Spotify is already in a less than enviable position, finding itself up against Google in the suddenly hot music streaming wars. And now Amazon’s getting into the mix, according to rumor.
Nothing is apparently formal yet, but Amazon is allegedly looking into it:
Details are few and the talks have been described as very informal, the sources said. But so far, what Amazon has shown an interest in is an on-demand service that sounds pretty similar to Spotify, generally considered the sector leader. Others in the field include Rdio and Rhapsody, but Google and Apple are also working on their own projects.
Google, Apple, and Amazon are pretty much the harbingers of death for an industry they decide to appear in. Between the three of them, they’ve got a hook on most of the world’s consumers. Also, they happen to be, unlike the independent music streaming companies, profitable entities who can afford to eat the royalty costs.
While it’s just a rumor, it fits with Amazon’s aggressive strategy when it comes to music: Whether it’s AutoRip bringing back every bad CD you bought in college or looking into bringing the concept of selling used music to MP3s. And Amazon already has Cloud Player and other useful tools to make this a reality. Amazon Radio, anyone?