Amazon Reportedly Preparing to Launch New Music Streaming Service

[MacRumors]

Amazon is planning on launching a new standalone music streaming service that would compete against Apple Music and Spotify, reports Reuters. The new service will be priced similarly to rival services and will feature a "competitive catalog."

The service will be offered at $9.99 per month, in line with major rivals, and it will offer a competitive catalog of songs, the sources said. Amazon is finalizing licenses with labels for the service, which likely will be launched in late summer or early fall, the sources said.

Amazon currently offers Prime Music to Amazon Prime members as a perk, but the service only boasts a catalog of 1 million songs. Comparatively, both Apple Music and Spotify boast catalogs of over 30 million songs.

The online retailer is looking to launch a new streaming service because it "believes a comprehensive music service is important" in its effort to be a "one-stop shop for content and goods." Amazon Prime, in addition to free shipping options, currently offers subscribers access to the Prime Video streaming service, Prime Music, unlimited photo storage and the Kindle Owner's Lending Library, which includes 800,000 free ebooks.

Reuters suggests Amazon's music strategy will be two-pronged, with basic streaming for Prime users and a more robust alternative for an extra fee. Amazon recently debuted Amazon Prime Video as a standalone service, allowing users to subscribe for $8.99 a month without paying for the full $99 Amazon Prime bundle. The standalone Prime Video service is identical to the service offered with Amazon Prime.

Amazon Music with Prime Music, the company's current music app, is free on the App Store and allows users to play their digital music purchased from Amazon.com. The app also allows Prime members to listen to its catalog of a million songs ad-free as well as curated playlists and radio stations.

Article Link: Amazon Reportedly Preparing to Launch New Music Streaming Service

 

[Fancuku]

Good, more competition is always better for the consumers.

 

[Oblivious.Robot]

Good, more competition is always better for the consumers.

Until they all start having "exclusive" content, that's when we all lose.

 

[Jyby]

Good, more competition is always better for the consumers.

Idk if your are being sarcastic, but this is just going to lead to more exclusive content... This isnt good for consumers.

 

[Fancuku]

There is no mention of exclusive content. Why do you think it will be the case?

 

[2010mini]

Good, more competition is always better for the consumers.

Not for artists

 

[fitshaced]

There is no mention of exclusive content. Why do you think it will be the case?

Because that's what they do. I agree, exclusive content is just a way for more companies to try and get some of the pie without offering any long term difference with their product.

 

[M. Gustave]

Good, more competition is always better for the consumers.

1-million songs isn't competition.

 

[Peepo]

Have to bring to other countries other than USA if they want to compete.

 

[Glideslope]

Until they all start having "exclusive" content, that's when we all lose.

Yup. And don't think for a second that is not the end game.

 

[psylence2k]

1-million songs isn't competition.

that's what they currently have now as a freebie to prime users.

This article is about them launching a more full scale music service.

 

[Rogifan]

Good, more competition is always better for the consumers.

They're going to have the same songs that Apple Music and Spotify have. I highly doubt the quality of their tracks are going to be better than either of those services. Outside of possible exclusives what competition is Amazon going to bring?

 

[Shirasaki]

Amazon goes into streaming? Not unexpected, but given Amazon sells a ton of music simply unavailable in Apple Music and iTunes Store, I think there might be customers using it.

Again, streaming means "once label pulls out access, user lose everything. No exception"
Purchasing means "I can still listen to my loved songs, regardless of being pulled by label or not.

 

[Kaibelf]

There is no mention of exclusive content. Why do you think it will be the case?

Look at every cable provider and every other streaming service for examples.

 

[Plutonius]

Does that mean that Amazon is also going to stop selling digital music ?

 

[QCassidy352]

Hard to see how another entrant into this market will improve anything. They don't offer meaningfully different products, so if I had/wanted Apple Music/Spotify, how would this be better? And if I didn't, how would this appeal to me any more than those services do?

 

[adamneer]

Probably won't make an iPhone app for it though, since it might "confuse consumers".

 

[Terrance94]

Flop

 

[jonnysods]

Yay, the world needs more streaming music services?

Spotify will do for me.

 

[ILikeAllOS]

This is great!
Every time that rumor came out that Apple would discontinue iTunes downloads to force everyone onto Music there were always people commenting things like "if this is true then i guess ill just buy my mp3s from amazon now. bye apple!".

Now Amazon is supposedly rolling out their own streaming music service as well!
Hopefully Amazon will discontinue downloads too just for good measure! Haha!

 

[12vElectronics]

I use Amazon and their affiliated products quite often and I'm a Prime member... But even this has me scratching my head. Why on earth would I change from my Apple Music family plan? What possible difference is Amazon offering?

 

[canadianreader]

Yay, the world needs more streaming music services?

Spotify will do for me.

Yeah me too especially I am not into big names at all kind of immune to this exclusive BS. Also my phone provider gave me 2 years spotify for free

If you're in Canada Fido gives you spotify free for 2 years with any plan

 

[anomie]

Cool if this comes with prime then bye bye Apple Music (and especially the Apple Music app that cost me so many nerves..).
[doublepost=1465628938][/doublepost]

I use Amazon and their affiliated products quite often and I'm a Prime member... But even this has me scratching my head. Why on earth would I change from my Apple Music family plan? What possible difference is Amazon offering?

Again, a better app could be enough. And that is a very easy task.

 

[FieldingMellish]

Free streaming with T Mobile will prevent me from paying the going rate. $10.00 a month is high. Songs I discover and like, I'll buy and include in my own playlists for offline listening.

 

[M. Gustave]

I use Amazon and their affiliated products quite often and I'm a Prime member... But even this has me scratching my head. Why on earth would I change from my Apple Music family plan? What possible difference is Amazon offering?

They're probably hoping that some number of people will want to go 'all in' with Amazon services: kindle tablet, Amazon Prime video and music, books, etc. Like most things they do it'll be half-baked, and me-too. It's like watching a team that only throws hail-marys, and has no running game at all.

But there are a few Amazon fanboys/girls out there.