(Photo Illustration by Rafael Henrique/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
Amazon wants to provide the soundtrack to your summer with free music streaming.
As an early Prime Day deal, new subscribers with Prime membership can get a complimentary Amazon Music Unlimited or Amazon Music HD trial for four months (three months for non-Prime members).
Once the pilot program ends, subscriptions automatically renew at a monthly cost of $7.99 ($9.99 for non-Prime users). Please note: Music Unlimited is not included with a Prime membership; the discounted fee is on top of the annual $119 you pay for Prime.
Amazon Music Unlimited earned an “excellent” four-star review from PCMag, which called it a “great all-rounder for streaming audio.” It may not have the bells and whistles of some competitors, but it boasts more than 75 million songs, HD Audio, and a deep podcast library.
Audiophiles who prefer high-definition streams, meanwhile, can tap into Amazon Music HD. The platform previously required an additional charge, boosting the total monthly fee to $14.99 without Prime. But last month—on the same day Apple Music announced lossless audio at no extra cost—Amazon removed its levy and capped prices.
The e-commerce giant already offers more than 70 million songs in HD (16-bit at 44.1kHz), 7 million-plus in Ultra HD (24-bit at 192kHz), and “a rapidly growing catalog” of 3D Audio, including some mixed in Dolby Atmos and Sony 360RA. To truly experience the higher quality sound provided by Amazon Music HD, you will need an internet connection and peripherals that can support it. Amazon recommends a 1.5Mbps or higher internet connection and headphones or speakers that support a dynamic range of 20kHz+ for HD, or 40kHz+ for Ultra HD.
Music Unlimited subscribers in Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the UK, and the US can upgrade to HD for free anytime. As an added perk, Amazon Music subscribers across all tiers can now stream podcasts for free on mobile, web, and Echo devices.
This newsletter may contain advertising, deals, or affiliate links. Subscribing to a newsletter indicates your consent to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You may unsubscribe from the newsletters at any time.
