The story has been updated after Apple Music became available on Amazon Echo speakers on Friday 14 December.
Users across the globe with Amazon’s Echo speakers and using Apple Music are reporting that the feature is now active on the device. Amazon announced on Friday, 30 November, that Apple Music subscribers will be able to play songs on Echo devices from 17 December but it looks like people are getting it before the announced timeline.
“Apple Music subscribers will be able to enjoy Apple Music’s 50 million songs on Echo devices,” Amazon said in its official statement, announcing its devices’ compatibility with millions of iPhone users across the globe.
This is possibly the biggest music synergy between two technology giants in recent times.
Apple Music, still the go-to music platform for iPhone, is now accessible via Echo Dot, Echo, Echo Plus range of smart speakers that are powered by Alexa, Amazon’s voice assistant.
It is interesting to see Apple open up one of its platforms to third-party companies, in this case, which is a direct competition for the company, Google and even Microsoft to some extent. It is, however, expected to see Amazon joining hands with Apple.
The Jeff Bezos-owned online retailer said in its statement that most of Echo owners were using Alexa for music via voice commands.
“They stream tens of millions of hours of radio per month and have set tens of millions of music alarms since the feature launched less than a year ago,” Dave Limp, Senior Vice President, Amazon Devices, had said.
“Music is one of the most popular features on Alexa — since we launched Alexa four years ago, customers are listening to more music in their homes than ever before.”Dave Limp, Senior Vice President, Amazon Devices
Apple Music on Echo speakers comes in the form of skills that can be installed from the Skill store on the Alexa app, available for both Android and iOS users.
Just enable the Apple Music skill in the Alexa app and link your account to start listening.
In addition to music, Apple Music users on Echo speakers get access to in-depth interview content on the platform and all of it can be played ad-free.
These apps on Alexa will only work if you have already subscribed to the platform. The same applies to Amazon Music and Saavn among others.
Echo speakers (at least, the Echo Plus) are in direct competition with Apple’s HomePod but it’s possible that Apple is eyeing more users for its platform by opening up to other devices; and, well, the consumers aren’t complaining.
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)