MP3tunes creator launches Pandora rival 6 Seconds

Despite the closure of his MP3.com, which ruffled feathers with all the major labels, Michael Robertson has launched a new music app today to take on Pandora.

6 Seconds is the latest venture from the digital music entrepreneur and creator of the now defunct MP3tunes. The app allows users to connect to any radio station in the world. A search engine, created by Robertson himself, relies on a set of algorithms to track what songs radio stations are playing in real-time.

“Consumers always want more control, and 6 Seconds is the best free mobile music experience,” Robertson told TMN. “We’re already seeing great organic growth from people recommending the app to their friends because it’s so superior to other currently available options.”

6 Seconds allows users to search over 100,000 online radio stations for any specific song or artist. Users are also able to swipe left on any songs they want to skip.

The app is marketed as a free, genre-based radio experience, with an added benefit of unlimited skips. Based on these attributes, this places 6 Seconds in the competitive field against internet radio giants Pandora and iTunes Radio.

“Pandora is definitely a competitor,” Robertson told TMN. “But they’re only in three countries (US, AUS, NZ), whereas our app is available today worldwide.”

While he also identifies iTunes Radio and streaming juggernaut Spotify as competitors, Robertson said there is a gap in the market for a big player to emerge.

“There are photo, social networking, messaging, search and shopping sites with massive audiences […] but what I find striking is that there are no music services with over 100 million users,” he said.

“I hope that 6 Seconds’ free price tag and features give us a real shot to make the first music experience with nine digits of users.”