Music Service WiMP Summarizes 2011 and Looks Ahead in 2012

OSLO, Norway, January 5, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --

In 2011, the number of WiMP-users increased explosively and with it also usage of the service. In Norway, WiMP registered a five-fold increase in the number of streams per day from January to December and Swedish daily streams doubled over the last six months of the year. WiMP's editorial team published more than 500 varied playlists in each country and thus delivered new daily content for its customers. The users gained even more opportunities to take the music anywhere, as WiMP got available on iPad, Nokia phones, Sonos and Windows Phone 7. In 2012, the award-winning WiMP-editors continue to guide users to new and old music in all genres.

In 2011, WiMP won the prestigious Meffy Awards in London for best music service. In Norway, WiMP was awarded "leader of the year" (rets bjellesau) from FONO,the association for Norwegian independent record companies, and WiMP also won a number of consumer tests, including duels against Spotify in Swedish gadget Magazine M3 and Danish Mobil Magazine. Norwegian daily newspaper Dagsavisen named the WiMP-editors "Newcomer of the year" all categories, and it is precisely the local WiMP-editors' activities that constitute a big part of the core to WiMP's success.

"WiMP in Norway is primarily a Norwegian service, with music that Norwegians are interested in, whether it is international or Norwegian music specifically. Likewise, in Sweden it's a Swedish service, and in Germany it will be a German service. In each country we have a local editorial team, which guides the users through the large catalog of music that is relevant to each market", says Gunnar Sellg, CEO of Aspiro, the company that owns the service.

In 2011 WiMP presented a number of projects and concepts, including the project "Newold" (Nygammalt), where over 350 Norwegian albums that previously had only been available on CD or cassette, were digitalized and promoted in WiMP. WiMP's editorial crew published over 500 playlists in each country during the year, with everything from detailed genre reviews to breaking news, mood- and theme-based lists. More comprehensive concepts WiMP editorial staff worked with in 2011 include "1991 - an unusually good musical year" Morning magazine Top 100, Idol 2011, Bob Dylan 70 years, Pink Floyd and Jazz bag.

Artists such as Paul Simon, Rasmus Seebach, Timbuktu, Bigbang, ge Aleksandersen and When Saints Go Machine all presented commentary versions of the albums in WiMP, while WiMP's Live concept presented releases from among others Kaizers Orchestra, Lukestar, Foo Fighters, PJ Harvey and Kidd. A number of artists let their fans pre-listen to their new album in WiMP ahead of the general release, among them Maria Mena, Marit Larsen and Lars Vaular. Artists who contributed with playlists and posts in the WiMP-blogs included Thomas Dybdahl, who wrote travel letters in December from his US tour as support artist for Tori Amos, Veronica Maggio, Dead By April, In Flames and Medina. WiMP also promoted content from a number of external contributors, ranging from music journalists to DJ's, book authors and athletes.

In 2012, WiMP will continue to work to promote local and international music, and has several exciting concepts in the plans. In February WiMP is also looking forward to the WiMP <3 Nordic Music Prize ceremony at by:Larm in Oslo.

In 2011, most played albums and artists in the Scandinavian countries were as follows:

WiMP Norway:
Most played Norwegian album: Jarle Bernhoft, Solidarity Breaks
Most played Norwegian song: Gabrielle, Ring meg
Most played international album: Adele, 21
Most played international song: Adele, Someone Like You

WiMP Sweden:
Most played Swedish album: Veronica Maggio, Satan i gatan
Most played Swedish song: Veronica Maggio, Vlkommen In
Most played international album: Adele, 21
Most played international song: Chris Medina, More Than Words

WiMP Denmark:
Most played Danish album: Rasmus Seebach, Mer' End Krlighed
Most played Danish song: Rasmus Seebach, I Mine jne
Most played international album: Adele, 21
Most played international song: Adele, Set Fire To The Rain

WiMP provides access to all kinds of music wherever you are, and in the course of the year, new versions released for among others iPad, Nokia's Symbian, Windows Phone 7 and Sonos. In addition, WiMP-updates were made available for for PC / Mac, iPhone, Android and Logitech Squeezebox. In 2012, WiMP will among other things provide support for Android tablets and other digital stereo systems. WiMP will also open to external suppliers of music players who can develop WiMP clients via an API.

WIMP is available in Norway, Sweden and Denmark, and in Portugal under a different trademark and WiMP is also preparing to launch in countries including Germany, Ireland and Benelux.

About Aspiro
Aspiro has unique positioning as the worlds only provider of complete TV and music streaming services for partners that want to put their own branding on the service. Aspiro also provides the music streaming service WiMP directly toconsumers on selected markets. Aspiro has over ten years experience in mobile technology and retail in northern Europe, and delivers services to partners worldwide like Deutsche Telekom, Telenor, 3, TeliaSonera,the BBC, Entel and Canal Digital. Aspiro is listed on Nasdaq OMX Nordic Exchange Stockholm.

For more information, please contact: Kristin Castillo Eldnes, Head of Corporate communication and IR, Tel: +47-908-07-389, kristin.eldnes@aspiro.com or Gunnar Sellg, CEO, +47-901-81-528, gunnar.selleg@aspiro.com