Music Services On Alexa For Vast Entertainment

Different music services on Alexa let you easily stream your favorite songs around your home. You can also set a default music service, such as Spotify or Amazon Music, to streamline your voice commands and playback experience.

Alexa-compatible smart speakers like the Amazon Echo, Sonoff, or Bose make it easy to enjoy high-quality music no matter where you are. Multi-speaker mode further enhances the experience by allowing you to play music across multiple rooms.

Here is the list of music services available on Alexa.

1. Prime Music

Prime Music is a convenient service for anyone with an Amazon Prime subscription. It offers millions of songs that you can listen to without any ads. Users can access this service through their Alexa-enabled devices. All you need is an Amazon account linked to your Prime membership.

Prime Music Features

Ad-free listening: Enjoy music without interruptions from commercials.
Offline playback: Download songs and playlists without an internet connection.
X-Ray Lyrics: View synchronized lyrics while listening to songs on supported devices.
Curated playlists: Access expert-curated playlists for various moods, genres, and activities.
Family Plan: Share your subscription with up to six family members.

2. Amazon Music Unlimited

Amazon Music Unlimited is a popular music streaming service on Amazon Echo devices, offering a seamless experience for playing music from a vast library of millions of songs. Users can access millions of songs by simply asking Alexa. The service is ad-free and allows listeners to enjoy music on demand.

There are different subscription models to choose from:

Individual Plan: This plan is perfect for one person and costs $9.99/month.
Family Plan: This option lets up to six family members use the service simultaneously for $14.99/month.
Single Device Plan: For $4.99/month, you can use Amazon Music Unlimited on one Echo or Fire TV device.

Amazon Music Unlimited Features

Expanded catalog: Access to over 90 million songs, significantly more than Prime Music.
Ultra HD audio: Stream music in lossless audio quality up to 24-bit/192kHz.
Exclusive content: Access to exclusive songs, albums, and live performances.
Personalized playlists: AI-generated playlists based on your listening history.
Offline listening: Download unlimited songs for offline playback.

3. Apple Music & Podcasts

Apple Music is a streaming service that offers access to millions of songs, curated playlists, radio stations, and exclusive content, making it one of the top streaming services available on Alexa. Apple Podcasts is a free podcast player and directory. While it’s not a paid service like Apple Music, it does offer some podcasts with premium, paid content.

Apple Music & Podcasts Features

Spatial Audio with Dolby Atmos: Immersive 3D audio experience for compatible tracks.
iCloud Music Library: Sync your music library across devices.
Apple Music TV: 24/7 music video streaming channel.
Apple Music 1, Apple Music Hits, and Apple Music Country: Live radio stations with exclusive shows and interviews.
CarPlay integration: Optimized interface for in-car use.

4. Spotify

Spotify is a popular streaming app with a vast music library available on Alexa devices. Using voice commands, users can play, pause, skip tracks, and more.

Spotify Features

Voice control: Use voice commands to play specific songs, artists, albums, or playlists.
Spotify Connect: Control playback on Alexa devices from the Spotify app on your phone or tablet.
Personalized recommendations: Ask Alexa to play music based on your Spotify listening history.
Playlist management: Add songs to playlists or create new playlists using voice commands.

5. Pandora

Pandora is another popular music streaming service available on Alexa-enabled devices. Users can easily link Pandora to their Alexa by downloading the Pandora app on their smartphones.

Pandora Features

Personalized Stations: Pandora creates stations based on your favorite artists, songs, or genres.
Thumbs up/down: Rate songs with voice commands to personalize your stations.
Podcasts: With access to over 1,400 podcasts, users can ask Alexa to play their favorites.
Alexa routines: Incorporate Pandora playback into your Alexa routines.
Offline listening: Download playlists and albums for offline playback (Premium feature).

Subscription Tiers

Free Tier: Ad-supported and offers limited skips.
Pandora Plus: Ad-free with unlimited skips and replays.
Pandora Premium: All features of Plus, plus on-demand music and offline listening.

6. Deezer

Deezer is an online music streaming platform available on Amazon Alexa. Users can control Deezer on any Alexa-enabled device. Users must first enable the Deezer skill in the Alexa app to use Deezer with Alexa.

Deezer Features

Flow: Access Deezer’s signature personalized mix of favorites and discoveries via voice command.
Lyrics display: View synchronized lyrics on screen-enabled Alexa devices (where available).
Podcast support: Listen to Deezer podcasts through Alexa devices.
Alexa routines: Incorporate Deezer playback into your Alexa routines.
High-quality audio: Access HiFi quality audio (lossless FLAC) with a compatible subscription.

Connect Your Device and Play YouTube Audio on the Echo

While YouTube is not officially available as an Alexa music service, you can use a mobile device to play YouTube audio on Echo devices via Bluetooth.

Here is how to connect with Bluetooth:

Enable Bluetooth on your smartphone or tablet.
You can put your Echo device in pairing mode by saying “Alexa, pair” or using the Alexa app on your mobile device.
Connect your phone to the Echo via Bluetooth in your device’s settings.
Once connected, open the YouTube app on your phone.
Start playing a video on YouTube.
The audio will now play through your Echo device.

This method essentially turns your Echo into a Bluetooth speaker for your phone. While it doesn’t offer the same level of voice control as official Alexa music services, it does allow you to enjoy YouTube content through your Echo’s speakers.

Search For Your Favorite Radio in Alexa Skills

Alexa offers a range of skills to help you find and play your favorite radio stations. Discover how to connect services like TuneIn, iHeartRadio, Tidal, Sirius XM, DHits, and Saavn to play music and radio on Alexa devices.

In addition to these services, you can also use Google Play Music to stream your favorite tracks. Music purchased through the Google Play Store can be imported to Amazon Music, making it accessible through your Alexa-enabled devices.

TuneIn Live

TuneIn lets you listen to thousands of live radio stations worldwide. You can browse and select stations from your local area or search for specific stations.

After installing the skill, say, “Alexa, play [station name] on TuneIn” to stream your favorite content.

iHeartRadio

iHeartRadio is another popular platform for listening to live radio, podcasts, and music. You can enable the iHeartRadio skill through the Alexa app. Once added, say, “Alexa, play [station name] on iHeartRadio” to listen.

iHeartRadio offers various stations across genres like pop, rock, country, and talk shows.

Tidal

Tidal is known for its high-quality music streams and exclusive content.

To use Tidal with Alexa, link Tidal through the Music & Podcasts settings in the Alexa app. Tidal’s focus on high-fidelity sound makes it an excellent choice for audiophiles who want the best listening experience on their Alexa devices.

Sirius XM

Sirius XM offers a wide range of radio stations, including music, news, sports, and talk shows. Sirius XM offers exclusive content, such as talk shows from famous hosts and various music channels catering to different tastes and preferences.

DHits

DHits (DesiHits) specializes in Bollywood and Indian music. DHits is perfect for Hindi song fans. It features playlists and stations dedicated to different moods and themes related to Indian music.

Saavn

Saavn offers a broad catalog of Indian music, including Bollywood songs and regional hits. Its extensive library is excellent for exploring diverse genres and discovering new Indian music on your Alexa device.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are there any free music stations available through Alexa?

Yes, there are free music stations available on Alexa.

Services like Spotify offer a free tier, allowing users to listen to music with some limitations. Other free options include Amazon’s ad-supported music service and Internet radio stations like TuneIn.

How does Amazon Prime membership affect music services on Alexa?

Amazon Prime membership includes access to Amazon Prime Music.

This service offers over two million songs and thousands of playlists and stations at no additional cost. Prime members also get discounted rates on Amazon Music Unlimited, which provides an even more extensive library.

Do I need Amazon Music Unlimited to use Alexa with full music functionality?

You don’t need Amazon Music Unlimited for full functionality, but it does enhance the experience.

With it, you gain access to tens of millions of songs, curated playlists, and the ability to play specific songs on demand. Other services like Spotify and Apple Music provide rich functionality when linked to Alexa.