Amazon has officially discontinued its live audio streaming app, Amp, which allowed users to act as music DJs by playing songs and interacting with their audience through spoken commentary.
Steve Boom, who leads Amazon’s digital music division, stated, “We didn’t make this decision lightly or quickly, it became clear over months of careful consideration of where we want to make our future investments.”
While the Amp app has been shut down as a live audio streaming service, it is still available for download and can still be used to listen to live radio shows.
Amazon initially launched the Amp app in March 2022, responding to the increased demand for live audio streaming services during the COVID-19 pandemic, it was intended to be a competitor to apps like Clubhouse and others in the live audio streaming space.
Amp allowed users to create live music streams and interact with listeners by asking questions and receiving comments, the app attracted a range of celebrities, artists, and musicians who used it to host their programs.
With early signs of challenges in succeeding in this space, Amazon significantly reduced the number of employees in its Amp team earlier this year.
The decision to shut down the Amp app is part of a broader trend to either close or modify live audio streaming services that saw a significant decline in usage after the pandemic ended.
