Amazon has been tipped to launch a free, ad-supported music service on Spotify

The streaming music wars are not yet available, Amazon would be in discussion with major labels to offer a free service, funded by advertising, to Spotify, which could be launched next week.

This is according to sources talking to Billboard. Apparently, the new service will offer a limited choice of songs, but will cost users nothing – much like the free level offered by Spotify.

The new service looks a lot like Amazon Prime Music, the music selection you get under a premium subscription. In this case, you must listen to ads instead of signing up for Amazon Prime.

Amazon Prime Music offers access to approximately 2 million tracks. There is also an Amazon Music Unlimited service, a more direct competitor of Spotify. It contains tens of millions of songs in its catalog and costs a monthly supplement.

Is there an echo here?

It's easy to see where the new service would fit – on Amazon Echo devices. From the beginning, users would be able to start playing music without making payments or signing up for another service.

You currently have a multitude of ways to stream music via echo, including connecting a phone via Bluetooth, adding Apple Music or Spotify via the phone. Alexa application on your phone.

This new service, if it actually appears, would in theory be more convenient than these options, at least for casual music listeners who only want to hear some of the latest hits from time to time.

If Billboard is right and the service is launched next week, Spotify will no longer be the only streaming music service offering a free, ad-supported level.

Via Engadget