Goom Radio

Goom Radio was an Internet radio company launched in France in 2008 by Emmanuel Jayr and Roberto Ciurleo, both former executives at the French Top 40 radio network NRJ. The venture sought to apply the programming, branding and audience-building practices of conventional commercial radio to online and mobile distribution. Rather than offering only a single stream, Goom developed a portfolio model in which different channels could be organized around genres, personalities, editorial concepts, or commercial partners. A central element of the service was the Goom Radio Factory, a platform intended to let online broadcasters create customized radio brands. The company also offered branded and themed channels, including Frenchy Box, In The Club, Prysm Radio, The Machine by Guitar Hero, Loud Radio, Esquire Radio and Suite 313. Tommy Hilfiger's LOUD Radio was among the premium or partner-branded offerings associated with the platform. Programming could include music, on-air personalities, artist interviews and live radio shows, giving Goom a format closer to a network of digital stations than to a simple music jukebox. Goom distributed its service through the web and mobile applications. Applications were made available for devices and platforms including iPhone, iPod touch, iPad, BlackBerry, Nokia and Android, and the service was described as free and accessible internationally. Its proprietary G-Sound technology was designed to improve perceived audio consistency by processing lossless music files for volume range, equalization and overall sound quality. The business model combined online streaming and display advertising with venture financing. Reported investors included Wellington Partners, Partech International and Elaia Partners. In spring 2008, the company reportedly raised $16 million, although the available reference does not establish the precise financing round structure or currency context beyond that reported amount. Goom also pursued expansion in the United States. Jeff Z joined the company in 2010 as vice president and director of programming, bringing prior experience in artist management, event production and terrestrial radio programming. In February 2011, the company announced layoffs affecting the Goom US workforce because of financial difficulties. The consumer-facing service had ceased to exist by 2014 according to the reference material. The remaining business was described as having shifted toward radio support services for business clients under a business-to-business model. The current operating status and continuing availability of the supplied website are not established by the available sources.

Goom Radio emerged in France in 2008 during the expansion of Internet radio and mobile audio services. Its founders, Emmanuel Jayr and Roberto Ciurleo, had backgrounds at NRJ, a major French Top 40 radio network. Their experience informed Goom's attempt to reproduce the programming discipline and brand segmentation of broadcast radio in an online environment. The service was designed as a collection of digital stations rather than a single undifferentiated stream. Goom Radio Factory provided tools for creating customized online radio brands, while the broader service supplied music, personalities, artist interviews and live shows. Channels could be organized around musical genres or built with outside brands and entertainment properties. Examples cited in the service's portfolio included Frenchy Box for French pop, In The Club for dance music, Prysm Radio for DJ and club-oriented programming, The Machine by Guitar Hero for hard rock, Loud Radio and Esquire Radio for indie-rock-oriented programming, and Suite 313 for lounge music. LOUD Radio was also associated with Tommy Hilfiger as a premium branded station. Goom promoted free access and international availability. It extended distribution beyond the browser through applications for iPhone, iPod touch, iPad, BlackBerry, Nokia and Android devices. The company also developed G-Sound, proprietary processing intended to make streamed music sound more consistent by adjusting volume range, equalization and general audio characteristics from lossless source files. The company financed its expansion through advertising and outside investment. Its stated commercial sources included online streaming advertising and display advertising. Wellington Partners, Partech International and Elaia Partners were identified as venture investors, and reference material reports a $16 million financing in spring 2008. The available material does not provide sufficient detail to characterize the full ownership structure, later funding rounds or financial performance. Goom pursued an American operation as part of its international strategy. In 2010, Jeff Z became vice president and director of programming. His background included work in artist management and event production, programming leadership at WKTU in New York, and programming experience at CBS-owned radio in California. The U.S. expansion subsequently encountered financial pressure. On February 3, 2011, the company announced layoffs involving the Goom US workforce. The consumer service was reported to have ceased by 2014. Goom's business direction then moved toward radio support services for business customers, representing a transition from a direct-to-consumer Internet radio destination to a business-to-business model. The available references do not establish whether the brand continued operating after that transition, whether its website remained functional, or whether its assets were acquired or formally dissolved. Accordingly, the present legal and operating status is recorded as unknown rather than definitively defunct.

• 2014

  Consumer service reportedly ends

  [1]Goom Radioen.wikipedia.org

  The business-to-consumer radio service was reported to have ceased, with radio support services becoming the stated business-to-business focus.

• 2011

  U.S. workforce layoffs announced

  [1]Goom Radioen.wikipedia.org

  Financial difficulties led to the announced layoff of the Goom US workforce.

• 2010

  Jeff Z joins the programming team

  [1]Goom Radioen.wikipedia.org

  Jeff Z became Goom's vice president and director of programming.

• 2008

  Goom Radio launches in France

  [1]Goom Radioen.wikipedia.org

  Emmanuel Jayr and Roberto Ciurleo launched Goom Radio as an Internet radio venture drawing on their prior experience at NRJ.

• 2008

  Reported $16 million spring financing

  [1]Goom Radioen.wikipedia.org

  Reference material reports that the company raised $16 million in spring 2008, with Wellington Partners, Partech International and Elaia Partners among the named backers.

A digital radio network and platform positioned between Internet radio streaming, branded content and online station creation. Goom emphasized genre-specific and partner-branded channels, mobile access, broadcast-style programming and technology intended to improve streaming audio quality.

• Online radio creation platform

  Goom Radio Factory

  A set of tools intended to help online broadcasters create customized radio brands and channels. It reflected Goom's platform strategy: combining technical distribution with programming, identity and channel-management capabilities for digital radio operators.

• Audio processing technology

  G-Sound

  Goom's proprietary audio technology processed lossless music files to improve perceived consistency in streamed playback. The described adjustments addressed volume range, equalization and general sound quality rather than changing the underlying music content.

• Mobile Internet radio

  Goom Radio mobile applications

  Free applications extended access to Goom's online stations across devices and platforms including Apple's iPhone, iPod touch and iPad, as well as BlackBerry, Nokia and Android devices.

• Digital radio channels

  Branded and genre stations

  Goom operated or presented a portfolio of themed channels, including Frenchy Box, In The Club, Prysm Radio, The Machine by Guitar Hero, Loud Radio, Esquire Radio and Suite 313. These stations covered French pop, dance, club music, hard rock, indie rock and lounge formats, with some channels linked to external brands.

• 2014

  Shift from consumer streaming to business radio supportStrategy

  Background

  The direct-to-consumer Goom Radio service was reported to have ceased by 2014.

  Action taken

  Goom moved toward providing radio support services to business clients under a business-to-business model.

  Aftermath

  The change marked a retreat from Goom's consumer Internet radio offering. The subsequent legal status, customer base and scale of the business are not established by the available sources.

  Source

• 2011

  Reduce U.S. operations after financial difficultiesStrategy

  Background

  Goom's U.S. operation faced financial difficulties during its international expansion.

  Action taken

  The company announced layoffs affecting the Goom US workforce.

  Aftermath

  The announcement indicated a contraction of the U.S. operation, although the available reference does not specify the number of employees affected or the detailed restructuring plan.

  Source

1. 1Goom Radioen.wikipedia.org