SEOUL – Samsung Electronics Co. has announced that its subsidiary, Harman International, has acquired the U.S. music streaming platform Roon. This move is part of Samsung's strategy to expand its footprint in the digital audio sector. Roon, based in New York, is known for offering a comprehensive music management and listening solution that caters to audiophiles. It supports all major operating systems and manufactures hardware server appliances called Nucleus. While the financial details of the acquisition were not disclosed, Harman anticipates this acquisition will diversify its business portfolio by integrating Roon's open device ecosystem, which already includes collaborations with over 160 audio brands.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Dave Rogers, president of Harman's lifestyle division, emphasized the shared commitment to delivering exceptional audio experiences. According to Samsung, Roon will continue its operations independently post-acquisition. This move comes after Samsung, a global leader in memory chips and smartphones, completed its acquisition of Harman for US$8 billion in March 2017, primarily to delve into the in-vehicle electronics market.