Spotify will launch in Mexico, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Singapore, the Baltics and Iceland at 1am ET Tuesday, a source tells Billboard. The news of Tuesday’s launch was first reported by CNET. As Billboard noted earlier this month, job postings at Spotify’s web site hinted at upcoming launches in Mexico, Hong Kong and Singapore as well as Brazil (which is not part of this round of launches).
It appears the service is already live in a few of these new markets. A report at Engadget says tipsters have reported that Spotify is currently open for business in Singapore and Malaysia.
The world’s leading on-demand music subscription service with 6 million subscribers, Spotify will encounter some competition in some of its newest markets. Rdio and Sony Music Unlimited already operate in Mexico. Rdio is available in Iceland. Deezer is available in Singapore, Hong Kong and Malaysia.
Since Spotify is already available in many of the world’s top digital markets, Tuesday’s launches may not move the needle much. Due to its large population of 112 million, Mexico had the 16th largest digital market in the world in 2012, according to the IFPI. Smaller countries offer less revenue potential. Malaysia and Hong Kong ranked #27 and #28, respectively. Singapore ranked #36 and Iceland was #50. Brazil will be a more lucrative market when Spotify eventually launches there. The country had the 12th largest digital music market and has a population of 197 million.
