Spotify NZ launches today

Kiwi music fans will be thrilled to hear about Spotify's NZ launch. Photo / Supplied

A legal music streaming site which allows subscribers to access more than 16 million songs is being launched today in New Zealand.

After much hype, the announcement finally came today that music provider Spotify, in partnership with wireless music manufacturer Sonos, will be kicked off locally.

Spotify offers listeners on-demand access to songs, and since its 2008 launch in Sweden, has gained more than 10 million active users and three million paying subscribers.

Seen by many as an alternative to iTunes, Spotify's arrival in New Zealand begins "a new era" for music, said Sonos New Zealand's Jason Lake.

"This is a real game changer in making music available by subscription instead of the traditional option of purchasing music," Lake said.

Subscribers will be able to stream content over computer, mobile phone and iPad, rather than having to maintain a library of downloaded songs.

Lake said Kiwi music fans had been held back for too long from accessing legal online music services.

"Spotify is the first to offer a massive music collection that can adapt to a listeners needs and stream to devices.

"Eventually we will all be paying a subscription for music and we'll have less music physically stored on devices and home computers."

Spotify offers three services, ranging from free to paid subscriptions.

The free service is subject to advertising, Spotify Unlimited costs $7.49 a month and is ad-free, and Spotify Premium is $12.99 a month and gives access to music online or offline on a range of devices.

"Spotify is a game changer," said Kate Vale, Spotify's Managing Director Australia and New Zealand.

"This is a revolutionary new music service that's free, simple, and provides lightning-fast access to one of the world's biggest music libraries. We hope New Zealand music fans will love Spotify as much as they do across Europe and the US."

Spotify is now available in 15 countries around the world.