s selection of local and global content available in the car through its In-Vehicle Infotainment (IVI) platform, Access Twine for Car 3.0 (Twine4Car) and its car-centric App Store.
“Radio has long been the go-to entertainment option for drivers because of its ease of use and ability to provide locally relevant programming,” said Dr Neale Foster, CEO at Access Europe. “As we enter the era of the connected car, the automotive industry has a fantastic opportunity to build on these principles and create new streaming user experiences and data-driven ongoing long-term relationships with its customers.”
“Stingray is committed to delivering new entertainment platforms for music fans wherever they are,” added Eric Boyko, president, co-founder and CEO of Stingray. “The car marks the next major frontier for streaming services, and we’re excited to integrate our platform with thousands of hours of content, anywhere and anytime, through Twine4Car.”
Stingray states it has over 400 million subscribers in 160 countries. Its multiplatform offerings include audio channels and video, featuring over 100 global radio stations, TV channels and premium SVOD services. The partnership also includes Stingray’s popular Karaoke service, which is used by over 60 million TV households. With over 15,000 songs to choose from, its content includes music legends, chart-toppers and Disney classics.
The Twine4Car system, Access states, spans the gap between the automotive and the content industries by making content available from a number of media partners and a wide range of apps, TV services and VOD offerings for a multitude of markets, saving OEMs from negotiating complicated rights-deals. It enables OEMs to create a fully branded user interface that acts as a central hub for all in-vehicle services, while allowing OEMs to build new, post-sales relationships with car users.
“The era of the connected car is coming, and streamed content will be the centerpiece of a new in-car experience. Twine4Car enables OEMs to gain a strategic advantage and get ahead of the curve when it comes to forging new customer relationships,” concluded Foster.
