Music Choice
 | This article has multiple issues. Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page. (Learn how and when to remove these messages)
|
 | |
| Country | United States |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Horsham, Pennsylvania[1] |
| Programming | |
| Language(s) | English Multilingual (some genres) |
| Picture format | 480i/1080p (Video on demand), 480p (EDTV) |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | Music Choice LLC Arris Charter Communications Comcast Cox Communications Microsoft Sony Corporation of America |
| History | |
| Launched | 1987[2] (38 years ago) |
| Former names | Digital Cable Radio |
| Links | |
| Website | www |
Music Choice (abbreviated as MC) is an American television music service that digitally broadcasts audio-based music channels and video-related content to cable television providers in the United States. In 2019, it reached 65 million households in North America via linear television channels and TV-on-demand services.[3]
Music Choice is distributed nationwide by Xfinity, Spectrum, Cox Communications, Verizon Fios, DirecTV and other smaller cable providers. Similar broadcast music services include DMX, Stingray Music (Canadian), Sirius XM, and XITE.
History
[edit]
Early development Music Choice (formerly known as Digital Cable Radio) was the first digital audio broadcast service in the world and, under its founder and CEO David Del Beccaro,[4][5][6][7] launched in test markets circa 1987. From its inception as an eight-channel audio service from Motorola's cable group, Music Choice evolved into a multi-platform interactive music network based in New York that reaches millions of consumers across nationwide. Music Choice is a partnership owned by a consortium, including Universal's Comcast, Charter Communications through its acquisition of Time Warner Cable in May 2016, Cox Communications, EMI Music, Microsoft, Arris International (formerly part of Motorola's cable technologies division), and Sony Corporation of America.
Several of its stations are measured through Mediabase and its playlists are accounted for in weekly airplay charts in addition to traditional radio and Sirius XM plays.
Platforms
[edit]Linear audio channels
[edit]Music Choice currently offers over 50 linear channels of various music radio formats through digital cable providers. The number of channels available varies by provider.
Music Choice On Demand
[edit]Music Choice offers free video on demand content, including hundreds of music videos from various recording artists, original programs, and artist features.
TV Everywhere App
[edit]Starting in July 2008, Music Choice released iOS and Android apps. The app requires login with a participating provider's TV Everywhere authentication credentials to use, and the same access is available on traditional desktop/laptop web browsers.
Each Music Choice channel is distributed in a freeze frame television format, where still slides appear on screen while the audio plays. These slides typically display:
• Banner advertising, which is the only form of advertising shown on the service, as the audio programming remains commercial-free.
• A looping carousel of “Did You Know?” factoids, usually paired with file photos of the featured artists.
In the past, the on-screen trivia factoids have drawn criticism for occasionally presenting grim or morbid content. A May 2017 HuffPost article highlighted that some slides featured details about illnesses, homicides, and suicides involving musical artists and their close relations, describing the tone as unusually dark for a music platform.[8]
Music Choice also uses color-coded themes that vary by daypart, with schemes such as blue, pink, green, or yellow backgrounds depending on the time of day.
In 2021, a new photo slideshow interface was introduced. It retained the freeze-frame format but added dynamic transitions—changing the artist image while the music plays. Track metadata (artist, song title, and album) began appearing either at the top or bottom of the screen, depending on the design in use.[9]
Another major design update took place around October 18, 2024. This redesign introduced:
• Rounded screen corners • A shift from the original Graphik Compact font to the more modern Poppins typeface
• Enhanced UI layout for better readability and aesthetic consistency
These visual and branding updates reflect Music Choice’s efforts to modernize its interface in line with current design standards.
SWRV
[edit]In February 2010, Music Choice launched SWRV (pronounced 'swerve'), a 24-hour interactive music video cable channel.[10] The network struggled to gain momentum and was eventually rebranded to Music Choice Play on October 15, 2013.[11] Music Choice Play was phased out by the start of 2016.
Subscription services
[edit]As of Fall 2021, Music Choice offers several subscription services which are available through the extended Internet-connected services of cable set-top boxes.
Music Choice Karaoke
[edit]A domestic karaoke service providing access to instrumental versions of popular songs sorted into playlists with sing-along lyrics.
Music Choice Relax
[edit]A service providing calming instrumentals and soothing nature imagery for the purposes of relaxation.
Music Choice+
[edit]A service exclusive to Xfinity, and Cox Communications providing immediate access to any song and/or album in the Music Choice library, along with playlist creation, device downloads, and song skipping abilities. As of April 29th 2025, Music Choice Plus is shutting down.[12]
Legal issues
[edit]Stingray
[edit] |
In June 2016, Music Choice filed a lawsuit against Canada-based Stingray over patent infringement. The lawsuit occurred one month following the announcement that Comcast, half-owner of Music Choice, had chosen instead to offer Stingray Radio.[13]
Music Choice drew criticism with the lawsuit; Stingray responded:
"Given the significant inroads that Stingray has made in the U.S. market [Comcast expansion] with its industry-changing technology, Stingray believes that Music Choice’s complaint is without merit and primarily motivated by competitive concerns rather than a desire to protect its intellectual property."
Music Choice's lawsuit against Stingray disputed a number of U.S. Patents pertaining to the on screen formatting of Stingray Digital's music channels. On August 29, 2016, Stingray countersued Music Choice calling the patent lawsuit a "smear campaign".
Music Modernization Act opposition
[edit]In 2018, A2IM CEO Richard James Burgess accused Music Choice of trying to solicit artist and label support to deceive Congress into reducing artists royalties paid by Music Choice.[14] The criticism came as Music Choice publicly opposed the passage of the Music Modernization Act, which ultimately was signed into law on October 11, 2018.[15][circular reference]
SoundExchange
[edit]On April 10, 2019, SoundExchange filed a lawsuit against Music Choice for underpayment, following an audit of Music Choice's royalty statements.[16]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "Music Choice Horsham PA, 19044 –". Manta.com. Retrieved 2015-12-31.
- ^ [1] Archived June 18, 2013, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "2019 Music Choice Media Kit" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2019-08-19. Retrieved 2019-08-19.
- ^ [2] Archived August 18, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ [3] Archived February 17, 2013, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Dan Baker". On Demand Summit. Retrieved 2015-12-31.
- ^ [4] Archived December 12, 2013, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Tomar, Dave (30 October 2017). "Cable Television's Music Streaming Service is Obsessed with Death". HuffPost. Retrieved 3 May 2019.
- ^ "Welcome To Your New Music Choice Experience". Instagram. Retrieved 2 February 2025.
- ^ "SWRV TV – Don't Just Watch". Music Choice. Archived from the original on 2010-02-08. Retrieved 2013-06-24.
- ^ "Music Choice Rebrands SWRV TV Into Music Choice Play". PRWeb.com. October 14, 2013. Retrieved November 10, 2015.
- ^ "Important Update Regarding Music Choice PLUS". www.musicchoice.com. Retrieved 29 April 2025.
- ^ "Comcast Xfinity Expands Music Offering with Stingray". 3 May 2016.
- ^ "Music Choice Cheats Artists". 29 May 2018.
- ^ Music Modernization Act
- ^ "SoundExchange Sues Music Choice for Underpayment".
