Amazon Planning Free Ad-Supported Music Streamer To Take On Spotify, Pandora
UPDATED: Amazon is in talks with the major labels to launch an ad-supported music streaming service in direct competition to Spotify and Pandora according to a new report. The free music service could launch as early as next week.
Currently, Spotify is the only major music service to have a full ad-supported offering. Pandora also has a free non-interactive music service.
Amazon will market the free music service through Echo and other Alexa voice controlled devices, sources tell Billboard, and have a limited catalog.
Amazon currently offers a music service with a limited catalog included in its $119 per year Prime offering. Amazon Music Unlimited subscriptions provide a full catalog for $9.99 a month, discounted to $7.99 for Prime members and $3.99 a month those who only listen on an Echo device.
Analysis
Amazon Music is on track to hit 35 million monthly users this year, across its various tiers. making Amazon Music a major competitor.
By expanding the Amazon Music offering to ad-supported, the major labels likely hope to blunt Spotify's increasingly influential and combative position as the market leader.
Do artists who have their music on Amazon have an Amazon site which can be designed by the artist?
No Amazon is trash. Jeff bezos has his employees in the warehouse wear bracelets to monitor their work like 21st century slaves. Amazon sucks.