Creating A Music App Like Spotify: Tips, Stacks, and UX Explained!

Creating a music app has never been more exciting or profitable, with the global music streaming market projected to reach $33.9. Spotify has over 236 million premium subscribers, the demand for feature-rich music apps continues to grow. 

Whether you're looking to build the next big music streaming service or a niche audio platform, understanding the right tech stack, UX design, and monetization strategies is key. In our blogpost, we’ll break down everything you need to know about creating a music app, from essential features to industry best practices.

Why You Should Create a Music App in 2025?

The music streaming industry market is expected to reach $33.97 billion by 2027. The number of global music streaming users was at 616.2 million in 2024. Users are spending more time than ever on these platforms. On average, music listeners now spend 20 hours per week consuming content on streaming platforms. 

As of Q4 2023, Spotify leads the music streaming market with approximately 236 million premium subscribers. Apple Music follows with an estimated 93 million subscribers and Amazon Music holds about 11.1% of the global market share.

One area that new music apps can focus on is niche genres. For example, an app could specialize in genres such as indie music, classical, world music, or even podcasts and audiobooks. 

Another key opportunity lies in personalized playlists. Users are increasingly seeking apps that cater to their individual music preferences, offering more than just a generic playlist. Apps that provide mood-based playlists, or music that fits specific activities like "workout music" or "study sessions," have a competitive edge.

Social sharing is also becoming a major component of the music streaming experience. Features like the ability to share songs, playlists, or see what friends are listening to are gaining traction. Music apps that integrate social features such as following friends, sharing playlists, or engaging in music-based discussions could create stronger user communities, which in turn leads to higher retention rates.

Creating a music app brings a lot of benefits for businesses, users, and artists. For businesses, it provides monetization opportunities through subscriptions, ads, and exclusive content. 

Users enjoy a personalized experience with access to millions of songs, tailored playlists, and the convenience of listening anytime, anywhere, across multiple devices. For artists, music apps offer exposure to a global audience, monetization through streaming royalties and merchandise, and valuable analytics to refine their marketing strategies.

Key Features of A Music App

When creating a music app, the focus should be on integrating features that enhance the user experience, keep them engaged, and encourage them to continue using the app. The right features can make your app stand out in a crowded market, ensuring both usability and satisfaction: 

Basic

Audio Streaming

The core of how to make a music app revolves around audio streaming, allowing users to stream songs on demand without purchasing them. It provides instant access to a vast library of songs, offering convenience to users.

The interface should have clear play/pause buttons, progress bars, and album art. The app should automatically adjust the quality of the stream based on the user’s internet connection to minimize buffering.

Music Search

Users expect a fast search function to find their favorite songs, albums, artists, and genres. Without this feature, how to create a music streaming app would lack efficiency, making users frustrated.

The search bar in music app development should be prominent and easy to use. Filters for genres, moods, and song features should be accessible, helping users refine their searches quickly and effortlessly.

Music Player

A simple yet functional music player allows users to control playback, adjust volume, and see album covers, which is essential for a good user experience.

The music player should be designed with large, easy-to-tap buttons for play, pause, next, and previous. Album artwork and song progress should be clearly displayed, ensuring users have a seamless experience when interacting with the player.

AI Recommendations

Personalized recommendations based on users’ listening habits increase engagement by suggesting new music that aligns with their tastes. It’s an effective way to keep users coming back and to enhance user satisfaction.

Thanks to AI, Spotify has revolutionized music streaming by delivering personalized experiences, significantly boosting user engagement. Features like Discover Weekly, Release Radar, and Daily Mixes curate content tailored to individual tastes.

Between July 2015 and June 2020, users streamed over 2.3 billion hours of their Discover Weekly playlists. The annual Spotify Wrapped provides users with a personalized summary of their listening habits, fostering social sharing and creating viral trends each year. 

The recommendation section should feel like a natural part of the app, perhaps displayed as a "For You" playlist or in the home feed. The design should be non-intrusive, with options to quickly add songs or albums to playlists.

Playlists

Playlists allow users to share their favorite songs, providing a personalized listening experience. This is particularly essential when how to launch a music app is focused on user engagement.

Users should be able to easily create, edit, and save playlists. Clear options to add or remove songs, along with easy navigation through different playlists, are important for an enjoyable experience.

Lyrics Display

Displaying lyrics adds a layer of interaction to the music experience, especially for users who enjoy singing along or understanding the meaning of a song.

The lyrics should sync with the song’s playback, appearing in a readable format. The option to switch to a translated version of the lyrics, if available, can make the app more accessible to a global audience.

Downloading

Offline listening is essential for users who don’t always have a stable internet connection. This feature can significantly improve user retention, allowing for uninterrupted music enjoyment.

Provide an intuitive download button next to the song or album, clearly indicating which songs are available offline. Also, users should have the option to manage storage settings for downloaded music.

Podcast & Radio

Integrating podcasts and radio stations into your music app enhances the value proposition, attracting a broader audience who may want more than just music streaming.

The podcast and radio sections should be clearly separated from the music streaming part of the app, with easy-to-navigate categories and an intuitive way to discover new content.

Advanced

Music Social Network

Social features help create a sense of community, allowing users to connect, follow artists, and share music with others. This makes the app more interactive and sticky, leading to increased user engagement.

Social features should blend naturally into the app. Consider creating a feed where users can see what their friends are listening to or share their own playlists.

Customizable Profiles

Users want to personalize their experience. By customizing their profile, users can showcase their favorite songs, artists, and playlists, increasing the sense of ownership and engagement.

Provide simple, user-friendly options for profile customization. The design should be flexible yet intuitive, allowing users to easily upload images, update bios, and select themes.

Mood-Based Music

Offering music recommendations based on users' moods adds a personal touch, making the music app feel more tailored to individual needs and moments.

The mood-based music feature should be easily accessible from the main navigation menu, with mood filters that display visually engaging icons or images.

Concert Tracking

Keeping users informed about concerts from their favorite artists provides additional value to the app, making it not just a music app but an all-around music experience.

Users should be able to easily set up event reminders, view concert details, and purchase tickets directly from the app, all through a visually engaging interface.

Song Recognition

This feature enables users to identify songs they hear in public, adding convenience and driving engagement. It’s also a great way to introduce users to new music.

The song recognition feature should be easily accessible from the main screen, with an intuitive button to start recognizing music. When a song is recognized, it should quickly show the title, artist, and album art.

Music Therapy

Music therapy features curated playlists for relaxation, stress relief, or emotional well-being. This adds depth to the app by tapping into the wellness trend, which many users will appreciate.

Music therapy playlists should be easy to find, with clear categories for different emotions or needs. The design should evoke a calm, soothing atmosphere, perhaps through soft colors or minimalist elements.

Cross-Platform Syncing

Ensuring that music and playlists are synchronized across devices offers users flexibility, allowing them to switch from mobile to desktop without losing track of their content.

Make sure that syncing is automatic and seamless. The user interface should clearly indicate that content is synced across devices and users should have the option to manage this across their devices easily.

7 Steps To Build A Music App

Creating a music app requires a strategic approach, from conceptualization to launch. Whether you're wondering, "Can I create my own music app?", the answer is yes, with the right planning, tech stack, and features. 

We break down how to launch a music app in just seven steps: 

Step 1: Research Your Audience

The first step is to conduct thorough research. Identify your target audience and analyze their needs, preferences, and behavior. This research will guide the design and features of your app. Consider the following:

• User Personas: Define who your users are: age, location, musical tastes, and technology preferences.
• Market Research: Study competitors such as Spotify, Apple Music, and other niche music streaming apps. Understand their strengths and weaknesses to carve out your unique offering.
• Trends & Needs: Determine emerging trends like personalized playlists, social sharing, or mood-based music, and decide if you want to incorporate them.

Step 2: Define Features

Based on your research, define the core features of your music app. Focus on the essentials for an MVP app (minimum viable product), such as:

• Audio Streaming: Essential for providing users with seamless music access.
• Music Search & Playlists: Users should easily find music and create their playlists.
• Music Player: Ensure the player is user-friendly with basic controls like play, pause, skip, and volume control.
• AI Recommendations: Personalize the listening experience by recommending music based on user behavior.

Defining these features early on ensures the app is functional and provides value to users from the start.

Step 3: Acquire Music Rights

Music rights are crucial for streaming apps. Secure the proper licensing to legally stream music and avoid potential lawsuits or fines. This involves obtaining:

• Licensing for Public Performance: The right to play music publicly.
• Sound Recording License: Rights to use recorded music, typically provided by record labels.
• Musical Composition License: Rights for the composition, lyrics, and melody.

Step 4: Design UI/UX

Design an intuitive, user-friendly interface that ensures smooth navigation and a satisfying experience. Create wireframes and mockups before developing the full app. Focus on:

• Ease of Navigation: Make it easy for users to search for music, create playlists, and navigate between screens.
• Interactive Music Player: A clean, functional, and attractive music player interface enhances user experience.
• Personalized Elements: Include user profiles and customized playlists to increase engagement.
• A color palette: Reflects the app's brand identity and resonates with the target audience. Colors like blue/green convey trust and professionalism, and purple adds a touch of creativity and sophistication. Creating a moodboard can help visualize the desired aesthetic and emotional tone. 

Step 5: Choose a Tech Stack

Select the right technology for both the frontend and backend of the music app development. The tech stack will depend on the app’s complexity and the platforms you are targeting (iOS, Android, or web). Popular choices include:

• Frontend: React Native for cross-platform development or Swift for iOS and Kotlin for Android.
• Backend: Node.js, Python, or Java for handling data and streaming.
• Cloud Services: AWS, Google Cloud, or Azure for scalable infrastructure.

Step 6: Music App Development

Now that you have the design and tech stack, it's time for the actual development. Focus on both:

• Frontend Development: Building the user interface, making sure that the app is responsive and user-friendly.
• Backend Development: Ensuring that the app can store music data, handle user requests, and stream content effectively without latency or interruptions.

Both the frontend and backend need to work seamlessly together. A poor backend can affect the performance of the entire app, leading to a frustrating user experience.

Step 7: Testing

Conduct testing across all devices and platforms (iOS, Android, Web). Key areas to test include:

• Functionality Testing: Ensure all features like music search, playback, and recommendations are working.
• Performance Testing: Check the app’s performance under various network conditions.
• Usability Testing: Make sure the app is easy to use, intuitive, and navigable for all user types.
• Security Testing: Ensure user data is secure, especially if you're dealing with payments or private information.

Step 8: Launch and Collect Feedback

Once your music app is polished and ready for the market, it’s time to launch. Release the app on popular platforms like the App Store and Google Play. 

After launch, gather feedback from users to see what works and what needs improvement. Use tools like app analytics and user surveys to track app performance and satisfaction.

The Right Tech Stack for Music App Development

When you're creating a music app, the technology stack you choose plays a crucial role in ensuring the app's performance, scalability, and user experience. 

Below, we'll break down the essential components of the tech stack required for a music streaming app, including the platforms, programming languages, frameworks, and protocols you should consider when developing your app: 

Cost For Music App Development

Building a music streaming app involves several stages, each contributing to the total cost. Whether you're considering a basic MVP or a fully-featured app, understanding the time and cost for each stage is essential for planning. 

Below is a breakdown of the typical time spent on each stage, along with cost estimates based on the region: 

The cost of developing a music streaming app varies depending on the location of the development team. The prices below are for a basic app with core features.

As shown in the table, outsourcing the development of your music streaming app to regions with lower hourly rates. Outsourcing can be a cost-effective option for building a music app, as it allows businesses to access skilled developers without incurring the high costs associated with in-house development.

Hiring an experienced development team from a region with lower rates, you can save on development costs while still maintaining high-quality standards. Additionally, outsourcing offers flexibility, as you can choose the specific skill sets needed for each phase of your project.

>> Read more: Mobile Apps Development Cost in 2025  

How to Monetize Your Music App In 2025

Monetizing your music streaming app is one of the most important aspects of ensuring long-term success. By implementing various revenue models, you can generate sustainable income while keeping users engaged. How much does it cost to build a music app? The answer varies depending on features, platforms, and development approach, but monetization plays a crucial role in ensuring a return on investment.

Is the music app profitable? Absolutely, when built with a solid revenue strategy. In 2025, the music app industry will continue to thrive, and there are several monetization strategies that can be adopted to maximize profitability and user retention: 

1. Freemium Model The freemium model is one of the most common approaches for music streaming apps. Users can access basic features for free, but additional features, such as ad-free music, offline listening, and exclusive content, are available through a paid subscription. This model helps attract a large user base, with the hope that a portion of users will convert to paying subscribers. Popular services like Spotify and Apple Music have used this model effectively.
2. In-App Advertisements Music apps can offer a free version with ads inserted into the listening experience. You can place short audio or display ads that play between songs, allowing you to earn revenue through ad placements. The key is to find a balance and ads should not overwhelm users or detract from their experience. 
3. Subscription Plans You can offer multiple subscription tiers to cater to different user preferences. For example, a basic plan could provide limited access to content with ads, while a premium plan offers unlimited access, offline playback, and an ad-free experience. 
4. Partnerships and Sponsored Content Partnering with artists, record labels, or other brands for sponsored content can be a lucrative revenue stream. For example, you could feature exclusive album releases or live performances sponsored by a brand. Additionally, you can promote certain artists or albums to generate revenue through affiliate marketing. 
5. Crowdfunding and Merchandising: Integrating a crowdfunding feature into your music app can provide additional revenue streams for both the app and the artists. You can enable fans to support their favorite musicians through direct donations or by buying merchandise directly through the app. Including a marketplace for artists to sell their music, merchandise, or concert tickets can increase revenue opportunities.

Challenges You Need to Consider To Build Music Apps

Building a successful music streaming app involves overcoming several challenges. While it might seem like a straightforward process, there are complexities that can arise in the development process: 

1. Licensing and Copyright Issues: One of the most significant challenges when creating a music app is obtaining the proper licenses to stream music. Music is protected by copyright, and you need to secure the rights to use songs in your app legally. Without the proper licenses, you risk legal action, fines, or shutdown.
2. Quality Assurance and Testing: Ensuring a smooth user experience is crucial for your app’s success. With so many features, from music streaming to creating playlists, bugs and performance issues can be detrimental to your app’s reputation. Comprehensive testing is required to ensure that all functions perform well across different devices and operating systems.
3. Complexity of Features: Creating a music app with advanced features, such as AI-based recommendations, social sharing, and seamless syncing across devices, increases the overall complexity of the development process. Each feature requires specific technology and expertise, which can lead to higher development costs and longer timelines. Balancing advanced features with the need for simplicity in user interface (UI) design is crucial to avoid overwhelming the users.
4. Data Storage and Scalability: Storing millions of songs, playlists, and user data requires a significant investment in storage infrastructure. As your user base grows, the app must be able to handle large amounts of data and scale efficiently. Leveraging cloud solutions and Content Delivery Networks (CDNs) is often necessary to ensure fast and reliable music streaming.
5. Competition and Differentiation: The music streaming app market is highly competitive. Big players like Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube Music dominate the market, so differentiating your app is essential. You’ll need to offer something unique, such as niche music genres, exclusive content, or a superior user experience, to stand out from the competition.

When planning for music app development, understanding the costs associated with each phase is critical for creating an accurate budget. Below is a breakdown of key areas where costs will arise:

3 Famous Music Apps for Reference

When creating a music app, it's beneficial to analyze some of the most successful music streaming platforms in the market. Understanding the strengths of established apps can provide valuable insights and inspiration for your own project. Here's a look at a few industry leaders and their standout features:

1. Spotify

Strengths:

• Massive Music Library: With over 100 million tracks, Spotify offers users an extensive music collection.
• AI-Powered Recommendations: Spotify uses advanced algorithms to provide personalized playlists and discover weekly features.
• Social Sharing: Users can share songs and playlists with their friends, making the app more interactive.
• Cross-Platform Experience: Spotify is available on mobile, desktop, smart speakers, and more, ensuring seamless access across devices.

What You Can Learn: Emphasizing personalized experiences and incorporating social sharing features could significantly enhance user engagement in your music app.

2. Apple Music

Strengths:

• High-Quality Audio: Apple Music provides users with high-fidelity streaming, catering to audiophiles.
• Exclusive Content: Apple Music features exclusive releases from popular artists, giving it a competitive edge.
• Integration with Apple Ecosystem: Seamless integration with other Apple devices and services creates a unified experience.

What You Can Learn: Offering exclusive content and focusing on audio quality can help differentiate your app in a competitive market.

3. Tidal

Strengths:

• Lossless Audio: Tidal is known for its high-fidelity audio streaming, which appeals to audiophiles.
• Artist-Centric Model: Tidal has a unique artist-first model, ensuring better revenue for creators.
• Exclusive Content: Similar to Apple Music, Tidal offers exclusive releases from top artists.

What You Can Learn: Prioritizing artist support and offering superior audio quality can attract a dedicated audience.

Build Your Own Music App With Golden Owl

At Golden Owl, we specialize in helping businesses and entrepreneurs bring their music app ideas to life. With our mobile development expertise, we offer a range of services to ensure that your app is not only functional but also stands out in the highly competitive music app market.

Golden Owl provides end-to-end music app development services, including building MVP version. With custom UI/UX design, we focus on intuitive navigation and premium aesthetics. Our cross-platform development approach enables smooth functionality on iOS and Android, saving time and costs. We integrate robust backend and streaming protocols to handle large user volumes while ensuring uninterrupted streaming. 

Additionally, Golden Owl assists with AI-powered features like personalized recommendations and mood-based playlists, we enhance user engagement. Plus, our post-launch support ensures continued performance, bug fixes, and updates as your app scales.

Last Words

Creating a music app requires careful planning, from defining the core features and UI/UX design to acquiring proper music rights and selecting the right tech stack.

If you’re considering how to create a music streaming app, partnering with Golden Owl can significantly streamline the process. With expertise in mobile app development, UI/UX design, backend integration, and post-launch support, Golden Owl can help turn your vision into a high-performing, competitive music streaming platform.

The demand for music streaming apps is only increasing, and now is the perfect time to enter the market. Whether you’re building an MVP or a full-fledged music app, taking the right steps and working with the right team will set you up for success.

FAQs

Q1. Can I create my own music app?

Yes, you can! With the right development team and technology, you can build your own music streaming app. The key steps include market research, defining features, securing music licenses, designing UI/UX, choosing a tech stack, and launching your app. If you lack technical expertise, outsourcing to an experienced mobile development team like Golden Owl is a great solution.

Q2. How much does it cost to build a music app?

The cost depends on several factors, including the app’s complexity, the number of features, the development region, and whether you choose cross-platform or native development. On average, a basic music streaming app costs between $80,000 to $150,000, while a feature-rich app similar to Spotify can exceed $300,000. Outsourcing development can help optimize costs while maintaining high-quality results.

Q3. Is the music app profitable?

Yes, a music streaming app can be highly profitable if monetized effectively. The most common revenue streams include subscriptions, ad placements, and premium features like offline listening or high-quality audio streaming. Some apps also earn revenue through sponsorships, ticket sales for concerts, or artist promotions.

Q4. How to launch a music app successfully?

A successful music app launch requires careful planning and execution. Start by conducting beta testing to fix bugs, optimize UI/UX, and gather feedback. Develop a marketing strategy using social media, influencer partnerships, and paid ads. Finally, continuously update the app based on user feedback and market trends to keep engagement high.