Today, every smartphone has a music streaming app that allows you to listen to thousands of songs. In the past, you could only purchase a specific album or track by an artist you needed to hear. Music streaming app development has revolutionised the way we listen to music. They broke down barriers and made access to various types of music more convenient than ever before.

There's still plenty of space for another great music streaming app to enter the market. However, it requires a clear strategy and an experienced development team to create a music app. If you're looking to build one, this article will help.

What is a Music Streaming App?

A music streaming app is an online platform that lets you enjoy songs anytime and anywhere. Instead of downloading music, you can play it directly online. These apps offer a vast selection of albums, songs and playlists from various artists and genres. Some of the most well-known apps are Spotify, Apple Music and YouTube Music.

You can easily create your own song playlists, listen to your favorite music artists and also discover new music. Some apps are completely free, but they include ads, while others require a monthly subscription for features like offline listening and ad-free experiences. Music streaming apps are compatible with smartphones, computers and smart devices, allowing you to listen to music wherever you go.

Key Features of Custom Music Streaming App

Music app development involves knowledge of key features and a clear understanding of which of these features are fundamental. We'll look at the features that users consider essential.

User Registration

In order to build an app for music, acknowledging the user's identity is vital to sync their playlists and music within the app. Therefore, it's provided as a standard feature. New subscribers can be enrolled swiftly by using social media login.

Large Music Library

The most important feature in music streaming apps is its wide range of tracks. Customers expect a wide selection of music from different categories, including top chart hits and small-scale indie bands. Agreements for licensing with music labels and publishers are required for streaming content that is legal.

Personalised Playlists & Recommendations

Are you unsure of how to create a music streaming application? One of the main advantages of streaming music apps is the ability to provide customised content. Algorithms and machine learning play an important function in providing new songs to listeners depending on their listening habits.

Play Count

Enhance the user experience by making it more enjoyable and letting users view statistics about the amount of music they've listened to. It is possible to offer them specific advantages (bonuses and free membership) when they achieve a number of milestones.

Artist & Album Profiles

When developing music apps, creating a profile of the musician and an album of the work of an artist are optional additions. Be aware, however, that there is a demand from your audience for additional information about the latest track.

Push Notifications

Push notifications send messages to users' devices to encourage engagement. They have been proven to increase engagement in various fields as they keep users updated and urge users to act frequently.

AI-Based Music Recommendations

Making use of artificial intelligence during the creation of apps for streaming music will greatly improve user satisfaction. Artificial intelligence-powered algorithms analyse listener preferences and patterns to recommend the latest music, artists, as well as playlists that are personalised to the user's preferences, making apps feel more personal.

Customizable User Profiles

Being able to customise users' profiles gives them a unique experience. If you are developing an application for music streaming, it is possible to showcase your most preferred genres of music and artists or the newest tracks. This results in an enjoyable experience for your users.

Spatial Audio

By using spatial audio, music artists are able to combine sounds to create an audio experience that's immersive and allows listeners to feel within and around the sounds. Apple, Amazon and Tidal have already introduced this technology and let their customers enjoy music with Dolby Atmos for an immersive 360-degree effect.

Multi-Device Synchronisation

A majority of people move between devices and easy synchronisation across devices is vital. This function of the development of music streaming apps lets users continue exactly where they started, whether it's on tablets, phones or laptops.

Live Streaming and Virtual Concerts

The future of music streaming apps may include the launch of live streaming features that allow users to watch live events or performances within the app. This improves the quality of apps and creates new revenue streams for applications.

Music Player

It is recommended to use capabilities for creating custom timings as well as shuffle, tuning and controls in the music player within your app. Additionally, users must be able to create their own playlists and save their most-loved songs to listen to later.

Radio

Imagine you're planning to develop an app for music. For that, radio streaming can be another option in the audio application, which lets users listen to their preferred tracks without commercial interruptions.

Social Sharing & Integration

Social functions add a sense of social interaction to the music streaming application, encouraging users to engage with one another and to post their most-loved videos.

Offline Listening

Some users are not connected to the internet 24/7. Offline listening is a crucial option that lets users download their most-loved tracks, music, albums or playlists to listen to anywhere even without Wi-Fi or data connection.

Subscription Plans & Monetisation

Looking to make a profit from the music application? When you develop a music streaming application, it is necessary to determine how to market the app. The subscription model for music apps and its features can benefit various kinds of users.

Lyrics Display

A display of the lyrics provides a new layer of engagement to the musical experience, particularly for those who love listening to music or grasping the lyrics of songs. The lyrics should be synced with the playback of the song and be displayed in a clear format. The ability to switch to an English translation that includes the song's lyrics, when there is one, could help the app be more accessible to anyone around the world.

Tech Stack for Music Streaming App Development

If you're developing an application for music, the technology stack you pick will play a significant role in improving the performance of your app, as well as scalability and user experience. In this section, we'll go over all the fundamental parts of the tech stack needed for a streaming music app. This includes the platform, programming languages, frameworks, protocols and frameworks that a music streaming app development company must consider while developing the app you want to create:

Platforms:

iOS (Swift, Objective-C)

Android (Kotlin, Java)

Cross-Platform (React Native, Flutter)

Programming Languages:

iOS: Swift, Objective-C

Android: Kotlin, Java

Backend: Node.js, Python, Ruby on Rails

Music Streaming Protocols:

RTMP (Real-Time Messaging Protocol)

HLS (HTTP Live Streaming)

Progressive Download

Cloud Storage/Hosting:

AWS (Amazon Web Services)

Google Cloud

Microsoft Azure

Database:

PostgreSQL

MySQL

MongoDB

Cost to Develop Music Streaming App

In order to accurately estimate the music streaming app development cost one must consider various factors like features, the platform it is planned to launch on, as well as the overall design of your application. These key parts are then broken down into the number of hours dedicated to each feature of the app. The development of a music streaming application could cost anything between £50,000 and £250,000 or even more.

The price could be up to hundreds of thousands when we're discussing the development of complete-format music apps. MVP can be considerably less costly.

Below are the factors that could affect app development cost:

Features

Additional features such as different video quality (4K, HD) as well as multiple languages require longer to create and therefore are more expensive. Basic features such as login and profiles are easier to build, however, it's still difficult to estimate the price.

Platform

The development of an application for various gadgets like smartphones (iOS/Android) as well as computers (web) costs more since you'll need to develop different versions for each. A hybrid app (that works on all devices) could cost around £80,000, while separate apps for each platform may cost up to £200,000.

Design

The most outstanding user interface, such as Spotify's, improves retention; however, it comes with a greater price. In the case of an MVP (Minimum Viable Product), it is fine to begin with a simple design so that you can save money.

Maintenance and Testing

Testing is an important step, with the aim being to remove any bugs and errors and ensure that the music app functions in the manner it was intended to. In this stage, QA engineers find and correct bugs with the aid of manual or automated testing.

Development Model

There are two primary methods to have your app developed: Fixed Cost and Dedicated. Fixed Cost is when you are charged a specific amount for a specific time frame. It is ideal for small tasks with a clear idea of what you'd like to achieve. Dedicated is more flexible and allows you to change your mind at any time, but typically, it is more expensive. This can be beneficial for larger initiatives where you are still trying to figure things out.

Conclusion

It's no secret that the music streaming industry is fiercely competitive. However, that doesn't mean it's impossible to stand out in the crowd. There is a way to make your mark and to succeed, you must ensure you have a unique value proposition. The custom music streaming app development requires meticulous planning from the beginning starting with the essential capabilities and user interface design, securing the proper rights for music and choosing the appropriate technology stack. It's all about finding a balance between your business goals and what users appreciate.