Tape.tv

Tape.tv was a German music video streaming provider that capitalized on a market opportunity created by the temporary inaccessibility of many YouTube music videos in Germany. Founded in October 2007 by Conrad Fritzsch, Stephanie Renner, and Alexander Mackat, the Berlin-based company officially launched its online platform in July 2008. The service emerged at a critical time when a dispute between YouTube and GEMA, Germany's music rights organization, left a void for German music fans. Fritzsch, who had previously founded the advertising agency Fritzsch & Mackat, brought his entrepreneurial experience to the venture, serving as CEO.

The platform provided a personalized internet music television experience, free to the user. Viewers could watch a continuous, editorially curated stream of music videos or customize their experience using features like genre-specific channels and a "more like this" button. The service learned from user preferences to tailor the program accordingly. By collaborating with major record labels like Universal Music, Sony Music, EMI, and Warner Music, as well as numerous independent labels, Tape.tv amassed a library of around 45,000 music videos. At its peak, the site attracted approximately 3.9 million unique users. Beyond streaming, Tape.tv produced its own original content, including the popular live acoustic series "auf den dächern" ("on the rooftops"), which featured artists like Florence and the Machine.

Tape.tv's business model was entirely reliant on advertising revenue and media partnerships, including collaborations with entities like Yahoo!, Spotify, and the German television station ZDFkultur. To avoid interrupting the music streams, the company developed non-intrusive advertising formats, such as the 360°motionAd, a dynamic animation surrounding the video player. Despite early success and a funding round of €5 million in May 2012, the company's fortunes turned. After YouTube and GEMA resolved their dispute, Tape.tv's primary competitive advantage vanished, leading to a decline in users. Co-founder Conrad Fritzsch departed the company in July 2016. Facing an unsustainable business model, Tape.tv filed for insolvency and ceased operations in November 2016.

Keywords: music video streaming, German startup, online music television, GEMA YouTube dispute, Conrad Fritzsch, personalized music stream, digital media, ad-supported streaming, Berlin tech, music entertainment, live acoustic sessions, streaming service history, internet television, media platform, digital advertising, startup failure, entertainment advertising, ZDFkultur, Universal Music, Sony Music