How a Leading Music Streaming Platform Boosted Retention by 146% Using AiFi's Social Audio Technology

Case Study: How a Leading Music Streaming Platform Boosted Retention by 146% Using AiFi’s Social Audio Technology

The challenge: Increasing Engagement and Retention

How a Music Streaming Platform Boosted Retention by 146%: Despite its innovative platform, Melodies identified a key challenge shared across the streaming industry: while users were signing up, many were not returning regularly. In a crowded market where personalization and playlists have become standard, something essential was missing — a social or emotional hook to keep listeners engaged long-term. The Melodies team wanted to increase retention by turning music listening into a shared experience, without adding hardware or overhauling their existing app.

The Goal: Increase Listener Retention Without Heavy Lifting

The product team identified a clear goal: drive long-term user engagement by transforming the listening experience into a shared social event, without requiring new hardware or app overhauls.

The Solution: AiFi’s Shared Listening Experience

Melodies partnered with Sound Dimension and implemented AiFi, a Swedish-developed social audio technology, to introduce shared listening to their streaming service. AiFi enables synchronized playback between users’ smartphones using Bluetooth, WiFi, or mobile data, turning ordinary devices into a surround system.

How AiFi works:

  • Converts smartphones into synchronized speakers playing spatial sound

  • Enables users to host or join shared listening sessions in real-time

  • Adds a social layer to streaming without changing the app’s core experience

With AiFi, Melodies could give users something new: a way to listen together, in real-time, wherever they were.

The Results: 146% Retention Growth

AIFI

The impact of social audio was immediate and measurable:

  • +87% retention after 90 days among users who activated AiFi

  • +146% retention when users hosted group sessions

  •  Increased session duration and time spent in-app

  •  Boosted reactivation rates

  •  More referrals via social sharing and word-of-mouth

Social listening became a viral feature — not just an engagement tool, but a brand differentiator.

The Outcome: Streaming Turned Social

“With AiFi, we transformed listening from a solo activity into a shared moment,” said the Melodies CEO. “It gave our users a reason to come back — not just for the music, but for the connection.”

By embedding AiFi, the platform redefined passive listening. What was once a solo experience became a shared musical event, driving loyalty and emotional engagement.

The key takeaway? Future growth in streaming isn’t just about algorithms or catalog size — it’s about community-driven experiences that resonate.