Smartphones can play audio and podcasts both offline and online, saving gigabytes of information in high quality. For example, an average teenager listens to music 10 hours a day, while adult music lovers spend at least 45 minutes a day listening to music. And in general, 60% of the population often falls asleep to the sounds of their favourite melody. The popular music player app is a product with a simple and intuitive interface and standard functionality. The number of its downloads in online software stores reaches 50-100 million times!
So, let’s take a look at the main features of a music streaming app and how to create a Spotify-like app.
The music streaming app includes features like sign up and subscribe, organize music, discover music, social media sharing, push notifications, and music library. Try this App Cost Calculator to get a custom estimate of your project.
The mobile app (like the desktop version) has three sections: Home, Search, and Media Library.
When you launch the application, the main page opens, on which there are several tabs: recent listens, personal selections (everything that the user listens on replay now or ripped a month, a year or two ago), curated selections from Spotify itself (for example, in the American account, these are playlists on the Black Lives Matter movement), favourite tracks and albums, playlists with novelties (for example, All-New Indie and Fresh Finds Pop), podcasts and several recommendation tabs, selected by the service algorithms based on the listener’s tastes.
What is immediately striking is, firstly, the variety of playlists for all occasions, and secondly, a thorough approach to personal recommendations. For example, there are collections of “My Mix of the Day”, which are divided by genre that the user is listening to. For example, if you listen to both drill and speed metal, Spotify has carefully prepared two genre playlists for you.
In the “Search” tab, there is, in fact, search and the history of recent requests and the library contains user-defined or added by the listener playlists, artists, albums, and podcasts.
In the “Main” section, on the top right, there is a button with settings: there you can adjust the quality of the music, play around with the equalizer, set the volume threshold, connect Google cards (an important bonus for motorists) and renew your subscription. It is also possible to subscribe to other users and see what they are listening to at the moment (if they have not hidden their privacy settings) – you can also show everyone what you are listening to.
So, you need to follow these steps to create a Spotify-like music streaming app.
➔ Step 1. Identify the main features that will make your app fun and easy to use.
Discover Weekly
Spotify’s most famous product is Discover Weekly’s weekly recommendation playlist, which is renowned for its precise algorithms and selections. The playlist does not appear immediately, but on Mondays, in order for the application to compose it, you need to listen to the music you are interested in. The playlist will appear on the Home screen in Personal Collections and in Search in Recommendations.
Endless Playlist
By default, Spotify has an infinite playlist: that is, after the current album or playlist is completed, the service itself will offer about 20 tracks similar to the ones you just listened to. Some people like endless playlists, but sometimes it’s inconvenient, for example, if you want to know for sure that the album has already ended and you can move on to another. For the second case, the endless playlist can be disabled.
Musicians Playlists
On the pages of popular musicians you can find not only their music, but also playlists that they have collected for fans or some events. Look for collections of songs from musicians at the very bottom of the screen.
Secret Track Switch
In Apple Music or other applications, the track can be switched with a button on a narrow strip, into which the player is minimized. Spotify doesn’t have this, so the track is switched either in a full-size player or in a secret way. But this feature can make your app unique. To do this, swipe the minimized player to the right or left, and the track will switch.
Anonymous Mode
After registering in the app, you will be presented with your profile, which displays your collected playlists and recently listened artists by default. If you don’t want your friends to watch what you are listening to, then go to private mode.
Playlist Recommendations
Music apps recommend music based on your listens, but also based on individual playlists. For example, you can create a playlist with a new metal core and another with pop music. Recommendations for each will be different. To view them, go to the playlist in your library and scroll to the bottom.
Subtle Transitions between Songs
Any playlist in Spotify can be turned into a kind of mix, where the transitions between different tracks are almost invisible. The most interesting thing is to do this in a playlist with completely dissimilar performers. For example, the mixing of any hard Slipknot track and the beginning of the pop song by Cardi B looks especially good.
Equalizer
A rare instrument for modern streaming, it adjusts the frequencies of the outgoing sound to enhance the low or high frequencies. The tracks sound especially good on the “Electronics” and “Rock” presets.
Switch between Phone and Computer
The service synchronizes music playback between different devices. For example, if you listened to music on your phone, and then came home and went to the desktop version of an app, then it can continue the song from the same place. To do this, you just need to press the play button.
➔ Step 2. Select the type of licensing.
Spotify has two types of licenses, including the Sound Recording License Agreement and the Music Composition License Agreement. So you need to consider the licensing of an app and choose the appropriate license for your music platform. If you decide to launch a streaming application, then most likely you will need to get a license, which, of course, will affect the final cost of the product. Consider the possible time and money resources to develop an exciting app that will hit the downloading record.
➔ Step 3. Find the developers of the music app.
Choose the team that will create an app like Spotify for you. But you need to keep in mind to check the portfolio of your music app development company.
➔ Step 4. Develop the UI / UX design of the audio streaming application.
Now you and your development team must agree on what the future application will look like. To do this, you need to create a Wireframe, Mockup and Prototype application.
➔ Step 5.Create an MVP Audio Streaming Application
At this step, you will define your MVP (Minimum Viable Product) and all other details along with your development team and you are ready to go.
Add Social Activity of Users
By adding the “Like” button next to the name of the song being played, you will help not only users but also yourself. So, people will be able to instantly share their opinions and rate compositions. As for you, you will know better what kind of music is popular.
Add Notifications
When you create a music streaming platform in app format, don’t forget about communication with users. Knowing the tastes of your audience will help you have a conversation with them. People always want to know everything about their favorite artists, so that along with the music you can share this information with them. This will make the application even more attractive.
By developing a mobile music application, you have a great opportunity to work with art that is timeless and, at the same time, create the image of the modern music industry. So, consider these steps and recommendations while creating a Spotify-like app.
