Facebook may show music service Sept. 22 with Rdio, Spotify
updated 06:40 pm EDT, Wed August 31, 2011
Facebook f8 to bring music in desktop rivalry
Facebook's f8 conference next month is now very likely to include its rumored major music initiative, tipsters disclosed Wednesday. The service would be more of an aggregator and merge Spotify, MOG, Rdio, and other streaming music to play them through a central area on the social network. A pair of sources for Mashable made clear once again that this wouldn't involve direct hosting.
Responding to the rumor, Facebook claimed there was "nothing new to announce" but also didn't deny the plans. It was always in talks to "improve these integrations" between a music service and its network, a spokesperson said.
The approach would see Facebook avoid direct competition with other services or bias itself towards any one company. However, it would also signal an attempt by the site to claim ownership of music on the desktop and take away the influence of iTunes and other apps.
A possibility has simultaneously been raised today that Facebook could take advantage of that integration in mobile. Spotify just Wednesday published an third-party interface for iOS apps that would let others tie in its music. If used by Facebook, it could centralize music and social networking in one app and possibly lead to a shift in mobile music away from single-purpose apps.
