The music streaming industry has become highly profitable and exponentially popular in the digital niche. Now it is also equipped with high-speed internet and wireless technologies that are increasing its global widespread.

To create a highly competitive music-streaming application, you may need a music streaming app development company to fulfill your requirements with excellence. In this article, we will explore the dynamics of music streaming applications along with various other components.

Music has always remained an integral part of our lifestyles but the way it is perceived has entirely changed with the advancement in technology. At present, the market is flooded with several music streaming applications.

Also Read:- Music App Development Basics: Types, Market, Features And cost

The amount of compensation or notions that musicians bring to music is not always enjoyed by each and every one. A large number of music streaming app development platforms are relying on the market share and the following for applications. This generates a requirement to have a fully-functional and feature-rich music streaming app.

How Does The Music Industry Work?

The music industry or its professionals work through a series of partnerships between artists and companies. This is inclusive of singers, producers, songwriters, and, most importantly, customers.

This structure can be further broken down into clear terms. This breakdown can be subjective, focusing on delivering user-centric music services.

It requires lots of effort and devotion to work in the music industry. Music app developers or companies are highly focused on collaborating with professionals to develop stunning music streaming applications.

Music Industry Facts That Every Musician Needs To Know

The crucial tidbits of technical know-how are mandatory to fill the gap between the path of success and a musician’s journey. This can be achieved through the most efficient Android app development services. Go through the pivotal facts that are essential for musicians to know to boost their musical ventures:

• Knowing Music And Knowing The Business Is Entirely Different–  The financial practicalities and musical theories are not as simple as they appear. Rather musicians must ensure to schedule their musical events or concerts along with maintaining transparency with their distributors or retailers.
• Reviews Can Never Be Translated To Sales–  In a majority of cases, reviews do not translate into conversions or sales. Getting reviewed on every platform may be good for you to get recognition but they are not going to be profitable for you in the long run. Reviews can be a part of your digital venture but ultimately you cannot assume them to be profitable.
• You Can Make Money From Online Music–  If you have an understanding of your fanbase then you can easily make money by selling your music online. For this, you can start going live or releasing your music albums across different music genres.

Other than the big ones you can also follow the quickies-

• Try to practice your craft every single day
• As a musician, you must always possess boatloads of patients
• Do not ever underestimate the importance of basics
• You can exploit social media and networking for your benefits
• Making a living with music is certainly possible

Who Are The Top Leaders Of The Music App Market?

The music app market is exponentially growing and now it has established itself as the most reliant and stable industry. It is further supported by profitability where the users are willing to pay for the subscriptions in order to listen to advertisement-free music.

The top giants in the music app industry are- YouTube Music, SoundCloud, Spotify, Pandora, Gaana, and Apple Music. These platforms have millions of users and they are the dominating ones over their contemporaries.

How Do Artists Make Money From Music?

In the music business, there are a number of ways to make money and a lot of them narrow down to contracts or percentages. The payment structure in the music industry is based on freelance styling work or percentages.

Artists or musicians make money from music through royalties, selling merchandise, licenses, or playing live. The artists either keep recording in the studios or get a royalty for their songs. These are the major sources through which artists in the music industry make their money.

Top Music Streaming Apps In The Market

Since the inception of music app development, music streaming services have exponentially grown. They allow users to listen to unlimited music either in free or paid versions. The best applications are mentioned below-

1. Gaana.com
2. Spotify
3. Google Play Music
4. Apple Music
5. Pandora Radio
6. YouTube Music
7. SoundCloud

1. Gaana.com

Launched in the year 2010, Gaana has been a leading music streaming platform in India that has crossed the mark of 150 million users in 2020.

The platform has also introduced video story features highlighting the influence of artists and allowing users to have access to short video content. Gaana also provides a monthly or yearly subscription to users.

The paid subscription model of Gaana includes adding a free music experience, HD music streaming, unlimited download of offline songs, and streaming.

2. Spotify

Any discussion about the music streaming industry or applications is incomplete without Spotify. This application is closely aligned with Google Play Music and YouTube Music.

Also Read:- How To Make A Music App Like Spotify

Over the past few years, Spotify has attained the position of the fastest growing music application and that too without cost. Free music accounts may have certain limitations or advertisements but through premium subscription, you can get access to unlimited music.

3. Google Play Music

Google introduced its music streaming services in 2011 and since then it has facilitated a pre-installed application in almost every Android smartphone.

In this application, users can easily upload more than 50,000 songs and also create a backup of their collection without constantly worrying about the storage space. The premium version of this application allows users to integrate a large number of playlists.

4. Apple Music

Apple has developed this application to align well with the Android and iOS app development providing a range of music for users globally. Users can get access to their local radio stations with the help of Apple music.

This application has more than 50 million songs and this service can also be streamed in Apple car play. Apple Music is available for Android and iOS devices in iTunes.

You can get a free trial to better understand the application. This application is entirely compatible with offering services across iOS app development.

5. Pandora Radio

Pandora is a competitive music streaming platform globally because of its supreme audio quality and incredible customization features.

It has also acquired the position of a vast on-demand music platform as it is considered the best in the streaming game. It is an excellent application for users who are looking for above-average music streaming services or radio playlists.

6. YouTube Music

In 2019 YouTube overtook Spotify in terms of popularity and growth in the Indian market. This music streaming application has recorded more than 3 million downloads within 20 days of its launch. YouTube music is undoubtedly one of the biggest threats to other music streaming applications.

The videos uploaded on YouTube are also available on YouTube Music because of its beautifully designed algorithms. The platform also provides quick recommendations based on the streaming history of users.

7. SoundCloud

As one of the first music streaming applications, SoundCloud allows users to upload their music tracks and get recognized among other users.

Music creators who are looking for a way to monetize their tracks find this application to be a perfect fit. However, this application does not operate in India.

Steps To Create A Music Streaming App

1. Decide The Type Of The Music Streaming App
2. Features That Form The Heart Of The Music Streaming Apps
3. Choose The Features That You Want To Add
4. Choose The Monetization Model
5. Handle The License Requirements

Step 1: Decide The Type Of The Music Streaming App

Even in the music streaming industry, there are several options to choose from. When it comes to online streaming services, there are two major types: on-demand and radio.

At the same time, most of the apps also provide access to additional types, including music libraries and cloud storage apps.

The radio station apps also go by the name of non-interactive streaming apps. Some of the best instances of radio station streaming apps are iHeartRadio and Pandora.

1. Music Library

Music library applications like Spotify or Apple Music are widely used for music streaming and their primary objective is to offer always accessible music content to the users. They also facilitate creating custom playlists and their main elements are social networking, recommendations, and categorization.

2. Cloud Storage

Cloud storage in music streaming applications allows users to backup their playlist on music collection easily. It also prevents them from losing their music to any virus infection or hard drive failure.

You can try to integrate a feature in your application where the music library can be easily transferred to the Cloud, adding another layer of protection to the content.

3. On-Demand Or Interactive Music Streaming

On-demand or interactive music streaming allows users to choose their next song. it offers maximum flexibility to users where they can easily pick and play a song that they are willing to listen to. In addition to it, users can also skip or forward songs.

4. Radio Station Or Noninteractive Streaming

Radio stations or non-interactive music streaming is quite different from on-demand music streaming. It allows users to play their favorite files but does not allow them to select the next song that they are willing to play.

The term internet radio is also used in reference to non-interactive streaming which is defined only as broadcast over the internet from any point source.

The most important aspect of non-interactive music streaming is that it doesn’t allow users to skip, rewind, or forward music or learn the songs of the playlist ahead of time. The users of this service can only tune in to the songs.

Step 2: Features That Form The Heart Of The Music Streaming Apps

The features of any music streaming application play a crucial role in determining its success. If you are not sure about integrating these features, you can contact OnDemand app development company to develop your application.

1. Massive Music Library

You can develop a server-based huge music library in your application that can offer unlimited music access to users. The user’s preferences or taste in music is never consistent and it keeps shifting from one to another.

Hence it is always expected from any music streaming application to have a massive music library with almost all the soundtracks and music.

You can try adding this feature to your application as it will not only make your application highly preferable but also get loyal customers. You can also provide this under the premium version or as a paid subscription.

2. Registration

Registration is the first step towards offering a piece of highly personalized music streaming application. In this step, you have to collect and analyze user data to understand the musical preferences of your users.

Undeniably the perfect time to get this done is at the registration stage. Many applications like Spotify ask users for their birth years and their taste in music and using this information, they recommend popular music tracks in their list to users. To offer a personalized app experience you can use their social media information as well.

3. Search And Discover Tracks

If you have decided to create a music streaming application then you have to provide users with advanced searching and discovering track features.

This feature will allow them to navigate the available music collection through playlists, music tracks, famous artists, or genres. It will not only help them to get what they are looking for but it will also enhance their experience on your application. Other than these features you can also allow users to search for soundtracks based on their mood or activity.

4. Custom Recommendations

Once you have acquired an adequate music database or user base to develop the application you can start analyzing customer recommendations for your app.

For instance, Apple Music seems to be pretty good but many users of the same platform have complained about its recommendations. Most music streaming services use human curation or audio analysis for smart recommendations.

 

 

You can scrutinize the discovery system or recommendation systems and integrate the same measures for your application as well. The metadata extracted from any other resources will help you to understand user preferences and you can deliver the feature of custom recommendations to them. The industry of music streaming app development has seen a major hike due to this incredible feature.

5. Music Arrangement

Music arrangement in any streaming application works to categorize soundtracks in a browser section and allow users to create their own playlist. The music arrangement is extensively connected to the searching or navigating feature.

And other than the standard arrangement of the music based on their composers, genres, or artists you can develop specific categories to meet the purpose.

For better understanding you can have a reference to Spotify or Pandora music that offers music for different activities like traveling, workout, gaming, parties, etc. it is extremely important to integrate music arrangement features in a streaming application to better assist users.

6. Playlists

In the playlist features, users must have access to develop or edit their playlist as many times as they want to. You must offer flexible features for creating a playlist where the users can customize or edit the playlist with their favorite songs.

7. Skip/Replays

It is certainly the most expected feature that any music streaming application should have. You have to integrate skipping or replaying features so that users can pause the music whenever they want to without actually losing their track.

Very often it is seen that people keep listening to their current favorite song for hours and hours. Or they simply want to skip the upcoming song.

For any such requirement, you have to integrate these features where users can have access to their desired soundtrack or music without interruption.

8. Artists-Only Playlists

In this feature, the playlist can be created based upon their artists, singers, or composers. In this feature, you can provide various filters through which the users can create a playlist based upon their artists.

For better assistance, you can also integrate the released year, name of the song, or album so that the users can quickly have access to the songs and create playlists accordingly.

9. Crowd Favorite Music

For any music streaming application, a crowd favorite album page is crucial because it will help users to understand the features and the content of your application.

Furthermore, you can also add a small section in your application that has interesting information about the song or its artist so that your application can get appealing.

10. Newly Released

You can pair up your musical library with a Newly Released column where users can access their favorite songs and albums based on the song’s release.

The playlist in the application can be developed based upon various factors so that whenever required users can easily have access to them. A large number of mobile application development companies are making constant efforts to streamline this feature in their music streaming applications.

Step 3: Choose The Features That You Want To Add 

1. Offline Access

The main feature of any music streaming application, irrespective of its platform, is to allow users to listen to music without interruptions. There is no denying that users want to have access to music anytime, anywhere regardless of the fact that they have an active internet connection or not.

All you have to do is to give them an opportunity and a platform with this facility and in return, you will have customers trust your app. A large number of on-demand music streaming applications are offering offline playback or music access features in their free or paid versions.

Offline music can be accessed from a device’s cache where it is stored. This is an incredible feature to consider in any music app development solution.

2. Push Notifications

If you are willing to develop incredible music streaming applications, then make sure to provide a push notifications feature. It will remind or notify users about discounts, best deals, or give them essential tips. In short, push notifications in a music streaming application will help you to advertise your platform indirectly.

3. Social Media Integration

Online users love the feature of social media integration where they can use the application with their social media platforms. In other words, you can kill two birds with a single stone i.e. the users of the application will not only be able to log in within a few seconds but they can also share their favorite files with their social media friends or connected users.

If the content of your application is good then they will post everything about it on those platforms, which will lead to better conversions and followers.

4. Event Calendars

You can remind the users of the application of your pre-planned music-related events. With the help of push notifications, you can notify them about the big day and ask them to join in.

Furthermore, you can allow them to buy tickets/subscriptions for the events. Try to integrate event calendars where users can schedule the dates and track the day of an event.

5. Upload Music

One of the most advanced features that users expect from any music streaming application is the ability to discover more about themselves.

You must offer an opportunity to the talented users of your application to upload their music tracks easily. And to facilitate the same you can also offer content curation services to them.

Step 4: Choose The Monetization Model

To develop a highly comprehensive music-streaming application it is crucial to decide if you are willing to provide freemium, ads, or premium monetization models to the users. Let us understand each of them in brief:

• Freemium– The Freemium version comes with advertising, frequent interruptions, and it has limited features. You will be amazed to know that more than 900 million users are ready to add supplemented music streaming. You can choose this model if you are walking the tightrope of the budget. You can also refer to it as a free + premium version.
• Ads– The ads version of the software is also available for free but it also comes with plenty of advertisements.  It comes with limited access where you can stream music for free but it has limited song downloads.
• Paid Plans– You can enjoy your favorite compositions and music anytime, anywhere with the paid versions. Through the premium account, you can access exclusive features of the app and have an opportunity to enhance the quality of music. With paid versions, we do not have to be worried about advertising or any unknown ads. This version provides unlimited downloads and access to users where users can easily listen to the latest soundtracks.

Step 5: Handle The License Requirements

To offer high-quality audio and video content it is extremely important to have a public performance rights license. Depending upon the geographies, different agencies handle this license.

Moreover, the share of revenue has to be paid as royalties to agencies for using their soundtracks. Music streaming applications allow users access to unlimited music without any subscription or purchase.

But as an owner, you must have a license for accessing music content. If you are willing to develop your music streaming application then it is essential to have a public performance rights license.

In the US it is handled by two major agencies, BMI and ASCAP. In Europe, it is handled by the Society Of European Stage Authors And Composers (SESAC). Let us understand this with an example-

Spotify has two different licenses for streaming music-

1. The sound recording license agreement covers rights and licenses for any particular recording
2. The musical composition license agreement that covers users who own the copyrights for any particular song

How Much Does It Cost To Develop A Music Streaming App?

If you are willing to develop a music streaming app it is essential to consider different factors ranging from designing to development and launching.

The cost of developing a music streaming app depends upon the platform and the technology that you are integrating into the solution. The process of developing an app using streams in the application is very long and requires extreme carefulness at every stage.

The overall cost is influenced by various factors and it can also get affected by the tech stack or the hours spent by developers in developing it.

 

 

The cost to develop a music streaming application may range between $78250 to $150850 for multi-platforms. However, the ultimate price may depend upon the location of your platform.

For example, the cost to develop a music streaming application in North America has the highest hourly rate as compared to other regions. The cost estimate for different reasons are mentioned below-

• Eastern Europe- Based on $50/hr and the overall cost is $150850
• North America- Based on $100/hr and the overall cost of developing a music streaming application is $301700
• Western Europe- Based on $90/hr and the overall cost of developing a music-streaming application in Western Europe is $271530
• Australia- Based on $100/hr and  the cost of developing a music-streaming application in Australia is $301700

Conclusion

In this blog, we have summarized the various dimensions of developing music streaming applications. You can have a reference at the aforementioned music streaming applications and app development criteria to create high-quality applications at competitive prices.