Amazon on Tuesday launched a new mobile app called Amp that allows people to create live “radio shows” they can listen to by answering calls and playing tens of millions of Amazon Music’s licensed songs, from classics to today’s. Act as a DJ. Amazon said the app is being tested in the United States.
Amazon says it’s easy to share your voice and favorite songs with the world on Amp, you just decide on a show title, create a playlist, and you can play your own radio show in seconds. The new app, which was in development at the time under the name Project Mic, represented Amazon’s entry into the live audio market.
While the app Clubhouse led the way by building a new format for live audio social interaction, the idea later had many competitors, each with its own angle, including Twitter’s Spaces, Facebook’s Live Audio Room, Spotify Greenroom, and more.
For the most part, however, these Clubhouse competitors are focused on the conversation. Amazon’s Amp differentiates itself by providing access to the broader Amazon Music catalog. This means Amp users can play DJs, stream and talk about their favorite songs and artists to establish themselves as a creator. Or they could use the app to talk about anything else, like sports or pop culture, but do so while also curating curated music for listeners and accepting live calls.
According to the Amp app store description, creators will also be able to pre-plan and schedule their shows, remind listeners of their upcoming shows, control who speaks during live calls, and more. Notably, the app’s listing states that creators don’t need to pay record labels when they acquire music for their shows.
Amazon announced the arrival of Amp via a blog post, in which the company mentioned that its catalog of tens of millions of licensed songs includes songs from Universal Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment, Warner Music Group, and other independent music companies such as Beggars Group, Believe, CD Baby and PIAS, and more are being added.