JB Hi-Fi closing its music streaming service

JB Hi-Fi will shut the doors to JB Hi-Fi NOW, it's local take on a music streaming service, on March 17. Existing subscribers will be able to keep streaming music for as long as they have a valid subscription, but the JB Hi-Fi won't be taking any direct payments, new subscriptions, or renewals as of today.

Customers with a subscription expires after March 17 will be offered a refund for any paid-for days after the service closes. JB Hi-Fi will provide information on how to obtain a refund in the next fortnight. Any JB Hi-Fi NOW gift cards with a remaining balance may be used as in-store credit, or be refunded.

Existing JB Hi-Fi NOW subscribers will be able to export playlist files which they should be able to import into another subscription service.

The news comes just months after Rdio (which admittedly, was a much larger player) bowed out of the music streaming race when its assets were acquired by online radio provider Pandora.

Read more: The Fleeting Cloud – Rdio's shutdown and the future of music streaming