As the demand for music streaming continues to grow, businesses are increasingly interested in building an app like Spotify. There are several key players in the music streaming market, such as Apple Music, Amazon Music, Tencent Music, and YouTube Music. But Spotify statistics show that it dominates with a 32.1% market share.
If you are planning to build a music streaming app like Spotify for your business, this blog is for you!
In this guide, we will cover the essential aspects of creating an app like Spotify, focusing on features, technology stack, development process, challenges, and cost considerations to help decision-makers make informed investment choices.
Build An App Like Spotify in 8 Steps
Creating a Spotify alternative includes several steps, including the following:
Step #1 - Ideation & analysis
Perform thorough research on your rivals, target market, potential market, and other relevant entities. You will be better able to comprehend the demands of your audience and direct your efforts accordingly. Choose a topic and write down your ideas. Make appropriate app and business decisions.
Make sure your app meets the end goal of your business, as it will allow you to clarify several concerns. You will be required to focus on including a complete checklist for building the app while including the roadmap.
Step #2 - Select the correct license
Having the proper licenses is crucial to ensure the legal operation of your music streaming application. If you aim to build an app like Spotify, your platform should secure the following licenses:
- Sound Recording License Agreement
- Musical Composition License Agreement
- Public Performance Rights from organizations like BMI or ASCAP
- License from European Stage Authors and Composers
Additionally, depending on your geographic market, you may need to obtain further licenses in compliance with local laws and regulations.
Step #3 - Consider the main Spotify-like app features
An app like Spotify should have features like registration and sign-in, music exploration, social sharing, push notifications, playlists, etc.
Here are must-have features in music streaming app development like Spotify
1- Profile management (register and log in)
With all types of customization and base data, launching your own music streaming business is easier than you would think. Registration on the live audio streaming platform is also cheap and quick through social media networks for further memberships.
2 - User profile authorization
Endpoints that can obtain all the user's profile information are included, and to reduce spam interference, each user is authorized to access a database that contains information about them, including their email address and password.
3- Streaming audio
Learn more about audio streaming by exploring its intriguing platform and radio streaming software capabilities, which enable users to keep current on the most recent releases of hit songs. The newest album is available for anyone to listen to at any time on various audio tracks.
4- Smart search tab
a platform that may be customized to handle each track according to the user's preferences for an effective comfort zone. Users can find up to N tracks and identify their favorites.
5- AI-based music suggestions
Naturally, listeners are more likely to focus on recently released suggested curative playlists that are distributed in accordance with their preferred genre, mood, and additional aspects. Builders of music streaming apps may effectively leverage machine learning and AI development and improve user experience.
6- Playlist management
Continually playing the user's favorite audio playbacks while managing the playlist by storing and altering melody tracks in online or offline mode.
7- Lyrical display
You may enhance your user's outstanding listening experience with more interest by incorporating song verses in your online music streaming application. To keep users interested in your music app, you may provide a feature that allows lyrics to be shown continually while the music is being played.
8- Download/Offline
Through offline accessibility - downloading on any device - it is possible to listen to the selected tune whenever you want without using the Internet.
9- Advertisement
The key for Spotify to increase its income via the music streaming monetization platform is undoubtedly the ability to monetize every audio streaming solution through advertising by providing banners or videos.
10- Push Notification
An essential component for connecting users to the app in order to maximize the benefits of the most recent updates from Artists, Community, and Friends on the app circle.
11- Events Calendar
Customers may utilize this feature to find out when their preferred arranger or musician will be performing live or when podcasts will be released. It makes it easier for users to return to your music streaming service and avoid missing those live or recorded events.
12- Social media sharing
Allow your friends to hear your favorite songs by sending an email or social media invitation to everyone in your contact list.
13- Songwriter profile
It helps you recognize and appreciate each lyricist by adding extra credits and words of encouragement, and a way to find out who created your favorite songs.
Step #4 - Designing intuitive UI/UX design
User Experience Design (UX design) may assist consumers in avoiding being disorientated in the sea of music streaming applications by making them more straightforward to use and intuitive. The user interface's design is crucial as well. To establish the layout and architecture of your app, start by building wireframes.
Mock-ups for the design, UI/UX, and general appearance and feel of the app are then created. Spotify's UI/UX design is one of the vital reasons why people love it. And if you're able to achieve the same, you will stay competitive for a long time.
Most individuals who listen to music do not pay attention to the album covers (that would be odd). Still, effective user interface (UI) design may prevent them from becoming distracted by the cover's color scheme and help them concentrate on the proper music.
Step #5 - Choosing the right tech stack
Think about using JavaScript and Python, two of Spotify's developer tools, to create your app. Additionally, PHP is used by Spotify for the server-side and Java for the back-end architecture. As mentioned, Spotify keeps all music files in the device cache.
Use a universal memory caching system, PostgreSQL, and Cassandra for this. By using the Spotify player SDK, you may add Spotify players to your app. Classes for managing streams and playing back audio are available in this collection.
Digital rights management, decoding, and all other negotiations with Spotify's back end are handled by it. Your development team could suggest various methods, depending on the precise feature set of your audio streaming app and your budget.
To build a Spotify alternative, we suggest using the following tech stack:
- Cloud platforms such as AWS or Google Cloud
- CDN such as Amazon CloudFront
- Back-end language/technology such as Node.js, Java, or Python
- Databases such as MongoDB, MySQL, PostgreSQL, or Cassandra
- Search engine such as Elasticsearch or Solr
- Front-end technology such as React or Angular
- Container technology such as Docker and Kubernetes
- Message broker such as Kafka or RabbitMQ
- Streaming technology such as Wowza, Red5
- Payment gateway such as Stripe or PayPal
Step #6 - Frontend & Backend development
The front end and back end of the software development process typically run simultaneously. For apps, the user interface is created by front-end developers. They oversee backend development, which includes terabytes of music data storage, direct streaming, user authentication, and how they link to iOS and Android.
Before investing all your money, make sure your selected course of action is still the best one by using an MVP (minimum viable product). MVP enables cost-savings, real-user feedback, and, in the best situation, even the beginning of ROI.
Step #7 - Testing & deployment
Once the app development is executed entirely, you should go for testing and QA practices to make sure everything is working perfectly. Test your apps in actual settings as well. Before releasing your app to people, gain hands-on experience with it.
These steps involve several more detailed processes and might need collaboration among various team members, including designers, developers, quality assurance specialists, and project managers. Hence, the process will take time as well as resources to be handled seamlessly.
Step #8 - Launch & maintain
Once you're happy, you may publish your app on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. To increase app downloads, start gathering ratings and reviews and advertise your app. Following the launch of your online music streaming app, you should begin gathering users' feedback so you can adjust and add new features.
Cost to Build an App Like Spotify
Knowing the cost of building an app like Spotify requires examining a variety of aspects – features, additional integrations, UI/UX design, coding implementation, and testing as well.
Here is a rough estimation that might help you to determine the exact cost for your next music streaming app. (These figures can vary according to your requirements.)
Given that you may save up to 60% on expenditures by outsourcing mobile app development, the location has a significant impact on the ultimate cost. If hourly prices range from $75 to $200 in the US or Western Europe, Eastern Europe, and particularly Ukraine, provides $35 to $50 per hour.
All these crucial elements are then broken down into the number of hours required to create each distinct application function. If we're talking about creating full-format music applications, the price might reach the hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Challenges You Can Face When Build a Spotify Alternative
When building a Spotify alternative, there are several challenges you may face. Here are some key challenges to consider:
Licensing and Copyright Issues
- Music Licensing Requirements: Acquiring the necessary licenses to stream music legally is complex and costly. It would help if you negotiated with record labels, music publishers, and artists to obtain the rights for every song you intend to stream.
- Adhering to Copyright Laws: Navigating the complex copyright laws that differ by country and region can be challenging. Failure to comply with these laws can result in costly legal disputes or restrictions.
Technical Challenges
- Ensuring Seamless Streaming Quality: To compete with established players like Spotify, your app must provide high-quality, uninterrupted streaming. It requires robust back-end architecture, efficient data management, and advanced caching techniques.
- Building a Scalable Platform: Your app must be capable of scaling to accommodate a growing number of users without compromising performance. Implementing load balancing, optimizing databases, and ensuring efficient use of resources are crucial for scalability.
- Cross-Platform Compatibility: Ensuring that the app works seamlessly across different devices and operating systems (iOS, Android, web) can be challenging due to differences in software environments and user interfaces.
Monetization Difficulties
- Generating Revenue: Building a profitable music streaming platform can be challenging due to high content licensing costs, operational expenses, and the need to offer competitive pricing. Ad-based models require a large user base to generate significant revenue, and subscription models may face resistance due to the availability of free alternatives.
- Balancing Ads and User Experience: If you choose to use an ad-supported model, finding the right balance between generating revenue from ads and maintaining a pleasant user experience is essential. Too many ads can lead to user dissatisfaction and increased churn.
Data Privacy and Security Concerns
- Protecting User Data: Music streaming apps collect vast amounts of data, including user preferences, listening habits, and payment information. Ensuring the security and privacy of this data is critical to maintaining user trust and complying with regulations like GDPR and CCPA.
- Preventing Cybersecurity Threats: You must implement strong security measures to protect the platform from hacking, data breaches, and other cyber threats that could compromise user data and the integrity of your service.
How to Monetize an App like Spotify?
Monetizing a Spotify alternative can be challenging due to the competitive nature of the music streaming market, but there are several effective strategies to generate revenue. Here are some of the most viable monetization models for a music streaming app:
- Subscription Model: Offer different subscription tiers (e.g., free with ads, premium, family plans).
- Ad-Supported Model: Generate revenue through ads (audio ads, banner ads, sponsored content).
- Freemium Model: Provide a free version with limited features and a premium version with additional perks.
- In-App Purchases: Sell exclusive content, high-quality downloads, or merchandise.
- Partnerships and Sponsorships: Collaborate with brands and artists for sponsored content and events.
- Data Monetization: Use aggregated user data for insights that can be sold to music labels, advertisers, etc.
Build An App Like Spotify for Your Business with VLink!
At VLink, we specialize in developing custom music streaming applications tailored to your business needs. Our team of expert developers, designers, and project managers will guide you through the entire development process—from ideation to launch and beyond. We ensure that your app is scalable, secure, and optimized for user engagement and monetization.
If you're planning to invest in a music streaming app like Spotify, contact us today to learn how we can help turn your vision into reality.
Frequently Asked Questions
The duration should be between 7-9 months if we're talking about an MVP version, which would have the essential functions plus your unique selling point. It comprises conducting research on your target market and specialty as well as designing, developing, and testing. However, adding more complicated features like machine learning (for a sophisticated recommendation function) can extend that process.
Pandora and other music streaming services often rely on adverts as their primary source of revenue to grow their monthly active user base. These two are the most helpful when you build a music streaming app or website, assisting you in the long run to get substantial profit shares.
With the recent explosion of streaming services, a volatile hotspot for content producers and broadcasters has emerged. Therefore, many OTT and streaming apps set up obfuscating encryption and offer anti-piracy layers like restricting unauthorized access through password protection, geo-based content limitations, multi-DRM systems, and an integrated paywall to boost data protection and prevent theft.
