UAE-based Anghami launches Live Radio feature

Anghami, the Middle East and North Africa’s largest streaming platform, has introduced it first-ever Live Radio feature allowing users to create and contribute to a social music-sharing experience.

It will enable users to talk whilst streaming songs, playlists and podcasts, creating a real-time experience of a podcast but along with real-time user engagement.

Anghami also plans to launch a Premium Live Radio feature in which users can send token and gifts to artists and creators, supporting new talents and introducing alternate revenue streams.

The streaming service’s library has over 57 million tracks. Users can also engage in a live-comments feature, applauding the host, and meeting other participants who have also joined.

“The social elements of music have always been part of our vision. In fact, ‘live radio rooms’ were part of our original business pitch in 2011, as we saw the opportunity for social audio features to take off,” says Elie Habib, co-founder and chairman of Anghami. “With the pandemic keeping people at home and apart, the intimacy of voice and the need to be closer to others has become more valuable and we expect to see the social audio market realize significant growth.”

Anghami has found increased benefits with an interactive feature on the streaming service, including increasing user engagement and retention. They found that active users have a 30 percent higher retention and stream 33 percent more than inactive users. It also fosters a creation of community and provides creators more opportunities to engage with users.

Anghami said in March that it was merging with US-based Vistas Media Acquisition Company, a publicly traded special purpose acquisition company. The agreement resulted in Anghami becoming the first Arab technology company to list on Nasdaq in New York.

Read: MENA music streaming platform Anghami merges with Vistas Media, to list on Nasdaq New York