Emerging Trends in Music Streaming Apps to Explore

Music has been an inevitable part of human lives. Going back to ancient times humans used to start singing and drumming together in ceremonies and celebrations.

This love for music has taken many changes and now the way we sing and play music has completely changed, all thanks to music streaming apps like Spotify. And, with the growing music streaming app trends and evolution, it looks like streaming services will expand their way to a large number of users.

From seeing concerts of our favorite singers to listening to songs in idle time, music keeps finding ways to be part of our lives. If you are looking to learn more about these music streaming app trends and their evolution, our blog is your perfect companion.

Whether you are just curious or an entrepreneur looking to develop a music streaming app like Shazam or Amazon Music, these trends will help you stay ahead in the game.

Market Stats for Music Streaming Apps

When it comes to music, the industry is going through a streaming revolution. Let’s delve into the numbers to see how this industry is taking a shift.

Music streaming is booming! Since the mid-2000s, the revenue of this industry has skyrocketed-growing a whopping 34 times between 2010 and 2020 from just $400 to cool $13.6 bn.

No wonder why streaming became a household name, there are several apps like Soundcloud, Spotify, and others that have changed how people listen to music. And now sales like CDs and records only account for 10%.

In big countries like the USA, music streaming dominates the market with 84% of all music industry revenue. That’s completely true, as an average person spends around 20 hours on these apps jamming and listening to their favorite music.

The surge in mobile app development shows no signs of slowing down. This booming market surely suggests that entrepreneurs can be on the safe side by leveraging new trends.

Now, if you are wondering what those music streaming app trends in 2024 are, we will discuss them later in this blog. Before that, let’s talk about how the market has evolved from its early days.

The Evolution of Music Streaming

Let’s explore the history of music streaming services, and how they transformed from their beginnings to the present day.

• Pre-streaming (1990s)

Going back in time, streaming was nowhere to be found. That was the era of MP3 format where digital music files were smaller and easier to share.

MP3 became a very established format; it used tricks to shrink down any song to the original recording, which is how they were compatible with music players.

But, soon it took a turn when in 1995, RealAudio and Shoutcast emerged as early web-based streaming services, offering a little bit of radio-like experience.

• Pioneering Days (Late 1990s)

When the adoption of web-based streaming services was liked by the user, Shawn Fanning, who was a college student, developed the file-sharing computer service “Napster” that allowed peer-to-peer music sharing.

Even though it had some legal troubles; it surely popularized the concept of on-demand music access.

• Algorithm-Based Music

Pandora Radio was launched in 2000 as an internet radio service based on the Music Genome Project that analyzed song choices to create personalized radio stations.

This app popularized the concept of algorithm music recommendation; it was a breakthrough for the music industry that paved the way for future music apps.

• The Rise of Paid Streaming

With the increasing quest of making a music streaming apps, Apple iTunes became one in the year 2001 right a year after Pandora offered people to download music legally with music ownership models.

• Era of Subscription-based Services (Mid 2000s-present)

Soon, with the launch of Pandora-like apps, the age of subscription services began. There are many apps that were launched in the year 2007.

Such as:

• fm- Another App was Last.fm which enhanced the music experience of people by allowing them to share their listening preferences with their friends and family.
• SoundCloud – Another big name was SoundCloud, which emerged as a platform for independent artists to share music, adopting a vibrant community of creators and listeners.
• Amazon Music – Talk about innovation, you can’t leave Amazon Music. From online marketplace development to music streaming, it has the upper hand in everything. Well, talking about the early days. Amazon offers a limited catalog to prime subscribers and later expanded to a streaming service.
• Spotify – The app was launched in 2008 and gained popularity for offering on-demand streaming services with freemium ads, paid-for ad-free listening, and more. Spotify’s distinct features and popularity enticed investors to create an app like Spotify.
• Apple Music – Later in 2015 Apple Music was launched right after they purchased Beat Electronics, showing signs of Apple entering the streaming market. They surely offered competition to Spotify with tight integrations within the Apple ecosystem.
• Tidal– Limelight was taken by Tidal in 2016, as it got support from artists like Beyonce and Jay-Z, with a focus on high-fidelity focus and an artist-centric model.
• Amazon Music Unlimited – The app was launched in 2016 joining the party with others that offered bundle services that anyone can use leveraging the Prime membership.

Present: The market is still evolving, as we can see a growing number of music streaming apps such as Qobuz & Bandcamp.

Quoboz focuses on high-resolution audio which is perfect for music lovers. On the other hand, Bandcamp provides direct support to independent artists which is why it is trending.

Overall, this isn’t an exhaustive list, but it highlights the major milestones and diverse players that have shaped the overall streaming service.

This was all about past history and how we evolved to the present day. We believe you also have a keen interest in learning about evolving trends that will shape the future of music streaming services.

Emerging Trends in Music Streaming App Development

The music streaming landscape is changing with the increase in AI development, AR and VR, etc., and user demand is also shaping the way we experience music.

Here are some of the most popular trends in music streaming app development:

1. Hyper-personalization with AI

AI is in social media, dating, healthcare, and almost every sector that you can think of. It is not wrong to say; that in the upcoming time, there will be increased expenditure on AI to personalize the experience of users.

Features like these will help users get out of the endless loop of what’s to listen to next making it a top trend in the music streaming industry. The algorithm considers the songs you play often, the artist you follow, and even the time of day you listen to music the most. By analyzing your listening history, AI can get a hold of your type of music and can recommend it as per your current mood.

2. Rise of Social Music Streaming: User-Generated Content Stage

Music has always been a social experience, whether it’s sharing a bond of bands with friends or singing along.

Seeing this craze, investors are hiring mobile app developers to embrace the latest trends in the music streaming industry by putting user-generated content front and center.

Ok, let’s simplify this.

Traditional music streaming services focus on improving individual listening experiences. Whereas, in the future, we will see an increase in social features where one can collaborate with friends to build a playlist for a party or any occasion.

Overall, they will be able to discuss their type of music, artists, and new discoveries with friends. As a result, this will benefit people to expose themselves to new music through their friends, foster a sense of community, and connect with music lovers.

3. High-Fidelity Audio is On the Rise

Digital audio is transforming into high-fidelity audio options, offering listeners a better and more engaging experience that’s close to the original recording.

Currently, most streaming services use compressed audio formats (like MP3) to reduce file sizes. This makes streaming more efficient but sacrifices some audio information which is also known as standard streaming.

With Lossless audio becoming one of the biggest music streaming industry trends, the future of this industry is surely bright. Audio Formats like FLAC or ALAC will compress the music without any compromise to its information.

As a result, you can listen to every subtle detail of the song making you feel like you’re right in the recording studio with the artist.

4. AR & VR integration

While talking about music streaming trends, it’s impossible not to talk about AR & VR integration. Through this, you can attend concerts happening on the other side of the world.

This is how AR and VR can transport you to a new world which is why music is among the top 5 industries using virtual reality apps and Augmented Reality.

• AR Development: Bring Music Nearer

The power of AR development is well known through which digital elements get connected to the real world, creating a dynamic experience for users.

AR can help you feel a stronger and deeper connection to the music and interactive & immersive experiences. For example, you can point your phone at an album cover and see behind the scene content, or any kind of animation that would be cool.

• VR App Development – Closer to Reality

Entry into a virtual world where you can attend live concerts from anywhere in the world, even explore different angles, and do much more can make anyone excited.

Imagine getting a close-up view of your favorite artist performing or a close-up view of a music video. You can indulge in a different kind of experience that suits your preference and lets you interact with the environment.

Although AR and VR app development are both at the initial stage in music and will take time to develop, their potential is undeniable. As technology advances and becomes more cost-effective, businesses will leverage such market trends for music streaming services to bring more interactive and personalized experiences for users.

5. Smart Device Integration

Imagine adjusting music as per your mood or activity, thanks to integration with smart home devices. With virtual assistants like Alexa, you can control playback, adjust volume, and much more, perfect when you don’t want to use your hand while cooking or cleaning.

Smart speakers can analyze your listening space and filter suggestions as per that, creating a more convenient, personalized, and immersive way to listen to music, seamlessly optimizing for the best possible experience. Not only this but with such integration, you can connect your music to any speaker and play the perfect soundtrack with music flowing from one room to another.

6. Blockchain and NFTs in the Streaming Era for Ownership

With the rise of music streaming apps more than ever, ownership of music is still in question. With secure and transparent technology such as Blockchain, artists can track how and where their music is streamed and get royalties for every play.

Other than that, Blockchain could enable fans to own a fraction of the rights to a song, which could potentially increase revenue for artists. Moreover, it eliminates the need for middlemen to make the music industry more transparent, resulting in increasing demand for Blockchain App development.

NFTs can also represent ownership with exclusive benefits like unreleased content or access to artist communities, similar to owning a physical record. This way, people can support their favorite artists by purchasing their NFT; this will make sure that maximum revenue goes to the artist.

Wrapping it up!!

Looking ahead, AI-powered recommendations, social features for shared experiences, and high-fidelity audio options will enhance user engagement. Immersive technologies like AR and VR promise to transport listeners to concerts and create interactive music experiences. Finally, Blockchain and NFTs may transform music ownership, giving artists more control and fans new ways to support them. The future of music streaming is bright, offering exciting possibilities for music lovers and creators alike.

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Niketan Sharma

Niketan Sharma is the CTO of Nimble AppGenie, a prominent website and mobile app development company in the USA that is delivering excellence with a commitment to boosting business growth & maximizing customer satisfaction. He is a highly motivated individual who helps SMEs and startups grow in this dynamic market with the latest technology and innovation.