{"id":46874,"date":"2025-08-01T13:46:26","date_gmt":"2025-08-01T12:46:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nimbleappgenie.com\/blogs\/?p=46874"},"modified":"2025-08-01T13:47:05","modified_gmt":"2025-08-01T12:47:05","slug":"how-to-develop-an-app-like-bbc-sounds","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nimbleappgenie.com\/blogs\/how-to-develop-an-app-like-bbc-sounds\/","title":{"rendered":"How To Develop An App Like BBC Sounds: A Complete Guide"},"content":{"rendered":"

Today, music streaming apps have become the go-to solution for entertainment, learning, and information in a world that is always rolling.<\/p>\n

Whether you are travelling or in a no-network area, these apps never let you stop consuming your audio content.<\/p>\n

One of the leading names in online streaming apps is the BBC Sounds, which redefines the way people listen to podcasts, stream music, or news.<\/p>\n

Do you also want to be a part of this revolution and develop an app like BBC Sounds? Then you need to proceed with a bold vision, and you can achieve it with the right strategy.<\/p>\n

If you end up reading this blog, then it will guide you through the strategic steps to build a successful app. Further, additional information related to this is provided to you.<\/p>\n

<\/span>Understanding the BBC Sounds App With a Few Statistics<\/span><\/h2>\n

Before you delve into learning how to develop an app like BBC Sounds<\/a>, you must have an initial knowledge of the BBC Sounds app.<\/p>\n

BBC Sounds is an over-the-top (OTT) free audio streaming app introduced by the BBC. The app offers users to stream live radio, on-demand audio, and podcasts.<\/p>\n

\"BBC<\/p>\n

The app is also available as a website and can be available to work on various devices, including smartphones, smart TVs, and cars.<\/p>\n

If you are someone who wants to listen to various BBC audios, which include your favourite programs, podcasts, radio stations, and music, all in one place, this is the app.<\/p>\n

So, there is no way to miss your favorite BBC radio shows; you can catch up or listen to them anytime and from anywhere.<\/p>\n

BBC Sounds app offers autoplay features so you can listen to multiple episodes of a podcast series in one go.<\/p>\n

Also, the app offers personalised recommendations to discover new audio you may love. Other than these, the app offers various interesting features to its users.<\/p>\n

If you look at the statistics of audio streaming apps, you can understand that an app like BBC Sounds has a shining future.<\/p>\n

As per the reports, it is estimated that the global audio streaming market size<\/strong> in the year 2024 to be $43.7 million<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Moving further, it is estimated that the same market size will reach $115.3 million by the year 2030.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Thus, during the forecast period, i.e., between the years 2025 to 2030, the audio streaming market size will grow at a CAGR of 17.3%.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Stats<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
App<\/strong><\/td>\nAvailability<\/strong><\/td>\nDownloads<\/strong><\/td>\nRating<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
BBC Sounds<\/td>\niOS<\/a> & Android<\/a><\/td>\n5M +<\/td>\n4.7\/5 & 4.3\/5<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

<\/span>How Does BBC Sounds Work?<\/span><\/h2>\n

If you are sure that you will create an app like BBC Sounds, then it is crucial to know how the app works. This will make the whole app development process<\/a> easier.<\/p>\n

We have broken down in detail how BBC Sounds works below.<\/p>\n

\"How<\/p>\n

<\/span>\u25ba Access the App BBC Sounds<\/span><\/h3>\n

You can access BBC Sounds from their official website, or install the app from the Play Store and App Store. After installing the app, create your profile with all the required details, name, preferred music genre, news or sports, etc, for personalised recommendations.<\/p>\n

<\/span>\u25ba Live Listening<\/span><\/h3>\n

From the top of the homepage of the BBC Sounds app, you will get to listen to the BBC\u2019s network station live. The network includes Radio 1 Dance or Live News. Moreover, users of the app can tap the Station & Schedules, allowing them to listen to 40 local radio stations.<\/p>\n

<\/span>\u25ba Filter and Recommendation<\/span><\/h3>\n

The BBC Sounds app offers its users a filter browsing option, and the app comes with various categories. Users can browse categories like speech & music, audiobooks, crime & justice, and more. Get recommendations for a vast category of content based on your listening.<\/p>\n

<\/span>\u25ba Enjoy Listening Features<\/span><\/h3>\n

Two types of listening features are offered by the BBC Sounds app. Users can bookmark episodes within the app to listen to them later when they are ready. Don\u2019t worry if you can\u2019t complete episodes in one go, pick up where you left off from the continue listening feature.<\/p>\n

<\/span>\u25ba Offline Listening<\/span><\/h3>\n

For travellers, this app can be an excellent listening solution without the need for internet connections. Users can pre-download podcasts, music, and programs from the app on their device. So, users can listen to the content when they can\u2019t access the internet.<\/p>\n

<\/span>Steps to Develop an App Like BBC Sounds<\/span><\/h2>\n

Now we have come to explain the core part of this blog: how to create a podcast app<\/a> similar to the BBC Sounds. Here we have tried to tell you about the whole development process through clear steps.<\/p>\n

So, let’s start to understand the process broken down below to develop an app like BBC Sounds.<\/p>\n

\"Steps<\/p>\n

<\/span>1. Research and Planning<\/span><\/h3>\n

In the first steps of the development process, you have to carry out thorough research and plan out how you want to create your app, like BBC Sounds.<\/p>\n

As part of your research, study all the competitor apps like BBC Sounds (including it).<\/p>\n

Understand how the app works, what features the app offers to users, where the app is lacking, and the demand of the target audience. This will help you fulfill the gap and demand of the target audiences.<\/p>\n

<\/span>2. UI\/UX Design of the App<\/span><\/h3>\n

After the research and planning, start developing the app, starting with its design. For the music streaming app design<\/a>, use Figma to create the app\u2019s prototype.<\/p>\n

Creating a prototype<\/a> helps you to figure out the design and the layout of the app. You must create a strong UI or user interface of the app to offer an excellent UX or user experience.<\/p>\n

You must focus on a clean, simple, and easy-to-use layout and design for home, search player, library, etc.<\/p>\n

<\/span>3. Develop the App<\/span><\/h3>\n

After completing the design of the app, proceed to build it, in which we have to develop the backend and frontend of the app.<\/p>\n

In the frontend, you have to develop the home screen, user login, audio player, search & filters, and other features of the app.<\/p>\n

Then build the backend or the backbone of the app, authentication system, streaming service, APIs, metadata, etc. Building a backend means making the app stable and secure to use.<\/p>\n

<\/span>4. Test the App<\/span><\/h3>\n

Done with the developing the app now comes the crucial part before you deploy it is testing. Perform testing of the app to resolve any issues and fix the bugs.<\/p>\n

It is important to test the app because you don\u2019t want your users to face any problems with the app.<\/p>\n

In this step, carry out the unit & integration testing, end-to-end testing like Cypress, Detox, etc., usability testing with real users, and performance testing, especially streaming. Also, get feedback.<\/p>\n

<\/span>5. Launch & Market<\/span><\/h3>\n

After successfully testing the app, now comes the time to launch the app on different app download platforms like Google Play, Apple Store, etc.<\/p>\n

From these platforms, the user can download the app seamlessly for their personal use. Also, set up the basic analytics to track the app usage.<\/p>\n

Before launching the app, market the app via various mediums like social media, email marketing, etc, to create the buzz and attract users to download the app.<\/p>\n

\"Develop<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/span>6. Post-Launch Maintenance<\/span><\/h3>\n

Your work is done after launching the app; you must keep the app relevant and updated to beat the competition.<\/p>\n

Also, post-launch maintenance helps to keep the app free from any issues like bugs and malfunctions.<\/p>\n

Check that the app doesn\u2019t slow down due to increasing users, and keep the content and features updated.<\/p>\n

With the rising cyberattacks, keep users’ data safe by updating the security batch from time to time and integrating the latest technologies.<\/p>\n

<\/span>Key Features to Consider in the BBC Sounds App<\/span><\/h2>\n

You have learned how to build an app like BBC Sounds, and you have to choose the right features to integrate into the app. To match the success of the BBC Sounds app, you must know about its features.<\/p>\n

So, below we have listed a few of the must-have music streaming app features<\/a>. Let\u2019s take a look at them.<\/p>\n

\"Key<\/p>\n

<\/span>\u2666 Live Listening<\/span><\/h3>\n

If you want to develop an app like BBC Sounds, then the must-have feature is live listening. The users of your app must be able to listen to or stream all available radio stations, which includes the local stations as well.<\/p>\n

<\/span>\u2666 Push Notifications & Recommendations<\/span><\/h3>\n

Add the features of push notification features and recommendations to your music streaming app. This helps you notify users about the new episodes of programs you have subscribed to.<\/p>\n

Also, users must get personalised recommendations for shows as per their listening history.<\/p>\n

<\/span>\u2666 Live-Track Info<\/span><\/h3>\n

Live track information must be there in your app for both live and on-demand programs. This feature will make it easy for users to know what they are listening to at the moment. The information should clearly show the name of the program.<\/p>\n

<\/span>\u2666 Play Queue<\/span><\/h3>\n

The play queue feature should be integrated into your app, similar to BBC Sounds. This will allow users to access a comprehensive list of stations and their schedules. This feature will allow users to see what’s currently playing and what’s coming next in the queue.<\/p>\n

<\/span>\u2666 Playback Speed Control<\/span><\/h3>\n

Playback speed control is a must-have feature that you should integrate into your music streaming app. The feature will allow users to control the speed of on-demand programs and podcasts. They can rewind, fast-forward, and even pause the programs.<\/p>\n

<\/span>Modern Tech Stack to Develop the BBC Sounds App<\/span><\/h2>\n

Now, after the features, you must know the modern technologies you must consider to develop an app like BBC Sounds. We have taken the responsibility and have listed the music streaming app tech stack<\/strong> that you must work with.<\/p>\n

\"Modern<\/p>\n

<\/span>\u27a4 Frontend Development<\/span><\/h3>\n

To create the frontend of an app like BBC Sounds, the technology that must be used consists of React Native (iOS + Android), Swift\/Kotlin, and Flutter.<\/p>\n