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Microsoft sold its MixRadio streaming service to Line, the popular Japan-based messaging app. The two companies announced the deal today, though neither disclosed the financial terms of the purchase.

It’s hardly surprising news, since Microsoft picked up MixRadio as a part of its acquisition of Nokia’s Devices and Services Division. The company already has its own Xbox Music subscription streaming service, and a Microsoft memo leaked earlier this year showed that MixRadio was up for sale. It’s another software product from the Finnish business that won’t be continuing under the Microsoft umbrella – Nokia’s HERE maps division was spun out into its own company earlier this year.

4-Hero-mixradio-2000x1000-jpgLine, which is one of the front-runners in the burgeoning chat app space alongside apps like WhatsApp and Kik, just launched its own Line Music service earlier this year. MixRadio will continue as its own service, headquartered in Bristol, England, and will continue to provide its service for Lumia phone owners.

2014 has been a big year for streaming music companies – Apple purchased Beats in June for $3 billion, while Google just launched another music streaming service based on YouTube last month, and Amazon launched a new Prime Music service for members of its Prime subscription program.

The deal is expected to complete in 2015.

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