Business

Google buying streaming service Songza

Google confirmed Tuesday it is acquiring Long Island-based music-streaming service Songza.

While neither Google nor Songza would discuss price, sources close to the pact say Google paid around $35 million for the tiny music-curation firm.

Songza was represented by Mark Patricof’s Mesa Global.

Songza is in the business of learning about what songs people want to listen to when they’re in particular situations — such as a summer cookout or relaxing at home.

Such music-intelligence firms have become the new hot hunting ground for major players in the tech business.

The 6-year-old company is run by Elias Roman, who won a $4.7 million funding round from Amazon, Lerer Ventures and music manager Scooter Braun in late 2013.

The deal comes hot on the heels of Apple’s move to buy streamer Beats Music alongside the Beats audio equipment maker for $3 billion.

To give some idea of how fast the business is moving, another music streamer, Rdio, acquired TastemakerX on Monday to bolster its familiarity with how people listen to music.

Spotify also acquired Echo Nest in May to improve its music-data intelligence.

Google plans to add to Songza’s staff to bolster Google Play Music All Access, sources said.

Music All Access houses three services: a free locker for music already owned by customers, a $10-a-month streaming service and a music store.

Google confirmed the deal in a blog post.

The Google-Songza talks were first reported by The Post in June.

Rich Tullo, an entertainment industry analyst at Albert Fried & Co., suggests this deal puts an increased spotlight on Spotify and Pandora to get together with a major tech partner.

“Now that [former Goldman Sachs banker] Anthony Noto is the new CFO at Twitter we think it’s likely that Twitter buys Spotify as the companies have Goldman DNA in common,” Tullo wrote in a note.

Goldman backed Spotify with financing in 2012.