Amazon is expanding its selection of ad-free music and podcasts for Prime members, the latest effort to sweeten the perks offered in its core membership program.
Amazon dramatically increases its music library available to Prime subscribers to 100 million songs, up from the company’s 2 million announcement Tuesday. The songs will be ad-free, but users will only be able to listen to them by mixing artists, albums or playlists, instead of selecting songs on demand.
Separate “All-Access” playlists, customized to listeners’ preferences, can be played on demand and downloaded for offline listening, Amazon said.
The new Prime podcast and music benefits are likely to increase competition with Apple’s Spotify and Apple Music. Last month, Apple raised the price of Apple Music to $ 10.99 per month from $ 9.99. Spotify CEO Daniel Ek said last week the company is also considering increasing subscription prices.
“When Amazon Music first launched for Prime members, we offered an ad-free catalog of 2 million songs, which was very unique at the time,” said Steve Boom, vice president of ‘Amazon Music, in a statement . “We continue to innovate on behalf of our customers and offer even more entertainment to Prime members in addition to the convenience and value they already enjoy.”
The company also offers Prime members access to a selection of ad-free podcasts, including programs from CNN, NPR, The New York Times, and ESPN, as well as content from Wondery, the podcast startup Amazon acquired in 2020.
Amazon launched its Prime program in 2005, giving users fast delivery, video streaming, and other benefits. The company recently raised the price of Prime, which has over 200 million members worldwide, from $ 119 to $ 139 per year, and added a Grubhub food delivery benefit.
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