echo

Amazon is aiming to launch a standalone streaming music service in two forms — a standard $10/month version, plus another that would be about half the price and work exclusively with the company’s Echo hardware, according to Recode.

Reuters previously reported that Amazon was developing a $10/month music subscription service, but the plan for a lower-priced Echo version is a new twist. The company is aiming to launch the standalone music offerings next month, but it’s still negotiating with major music labels, the Recode report says — noting that the $5 price range for the Echo-only version of the service is a sticking point in those talks.

The Echo version of the music service would not work on smartphones or other devices, according to the report. The flagship Amazon Echo smart speaker, which includes the Alexa voice-enabled virtual assistant, was joined by the Echo Dot and Amazon Tap devices earlier this year.

This would be the latest move by Amazon to break out features from its larger Amazon Prime membership program as services unto themselves. Amazon currently offers Amazon Music as part of the $99/year Prime membership program. The company in April started offering an $8.99/month standalone subscription to its Prime Video streaming service, which is also included in the larger Prime program.

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