The full launch of the Radio Network’s internet radio service iHeartRadio has had a boost from social media activity around the recent free concert featuring Kiwi artist Lorde.
The app has clung to the top free music app spot in the Kiwi iTunes store since it launched and at the time of writing was ranked sixth across all free apps. It was launched two days before the September 7 concert.
It’s also available on the web and in the Google Play store.
Group general manager for product and digital Carolyn Luey says there have been more than 10,000 downloads of the app, adding the numbers are “moving quickly every day”. She says users are combining that with use on browsers while at home or work.
Social media “has been huge for us”, Luey says of the launch.
“We’re really looking a key influencers in that music space.”
Lorde tweeted and posted on Facebook about the concert and there were 2000 tweets using the hashtag iheartlorde in two hours on the night of the concert. The Radio Network enlisted big tweeters to be on he red carpet, including Liam McEwan, a 17-year-old
radio presenter with more than 116,000 followers; and YouTube beauty video maker Shannon, who has over 44,000 followers.
Registered users of iHeartRadio got an invitation for two free tickets to the concert on a first-in first-served basis.
The Radio Network has migrated users to iHeartRadio from the online streams previously offered for its stations. Luey said the number of registered users was commercially sensitive.
Contact Energy has signed as a launch sponsor for iHeartRadio, but is still working out how it wants to advertise, says Luey.
