Beatport buys, closes social listening app Listn

Beatport purchased a social listening app called Listn for an undisclosed price, then promptly decided to shut down the service. The app allowed its members to explore their friends’ music libraries, with connections to several popular streaming services: YouTube, Spotify, Rdio, and SoundCloud. Listn will no longer be available starting Oct. 30, but the app’s employees will be joining Beatport.

Beatport is owned by SFX Entertainment, and it is focused on electronic music. This consolidation is part of competitive positioning in the dynamic and fast-growing EDM/electronica space. Beatport sells track and album downloads, accompanied by streaming samples — think iTunes for electronic music. Other recent news in this space: Digitally Imported is preparing an ambitious overhaul of its lean-back streaming service to add interactive features and track sales.