In a bid to compete with rival streaming music services, Rdio has announced a new low-cost subscription program called Rdio Select. For $3.99 a month, users can download up to 25 new songs every day to play offline, which they can keep or swap out with new tracks once a day.
Rdio Select, which also includes ad-free streaming radio, is the service’s least expensive subscription option and is targeted to cost-conscious consumers, as well as listeners in emerging markets.
In India, for example, it is even cheaper, at just 60 rupees (about 94 cents) per month. A company representative tells TechCrunch that this makes Rdio Select “the most inexpensive offering ever to hit India from any music streaming company.”
India, where Rdio has launched ahead of competitors Spotify and Deezer, is one of the company’s most important international markets (Rdio’s office there is its largest outside of the U.S.). Rdio made its debut there in January after acquiring local streaming music service Dhingana.
India a promising market because of the rapid increase in smartphone usage, but Rdio not only has to compete with local services Gaana and Saavn, but also cope with widespread music piracy.
In addition to the U.S. and India, Rdio Select is also now available in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa, with more launches planned.
Rdio Select is the streaming music service’s cheapest subscription option, but it’s unclear how it will fare in less price sensitive markets like the U.S. Rdio’s all-you-can-eat streaming plan, called Rdio Unlimited, has an offline listening mode and costs $9.99, but competes directly with Spotify Premium, which costs the same.
