Amazon has introduced on-demand streaming service Amazon Music Unlimited, which includes tens of millions of songs, personalized stations, and hand-curated playlists.
With Amazon Music Unlimited, Amazon Prime members will have access to more music, for a Prime member price of $7.99/month, or $79/year (which represents a discount price of $6.58/month). A new “For Family” subscription plan will be coming this year, allowing up to six family members simultaneous access to Amazon Music Unlimited for $14.99/month or $149/year. Amazon Music Unlimited also will be available for customers in the U.K., Germany and Austria this year.
The Amazon Music app has been redesigned with a new interface that emphasizes artist images and album art. Highlighted app features include “Home,” which showcases selections by Amazon Music editors to help customers stay up-to-date on the music they love and what’s trending and popular; “Recommended,” where customers can find personalized music suggestions powered by Amazon’s recommendation technology; and “Now Playing,” where synchronized lyrics make it easy to follow along to your favorite music. The Amazon Music app is available on Fire devices, iOS, Android, Web, PC and Mac.
Echo users will find a revamped user experience, featuring Alexa voice controls, which turn Echo into a personalized jukebox, with no searching or browsing required.
Ready to listen to Sia? Just ask, “Alexa, play Sia” and Alexa will create a playlist of Sia’s most popular songs. Have words to a song stuck in your head but can’t remember the name of the song? Say a few words and Alexa will play the song.
Want to re-live the music from your college days? You can ask Alexa to play hit music from a decade or a specific year or month. Feeling down and need a pick-me-up? Ask, “Alexa play ‘Happy Music’” and Alexa will choose a playlist based on your listening history like “Feel-Good Indie,” “R&B Fun” or “Pop To Make you Feel Better.” Want to listen to early catalog from a favorite artist? Ask, “Alexa, play Van Halen from the 70s” and Alexa will play tracks from the LA rockers’ first couple of albums. Having friends over? Ask, “Alexa, play music for a dinner party” and Alexa will choose a playlist based on your listening history like “Dinner With Friends,” “Cooking With 90s Hip-Hop” or “Indie Dinner Party” Want to be surprised? Ask, “Alexa, play the Song of the Day” to hear a song picked daily by Amazon Music editors.
With the advanced machine learning of Alexa, the Amazon Music experience will be become more conversational and personalized with each use.
Category: Featured
About the Author
Jessica Nicholson serves as the Managing Editor for MusicRow magazine. Her previous music journalism experience includes work with Country Weekly magazine and Contemporary Christian Music (CCM) magazine. She holds a BBA degree in Music Business and Marketing from Belmont University. She welcomes your feedback at jnicholson@musicrow.com.View Author Profile
