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Founded in [[Trosseurs]], [[Aciria]] in 2008 by three local music producers, the company began as a digital distribution service before branching out to record production and publishing in the latter years of the 2010s. As a freemium service, basic features are free with advertisements and limited control, while additional features, such as offline listening and commercial-free listening, are offered via paid subscriptions. Users can search for music based on artist, album, or genre, and can create, edit, and share playlists. The app is available on all major smartphones, desktop operating systems, and browsers.
Founded in [[Trosseurs]], [[Aciria]] in 2008 by three local music producers, the company began as a digital distribution service before branching out to record production and publishing in the latter years of the 2010s. As a freemium service, basic features are free with advertisements and limited control, while additional features, such as offline listening and commercial-free listening, are offered via paid subscriptions. Users can search for music based on artist, album, or genre, and can create, edit, and share playlists. The app is available on all major smartphones, desktop operating systems, and browsers.


In addition to its streaming services, Songbird has hosted a week-long international art fair in April of every year since 2011 called the [[AVES Festival]]. In its inaugural year, the AVES was just a music festival that attracted more than 16,000 visitors across its two-day show. By 2015, the AVES attracted 93,000 visitors and had grown to a multi-day event featuring art exhibits, experimental and interactive sculptures, buildings, performances, and art cars, among other media.
In addition to its streaming services, Songbird has hosted a week-long international art fair in April of every year since 2019 called the [[AVES Festival]]. In its inaugural year, the AVES was just a music festival that attracted more than 16,000 visitors across its two-day show. By 2015, the AVES attracted 93,000 visitors and had grown to a multi-day event featuring art exhibits, experimental and interactive sculptures, buildings, performances, and art cars, among other media.


Songbird initially planned to file an IPO as early as 2015 but was hindered by many failed international launches. In 2018, [[Petalstone Music]] - who contributed $8.5 million to Songbird's seed funding - invested $250 million to help take the company public at a valuation of $8.7 billion. In January 2023, Petalstone Music had increased its stake to 10% and attempted to leverage a full acquisition of Songbird but negotiations regarding license deals and an antitrust investigation put the acquisition on indefinite hold.  
Songbird initially planned to file an IPO as early as 2015 but was hindered by many failed international launches. In 2018, [[Petalstone Music]] - who contributed $8.5 million to Songbird's seed funding - invested $250 million to help take the company public at a valuation of $8.7 billion. In January 2023, Petalstone Music had increased its stake to 10% and attempted to leverage a full acquisition of Songbird but negotiations regarding license deals and an antitrust investigation put the acquisition on indefinite hold.  
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===Expansion and further developments===
===Expansion and further developments===
In 2016, co-founders Carusso and Grassinaldi stepped away from Songbird to focus back on their individual music careers. Cattanardi would remain CTO and Fontafeltro was promoted to COO, while music executive Ezelio Serrarisi was brought on as the new CEO.
As Songbird pivoted into a new phase of growth, there were changes in the company's management: co-founders Ferrigi Carusso and Salvana Grassinaldi chose to step away from the corporate world in 2016, redirecting their creative energies back to their original passion - music. However, Loredo Cattanardi continued his role as the CTO, preserving the platform's innovative spirit, while Siginico Fontafeltro ascended to the position of COO.  


The company also welcomed industry veteran Ezelio Serrarisi as the new CEO, injecting Songbird with an added layer of business acumen. With the management reshuffle, Songbird continued its trajectory of growth and diversification. The company moved beyond its core of music streaming, venturing into new domains such as live concert streaming, historic speeches, and educational content. Acquisition of smaller record labels and expansion into new markets globally were also key elements of Songbird's growth strategy during this period. By the mid-2020s, the company had managed to solidify its position as a force to reckon with in the music industry.


==== Record label launch ====
In a major strategic move, Songbird launched its independent music label in 2018. With the new global offices serving as the operational hub, Songbird was set to sign independent musicians, providing a comprehensive package that included production, touring, advertisement, and merchandising. Moreover, the company ventured into physical media production for the first time. As on-demand music streaming became more popular globally, Songbird's appeal to mainstream artists started to increase. While Songbird currently holds less than 5% of the music industry market, industry experts predict that the company is on track to breach this threshold in the 2040s, eventually qualifying as a major music label.


As a music label, Songbird Media is also heavily involved in music production for its artists and commercial music. Solo artists whose careers take off may be easily matched with producers also under the employ of Songbird. The company also produces music for movies, television, and commercials.


to launch the associated Songbird Festival, a ten-day music festival in the city of Trossera, where the company was founded. The first event was considered a great success and it has subsequently been held every spring.
In the subsequent two decades, Songbird Media has continued to expand its reach and audience but the core elements of the business have remained stable save for the introduction of a few features. These include live-streamed music concerts for subscribers, including video and mastered audio, and the acquisition of several other small record labels, expanding the company's physical footprint internationally in the process. The company also began to platform historic speeches and various lectures in a new "Education" genre in 2023. While the bulk of the service's platform is still music provided by musicians since 2023 numerous renowned academics now regularly publish lectures and interviews on various subjects on the platform.


In tandem with the opening of the company's new offices in 2018 and the process of going public, Songbird Media introduced a new division to sign independent musicians; arranging production, touring, advertisement, and merchandising for artists signed to the Songbird label in addition to producing physical media for the first time. Artists signed with Songbird still gained benefits from platforming their music on the main service and as on-demand streaming media became more commonplace globally, so did Songbird's appeal to mainstream artists increase. As of 2025, Songbird still retains less than 5% of the music industry market, but it has been speculated that the company may breach this threshold in the 2040s, thereby qualifying as a major music label.
==== AVES Music Festival ====
In 2019, the duo of Carusso and Grassinaldi returned to the company, this time to launch the associated Songbird Festival. The festival, hosted in the city of Trossera - the birthplace of Songbird, was an extravagant two-day musical gala. The inaugural event was a resounding success, ushering in an annual tradition that was subsequently branded as the AVES Festival.  


As a music label, Songbird Media is also heavily involved in music production for its artists and commercial music. Solo artists whose careers take off may be easily matched with producers also under the employ of Songbird. The company also produces music for movies, television, and commercials.
The AVES Festival grew beyond just music, evolving into a multi-faceted event featuring art exhibits, experimental sculptures, performances, and interactive installations. The festival came to symbolize the ethos of Songbird - celebrating creativity, diversity, and a love for music. The festival, which attracts artists and audiences from around the globe, serves as an annual reminder of Songbird's roots and its ongoing commitment to fostering a vibrant, dynamic musical community.


In the subsequent two decades, Songbird Media has continued to expand its reach and audience but the core elements of the business have remained stable save for the introduction of a few features. These include live-streamed music concerts for subscribers, including video and mastered audio, and the acquisition of several other small record labels, expanding the company's physical footprint internationally in the process. The company also began to platform historic speeches and various lectures in a new "Education" genre in 2023. While the bulk of the service's platform is still music provided by musicians since 2023 numerous renowned academics now regularly publish lectures and interviews on various subjects on the platform.
==Streaming service==
==Streaming service==
Library screen on the Songbird smartphone app with the default black and magenta theme.
Library screen on the Songbird smartphone app with the default black and magenta theme.
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