For audio enthusiasts, there’s Spotify. For late-night TV bingers, Netflix is the place to be. But where do comedy lovers go for their kicks?
Laugh.ly, a comedy streaming app, officially launched to the public on Thursday, bringing an enormous library of comedic content to the masses. The library includes recordings from famed joke-crackers like Kevin Hart, Amy Schumer, Hannibal Buress, Sarah Silverman, George Carlin, Chris Rock, and more than 400 other comedians. The app is available on iOS, Android, and the web, and was in beta for a three-week period during which Louis C.K was the most-streamed comedian.
According to a release, Laugh.ly has the most expansive comedy library available, which it made possible through direct distribution deals with media publishers such as Comedy Dynamics, as well as direct deals with comedians themselves.
Laugh.ly founder and CEO Dave Scott said in the release that there’s a “real hunger to access quality stand-up comedy anywhere and everywhere you are, so we knew the app would be in high demand. After such positive feedback in beta, we can’t wait to see comedy lovers everywhere start to use the product.”
During the app’s beta period, 1,500 users were given access to the app, and more than 4,000 others added themselves to the waiting list. Laugh.ly garnered an average 4.8 out of 5 star rating, and the average active user was streaming 46 minutes of content each day.
At launch, users can listen to ad-supported comedy content for free or have the option to sign up for the premium service, called “Front Row Seating,” for a $3.99 monthly subscription.
Alonzo Bodden, the winner of Last Comic Standing’s third season, said it’s often a struggle for comedians who work hard to develop content and ultimately get their material out to fans. Laugh.ly, he said, provides a new opportunity.
“I’m excited to have another venue to get my work out to the public,” he said in the release.
