Today was an exciting day for the online music world with RealNetworks acquiring critically acclaimed streaming media portal, Listen.com.  The acquisition was a hybrid purchase, with RealNetworks paying $38 million dollars in both stock and cash.  RealNetworks will be able to increase their market share in the online music distribution industry along with enhancing their image to the public.

PaidContent’s, Rafit Ali, had this to say about the acquisition, “It (listen.com) was the first music service to have streaming/downloadable music from all the five major labels. For Real, that means the ability to tap into those consumers and perhaps upsell its own services, and potential partnerships with Listen.com’s network of more than 15 companies, including Time Warner Cable’s Road Runner high-speed ISP, Charter Communications, Verizon Online, Sprint, Cablevision Systems Corporation’s Optimum Online, Gateway, Lycos, RCN Corporation, and Sony’s Musiclub.”