Duolingo acquires music startup NextBeat

Popular language learning service Duolingo has announced the acquisition of NextBeat, a London-based music game startup that combines licensed music with gameplay. As part of the deal, Duolingo hopes to make its music course more engaging.

"Learning should be just as engaging as playing a great game, whether you’re practicing a new language or playing a favorite song," said Bob Mize, Duolingo's chief business officer. "This is a strategic bet on talent. The NextBeat team brings deep mobile gaming and music industry expertise, which will make our Music course and the entire Duolingo platform more delightful, immersive, and effective."

The acquisition of NextBeat will bring 23 new employees to Duolingo with expertise in areas such as game design, user retention, monetization, sound design, and music licensing, to help the language learning service create new music-based gaming courses.

Duolingo Music has already been tried by a million users since its beta launch, and the company is ramping up its music learning ambitions with the acquisition of the London-based startup.

"From day one, it was clear that Duolingo and NextBeat share the same values: putting learners first, obsessing over great design, and never taking ourselves too seriously," said Simon Heide, CEO of NextBeat. "Joining forces means we can bring our passion for music and play to a platform that is redefining how people learn."

NextBeat is best known for games like Beatstar and Country Star, which have amassed over 100 million downloads on mobile platforms and generated nearly $200 million in revenue.