Winamp is back and wants a piece of Spotify’s business
At the end of the 20th century, as digital music was first becoming a thing, Winamp was must-have software for many people. The audio player, which famously featured a llama mascot and sounds of a bleating llama when you started it up, has never completely gone away, but it has long since been overshadowed by embedded media players from Microsoft, Apple, and other companies. Now, Winamp is…
Twenty-five years after its peak, digital music pioneer Winamp is making a comeback with a fresh approach to streaming services. The software, known for its iconic llama mascot and distinctive startup sounds, is partnering with French streaming giant Deezer to relaunch as a subscription-based platform in the first half of next year.
While Winamp's digital music roots may have been overshadowed by industry giants Microsoft, Apple, and others, the company aims to recapture its former relevance. In this new venture, Winamp will leverage Deezer's white-label streaming technology and extensive music catalog under the more recognizable Winamp name. Users will have the option to combine streaming music with their existing local libraries, and the service will also feature internet radio stations, podcasts, personal cloud-based collections, and other audio sources.
The announcement of this partnership did not specify the pricing of the service, which remains consistent with Winamp's history. However, the company plans to introduce new social capabilities and innovative ways to discover, organize, and enjoy music. For now, the Winamp and Deezer offerings will coexist separately, both available for download.
Winamp's decision to enter the streaming market stems partly from its desire to boost its profile but also from Deezer's struggling subscriber base. In the first half of 2026, Deezer's subscriber numbers fell by 3.5%, from 9.2 million to 8.9 million, with a significant 20% drop in subscribers from partnerships, now standing at 3.1 million. Deezer's overall hold on the global streaming market is minimal, accounting for just 1.3% of music streaming subscribers, compared to Spotify's 31%.
Deezer has faced increasing competition, particularly from AI-generated music uploads, which now make up 44% of newly uploaded tracks. These AI-generated uploads, totaling about 75,000 per day, are often demonetized and removed from recommendations. The partnership with Winamp is also an attempt to address this issue, as Winamp's 25-year history of innovative music experiences may attract a portion of its 40 million global users.
Written by urgent.news from Fast Company's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
