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Sonos' free streaming service moves beyond its speakers

The free, ad-supported Sonos Radio is now available on the web.

Sonos radio carousel

Sonos Radio shows can now be streamed for free on the web.

Image: Sonos

Sonos just launched its Sonos Radio service on the web, albeit in a somewhat limited fashion: A new Sonos Radio website features 45-minute samples from some of the service’s channels, as well as individual shows and mixes. The service was previously only available on Sonos speakers. The site was first spotted by a Reddit user.

The Sonos Radio website launched earlier this month when the company also announced a new voice assistant as well as a new sound bar product, a company spokesperson told Protocol. “Our new Sonos Radio site [...] gives Sonos owners a holistic view of our diverse content, including over 100 exclusive original stations and shows, and lets fans everywhere preview select programming,” the spokesperson said via email.

Sonos first launched Sonos Radio as an ad-supported music service on its speakers in April 2020. The company followed up with an ad-free premium tier later that year. Taking the service beyond its own speaker hardware could Sonos help grow its ad revenue and mirrors the way TV makers like Samsung have approached advertising-supported services.

However, at least for now, bringing Sonos Radio to the web seems to be more about showcasing it to advertisers than growing listening hours. On a separate Sonos advertising site, the company touts the service as a way to reach “millions of listeners” through traditional ads as well as branded stations.

 Janko Roettgers

Janko Roettgers (Twitter, Mastodon) used to be a senior reporter at Protocol, reporting on the shifting power dynamics between tech, media, and entertainment, including the impact of new technologies. Previously, Janko was Variety's first-ever technology writer in San Francisco, where he covered big tech and emerging technologies. He has reported for Gigaom, Frankfurter Rundschau, Berliner Zeitung, and ORF, among others. He has written three books on consumer cord-cutting and online music and co-edited an anthology on internet subcultures. He lives with his family in Oakland.

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