Deezer launches ad-supported streaming in 150 countries and supports artists with new D4A service

Look out Spotify, Deezer the music subscription service has launched an ad-supported streaming service in 150 countries today.

Along with the ads, Deezer has also released Deezer4Artists (D4A), a new platform that the company hopes will help artists work out a relationship with their fans.

The ad-supported service is free for users and compliments the paid version which serves 3 million subscribers who listen to around 60 hours of music per month.

The initial offering of the new service will give users a trial period of a year’s worth of free ad-supported listening on PCs and laptops. Along with this, users can also try a 30-day trial of Premium+ with mobile activation.

Once the trial period is over, listeners can claim two hours of free listening per month on PCs and laptops for life.

Deezer CEO Axel Dauchez, says that he hopes that this stage will push the brand to become a household name and that the ad-supported service will encourage users to switch to the paid version over time.

The new D4A program offers some neat services to artists and labels hoping to promote their work on Deezer.

D4A includes analytics, certified accounts, dedicated Deezer pages and an uploader for content. There is also a developer platform where artists can create software to engage with audiences called Open Deezer which was launched in November.

Deezer has been very busy since it nailed down £130 million in funding in October. Not only has it been steadily releasing new features that will help it take on the likes of Spotify, it also has big plans for the new year.

In 2013, the company says that it will release a full affiliation system so that artists and commercial partners can be rewarded for bringing new listeners to the service.

Also coming in the new year, Deezer will be launching Artist packages where the company’s editorial team will choose and champion artists which will be offered promotional packages designed to help them along at different stages in their career.

Clearly Deezer is putting this year’s funding to good use. With the emergence of ad-supported streaming and new services for artists. The company has taken off its gloves against the competition and it will be interesting to see who the victors will be in 2013.

Image Credit: Magerleagues / Flickr