As technologies have evolved, physical recordings have become a thing of the past. Today, 86 percent of consumers are listening to music using on-demand streaming services.
In this article, we talk about how to create a music streaming app using the example of Spotify. We provide key features, a list of competitors, and a Business Model Canvas for an app like Spotify.
About Spotify
You may also like: 13 Best FM Transmitter Apps for Android and iOS. Back to menu ↑ Deezer Music. Here is the app which allows you to listen to music for free. You can find your own song among 40 million tracks. As long as all your favorite music will be gathered in one place you will feel like home. There are many alternatives to Spotify for Android if you are looking to replace it. The most popular Android alternative is Deezer, which is free.If that doesn't suit you, our users have ranked more than 100 alternatives to Spotify and loads of them are available for Android so hopefully you can find a suitable replacement.
Spotify remains the king of best free music apps on iOS and Android. The ad-supported free version features playlists and recommendations. Some songs are not available to Spotify’s free user base. How it compares to Spotify: Like Spotify, MOG FreePlay offers free music streaming with ads. Account generator free spotify. However, for 60 days, new users can listen to MOG FreePlay without ads.
Spotify is a music streaming platform that lets users stream songs of their choice and generates playlists based on a user’s musical preferences.
But Spotify offers more than just access to millions of songs. Its strong point is the community features: On Spotify, users can follow friends and favorite artists and see their listening activity.
Since Spotify isn’t the only on-demand streaming service, we can’t help mentioning some of its competitors. Here is a list of other popular music streaming services and short descriptions of them.
Spotify can become a great add-on to any navigation app. Find out the time and cost estimates for an app like Waze.
Key features for a Spotify-like app
Let’s take a look at the features that an app like Spotify needs.
User accounts. To get started, a user needs to create an account.
Cloud storage. A cloud service enables data storage so that users can access their music files online.
Search. This is a must to let users find songs by artist and title.
Library. This is where users can collect their favorite albums and songs for quick access.
Playlists. Users should be able to create and edit playlists.
Recommendations help to provide a personalized experience. They should be based on a user’s musical preferences.
Offline availability lets users download songs and albums so they can listen to them without an internet connection.
Social sharing. With a sharing feature, users can share playlists with friends through social media.
Notifications. With notifications, users can get news about activity of their friends and favorite artists.
Upload. This is an additional feature that your app needs if you want to let users upload their own content.
How to make money with a Spotify-like app
Spotify gets most of its revenue from ads and Premium subscriptions. In Q4 2018, the company generated almost all of its revenue from subscriptions:
Paid subscriptions
Freemium music apps provide some basic features for free, but to get additional features, users need to pay. That’s how Spotify works.
Spotify Premium features include:
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Paid subscriptions are the main source of revenue for music streaming apps, especially if they don’t provide a free ad-supported option. For instance, Tidal has only paid plans. When the Tidal trial period expires, users have to pay for a subscription.
Learn how we built a subscription-based marketplace for distributing music and other creative content.
Ads
To make money with a free music app or plan, you can let brands play ads in your app.
Spotify supports several ad formats:
Challenges of creating an app like Spotify
If you’re thinking of creating an app like Spotify, you need to remember that music streaming services face a number of challenges.
Licensing
The first and biggest challenge is licensing. Streaming apps like Spotify are a legal way to listen to music. For every stream, digital music services pay royalties to rights holders. That means that licensing is a must. Otherwise, you’ll violate copyright laws.
A song actually has two copyrights:
To stream a song, you need a public performance license. This license is issued by performing rights organizations that collect and distribute royalties for songwriters and publishers. In the USA, these organizations are ASCAP, BMI, and SESAC.
To get a sound recording license, music streaming services sign deals with record labels. To stream indie music, you need to have a deal with Merlin Network, a digital rights agency for independent labels.
Accurate recommendations
Providing recommendations that actually match a user’s musical preferences is vital for a music streaming app. For example, lots of Apple Music users are not satisfied with the app’s recommendations. Considering the competition, users can just switch to other music services.
To provide accurate recommendations, your service needs a strong technology core. Spotify, for example, relies heavily on machine learning algorithms to make the best musical matches.
To provide personalized music recommendations, you first need to collect and analyze data about a user’s musical preferences. You can ask users to choose genres and artists they like right after registration. Lots of music apps do that.
One of the algorithms Spotify uses to make accurate recommendations is called collaborative filtering. This model focuses on finding users with similar musical preferences. Let’s say there are two users, John and Nancy, who mostly listen to similar songs. They both listen to songs A, B, and C. If Nancy likes song D, Spotify will recommend this song to John.
Value propositionSpotify App For Android
You should clearly communicate the value your app provides to stand out from competitors. That’s why you need a compelling value proposition.
Let’s take Spotify, SoundCloud, and Tidal as examples and look at their value propositions.
One of Spotify’s value propositions lies in the huge number of personalized playlists that it automatically generates, including Release Radar and Discover Weekly. Updated every Friday, Release Radar provides new releases recommended for a particular user. Discover Weekly updates every Monday and is also generated for a particular user based on their musical tastes.
SoundCloud positions itself as not just a music streaming service but also a social media network. SoundCloud lets users upload their own tracks and gives young artists the opportunity to find a community and connect with fans.
To distinguish itself from competitors, Tidal offers high fidelity (Hi-Fi) audio using the FLAC format, which is of higher quality than MP3. As for the value proposition for artists, Tidal claims that it pays a higher ratio of royalties to music creators than any other streaming service.
Entering the market
It’s important to consider the challenge of getting your first users and engaging them with the platform. To address this issue, you need a strong marketing strategy.
Spotify’s marketing strategy includes social media marketing as well as more traditional promotional methods such as TV commercials and billboards. But let’s find out how Spotify started and attracted its first users.
When Spotify launched in some European countries, it was invite-only. Thus, the company could control Spotify’s growth to provide a good user experience. But the invite-only system also helped to create buzz around the launch. Influencers and tech reporters who tested the service shared their experiences, increasing anticipation even more.
In 2001, Spotify partnered with Facebook and launched in the US. The integration let Facebook users show their friends what they listened to on Spotify. This partnership helped Spotify increase the number of Premium subscribers.
Facebook is not the only company Spotify has a partnership with. To attract new customers, Spotify also partnered with Uber, Coca-Cola, and Reebok.
Another music streaming service, Deezer, decided to reach markets where Spotify was not already dominant. Deezer targets listeners in Latin America, Asia, and Africa and focuses on local music genres. As Deezer chief executive Hans-Holger Albrecht notes, while Spotify focuses on playlists, Deezer focuses on local differentiation.
Build an app for web or mobile?
Most digital music services provide web players along with mobile apps. Having a web version can still help you reach a broader audience. It’s always better to let your users choose the device they prefer at the moment.
But if you’re choosing between developing a web or mobile version of your music service, we would recommend a mobile app. And here’s why: According to the Music Consumer Insight Report, 75 percent of consumers primarily use smartphones to listen to music.
In 2015, Spotify provided statistics showing that most of their users preferred mobile devices like smartphones and tablets for listening.
As mobile apps are built for iOS and Android, you can either build a native app for both platforms or choose one platform. Here’s an article where we compare the pros and cons of development for Android and iOS. Check it out if you’re wondering which platform you should choose for your app.
Business Model Canvas for a Spotify-like app
A Business Model Canvas is a template that’s filled with information on a startup’s value proposition, key business partners, resources, revenue streams, etc. It allows you to design and visualize a startup’s business model and quickly evaluate a startup idea.
Startup idea evaluation, in turn, helps business owners make sure their product meets a market need and makes sure the development team can clearly understand the project to formulate requirements.
Here’s a Business Model Canvas for a Spotify-like app:
How to save time and money creating a streaming app like Spotify
The cost of streaming app development depends on many factors, including feature list, an hourly rate of a software development company you choose, and whether the product is going to be developed from scratch. The price can reach $100,000 ‒ $150,000 or even more in some regions for the development from scratch.
If that sounds pricey, don't quit your dream of building a successful startup. Check out a white-label solution for fast and cost-efficient streaming app development developed by our team.
This solution allows us to reduce the cost of such a project to $40,000 for a minimum viable product. What is more, to make your product unique and branded, we can also develop additional features and create custom design of your web app to help your product stand out.
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Music is like the pill which keeps people going in weekends and tough times. To keep up with the latest tracks, you can download apps like Spotify. I am sure you must have been using some kind of music apps right now to get in touch with the latest releases and soulful music of all time.
Top 10 Apps like Spotify
But you can make most of these apps when they are the right ones. To guide you in the same, I am listing down some apps like Spotify. Yes, Spotify is a very popular music app but you know, you should always have some options with you. And for the same, I decided to compile a list of the Spotify alternative apps which are given below.
1). Deezer
Download Apps:Android, iOS
I am starting this list of apps like Spotify from a popular app that many of our readers would have been using right now. Deezer is like your personal music player where you can listen to your favorite songs and also download them digitally to listen to them when you are offline.
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This handy app is a great option for music streaming and comprised of a database which is updated on a daily basis with the songs from top artists.
Be it single tracks or entire albums, you are surely going to find it on Deezer. Deezer also follows some subscription plans too. Apart from offering free services under the basic plan, it also offers Deezer Premium+ and Deezer family too with different features.
The basic features which you can access with this alternative app like Spotify are on screen music lyrics, search by song, artists, albums, music downloading, live radio stations, import music to mp3 etc. There are more upgraded features which can only be accessed when you opt for the paid subscription plan.
2). SoundCloud
Download Apps:Android, iOS
Another addition to the list of apps like Spotify is SoundCloud. This app is capable to bring you the freshest releases from throughout the world and then allows you to stream them online. SoundCloud is one of the most loved music app worldwide.
You just need to install this app and create an account on it. Afterwards, personalize it by inputting your choice of music and then you are going to get relevant suggestions quickly.
SoundCloud too offers some subscription plans which are the paid plans by it apart from a free service. For SoundCloud Go, you would have to pay $4.99 per month and for SoundCloud Go+ you need to pay $9.99 per month. Under SoundCloud Pulse, you can upload your creations on this app easily.
Now, I would like you to get acknowledged to the premium features offered by SoundCloud. These are vast library of over 120 million songs, offline collection, no ads, suggestions as per your taste, playlists creation etc. Spotify alternative apps like SoundCloud are really making it big because of the fast growing popularity and wonderful services.
3). Google Play Music
Download Apps:Android, iOS
Google Play Music is one of the largest music libraries in the world and there is no doubt in it. So, it was obvious to include it in the list of apps like Spotify to let people grab on a huge collection of latest tracks from different genres.
There are various basis over which you can your favorite music like mood, activity, artists, albums, decade, songs etc.
In fact, Google Play Music is not only about streaming music on it but also about uploading your own collection on it. It allows you to upload about 50,000 of your own songs on it. Google Play Music offers both free and subscription based plans which offers different services.
The basic features that come under Google Play Music are discovering and subscription to podcasts, smart recommendations by the app, offline mode, access to millions of songs, family plans, ad-free streaming, digital download, etc.
Google Play Music is turning out to be one of the most favorite music app to millions and billions of people around the world and the reason is simple, its simplicity and long list of services provided by it.
4). Slacker
Download Apps:Android, iOS
Slacker radio is not like the traditional radio app which only streams live radio for its users but it is something different than that. I would say that Slacker Radio functions in a way that no other music app has ever worked. It takes care of your music taste and then functions accordingly.
Slacker is one of the most powerful musical tools in the list of apps like Spotify. It not only allows you to stream various stations but also gives the power to download them to listen later.
Slacker has two modes, one works for free and for the upgraded services you would have to pay the subscription amount. You are going to witness hundreds of music stations on this app. You can even create one for yourself too which can be comprised of the music of your choice.
Slacker Radio also works as one of the best music album download sites too. The interesting features which come along Slacker are weekly music shows, offline playback of music, news and sports programming, millions of songs on subscription, music stations etc.
5). Tidal
Download Apps:Android, iOS
Tidal is a popular music app whose fame is because of the high fidelity sound offered by it. Actually, this is not about the vastness of the music library here but about the high definition quality sound which is offered by it. Tidal is specially edited by music journalists, artist and experts altogether.
Spotify For Android
Tidal can called to be one of the most perfect apps like Spotify in this list. With taking care of the minute details, Tidal went on to become the superior quality music app.
Tidal not only offers the audios and mp3 songs only but it has about 130,000 music videos too in its database. Overall, you are going to have access to 40 million tracks when you will be installing and creating an account in Tidal. https://jataezk.weebly.com/blog/can-you-download-your-playlist-from-spotify-for-free.
Some of the features of this app are going to remain same as the rest of the Spotify alternative apps like playlists creation, offline mode of streaming, smart recommendations, no ads, no fuzzy images, streaming through songs, artists etc. Apart from all, the quality of the sound is something which you are not going to witness elsewhere.
6). SoundHound
Download Apps:Android, iOS
If you love apps like Shazam which are great enough to discover the currently playing song somewhere then you would love to use SoundHound too. The only thing which differs in SoundHound is that it provides full-length song but Shazam is not capable to do so and redirects users to some other apps.
Being a wonderful music discoverer I got SoundHound listed in the category of apps like Spotify here. SoundHound is perfect to discover, identify and then stream songs.
SoundHound also allows you to go hands-free to. You just need to say “Ok Hound.What’s that song?” and it will automatically fetch the song playing and will tell you which song it is. Other great options that comes associated with SoundHound are lyrics availability, video playback, music sharing and streaming, history accessing etc.
SoundHound is also counted amongst music download sites but the app provides better accessing. The app is free to use but to download music you would have to buy it otherwise it is perfect to stream music on it.
7). Apple Music
Download Apps:Android
There is no doubt in the fact that iTunes is the largest music library for the iOS users but now you have Apple Music for the android users to access it along with iTunes library. This will give you the benefits of the vast music streaming hub that you will forget using other apps like Spotify completely.
Apples Music is not free to use but you can opt for your trial period anytime you want and cancel your subscription in this time period too.
Apple Music catalog gives you access to a vast library containing more than 40 million tracks belonging to different countries and genres. In this way, you have a lot of options to stream music from. The exclusive features that come along with Apple Music are offline mode of streaming, playlists creation, follow friends, smart recommendations etc.
You are also getting behind the scene videos, personal documentaries of artists under this app too. The app is a power pack collection of everything and anything that you want to be showcased regarding music.
8). Audiomack
Download Apps:Android, iOS
Audiomack is a music streaming app which also supports downloading them too. So basically, this app is all about fulfilling all your music needs with just one tap. Audiomack is a great pick under the category of apps like Spotify.
I would strongly recommend Audiomack to the people who are crazy about listening to mixtapes regularly as their collection is just amazing in that category.
When you are browsing Audiomack then you have the option to browse music on the basis of the different categories and genres like Hip-Hop, EDM, R&B, Rap etc. Thankfully, you get all of these features for free on this app.
Audiomack also serves as a fantastic music album downloader too. This means it is going to keep up with all of your music needs for sure. Some of the features of Audiomack are data free listening, great mixtapes, playlists, ad-free for $1.99 per month, audiosnap, mood and genre-wise songs etc.
9). Music Stream Hub
Download Apps:Android, iOS
Before I describe further about Music Stream Hub, let me tell you that the app is completely and totally 100% free. This means it does not charge any amount for any of the services provided by it. This makes it very few apps like Spotify in this list.
You just need to install the app and then search for your desired song and listen to it peacefully. Music Stream Hub provides you access to all the top songs in different genres.
Other great features of Music Stream Hub are music streaming on the go, search filters, genre wise classifications, save albums and songs, playlist creation and sharing, no sign up required, built-in music player etc.
This app releases a lot of extra issues which you generally get to see in various other apps of the same category.
10). Musicsense
Download Apps:Android, iOS
And finally, the last one in this section of apps like Spotify is Musicsense. This app is a bit different as compared to the other ones. It brings you great music to be streamed through the radio stations. Be it latest tracks or artists, Musicsense gives you access to everyone with just one click.
The app is just like its name and the priority of this app is the taste of the user who is accessing it. It analyze the choices and taste of music and then responds accordingly.
Some of the features which comes under Musicsense are personal music playlist, ad-free accessing, easy user interface, smart recommendations based on choices, like and dislike buttons, offline streaming, etc. You get all these features for free through this app.
Being one of the most reliable Spotify alternative apps, Musicsense has really developed a deep user understanding which most apps lack. You can give it a try and I am sure you would not be disappointed at all.
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Conclusion
Music does not need any language to be perfect and I guess this is the reason you can listen everyone singing Despacito. These apps like Spotify are going to keep you updated with various types of music like country, folk, pop, rap, EDM, soft, workout etc.
You just need to understand the settings first then you can utilize the apps in a better way. Music apps like Spotify are going to help you get suggestions according to your taste along with great features. I am sure this will totally change the way you have ever heard music.
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