Table of Content
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Introduction
What comes to your mind when you hear the word “music streaming app?”
Spotify, isn’t it?
No wonder Spotify is the largest music streaming app service with 35% of global subscribers, as of 2019 Statista stats. While Apple Music service falls second with 19%, there is still a massive gap between the figures.
Now, if your goal is to create a music streaming app that is better than Spotify, you will have to put in lots of effort and investment. However, it is going to pay off when you plan the music streaming app development in the best manner.
Other statistics suggest that the number of music streaming subscribers globally was 400 million in the first quarter of 2020, and the revenue generated from music streaming applications worldwide in 2019 hit 11.4 billion U.S. dollars.
The point is that there is a lot of potential in music streaming apps, provided you design it right and add the right music player features that engage the users.
Points to Consider Before You Develop Your Music Streaming App
There are several points to consider before you start to develop your music streaming app. Here are four crucial points:
1. Find Out the Type of App You Want to Create
Trending music streaming platforms are accessible in a plethora of formats and give numerous options for listening to different genres of music.
Here are three of the most popular types of music apps used by subscribers:
- Music Media Libraries: They offer you almost unlimited access to songs. Examples include Spotify, YouTube, and Amazon Music HD.
- Cloud Storage: It allows users to store their songs and stream them anytime, anywhere. Examples include pCloud, CloudPlayer, and Beat.
- Radio Stations: Users can conduct an automated search for music, which is then streamed to users on their PC, home audio devices, or mobile devices. Examples include AccuRadio, Shoutcast, and Apple Music.
2. Licensing
For each music streaming app, you have to pay the legal owners for the songs. Failing to follow licensing will result in facing copyright penalties.
3. Platform
iOS and Android are the two most popular platforms in the world of smartphones. It is recommended to build a music streaming app for both platforms. If you must settle with one, consider your target audience and their likings when choosing it.
4. Design
It goes without saying that your music streaming platform has to be both intuitive and user-friendly to engage the users.
Crucial Features to Consider While Building a Music Streaming App That Is Better Than Spotify
Now that you are aware of the points to consider before developing your app, let’s have a look at the top music apps with interactive features you should include to ensure your music streaming app is better than Spotify:
1) Easy Navigation
Spotify is always trying to improve and create a more streamlined experience for its users. For instance, in 2020, the company announced that they would simplify navigation for iOS users, and the upgrade will affect free subscribers.
Spotify’s action buttons are now assembled in a central row and grafted at the end of the screen. This decreases the number of actions to be taken and makes navigation with one hand easier.
To compete with Spotify, you need to design clear and intuitive navigation and an excellent user interface. Consider hiring a team of music app developers with UI/UX design skills while creating your app.
2) Live Streaming
Live streaming is transforming the music industry ever since the COVID-19 pandemic. Platforms like YouTube and Twitch already offer this feature. Many artists are generating not only clicks but also sales via live-stream concerts.
You can beat Spotify by adding a Live Streaming feature in your music streaming app as the company has fallen short of launching this essential function within its app.
The live streaming feature will make your app stand out from the competition. It will allow music lovers worldwide to stream live concerts and events of different artists using proper channels. It’s a great way to keep up with your users’ interests and improve user experience, making your app more interactive than Spotify's music streaming features.
3) Lyrics Feature
Music lovers want to be able to read the lyrics when listening to their favorite song within your app. Ever since Spotify took off their own lyrics feature, several Spotify users have been complaining in the Spotify community.
Not having this feature makes it inconvenient for music lovers who love to read the lyrics when listening to music simultaneously.
However, the company is bringing real-time lyrics back after repeated requests from users. As per Android Police reports, at present, the feature is available only to a few users globally.
You shouldn’t miss out on this feature if you want to be competitive in the market and offer music player features that appeal to every listener.
4) Recommendations
The big help that Spotify offers to their users is recommending new favorite artists and music they might not have found otherwise.
Spotify uses three recommendation models:
- Collaborative filtering that makes use of users’ behavior and the behavior of similar users.
- Natural Language Processing (NLP) is used for lyrics, playlists, social media comments, and blog posts.
- Audio models are implemented on raw audio.
You can replicate their models to offer recommendations or come up with your own ideas to make your music streaming platform features stand out.
5) Competitive Pricing
Spotify offers a free plan, but it comes with limitations, such as interruptions by ads during a song. Users often complain about Spotify’s premium pricing plan, not because it is high, but because additional premium subscription deals aren’t available to all countries. Their premium subscription costs you $9.99 monthly.
To outdo Spotify’s pricing feature, come up with competitive pricing plans and make subscriptions available to as many countries as possible. Offering better value can make your music streaming app one of the best music apps in the market.
6) Voice Search and Commands
Spotify already has Spotify Voice that allows users to speak and quickly find and play their favorite songs, videos, and podcasts. Voice search is becoming increasingly popular owing to its convenience and accuracy in finding results. Adding this feature can enhance the user experience.
To stay competitive in the streaming app features space, this feature is a must-have for any music app aiming to deliver next-level user interaction.
Additional Features to Stand Out: Music Streaming Apps for iPhone and More
When you create a music streaming app, think about the specifics of music streaming apps for iPhone. Many users of Apple devices expect high-quality streaming, fast loading times, and smooth UI/UX. Make sure to integrate the features they expect in your music streaming platform to stand out from the competition.
If you're considering audio streaming app development, ensure that your platform supports high-quality audio formats and integrates seamlessly with mobile devices, creating a premium experience for your users.
Conclusion
Designing a music streaming app will be highly profitable for your business if done correctly. But with big giants like Spotify taking the spotlight, it’s natural to get nervous and confused when it comes to creating a music streaming app.
However, by closely following your competitors and understanding why they are succeeding and where they lag behind, you can fill the gap and offer tough competition. With the right music features and music streaming platform features, your app can rise above Spotify and other competitors.
If you're ready to build your music streaming app, contact us today for expert guidance and development services!
Disclaimer:
This blog is intended for informational and educational purposes only. We do not promote or facilitate gambling activities in any country where it is considered illegal. Our content is focused solely on providing knowledge about legal and regulated markets. We only work with operators and platforms that are licensed and comply with the laws of jurisdictions where casino gaming is permitted. We do not operate or endorse any form of gambling in restricted regions. In countries where only skill-based games are allowed, our involvement is strictly limited to those games.
We believe gambling should be an entertaining and responsible activity. Our goal is to ensure that the platforms we review uphold the highest standards of fairness, transparency, and player safety.
FAQs
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The best features include easy navigation, live streaming, lyrics display, personalized recommendations, competitive pricing plans, and voice search.
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To surpass Spotify, focus on offering unique features like live streaming, real-time lyrics, competitive pricing, and an intuitive user interface.
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You should consider licensing, platform compatibility (iOS/Android), user-friendly design, and interactive features like voice search and recommendations.
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The cost depends on the features, platform, and design complexity. It can range from a few thousand dollars to several hundred thousand, depending on the scope.
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Yes, live streaming is a game-changing feature that can differentiate your app from others like Spotify. It helps engage users with live concerts and events.
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