Amazon launched a new streaming music service on Thursday as part of its $99 Prime subscription service that includes free video streaming and free delivery.
Overnight the company launched a web page seemingly announcing the new service. "Prime Music" would offer unlimited, ad-free streaming, free with Amazon Prime, according to the site. The company did not provide further information.
Amazon's head of digital music, Steve Boom, told Reuters that because the service is free with Prime, it offers more bang per buck than stand alone streaming services that can cost $10 a month.
"If there area few tracks you want to buy, the cost of doing that in our store will be dramatically less than paying $120 a year for, frankly, a lot of music people don't listen to," Boom said in an interview with the news agency.
The variety of music offered is expected to be wide but not deep, and would not include the newest hits given a six-month delay after albums are launched. One industry insider called the new service "playlist heavy."
Amazon has not responded to requests for comment, but a number of industry sources confirm that deals are inked and the press releases have been written. Both Sony Music and Warner Music Group have signed deals to license their music – neither have commented- but Universal Music Group, the world's largest music label, is not on board.