How To Develop An App Like TuneIn Radio: A Complete Guide

Confused about developing an app like TuneIn Radio?

An app that can cover not only music, but sports, news, and much more is the current trend in the market. 

Well, you can develop it through learning about the right steps, features, challenges, and monetization strategies. 

Relax, we have covered it all here. 

Let’s begin. 

About TuneIn Radio & Market Size, Growth, and Statistics

TuneIn empowers people to hear exactly what they love the moment they want it, as well as discover a universe of audio, all in one place. 

The app is designed to bring together live sports, up-to-the-minute news, millions of podcasts, and curated music, all over 120,000 streaming radio stations.

Here, an individual can find the power of audio, design, and technology for empowering people to hear exactly what they love, the moment they want it. 

With TuneIn, users can stream local AM/FM stations on all devices, plus live news and sports coverage like NFL and MLB, and displays music for every mood, and podcasts for every passion.  

Awareness of the brand is at 23% in the United States. This survey was conducted using the concept of brand recognition.

TuneIn has more than $100 million in annual revenue. Additionally, the estimated annual revenue is currently $39.6 million per year. It has an estimated revenue per employee at $155,875, with a total funding of $171.6 million. 

Now, as we proceed further, it’s important to evaluate the working procedure of TuneIn Radio. Check out the following section for the same. 

How Does TuneIn Radio Work?

When it comes to developing an app like TuneIn Radio, you should identify the working procedure of the app. 

Let’s evaluate the following steps to identify the working procedure.

1. Installation and Profile Creation

Users should be able to install and download the app from the Play Store and App Store.

After installing the app, users can include all the details related to their name, types of music, news, or sports they like, and get all the required recommendations. 

2. Access the TuneIn Directory

Through the TuneIn directory, users need to provide important contact and content information, including name and contact information, legal name of the content provider, category of genre of the station, region details, and so on. 

3. Filtration and Recommendations

Users can implement filters to find related news, sports, and audio stations. Well, based on the data provided by the users, they can get recommendations for the content.

This recommendation will enable users to find the audio based on their interests. 

4. Enjoy Listening to Music and Content

At this stage, the users enjoy the music and relevant content via the app. The users can enjoy music even by plugging in the headphones and earphones.

Apps like TuneIn Radio can comply with the users’ location, where they can listen to it on iOS, tablets, and other connected devices. 

5. Reviews and Feedback

Users can provide reviews and feedback within the app that can help businesses process the data.

This is an important parameter that can be useful for enhancing the app’s performance and connecting with the users. 

Following this customer journey mapping, you can decide to create an app like TuneIn Radio.

Now, let’s examine the top key features that you can include within the app like TuneIn Radio. This will be effective in delivering the expected experience to the users. 

Let’s learn it all in the following section.

Key Features of an App Like TuneIn Radio (User, Admin, Advanced)

Features are the blood of the app, thus, you can evaluate them by identifying the project’s aim and objectives. 

Here’s a detail of the music streaming app features to include in the app.

► Registration and Login Authentication

It is important to opt for registration where the user can include and fill in all the details for syncing the music and playlists with the service. 

After installing the app, users are required to allow access to the app so that they can get the required content and recommendations. 

► Playlist

Users can create a playlist that helps them take advantage of the diversified music streaming app. Here, users can store and add their favorite songs under this feature. 

Based on the listening habits and preferences, the app will be used to create custom playlists that help ensure that users can always discover new tracks aligned with their tastes. 

► Filters and Navigation

With the search feature within the app, users can select their favorite songs, sports, and audio as per their preferences. Through filters, it provides convenience to the users. 

Additionally, via navigation, the users can get to the page, where they can access the songs and audio accordingly. 

► Categorization

An app like TuneIn Radio does include categorization. This includes the option to search for songs and artists. The users can give a classification by the playlist, mood, activities, frequency, etc. 

This will be helpful to the users in finding their favorite songs, radios, and playlists. It could become a crucial feature. 

► Push Notifications

Push notifications are a feature that is useful for assisting the listeners with songs and encouraging them to return to the app. Regular updates as well as improved communications.

It does keep customers informed about their current events in the app, new recommended tracks, and further updates. 

► Social Media Integrations

Social media integration is an important component through which users can share their playlists or favorite songs with their friends and family. Here, users can share the tracks and playlists with their friends. 

This is an important feature to include because it not only assists the users but also your business by promoting the app. 

► Music Categorization

Music categorization includes the option to search for songs and artists. Additionally, here the users can find the classification by playlists, frequency, and styles. 

This feature provides an option to search for songs and artists. Here, you can provide a classification by frequency, playlists, ratings, and styles to provide a seamless experience to the users. 

► Curated Playlists Collections

The curated playlists improve the overall user experience in various ways. The curated playlists reflect the style and industry expertise that further assist the app to become a trendsetter. 

Additionally, half of U.S. users consider music collection as one of the essential app features. 

► Recommendation Feature

The recommendation feature can be an issue during the development phase, where the user can create a distinct algorithm for recommending playlists and music to customers depending on their interests. 

The app can be based on user behavior, where they enjoy the most often played songs, skipped tracks, preferred artists, etc. 

► Cloud Storage

Cloud storage can become a win-win option for music streaming services for storing large amounts of data over the internet. 

The app here can store the data on the remote services to assist the clients with additional comfort. 

► Pre-Save Option

You can include the pre-saving option that refers to one upgrade of the app. Some of the albums are even announced, but are not accessible to the public. 

Thus, you can include this feature to tell people that they can download it immediately when the album is added to the service. 

Considering these features, you can continue to develop an app like TuneIn Radio. 

Well, now, you can continue with “How to make an app like TuneIn Radio” in the given section. 

Step-By-Step Guide to Develop an App Like TuneIn Radio

Whether it’s about how to create a music streaming app or to build a podcast app, including effective steps is important to proceed with. 

Well, you can proceed with the same, in the given steps.

Step 1: Market Research

You should conceptualize the app and its idea related to the business.

You can engage with the app by pursuing market research that will allow you to gain a deeper understanding of the users’ preferences, explore industry trends, and conduct competitive analysis. 

Within the market analysis, you can identify the users’ demand along with the competitors. This will be useful for you to reach the target users. 

Thus, with this scenario, you can lay a solid foundation for shaping your dream app like TuneIn Radio.

Additionally, you can provide valuable insights and support the app’s core functionalities. 

Step 2: Selecting the Features and Adding UI/UX Design

Adding a music streaming app design guide can consist of playlists, curated playlist collections, social media integration, push notifications, and much more.

These features are essential to selecting the right framework for the application, taking into account factors such as audience demographics, with the specific capabilities of each platform. 

Here, the application should offer navigation to enhance the user experience and achieve a smooth customer experience. Well, this all comes into UI/UX app design. 

Step 3: Choice of Platforms

It’s important to evaluate the diversified platforms where you can launch your app. Here, the platforms can be Android, iOS, and hybrid applications.

The platforms should be selected, and then the technologies should be implemented accordingly. 

If you prefer building the app for Android, the technology that can be used is Kotlin; however, for iOS, it should be Swift. 

Step 4: Functionality Development

Well, now it’s time to proceed with the music streaming app tech stack. Here, the technology should be selected based on the recent features and to support the app. 

You should evaluate the types of tech stack to include and operate the app.

Here, the technologies can be Amazon Web Services for cloud platforms, databases such as MongoDB, frameworks including react native, along with programming languages such as Kotlin, Java, Swift, and many others. 

Including these technologies can make your app more effective in reaching the overall objective of creating it. 

Step 5: App Testing

Mobile app testing is all about including the types of testing procedures such as assessing the compatibility across platforms, performance testing, security testing, usability testing, exploratory testing, and many others. 

When it comes to music streaming apps like TuneIn Radio, you should evaluate their security, performance, compatibility for different platforms, and user interface. 

Here you can explore diversified errors and bugs and then address them with effective tools as well as techniques. 

Step 6: Deployment, Launch, and Maintenance

Well, now it’s time to deploy the app over the selected platform. After deploying the app, you can launch it on a decided date. 

For an app like TuneIn Radio, you will need to sustain it in a competitive environment. Thus, connect with the app maintenance services to learn more. 

Proceeding with the maintenance can assist you in enhancing its functions, fixing bugs, enhancing the user experience, and complying with the new operating system. 

These were the steps to follow for creating an app like TuneIn Radio. 

We have discussed the steps now; let’s examine the technologies to be used here, in detail. 

Are you ready to learn more about the tech stack? The following section will cover it all.

Modern Technologies for TuneIn Radio App Development

Are you confused about the modern technologies to be implemented in the app?

Well, let’s consider the following table for the same. 

Thus, by considering the technologies, let’s move further with the costs and time factors in the given sections. 

Cost to Develop an App Like TuneIn Radio

What’s the overall cost of creating a music streaming app?

The average cost to build an app like TuneIn Radio can vary from $20,000 to $150,000.

The cost can further vary depending on different factors, including the complexity of the app, design, technology stack, and the team of developers. 

The mobile app development cost will vary depending on different attributes; thus, for more information, you can connect with the developers and may get a cost estimation. 

How Much Time Does It Take To Develop An App Like TuneIn Radio?

After the cost evaluation, it’s time to build an app. 

To create an app like TuneIn Radio, the time can vary between 7-13 months, depending on different factors such as the steps undertaken to proceed with it, costs, the team of developers, and their skills.

Now, let’s go ahead with the reasons to build an app as well as money-making strategies. 

Why Invest in a TuneIn Radio App and Make Money From It?

Are you confused about the reasons to invest in a TuneIn Radio app?

Well, there are many reasons to build it, such as the growing market for music streaming apps. In 2023, streaming revenues reached 19.3 billion U.S. dollars worldwide, the highest ever recorded.

Other than this, if you want to engage the users via music or news, creating an app can resolve this issue.

Hence, engaging the users is one of the important parameters that you cannot ignore. 

Now, let’s consider the music streaming app monetization strategies to include here.

♦ Subscription Plan

This is a common subscription plan that can be followed here. This further comprises different types of plans and prices depending on user behavior and their interests.

This plan will be useful for the users to get their desired plan and for them to earn a regular sum. 

♦ Advertising

With advertising, you can add a space to the app to help third parties to promote their products and services. Thus, via partnering with the brands, you can earn a great amount of revenue. 

♦ In-App Purchases

Now, let’s come to in-app purchases, where users can buy features as per their use and purposes.

This will be helpful to your brand earn additional income and allow users to access additional content and services. 

♦ Commission Fee

You can charge a high commission fee from the users (artists) who want to reach a wide audience, by launching their songs via the platform.

This can provide you a benefit to promote the local artisans and to earn a great sum of money. 

So, these were some of the relevant monetization frameworks you can include to create an app like TuneIn Radio. 

Now that you have learned the nuances of building an app like TuneIn Radio, let’s proceed with the challenges that your app might face here. 

You can switch to the following section for the same. 

Challenges in Developing an App Like TuneIn Radio & Their Solutions

The challenges to create an app like TuneIn Radio can be several because once you enter the sector, you will face different errors. 

Let’s discuss the mistakes to build a music streaming app here.

➤ Lack of Research

If you avoid research, it can impact the complete functionality, and you will not be able to sustain the market. This will result in app and business failure.

➤ Poor User Design

Lack of user design or unattractive user design will result in losing the interest of the target audience. This can be a risk to avoid while building it. 

➤ Selection of Inappropriate Tech Stack

If you avoid selecting the appropriate technology, this can create issues with listing your app and even functioning. 

➤ Cross-Platform Compatibility

Is your device compatible with other platforms? Well, if not, then it can be an issue for your app. This may even shift users to competitors. 

➤ Data Security

In-app security will lead to different issues. This can impact the overall functioning. It will dissolve the trust of the users in the app. 

Till now, we have discussed the concept and stats of an app like TuneIn Radio, its features, reasons, challenges, costs, time, and steps to create it. 

Now, are there any trends that you can cover to build an app like TuneIn Radio?

Well, you can get it all in the given section. 

Latest Trends in the TuneIn Radio App

What are the top trends that can be useful for building an app like TuneIn Radio?

Here’s a detail of music streaming app trends to follow.

• Personalization

Not only personalization but also hyper-personalization can help you win the market. Thus, including it in the app can become your winning point. 

• Live Streaming

Adding live streaming as an important feature here can be useful in helping you to engage a wide users. 

• VR Concerts and Metaverse

Including VR and AR can enhance user engagement and experience with the app. Thus, it can be a significant point to be considered here. 

• Web3 Streaming and NFT

This technology should be included in the app to engage the users and provide them with great value in association with the platform. 

• Music Metadata Exchange

In 2024, the value of music in user-generated content is increasing continuously.

Additionally, the need for enriched metadata increases as you onboard more people. This can help you connect with a wide range of users. 

Considering the trends, you can connect with the team of developers. 

Why Choose Nimble AppGenie For Your TuneIn Radio App Development?

Searching for the right team of developers?

Connect with us, our skilled team of Nimble AppGenie is here to help. We are the top leaders in music streaming app development, who can assist you with converting your dream app into a success. 

Our team is ready to support you at every step. Thus, connecting with us can help you lead the industry.

Conclusion

To build an app like TuneIn Radio, you should include different steps that can help you achieve success.

These steps can begin with market analysis, selection of features, creation of app design, building the technology stack, testing, and launching. 

Here, there are multiple challenges that you cannot ignore, such as a lack of research, poor UI/UX, an inappropriate tech stack, cross-platform compatibility, and data security.

Along with this, you can include various trends to make your app compatible with the environment, such as live streaming, personalization, and many others. Connecting with an experienced company can be helpful.

FAQs

Niketan Sharma

Niketan Sharma, CTO, Nimble AppGenie, is a tech enthusiast with more than a decade of experience in delivering high-value solutions that allow a brand to penetrate the market easily. With a strong hold on mobile app development, he is actively working to help businesses identify the potential of digital transformation by sharing insightful statistics, guides & blogs.