Amazon could be about to launch an assault on the streaming market with the rollout of a half-price service.
The company is looking to offer an ad-free on-demand streaming service that would likely cost no more than $4-$5 per month, according to Recode, but the service would run exclusively on Amazon’s Echo smart speakers.
Reports suggest that the service could land as early as September, although negotiations with major labels are said to be on-going.
Should a half-price launch be imminent, Amazon could potentially pose the biggest threat to market leader Spotify yet. So far, Spotify’s biggest rivals, such as Apple Music, Spotify and Deezer, have tried to eat into its market share by way of everything from exclusive releases, video content and extended free trial periods.
Video content has been a key focus for both Spotify and Apple Music of late, with each announcing significant expansions to the video offering. Last month saw Apple Music secure the rights to a Carpool Karaoke spinoff series, while Spotify has just announced an exclusive new documentary on rock legends Metallica entitled Landmark – Metallica: The Early Years.
However, few of the major streaming services have even hinted at dropping their prices to differentiate themselves in the market. Most offer monthly subscription fees of around $9.99, so a potential $4 service from Amazon would certainly change the look of the streaming landscape
Amazon declined to comment when approached by Music Week.
