Everyone likes music. The tempo of life is getting faster and faster. Often there's no time to go through an entire list of music tracks and purchase the ones you like. Fortunately, audio streaming applications have changed the way we listen to music.
With modern technologies, we get effortless user experience and receive music in a matter of clicks. Mobile devices and a stellar speed Internet connection only compliment this trend.
If you want to learn more about music streaming apps or create a music app, this article is right for you. Below, we share the music streaming market statistics, song streaming app monetization strategies, and how to make a music app like Spotify.
- Cliggo is the perfect site for music lovers who are on a lookout for a wide variety of musical genres. From the popular songs of the 1980s to the latest tracks, this site has it all.
- A few days ago, /u/YEEZYYEEZYBREEZY submitted this post about his very cool stats website for Spotify. Over the years I gathered few similar pages, so I decided to share them with you. Spotify Statistics: Stats of your playlists and most favourite artists, songs and genres, all in nice designe complete with charts. Shuffle Guru: Something like music dashboard.
- Pandora is considered to be one of the main competitors of Spotify, and it provides basically the same features and maybe even a bigger database of tracks and podcasts. The main difference between Spotify and Pandora is that the interface of the latter is probably a little easier.
Read on!
Spotify is a digital music service that gives you access to millions of songs. Tell us what you like, and we'll recommend music for you. Save mobile data. To use less data when you play music, turn on Data Saver in Settings. GET SPOTIFY FREE. Spotify Company About Jobs For the Record Communities For Artists Developers Advertising Investors.
5 Steps to create an app like Spotify
Step 1. Consider the main Spotify-like app features
A music streaming app includes such features as registration and signing up, music organizing, music discovery, social sharing, push notifications, and music library.
Step 2. Choose licensing type
As for Spotify, the platform has two types of licenses including Sound Recording License Agreement and Musical Composition License Agreement.
Step 3. Find music app developers
Choose a team that will build an app like Spotify for you. There are a lot of factors for you to consider. You also should check the portfolio of your music application development company.
Step 4. Develop an audio streaming app UI/UX design
Now, you and your development team should agree on how the future app will look. For that, you need to create an app Wireframe, Mockup, and Prototype.
Step 5. Create audio streaming app MVP
At this stage, you will decide on your MVP (minimum viable product), and all the other details with your development team and you are ready to go.
Why consider music streaming
If we're talking about music services - there are typical online radio stations and music streaming services, like Spotify. That's how people enjoy quality, easy-accessible sound spots.
What's more, people globally shift to their mobile devices to do pretty much anything. Phone calls only use a fraction of the time people spend on their cell phones.
But there is more!
- The global music streaming market is growing steadily — the global subscriber base is expected to reach 2.81 billion by the end of 2025.
[Image source: Goodwater]
- Music Streaming Application Market is expected to reach $17.50 Billion by 2025
- Statista said 14% of the population use paid music streaming services several times a day.
[Image source: RIAA]
- There are 186.7 million digital music users in the U.S.
- Spotify has over 200 million active users, more than 109 million paid subscribers, and about 40% of the global music streaming market
Did I mention that 72% of Spotify users are millennials, who, it seems, were born with mobiles in their hands?
Driven by advantageous technologies, the music streaming industry continues to grow. Therefore, the development of your live audio streaming app might be a great idea.
Current Leaders of the Sound Streaming Market
There are three leaders in the sound streaming market, including
- Spotify with 36% market share
- Apple Music with 19%
- Amazon Music counting 12% market share
Now, let us take a closer look at each of them.
[Image source: MIDA]
Spotify
Being a pioneer in the music-streaming market, Spotify is the best-known music app. The app has 109 million premium subscribers and 232 million monthly active users.
App users receive access to different music services. They include Discover Weekly playlists and experimental ones, like the Australia-only station.
Spotify has Facebook integration, which allows users to share with their Facebook friends. Besides, this feature enables Spotify users to share their music easier than competitors.
[Example of Spotify interface]
Apple Music
Apple Music is the second most popular music streaming app. It provides users with plenty of features and a discount for families and students. In June 2019, Apple Music had over 60 million paid subscribers, and 50 million songs in the library. All Apple devices, including Apple HomePod, are compatible with this app. Still, unlike Spotify, the app does not have robust sharing options.
[Example of Apple Music interface]
Amazon Music Unlimited
Amazon Music is an advanced version of Amazon Prime Music, provided to Prime subscribers for free. For an extra payment, users receive access to an expanded catalog. Amazon Music recommends playlists grouped around artists the user already listened to. Also, the app shows the song lyrics on the 'now playing' screen.
[Example of Amazon Music interface]
To conclude, Spotify is not alone in this online music thing. Other significant players are Apple Music and Amazon Music.
All music streaming services have a lot of benefits, including:
- Quick access to music
- Affordability
- Unlimited storage
- Social engagement
As you can see, all these services appear to be outstanding because of these common features- they are effortless, intuitive, and easy to use.
The Killer Idea Behind Spotify
To give you a clear idea of how to start a music streaming service, let's discover the inner logic behind Spotify.
- Spotify stores music on various servers
- To stream a random track on your mobile, Spotify finds it on one of the millions of servers and sends it to your device
- Servers, in this case, are computers and all other gadgets of Spotify's subscribers
This concept is more effective than hitting servers with requests to download the track. At the same time, you become an essential link for the global social music sharing network, which is engaging too. And, it enables users to listen to all this music legally by paying royalties to authors.
Now, let's learn how to build a music streaming app and make it profitable.
How to Make Money with a Spotify-Like App
Music streaming services, like Spotify, have two main ways of earning; premium account and running ads. Let's check how Spotify applies these strategies.
[Image source: Statista]
Premium Services
The premium Spotify account provides users with free access to unlimited music across other devices. Besides, the app allows temporary downloading of songs for offline access and plays the highest quality music. There are several types of paid plans, including:
- Student plan cost $4.99 per month
- Regular account - $9.99 per month
- Family account - $14.99 a month
Ad-supported Services
App users with a free account can listen to a limited among of songs on demand, which may be interrupted by an advertisement. By using this business model, Spotify charges advertisers a cost-per-click and cost per mile fee.
According to their site, Spotify spends a significant chunk of money to pay royalty rewards to artists.
[Image source: Statista]
Read also: How Do Apps Make Money?
This concludes how to earn with your Spotify clone. You have to become a part of 'back to paid music' preachers, deal with authors and provide your users with a good deal of music value for their membership.
Critical Features to Include in a Spotify-Like App
If you are looking for ideas on how to make an app like Spotify, consider the following app features:
Registration / signing up
First, a user should be authorized to use your system. Users can register in Spotify via email or social media like Facebook.
Make sure you take this step very effortless for users. Connect it to social media and you get new subscribers in a matter of taps.
Music organizing
The app should provide features of grouping one's music, etc.
So, users can create playlists for different purposes, like current activities and genres.
Music Discovery
To motivate users to engage with your app more often, you need to provide them with personalized content. And here is where Spotify has a great competitive advantage over other services.
Spotify uses an AI-based recommendation algorithm that selects songs for the Discover Weekly section. Spotify developers created their own powerful discovery engine.
Let us check how it works.
For Weekly Discovery recommendation, Spotify uses three types of recommendation models, including:
- User crossovers with the listening history of other users
- Natural language processing. In Spotify, this technology works on the Echo Nest API. It learns about the music genres by analyzing the text and looking at similar terms associated with the artist across the Internet. Kafka manages the data in real-time.
- Deep learning to analyzes the raw tracks. For this, Spotify applies' convolution neural network.' This deep neural network learns from experience using only raw data input.
All things social
This feature allows users to share songs with friends and highlight favorite tracks on a social feed. It's also going to serve your app with a good deal of word-of-mouth advertising at the same time.
Read also: How To Develop a Social Media App?
Push notifications
Push notification is a deciding feature for such a social community based on follow-ups and spreading content. People want news from their favorite sources; that's how it works now - users wish to have valuable personalized benefits from your service.
Music Library
Unfortunately, this feature is absent in Spotify. Because of this, users can not host or upload their tracks and create a music library. The only option is to create personal playlists and subscribe to music channels created by other users.
At the same time, this feature is available in Apple Music. It allows users to add and synchronize songs on their devices and in-app playlists. Users can store a certain amount of songs on their app for free or upgrade to a premium plan.
To give you a clue of how to make a music app, and even better app than Spotify, consider this function as well.
Now, let's find out, how to build a music app.
Where to Start: Your Guide to Making a Music App like Spotify
Now, let's dig deeper into the process of music streaming app development. Below, we share a step-by-step guide on how to make a music streaming app, together with cost estimations.
Check this out.
Ideas are everything
For music app development, you need to specify the whole concept of the app. In order to do this, find a similar application, and of course, think of something that makes your app special.
Licensing
When developing a music streaming service, you need to get a license to provide your subscribers with legal audio content.
As for Spotify, the platform has two types of licenses for music distribution, such as:
- Sound Recording License Agreement, covering recording rights. Spotify uses licenses received from the big three record labels - Universal Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment Group, and Warner Music Group.
- Musical Composition License Agreement. This covers the rightful owners of the songs, managed through two main firms in the U.S.-BMI and ASCAP.
When looking for an answer on how to make your own music app, do not forget to get such a license.
Find music app developers
Now it's time to come to the actual work and choose a team that will build an app like Spotify for you. There are a lot of factors for you to consider. To estimate how much it costs to develop a music app like Spotify, check developer rates among regions:
- USA/Canada-based dev teams - $50 to $250/hour
- Western Europe - $30 to$170/hour
- Eastern Europe - $25 to $150/hour
- Australia - $50 to $150/hour
- India - $10 to $80/hour
You also should check the portfolio of your music application development company. From the beginning, communicate with your team to make sure you're on the same track. At the APP Solutions, we usually hold meetings with our clients on a regular basis via Skype.
See also: How to Outsource App Development?
Plan & Estimate
This market has significant potential, but that's not enough to run and spend all you have for a killer application. You need to run a study and learn about your target audiences' preferences. Then, communicate your business idea to your development team. The team will come up with some technological solutions, cost estimation, and project requirements.
Develop an audio streaming app
UI/UX design
Now, you and your development team should agree on how the future app will look. Here, you can offer the design team some ideas, if you have them.
The necessary process of the music app design creating includes the following stages.
Ok, I'm getting pretty tired of this problem! I have reinnstalled both Spotify and Windows SEVERAL times the past 3 months and I still have black screen. Is it so hard to fix it? Probably gonna unsubscribe soon that's how annoying this is. Can't be that much work. IT'S A COMPLETE BLACK SCREEN. Spotify desktop app black screen.
Spotify mac toolbar. .If the warning dialog box appears, click Authenticate, enter the administrator’s username and password in the text boxes provided, and then click Log In to approve the process and install the program.A dialog box may appear, asking whether Spotify can access your keychain.(Recommended) Click Allow to give Spotify access to your keychain.Your keychain can save you from having to enter the administrator password every time you open the program. But you may need to reenter it when the software gets updated every now and again.Spotify is now stored in your Applications folder.
- Wireframe. The team will create a black and white app that shows the general concept of the app.
- Mockup. The team develops colorful but static screens of the future app. Mockups include icon design, button shapes, spaces, etc.
- Prototype. The team creates an interactive model of the app that shows how the app acts. As a rule, prototypes give you an option to tap, swap, drag, and see the result.
Choose tech stack
To develop your Spotify-like app, consider Spotify developer tools, like Python and JavaScript. Besides, Spotify uses PHP for the server-side and Java for back-end structure. As we said, Spotify stores all the music files on the device cache. For this, use Cassandra, PostgreSQL, as well as a general memory caching system.
When looking for a clue on how to create a music streaming service, take into account that Spotify uses the following technologies:
- Kafka software for real-time data management and processing
- GraphWalker for model-based tests and Python integration
- Amazon S3 for cloud-based music streaming
- Dataproc for platform infrastructure
- Chromium embedded framework for building UI for desktop application
- Bootstrap for web app development
- Nginx as open-source HTTP and proxy server
- C++ for Windows/Mac clients
- Java for Android music streaming app
- Objective-C for iOS music streaming app
How to make a music streaming website?
You can empower your app with Spotify players by integrating Spotify player SDK. This library contains classes to stream management and audio playback. It takes on all the negotiation with Spotify's back-end, digital rights management, and decoding.
[Spotnews screens]
We did such integration for our recent project, SpotNews. SpotNews is an audio streaming platform that provides personalized music content. The idea behind the app is to allow users to listen to their favorite songs while reading the news sections.
We also used:
- Spotify SDK for authorization via the Spotify user profile
- Java Android SDK, Retrofit, Fresco, Crashlytics, and Realm to provide smooth app performance
- PHP, Silex, MySQL, Composer HTML5, CSS3, Twitter BootStrap, Jquery, Bower, Less, Nginx to moderate the news feeds via the Admin Panel
You might also like: HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO DEVELOP A CHAT APP LIKE SNAPCHAT IN 2019
Create audio streaming app MVP
At this stage, you will decide on your MVP (minimum viable product), and all the other details with your development team and you are ready to go.
When looking for ideas on how to create a music app, consider the following features for your music streaming app MVP:
Feature | Integrations | Estimation in hours |
Registration / signing up |
| From 32 hours |
Profile user |
| From 36 hours |
Social Share | From 15 hours | |
Personalization | Pick-up algorithm that will choose the next music track for each individual user. Use ML to find appropriate songs for users | From 100 hours |
Music player |
| 70 |
Track search |
| From 32 hours |
Playlist manager |
| From 60 hours |
Total | From 345 hours |
The average development cost of a music streaming app like Spotify is about $40-50K per platform.
For a more detailed estimation, you can use our project cost calculator. Now you know how to create a music app like Spotify.
You might also like: HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO MAKE AN APP?
Take it to the test
After the application is ready, the team does in-depth testing to ensure the app runs smoothly. We usually implement it right after the app is prepared and approved. Plus, three months after release our developers can fix any issues occurred for free.
Wrapping up
The music streaming app market is growing, and its revenue is expected to reach $17.50 Billion by 2025.
Spotify is the leader among music streaming apps. It uses a raft of modern technologies to provide users with relevant music content.
While music streaming is a hot trend, you have a chance to get your share of the music streaming market, as Spotify did.
But, to achieve success with your app, and be ahead of competitors, you need to get started asap.
The last thing that remains is to find a development team. And we are here to help.
Freemium
Spotify
Sites Like Spotify
Spotify is a useful application that will enable you to download all of your music from a computer directly to your mobile phone. With this particular small app, you can listen to 1000s of albums and various music, choose the music you need, and create your playlists that you can listen to without having a web connection… read more
#1 Shazam
Freemium
1
Shazam is an excellent app with which you can find the name of any song playing at any particular time. The only thing you must have your iPhone or Android phone and Windows phone close to the source of the song and also wait for more than 5-6 seconds for it too until finish processing. Then, without needing to be muted, the app will inform you exactly the song you were hearing. The database program will detect topics beginning from Kanye West to Frank Sinatra, to the Spice Girls. Nothing or almost nothing will escape.
Shazam is excellent for music lovers, as you always find yourselves in times where you hear a song you don’t understand. Shazam is a collection of music that allows the users to obtain immediate access to the arena of music just after installing his entertaining app. Shazam is a superb source of entertainment for music lovers, where they will find highly rated music of the most significant artists around the world.
#2 SoundCloud
Freemium
0
SoundCloud is an excellent app that lets you record any sound with your Mobile phone and also share it within a few moments utilizing any social network, such as Facebook, Twitter, or Tumblr. The good thing about the app, however, made possible by SoundCloud’s very own social network, is that it will help you to access and also listen to recordings from the rest of the network’s users, ranking them by leaving them a comment. You’ll hear all this music instantly by buffering, so you’ll require a good 4G or WiFi Internet connection to access it.
And because sometimes you don’t have the accessibility of the Internet, the application will help you to record a sound at any time and also upload it to your account later on. SoundCloud is a unique app that will not only allow you to record a part of a song when you wish so you can remember it then but will enable you to record reminders and also a vast selection of other things.
#3 SoundWire
Free
0
SoundWire is an app that allows users to play the music that is playing on their computers, directly on their smartphone device. It doesn’t matter if the music comes from iTunes, Grooveshark, Spotify, and YouTube. Another everyday use for SoundWire, apart from having the ability to listen to all your music on your mobile phones, is to use it as a baby monitor all you will need is a computer having a microphone all laptops now come with one located in the baby’s room.
Music is played in excellent quality (44 / 48 kHz) by default, but you can reduce it in the program’s options if you wish to use up less bandwidth. Plus, you can record whatever is playing on your device and save it with little difficulty. Soundwire is a profoundly great tool that can be used to listen to music that is playing in one room, in any other place of your house, or to checks on your child by using it as a baby monitor.
#4 Youtube Music
Freemium
0
Youtube music is a beneficial application that allows music lovers to enjoy all of their preferred music online. With this app, it is simple to stream or download music from a comprehensive library of artists, songs, and also albums. The user interface is straightforward. The screen is a blank page having a search bar. When you enter what you are searching, you will get a list that includes a picture of the album include and also the length of the track.
When you pick a song, a player pops up, combined with the lyrics when they’re available. You can select from three options: the very first and most significant one is to download the audio; the second is to play the song on YouTube, and also, the 3rd is to change the location folder where you wish to save it. When you complete downloading everything you’ll need, there is a 4th option that allows you to set any of the songs as your ringtone.
#5 Deezer
Freemium
Music Players Like Spotify
-1
Deezer is the best app that allows you to listen to greater than 20 million songs using your mobile phone for free. Deezer was one of the very first websites to provide music buffering under its previous name ‘Blogmusik’ that started to obtain importance among those searching for easy access to free music on the internet. The main difference now is which Deezer hasn’t only prolonged its catalog with user submissions. Still, it has also opened up the website for any artists or labels attempting to promote their music with the app.
Once inside this thrilling application, you may create your playlists and highlight the music you want, to help you listen to it speedily whenever you want, as long as you have a web connection. Naturally, you may also upload MP3 files to add to your collection and even listen to them from everywhere. Deezer also provides the possibility to hear new artist recommendations on your customized radio station as well as the more than 30 themed stations at your fingertips.
#6 Music Explorer
-1
Music Explorer is an excellent app that allows you to download and also listen to music, accessing scores of songs from your smart device. All you will need, at least at the outset, is a Web connection. You may choose to download the songs you want directly to your device’s memory, so you can listen to them without an Internet connection or stream the songs directly from the Internet. No matter which option you select, Music Explorer enables you to enjoy the best bands and most well-known songs of the moment.
From Music Explorer’s main window, you can browse for any specific song. Plus, on the app’s options, you may choose the search engines you need to use. The best choice, though, is to tick all of them, so you get as many results as possible for your search. Music Explorer is a superb app to download and also play hour upon hour’s price of your most loved music. An essential feature of it is that you can select to download your chosen songs to listen anytime, anywhere.
Continue through the installation steps. Look for the app in your Downloads folder and double-click it. Log in and enjoy the music!If you're unable to download the app, you can play music from your browser using our. https://purpleyellow146.weebly.com/blog/spotify-url-in-app.
#7 Beats Music
-1
Beats Music is the official Beats application for streaming music. It allows you access to greater than 20 million songs from all styles and the best artists of the moment. You may also download your selected songs so that you can listen to them offline. One of the very most exciting features in Beats Music is that it produces custom playlists based on your tastes. This way, the higher you use the app, the more magnificent it learns about what music you want, and thus makes better suggestions.
In the end, you will have playlists that are 100 percent personalized for you. When you sign-up on Beats Music the very first time, you get fourteen days of the free trial offer. After that date, you need to buy a membership. This app is an authorized and paid service, and also, the fee is NOT higher than Spotify’s. Beats Music is a superb music streaming service that allows you to enjoy a gigantic music library. The user interface is beautiful and versatile and enables you to do any action having a tap or two on the screen.
#8 Anghami
Freemium
-1
Anghami is an exciting app dedicated to Arabic music. By using it, you will have access to all sorts of Arabic hits, regardless of genre. This app includes a big community, so it is not hard to find whatever kind of playlist you need without having to create it yourself. The application divides its services into four sections: new songs, playlists, most favorite songs, and also new albums. This way, you will be updated using what other users are listening to and all sorts of latest posts.
The song will sound the same as the original just faster or slower.You can use the phrase editor to isolate the tricky parts of a song like the solo or a cool lick, and loop that section over and over again.Use it to slow down a song to work out a tricky solo, hear the lyrics, or work on a transcription. Use it to choreograph a dance routine. https://purpleyellow146.weebly.com/app-to-slow-down-music-without-changing-pitch-frpm-spotify.html.
If you wish to perform a particular search, you just need to type the name of the collection or song you are looking for in Anghami’s search field to acquire a broad list of results, including a compilation of playlists developed by anonymous users which include your search term. All the music you find on Anghami can be played and downloaded so that you can quickly access your favorite artists and see a large number of songs sung in Arabic.
#9 Pandora
Freemium
-2
Pandora is an app that allows you to listen to lots of unique songs and also groups for totally free. You just need to open a free account, select the kind of music that you want and let Pandora do its magic. With Pandora Radio, users can just generate stations that only play the music which they like. You just need to select your best styles, artists, etc. and thanks to this app. Pandora will allow you to create the highest customized station possible.
You have access to your Pandora account from your computer, from the TV or your mobile phone. You just need to be signed in to be able to access your account from any place and also from any device. Pandora is a beautiful way to listen to music, but unfortunately, there are specific regional limitations. Despite this, users that are capable (or know-how) to make the majority of the app are sure to enjoy it.
#10 Vevo
-2
Vevo is the official app for the web service the same name, enables you to watch today’s most widely used music videos from all the most celebrated artists: Shakira, Katy Perry, Miley Cyrus, Beyoncé, Die Antwoord, or the one and only Michael Jackson. Vevo provides you the music world’s most recent news and all the music videos from your preferred artists. You may also create playlists of your favorite videos.
When you watch a video, you will also be capable of seeing related videos along with the artist’s Twitter account or even the group’s upcoming concerts. Vevo is an excellent app for music fans because it enables you to watch your favorite artists’ music videos anytime you want. Best of all, Vevo will help you discover new groups according to your musical preferences.
#11 Songza
-2
Songza app is perfect for listening to the music of top song experts around the world. The very best about Songza is that the music that’s available in the database of Songza is completely free along with other dual best features on it in which there is no advertisement system in the Songza. Just you, Songza, your preferred track, and smooth entertainment experience. Songza is compatible with PC/Mac computers, iOS devices such as iPhones and iPads, Androids as well as the Kindle Fire.
Songza is a widely used streaming-music app that provides a different take on the kind of programmed radio experience, and rather than generates playlists based on specific songs or artists, this app tries to offer up the best selection of tunes for your particular activities. In version 3.0, new features make the app less cluttered and help you start listening to music faster and with fewer steps.
#12 Google Play Music
Free
-2
Google Play Music is the official app from Google for enjoying music from its traditional service directly on Android phones, via streaming, and also without storing music into the device’s memory. The application allows users to listen to a complete music collection from anywhere. All of the albums and even songs are stored online via a user account, and you may never need to worry about space for storage on your phone. Additionally, any song you buy will automatically appear in your music collection.
The Google service enables you to add up to 20,000 songs from your computer for free. You may also generate playlists and choose favorites to manage your music and just access it at all times. Google Play Music may also allow you to share your music and musical tastes directly through Google Plus. Google Play Music is a tool that will permit you to listen to thousands of songs online. The only thing you need is to have an authorized account and a reliable connection to Google Internet.
#13 SoundHound
Freemium
-3
SoundHound is one of the most excellent apps for music lovers of its category since it is perfect for recognizing almost any song that you simply play it without the problems. Have you ever had a song stuck in your mind that is making you crazy, and also, you can’t even remember what it’s called? A straightforward app like SoundHound could indeed prove useful for those times because it can identify a song if you just play it or even sound it near your mobile phone.
Once it has recognized the song, you can listen to a fragment of the result to be sure that it is what you were thinking of, and even view video clips and other associated material as long as you have a connection to the Internet. After that, you can broadcast your success on Twitter and Facebook because the application has integration with social networks.
More About Spotify
Spotify is a useful application that will enable you to download all of your music from a computer directly to your mobile phone. With this particular small app, you can listen to 1000s of albums and various music, choose the music you need, and create your playlists that you can listen to without having a web connection.
The only disadvantage is that to gain benefit from music, and you will have to the premium account on Spotify, which also removes all advertisements, and will permit you to listen to the music at any time and anywhere. Spotify for Android and iOS is, without any doubt, a must-have app for the premium users of the popular online music services.