Microsoft retires Groove Music service, partners with Spotify | Public Relations & Social Marketing Insight | Scoop.it

Microsoft rebranded Xbox Music to Groove Music two years ago, in a bid to make its music streaming service more relevant to consumers. Despite the name change, Groove always felt like a vestige of the Zune era at Microsoft and something that consumers were unaware of. Microsoft is now giving up on Groove Music today, and partnering with Spotify instead.

 

Microsoft will stop selling Groove Music passes soon (to stream music), and any customers subscribed to the service will be refunded pro-rata once Groove Music Pass is discontinued on December 31st. After December 31st, Microsoft’s Groove Music app will no longer support streaming music or the ability to purchase and download songs....