Syntax Creative has partnered with Russian streaming service Zvooq to bring its independent music catalog to listeners across Russia and several neighboring countries.
The agreement gives Syntax-distributed labels access to a service with more than 5 million registered users and a catalog containing millions of licensed songs. Zvooq is available through web browsers and mobile apps, with options for online and offline listening.
Zvooq also operates in Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan.
The partnership extends a goal Syntax Creative CEO Timothy J. Trudeau began pursuing after visiting Russia for a music festival in St. Petersburg in 2009.
Trudeau said the audience’s willingness to travel through difficult weather and remain engaged throughout the festival left a lasting impression.
“After that trip, I knew that I needed to find a way to get our music into Russia,” Trudeau said. “It wasn’t until my dialogue with Zvooq that I thought I had finally found the right partner.”
Zvooq has positioned itself as a legal alternative in a market where widespread piracy has made it difficult for artists and rights holders to earn revenue. The company offers free, on-demand listening supported by advertising while also providing paid features.
The service raised $20 million in 2014 and has continued expanding its catalog and mobile presence. It works directly with labels and distributors to license the music available through its platform.
“We try to cater to all music tastes, and building new content partnerships is our top priority,” Zvooq head of content Tanya Mulkidzhanova said. “Bringing new artists and titles to Zvooq via Syntax Creative is something we look forward to.”
Zvooq co-founder Victor Frumkin said the company is working to build a more organized and sustainable digital music market in Russia.
“By delivering the best end-user listening experience and an easy-to-integrate service for our partners, we create an enjoyable, legal music market that brings revenue and awareness to artists,” Frumkin said.
Syntax Creative works directly with digital music services around the world, but Trudeau said the personal connection behind this agreement made it particularly meaningful.
“We have deals all over the world, but this one is especially exciting because I made that personal connection with people who expressed a deep interest in our music, which was tough to access in a legal manner,” he said.