Deezer To Offer ‘Free Year’ As They Enter Streaming War [UPDATED]

Music streaming service Deezer will be offering 12 months free on the desktop platform as a ploy to find a foothold in the Australian market upon the launch of their free ad-funded service.

Announced last night at the official launch, Deezer's Managing Director for Australia and New Zealand Thomas Heymann revealed the news on stage.

A press release this afternoon has elaborated that Deezer will be launching an ad-funded free service, with users able to access two hours of music free a month. However users who sign up before June 2013 will be offered 12 months of unlimited music through the web browser platform. The new free service will launch Tuesday 11 December in Australia.

The streaming market in Australia is becoming increasingly crowded, with a plethora of market entries in the last 12 months. With stakeholders admitting that the next year will be carnage, this move by Deezer is being seen by pundits as an assurance that they'll be around this time next year.

Deezer's entry in the Australian market was launched off the back of an $130 million investment from Access Industries.

Story updated 12.49pm