Streaming Service Deezer Closes Australian Office

Online music streaming service Deezer has decided to close its local office with Australia and New Zealand Managing Director Thomas Heymann to leave the company, effective tomorrow.

The company entered Australia in 2012 as part of the streaming flurry that created a hugely competitive market almost overnight. Deezer will still be providing its full service to users, but regional operational and business matters from Australia and New Zealand will be handled by the Paris and Singapore offices.

“I would like to say at this juncture that I had a fantastic time running Deezer, spearheading many successful campaigns and partnerships,” Heymann said in an email to friends and colleagues today.

“I have made many new friends within the global Deezer family and the business in Australia and I remain an evangelist about music streaming and Deezer.

“I believe Deezer has the most innovative music subscription offer on the market place. It is a service created by music fans for music fans with a human touch and I am wishing the brilliant global team a continuation of their exciting global success.”

Music recommendations and curations will continue to be handled by global editorial manager Marie Lallia.

The news comes the same week as Apple announced that their iTunes Radio service, a 'radio' streaming service similar to Pandora, was available in Australia.

A number of 'on-demand' streaming services are also available in Australia, though not one has taken a controlling market share. The services include Spotify, Rdio, Songl, JB Hi-Fi Now, Mog (to become Daisy), Guvera and rara.