Amazon and Pandora Each Nearly Ready to Launch Apple Music Rivals

[MacRumors]

Amazon and Pandora are closing in on licensing agreements with the world's largest record labels to launch their own streaming music services later this year, reports Financial Times.

Both subscription-based services are expected to cost $9.99 per month, a price that has become the industry standard, and compete with heavyweights like Apple Music and Spotify.

Amazon's offering could launch as early as September, according to the report, while Pandora is said to be making progress towards debuting its service later this year.

Reuters first reported Amazon's plans to launch a standalone streaming music service in June, followed by a Recode report last week claiming the online retailer is also working on a $5-a-month subscription music service that will be exclusive to owners of the company's internet-connected Echo speaker.

Amazon currently sells individual songs or albums through Amazon Music, while Amazon Prime subscribers can stream Amazon music, playlists, and radio stations for free, but the selection is limited compared to Apple Music and Spotify.

Pandora's ambitions to launch its own subscription music service, likely based on its acquisition of "key assets" from Rdio in 2015, were first reported by The Wall Street Journal earlier this month. The company plans to offer two price tiers by also slightly tweaking its existing $5 per month ad-free option with select new perks like skipping songs and offline listening, the report said.

Pandora currently offers customers in the U.S., Australia, and New Zealand the ability to listen to free, ad-supported radio stations centered around particular artists or songs, rather than offering on-demand listening like Apple Music. By offering only randomized, radio-like stations that prevent users from playing specific songs, it has been able to bypass licensing agreements with major record labels.

Article Link: Amazon and Pandora Each Nearly Ready to Launch Apple Music Rivals

 

[Nozuka]

Hopefully Apple will start a High Quality Audio Subscription soon.
Would also help to hype the Lightning Port Audio on the new Iphone that noone really wants at the moment..

But then again, people will still miss the old Audio Jack

 

[GenesisST]

The more the merrier! Some will survive, some won't, but it *should* prevent complacency from key players. /naive

 

[Traverse]

I'm getting subscription fatigue...Microsoft Office, Adobe, Apple Music, Spotify, Dropbox, Pandora, Amazon

I understand the benefit from a corporate perspective, but still. Plus, you have all of these different music subscriptions and then "exclusives" to each one. It's annoying for the end user.

 

[thisisnotmyname]

Had to get to the second paragraph before it was clear they weren't working together. May want to include "independently" in the headline.

 

[xero9]

One of the biggest advantages Apple Music (and even Spotify to some degree) has is it isn't limited to just the US.

Unless Pandora and Amazon can expand outside of those borders, it's no dice for me at least.

 

[S.B.G]

Sorry guys, too little too late for me. I've already dumped Spotify and jumped on Google Play Music with the 4-month trial period and YouTube Red perk for the same $9.99. The trial expires in November for me and at this point I see no reason to switch away from it as its working very well for me.

 

[max.ine]

Sorry guys, too little too late for me. I've already dumped Spotify and jumped on Google Play Music with the 4-month trial period and YouTube Red perk for the same $9.99. The trial expires in November for me and at this point I see no reason to switch away from it as its working very well for me.

With the dominance of Apple Music, Google Play Music, Spotify, Tidal, and SoundCloud, I don't think there's any more room left in the streaming industry...

 

[ike1707]

Hopefully Apple will start a High Quality Audio Subscription soon.
Would also help to hype the Lightning Port Audio on the new Iphone that noone really wants at the moment..

But then again, people will still miss the old Audio Jack

I am equally interested in a "high-quality audio" subscription, but I will miss the audio jack. Syncing my phone to a wireless product can in no way be more intuitive than simply plugging something in. And then there is the sound quality itself. It's not good enough for Woz, and it's not good enough for me either.

 

[S.B.G]

With the dominance of Apple Music, Google Play Music, Spotify, Tidal, and SoundCloud, I don't think there's any more room left in the streaming industry...

Additionally, with Spotify seemingly on the decline and never being profitable, Natural Selection of streaming services is clearly taking hold. It will be interesting to see how well Amazon and Pandora do in this market.

 

[Waxhead138]

I think Amazon will bring something interesting to the table, at least for prime members. They normally do. I mean aside from the 5/month rumor for those that own an Echo. I own enough devices capable of streaming at home; I really have no need to purchase another.

Amazon will be a true competitor in this space in the long run.

Edit: Also interested to see what Pandora unveils. I hadn't been familiar with their current offerings. I just think they've been sitting back and watching things unfold a bit before they decided to try and compete on a new level. Quite possibly a very wise move on their part.

 

[Iconoclysm]

I am equally interested in a "high-quality audio" subscription, but I will miss the audio jack. Syncing my phone to a wireless product can in no way be more intuitive than simply plugging something in. And then there is the sound quality itself. It's not good enough for Woz, and it's not good enough for me either.

That's the entire point of using the Lightning port to plug in headphones. They can actually be better sounding than your current 3.5mm headphones if they include their own DAC and can be noise cancelling without a need to be charged.

If Apple builds AirPlay enabled wireless earbuds, they will sound far better than Bluetooth as well. I'd wait and see, as Woz is going to do.

 

[Nuvi]

Would also help to hype the Lightning Port Audio on the new Iphone that noone really wants at the moment..

But then again, people will still miss the old Audio Jack

Yep, what awesome hype would that be... "Your awesome high end headphones, time to throw them away and buy one of these crap lightning port cans." or "Get ready to spend some money on external lightning DAC which most likely is far worse than your current DAC".

What an awesome feature... Can't wait...

 

[djeeyore25]

I still don't understand the appeal of a $5 a month streaming deal that only works with Echo devices. I have an Echo and Tap but wouldn't pay to have music that streams only through those devices. Spotify and Pandora work seamlessly with the Echo line already. If Amazon offers a discount on the full streaming service for being an Echo owner, I'm all ears.

 

[Kaibelf]

I can't imagine that Pandora will not end up like Spotify financially in the end. At least Amazon, Apple, and Google have a parent business to leverage. Tidal, not so much (or else Kanye wouldn't be embarrassing himself trying to act like he can tell Tim Cook to buy them). Soundcloud, on the other hand, might be a niche thing at best in the end.
[doublepost=1472482274][/doublepost]

I still don't understand the appeal of a $5 a month streaming deal that only works with Echo devices. I have an Echo and Tap but wouldn't pay to have music that streams only through those devices. Spotify and Pandora work seamlessly with the Echo line already. If Amazon offers a discount on the full streaming service for being an Echo owner, I'm all ears.

For people who literally JUST want it for the home it makes sense. There are some people who really don't like to tie in their cars to their phones and such (yes, still).

 

[Westside guy]

So will Amazon actually include only 20% of their library at the listed price, with the ability/requirement to buy the rest? That's how their streaming service works...

 

[Zorn]

I can't imagine that Pandora will not end up like Spotify financially in the end. At least Amazon, Apple, and Google have a parent business to leverage. Tidal, not so much (or else Kanye wouldn't be embarrassing himself trying to act like he can tell Tim Cook to buy them). Soundcloud, on the other hand, might be a niche thing at best in the end.
[doublepost=1472482274][/doublepost]

For people who literally JUST want it for the home it makes sense. There are some people who really don't like to tie in their cars to their phones and such (yes, still).

This is pretty much my thoughts. Given that most estimates indicate the streaming business isn't generating big money, I don't see why these companies want to absorb the costs to try and start another "me-too" at a time when there are already bigger players established in this space. I can see Apple, Google & Amazon wanting to since their main concern is propping up ecosystems to support additional device sales.

 

[jimbobb24]

Aren't they really bringing Spotify competitors? Let's not get carried away.

 

[nburwell]

I'm getting subscription fatigue...Microsoft Office, Adobe, Apple Music, Spotify, Dropbox, Pandora, Amazon

I understand the benefit from a corporate perspective, but still. Plus, you have all of these different music subscriptions and then "exclusives" to each one. It's annoying for the end user.

I feel that in a couple years (maybe sooner?) the music streaming business is going to shrink to 2-3 services from where it is now. I do like the option of choices, but too many gets a little overwhelming.

 

[VSG]

If Amazon offers the same seamless user experience as with their Prime Music app, I'm sold.

Pity that Apple doesn't listen and still requires iCloud Music Library to be enabled in order to have offline listening and playlists. And that is and always will be a deal breaker.

 

[daftpunker909]

One of the biggest advantages Apple Music (and even Spotify to some degree) has is it isn't limited to just the US.

Unless Pandora and Amazon can expand outside of those borders, it's no dice for me at least.

Can you explain why that exactly is an advantage? All these apps usually work when travelling so why is it required that they have a permanent presence there?

 

[tonyr6]

Amazon music is limited to crappy 256kbps MP3 while Play music uses 320kbps MP3 and Spotify uses 320kbps OGG.

Apple Music uses 256kbps but at AAC which is far superior to MP3 at that bitrate.

 

[Pman17]

Placing bets, Amazon will succeed and Pandora will fail. Spotify will continue to have issues with its rich competition.

 

[iWombBanger]

Placing bets, Amazon will succeed and Pandora will fail. Spotify will continue to have issues with its rich competition.

I wouldn't bet as I know you are probably right.

 

[mlody]

I feel that in a couple years (maybe sooner?) the music streaming business is going to shrink to 2-3 services from where it is now. I do like the option of choices, but too many gets a little overwhelming.

I am with you on this one. Even if Amazon, Google, and Apple were bleeding red for the music service, they will continue to offer it because they are loaded with cash and will be able to absorb the loss, if any. Any other company will only die or get bought up cause they won't be able to sustain losing money to compete with the three giants.