MUSIC

How to Create a Music App Similar to Spotify

Think about how people communicate these days and how far society has evolved. During the pandemic, we saw how entertainment companies peaked and how consumers were actively gravitating toward such brands. From a psychological perspective, it is only natural that in a state of quarantine, we all looked over at our smartphones and relied on the apps available – the goal was to not get bored.

And now, as the pandemic settles down, consumers are hooked onto music apps and entertainment-based apps platforms more than ever before. Right now, the music industry is at its peak with the entire industry being worth around $26.3 billion dollars in the US alone according to figures. Moving forward, the future of music is based on digital channels and streaming services particularly.

Depending on the kind of project you are working on and how you plan to upscale, we highly suggest you to look into the app development process for a digital product like Spotify – the most popular music and podcast streaming service right now, valued at over $21.94 billion dollars.

We understand that launching an entire app that resembles Spotify in terms of features and functionality seems overwhelming, but as long as the steps are clearly defined and you know how the journey will look like – everything flows smoothly.

What Makes Spotify Special

Spotify was launched back in 2006 and in this digital landscape, the company knew where to capitalize and identify market gaps. It was one of the few platforms that worked on music licensing and was extremely user-oriented. Right now, Spotify is known for the aesthetic design it has and how it is easy to use.

From a UX/UI perspective, Spotify is designed to be a journey, a walkthrough where the music listener could easily figure out where to navigate and what button to select. And for an app to work perfectly and gain massive traction, the design needs to complement the features as well. It’s a connection. Spotify wins it all. The app includes a library of thousands of musical titles, the latest releases, and even custom-made playlists.

Again – Spotify is extremely user oriented and even the playlists are developed based on AI and big data. The algorithm adapts and learns how the consumers listen to music, and the kind of genre they like – every playlist is unique and distinct from the other.

Now, when you consult a web design company in NJ, make sure they know how Spotify works on their design strategy and what could work for you. The goal is to learn and improvise.

How Much Will the App Cost?

When it comes to the cost of an app, there is never a clear-cut answer – however – depending on the project requirements and the features you incorporate, we can provide a rough estimate. Normally, a music streaming app with minimal functionality will cost anywhere between $10,000 to $50,000 and the cost could go up to millions, depending on the following factors:

●     Features included

●     Location of the production (development and design) team

●     The complexity of the project

And a lot more. It is important to acknowledge that the cost of the app is mainly defined by where the company is based. A mobile app development Austin company would include policies based on the hourly wages defined by the Texas government. Similarly, hourly wages differ worldwide and generally – going for a company based in South America or South Asia would cost far less than North America or most parts of Europe.

Essential Features to Include in an App Like Spotify

Coming to the main question and how your app needs to align with the overall goals of the business and what you can adapt from Spotify, we have listed a few features. Remember that you do not need to implement everything. It is about figuring out what works for you and deciding accordingly. Let’s take a look.

Setting up a profile

It might seem like a simple page to include in the entire app but it is more than that. The front page of the app where the user will get a first glimpse of the app and an easy sign-up button through social media or email will create a seamless experience.

Browsing Through Music

And once the signing-up stage is cleared, different playlists should show up, depending on the trends and what the user has customized so far. On the top, a smart search bar powered by enhanced AI should be included with auto-correction and predictable text.

Sharable Icons

Spotify leverages social media in the most perfect way. While music is playing, consumers can go through the lyrics and take a snapshot of a sort where the icon emerges automatically in a form that is sharable on platforms like Instagram and Twitter.

The music streaming company knows how marketing works these days and consumers are more than happy to share their tastes in music on social media – trying to highlight their niche interests. Focus on all sorts of platforms – TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc.

And additionally, there are features worth including that are not particular to Spotfiy but leading apps do include it. Push notifications and a customer support chat option being two examples.

Steps to Follow: App Development for an App Like Spotfiy

A blueprint a long-term vision is necessary for a seamless transitional phase where all stakeholders agree to one objective. You cannot go straight into development and launch a product, there needs to be a lot of conceptulization and back-to-back meetings to decide how the app will ultimately look like. Here’s are a few steps to follow:

●     Conceptulization

●     Licensing, getting artists onboard

●     Getting a team of developers and designers

●     Research and development (R&D)

●     Implementing a UX/UI design strategy

●     Choosing tech stack and heading to development

●     Quality assurance (QA) phase

●     Launching an minimum viable product (MVP) and sorting out reviews

A lot of times, the process ends when the MVP follows through. A lot of consumers and investors are impressed by the prototype, or the less modified version. Depending on how the feedback is and how far the engagement goes – the next step would be to launch a fully-assembled product and initating marketing on the side.

Final Thoughts

Looking forward, apps like Spotify will continute to stay in the limelight and consumers will continue to grow – as will the revenue potential. It is the perfect time to capitalize and step into the music industry and see how things work. However, it is important to make sure your core business objectives aligns with how the music industry is evolving. Everything needs to flow together.