Technology has brought about a colossal change in every industry in the past few years that also includes music listening. As we have shifted to mobile applications to do pretty much everything, one music streaming app called SiriusXM, is gaining huge popularity in United States.
According to Statista, SiriusXM had more than 33.26 million subscribers in the second quarter of 2024. Isn’t this huge? Yes! Thus, if you want to be the next industry leader in the music industry, then it might be an excellent opportunity for you to develop an app like SiriusXM.
Therefore, this blog explains all the steps of developing a music streaming app similar to SiriusXM. But first, let’s discuss the SiriusXM app.
Let’s start!
What is a SiriusXM App?
SiriusXM is a streaming app that allows users to listen to their favorite ad-free music, sports, news, comedy, podcasts, radio, etc. However, its major focus is on radio and music streaming.
Users can also subscribe to the monthly packages of SiriusXM that include more than 150 channels of music, news, entertainment, interviews, talk shows, etc. They can easily stream all the programs online and are available through the SiriusXM app for Android and iOS.
However, the SiriusXM mobile application is only available in some cities in the United States. So, this is the golden opportunity for businesses like yours to develop an app like SiriusXM for a global audience. For that, you can hire a SiriusXM mobile app development company that can validate your app idea.
Future Predictions And Projections of Music Streaming Services
Source: Statista
- SiriusXM Holdings made a net income of $316 million in the second quarter of 2024.
- 33.26 million people were subscribed to Sirius XM in the second quarter of 2024.
- The market for music streaming is expected to be worth $33.97 billion by 2027.
- According to Statista, the United States is expected to make the most money in the music streaming market, which will reach US$12,110.00 million in 2024.
- 1.1 billion people are expected to use music streaming services by 2027.
- The rate of user penetration is expected to reach 14.1% by 2027, up from 12.7% in 2024.
How to Develop an App Like SiriusXM?
If you are a big fan of SiriusXM like I am and are thinking about SiriusXM satellite radio app development, do not forget about the following steps. So, we think you should take a look at the process of how to build an app like SiriusXM.
1. Conduct Research On Your Audience
To get good streaming services, you should learn what people want. However, it is best to validate your idea with an IT consulting services provider first. It depends on where you want to begin your streaming business.
That is something that you might miss when you develop an app like SiriusXM if you do not study preferences. Perhaps it will inspire you to develop a music streaming app like SiriusXM or help yours stand out from the rest.
2. Define the Key Features
You can use the features below, or you can add your own. Your SiriusXM-like app will depend on what you want to do. When you have chosen the most important features, a podcast app development company says to put out an MVP.
It costs less to develop an MVP than a full-fledged music streaming app because it only has the most important features.
3. Create Stunning UI/UX Design
Think about having your own music library with millions of songs and podcasts. Although they may be hard to get around, user experience design can help. By using UX design, a streaming app like Boomplay and iHeartRadio are easier to understand and use.
Although most of the time people listen to music or the radio/podcast instead of looking at it, design does not have to be crowded with lots of buttons and features. If the UI is good, it will be easy for people to get around in the FM app.
4. Choose the Right Technology Stack
When you have a general idea to develop an app like SiriusXM, you need to gather your SiriusXM app development company and choose a stack that will support your plan. Check your budget before you choose a tech stack. After picking the tech stack, you can move on to the next step.
5. Develop the SiriusXM Clone App
Most of the time, development on both the front end and the back end happens at the same time. The media player, groups, radio, talk shows, music search, and other parts of an app that developers use write the code that makes them work.
When you work on the back end or for the back end. The entertainment app development company is in charge of holding terabytes of music data. They ensure streaming works smoothly, authenticating users, and planning how to connect with iOS and Android.
6. Test and Release
Not only music streaming apps need to be tested before they can be made public. With the help of testers, make sure the SiriusXM-like app does not have any bugs or other issues. After everything checks out, you can move on to the last step of releasing your SiriusXM mobile app Android on the app stores.
Essential Features To Include in An Application Like SiriusXM
When you develop an app similar to SiriusXM, the next step is to create a functionality set that you want to see in your app. It is best to begin with an MVP. With MVP app development, it is easier to make a product that will last on the market. Additionally, it will save you time and money and help you assure investors that your business idea is excellent.
i. Registration
If you are planning to develop an app like SiriusXM clone app, do not forget to add the minimal set of functionality, like signing up. You have to decide how your audience will sign up, through your phone number, email, or social media.
ii. Playlists
A user can be able to create a playlist in a SiriusXM-like app. Users can compile their favorite tracks into custom playlists for different moods, activities, or events. The SiriusXM app for iphone must also provide pre-made playlists for music and podcasts curated by experts or based on popular themes, just like an app like Spotify.
iii. Live Sports Radio & Analysis
Users can catch the live radio broadcast for their favorite team and get the latest sports scores. The SiriusXM music app development should also allow users to stream play-by-play of every major professional sport PLUS expert talk & analysis.
iv. On-demand Content
The SiriusXM is not only limited to music streaming. It also provides other on-demand content like podcasts, news, sports, interviews, talk shows, and so on. The FM app should allow users to enjoy a vast library of podcasts, interviews, and exclusive shows that they can listen to anytime, anywhere.
v. Search Engine
You also need a search engine if you want to make a radio app for iOS and Android that is good for people. If the search engine can not find the songs or podcasts you want, like an app like Pandora. However, it is important to decide what kind of songs the app will offer users.
vi. Podcast Feature
The best apps for streaming music also have their own radio stations, podcasts, and sometimes even audiobooks. When you create an app like SiriusXM clone, it needs to be able to play different types of podcasts, like spiritual, motivational, or funny ones.
vii. Extensive Content Library
The main part of a SiriusXM streaming app with over 400 channels, such as music, news, sports, talk shows, podcasts, and more, is a large music library. Users should quickly find specific songs, albums, or genres with this feature’s powerful content library.
viii. Voice Control
An Android App Development company can integrate the voice control feature in your SiriusXM internet radio app. With this, users can search for content, switch channels, and change playback settings by voice.
ix. Car Integration
Through Apple Carplay, users can stay connected to the SiriusXM clone app while driving. They can listen anywhere on their favorite smart speaker or device that can connect to a SiriusXM app for Windows. Users can cast from their phone or tablet to their TV, soundbar, or speaker and listen without problems.
x. Push Notification
Users can get notifications inside the Siriusxm desktop app about new releases, upcoming concerts, personalized suggestions, and app updates. You can hire dedicated developers to add a push notification feature. It helps users know about new content or events that will make them want to return to the app.
List of Most Popular Streaming Apps Like SiriusXM
There are many different audio streaming apps on the market, but only a few of them have become leaders. In 2024, according to SiriusXM’s site, it had a combined monthly audience of over 150 million listeners. Now, let’s overview each of them for a music streaming app development solution.
Top SiriusXM Alternatives |
Available Platform |
Monthly Active Users |
Downloads |
Ratings |
Spotify | Android | iOS | 640 million | 1B+ | 3.7 |
iHeartRadio | Android | iOS | 150 million | 50M+ | 4.8 |
Pandora | Android | iOS | 55.9 million | 100M+ | 3.6 |
Boomplay | Android | iOS | 75 million | 100M+ | 3.9 |
TuneIn Radio | Android | iOS | 75 million | 100M+ | 4.3 |
Apple Music | Android | iOS | 93 million | 100M+ | 3.4 |
Tech Stack for SiriusXM-like App
Selecting the right tech stack is so important for a SiriusXM radio app. It influences the app’s performance, scalability, and user experience. So, below is a detailed description of the tech stack we use for radio station app development, like SiriusXM.
Component |
Technologies |
Description |
Back-end | Node.js, JavaScript | It helps to build a scalable and effective backend structure. |
Front-end | React Native, React.js, Electron.js | Cross-platform development with React Native saves around 40% of your project budget. React.js and Electron.js offer efficient solutions for web and desktop app development. |
Infrastructure | AWS, Heroku | It provides features like automatic scaling and continuous integration. Also, it offers a scalable structure for hosting the application. |
Database | PostgreSQL, MySQL, Redis | It combines different databases to store data in a safe and convenient way. |
Real-time messaging | WEBRTC | You can integrate real-time chat features like chats and audio calls with this technology. |
How Much Does It Cost To Build An App Like SiriusXM?
The estimated cost to develop an app like SiriusXM can range between $10000-$30000. However, factors like app complexity, features, designs, platform choice, and obviously your project requirements affect the cost. To get a more granular understanding of SiriusXM app development cost per complexity, just look at the table below.
App Complexity |
Features |
Cost |
Simple SiriusXM-like App |
|
$10,000 – $16,000 |
Medium SiriusXM-like App |
|
$17,000 – $24,000 |
Complex SiriusXM-like App |
|
$30,000+ |
However, if you really don’t want to get caught in the hidden cost to build a music streaming application like SiriusXM, it is best to consider other factors that can change costs to develop an app like Apple Music or SiriusXM. It includes:
Cost Affecting Factor |
What’s Included |
Cost |
Design |
|
$4,000 to $6,000+ |
API Integrations |
|
$2,000 to $4,000+ |
App Security |
|
$3,000 to $4500 |
All these are just the basic estimations of SiriusXM clone app development. To know the actual cost, it is vital to get in touch with a music streaming app development company. Just share your requirements with them, and you will get the quotation on cost to develop an app like SiriusXM.
How To Monetize Your SiriusXM Clone App Development?
The choice of monetization model is important if you want to earn money with the mobile application. A SiriusXM-like app has two main methods of earning huge revenue. Let’s examine each strategy in detail.
i. Subscription
Once your application akin to SiriusXM, gains huge loyal subscribers who are happy with your audio streaming platform and its working, you can just begin a campaign to switch from a basic plan to a premium subscription plan. It would be best to provide multiple tariff plans that include unique features or some ways to avoid ads.
ii. Promotions
Just promote, promote, and promote! When your app like iHeartRadio or SiriusXM has a lot of subscribers, the next way to make money with it is to offer to help promote new or unknown music artists. For example, it is easy for your app to let as many people as possible know about a new album. It can become very profitable for you.
iii. In-app Advertising
To earn a handsome amount of revenue, you can simply place direct ads in your app like SiriusXM, with two different options. The first one is to integrate short audio ads into music content. The second option is media advertisement. One thing you need to remember is not to overdo it. It is because too much advertising always turns people away from the app and does not make them want to use it.
iv. Freemium Model
This is the best monetization model for startups and entrepreneurs who have just entered this industry. They can easily grow their potential audience. You can include a free trial period and paid extra features in the freemium plan. Additionally, it will be useful to see how popular certain features are.
How Dev Technosys Can Help You Create an App Similar to SiriusXM?
This blog will assist you develop an app like SiriusXM. However, it is important to note that this is a competitive market, and you need to create a mobile app that stands out. Partnering with a reputable mobile app development company for such a project.
Thus, if you are still seeking skilled mobile app developers, why don’t you send us your streaming app project requirements?
Dev Technosys has a team of vetted developers and project managers who have expertise in crafting market-competitive on-demand app development solutions. One of our highly skilled experts will get back to you instantly for your project discussion on SiriusXM app development.
FAQs
Q1. How To Make An App Like SiriusXM?
There are six steps to create a music streaming app like SiriusXM.
- Create a business plan.
- Conduct market research
- Create a features list
- Design a user interface
- Develop the app’s backend
- Test and deploy the app
Q2. How Much Does It Cost To Build An App Like SiriusXM?
The estimated cost to develop a SiriusXM clone app varies on different factors. But we can give a basic cost, which can be between $10000-$30000.
Q3. How Do Music Streaming Apps Make Money?
Music streaming mobile applications can make money from the below revenue models.
- In-app advertisement
- Freemium model
- Promotions
- Subscription
Q4. What Licences Are Required To Start a Streaming App?
To invest in a podcast streaming app, you will require licenses to access podcasts. This includes:
- Performing Rights Organizations
- Master Rights Holders
Q5. What Makes a Good Music App?
If your music streaming app has good UI/UX design and smart personal playlist algorithms, it may make you more dependent on it in a good way. Your sets and music library will be more detailed if you learn more about what each user likes about the SiriusXM music app.
Q6. What Are the Main Features of a Podcast App?
Core features of a podcast app development include:
- Extensive music search and discovery feature
- Seamless playback options
- The ability to make and manage playlists
- Podcast streaming search and library