Want to Share a Song? Try Boomio

There are no shortage of music streaming apps out there if you want to get a quick tune fix. Between Spotify, Google Play, YouTube Music Key, Pandora, and the rest, we’re spoiled for choice in terms of different platforms for getting music into our ears at the drop of a hat. But what if we want to share one of the songs we hear? For that, you might drop a YouTube link onto Facebook or Twitter, or maybe simply make a recommendation and hope your buddies check it out – but a relatively new music service called Boomio has a better way.

Back in October, Re/code called Boomio a “Snapchat for music,” and that’s a pretty apt description: users can “boom” songs over to a friend or a few friends, and they get a free listen. If they like it, they can share it with others so they can hear it again, or simply buy the song via iTunes (so far, Boomio is iOS only). Users can also chat and comment on Boomio, making it just as much of a social network as it is a music service. Best of all, in December Boomio announced new licensing deals, revenue opportunities, and promotional support with major labels and artists so that every time someone listens to a song, the content creators get a piece.

The app’s genesis came about 18 months ago, when Boomio’s co-founder, Bob Case, was frustrated at trying to track down a link to a song – which he and co-founder Randy Kath never actually got to hear.

“The inspiration was triggered by a Father’s Day tweet sent by Macklemore and Ryan Lewis – it was a link to a song they wrote for new dads,” Case explains in an email to BestTechie. “After surfing through seven re-directs we never did hear the song. We just felt there had to be a better way to share and talk about music.”

Boomio sets itself apart from other music apps because of the need for active engagement. If you don’t share, you can’t listen – and if you don’t share, you’re kind of missing the point anyway.

“User behavior for Boomio is very spontaneous,” Case says. “Users might be waiting in line at Starbucks and quickly share a song with a friend, fan or follower.”

It’s a great idea, and I’m kind of surprised no one thought of it sooner. And unlike Snapchat, which is all about sending ephemeral messages that disappear on viewing, there’s a real benefit to sharing on Boomio. Rather than simply distracting your friends, you’re actively engaging with them – and you get to hear great music along the way.

I’m looking forward to Boomio’s launch on Android, which Case says is one of the company’s “top priorities over the next 120 days.”

[Boomio]