Habbo Hotel signs RealNetworks radio deal

J1MI · 01-01-2007, 01:20 PM

This could be old, but i just found this:
http://www.marketingweek.co.uk/cgi-b...&d=254&h=0&f=0

Habbo Hotel, the online social networking site aimed at teenagers, has signed a deal with RealNetworks that will see users offered a bespoke Habbo radio station.

Habbo Hotel users - known as Habbos - will able to vote for their favourite bands and tracks through a Habbo Hotel poll, the results of which are used by Real's editors to create content on the Habbo Radio station.

The move furthers the music industry's links with social networking sites, which it has been using to target the younger market. Last month, EMI Music UK's label Innocent signed a deal with Habbo to launch UK boy band, 365. It was the first time an artist or band had been launched on the virtual network.

According to the networking site, the Habbo Radio player adds a unique element to the Habbo Hotel website. It believes that the addition of "customised audio" gives it a real difference from other online community sites.

The radio stream will be updated regularly and feature RSS links to the latest Habbo-related news and events.

Habbo Radio is built using Real's recently launched RealAmplify plug-in, which allows website owners to add an audio function to their site. Users can choose from 50 of the most popular radio stations provided, with each station being completely ad-free and regularly refreshed.

The service launches in the Netherlands before being rolled out across Habbo's other territories.