Amazon to introduce free music service
According to new reports, Amazon is planning to launch a free alternative to its music streaming service in an attempt to steal some customers from Spotify. The new service is said to feature a more limited catalog compared to the paid Prime and Amazon Music Unlimited services. The report also claims that the service will initially be exclusive to Echo speakers and could launch as early as next week.
Amazon is busy negotiating terms and conditions with several music labels to bring the ad-supported free service and expand its portfolio. Current Amazon music streaming offerings start at $3.99 per month for a single device plan, while the unlimited options start at $7.99 for Prime members and $9.99 for the Music Unlimited service.
Currently, Spotify is the only music streaming service to offer a free option. Spotify's free version of accounts for 120 million users and Amazon is likely aiming to follow the ad-provided free streaming model and increase its user base. We'll have to wait and see if the approach yields the necessary results.
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