Amazon Music announced the launch of a new beta feature called Fan Groups on Monday. This feature enables users to create and join groups centered around their favorite music genres and artists. Within these groups, fans can chat, create posts, and listen to songs shared by other members.
The feature is currently in a testing phase available only in Canada on iOS and Android devices. Users can find Fan Groups by navigating to the Find tab located beneath the search bar at the top of the Amazon Music app. From there, they can explore more than thirty different groups dedicated to a wide range of musical interests, including indie rock, country, Punjabi, and K-pop.
Group members have the ability to create new posts, participate in chat threads, and share or save recommended songs. A key aspect of the feature is that users can stream music directly within the group without leaving the conversation. They can tap a play button to listen to all the songs added to the group or visit a dedicated Music tab next to the Posts section.
Artists are also able to join these groups, providing a new channel for direct engagement with their fans. This allows artists to share exclusive content, interact on a more personal level, and build stronger community ties with their supporters.
Anyone can create a new group, and group administrators have the ability to mute members and delete messages. Users also have access to safety controls, allowing them to report content and block other members if necessary.
This new feature is part of Amazon’s strategy to compete with other music streaming services like Spotify, which has been developing its own social features to engage users. For example, Spotify recently introduced a messaging feature and a collaborative playlist tool called Jam. Other platforms are also enhancing social interaction; SoundCloud offers a commenting feature and has added social functionalities like friend-based playlists and direct messaging for artists. Another service, Stationhead, allows users to listen to music together during live streaming parties.
Amazon Music plans to roll out the Fan Groups feature to customers in the United States and other markets starting next year.