Amazon Unplugging Amp
• UPDATED: Amp, the live radio app launched by Amazon just 18 months ago, is being shut down. The Verge, citing a Bloomberg report, notes that the announcement was first made internally in a memo from Amazon VP of Music Steve Boom, that reads, in part, “This decision was not made quickly or easily. It only became clear after months of careful consideration determining the investments Amazon wants to make for the future.”
Amazon publicly confirmed the news via social media Wednesday evening, posting to Twitter/X, “We’ve made the difficult decision to close Amp, and the app will wind down October 31st. Thank you for creating with us.”
Amp was launched in March 2022 and seemed to be a competitor to Clubhouse and other live or social audio services launched during the pandemic. But unlike Clubhouse or Twitter Spaces, which allowed anyone to launch a live chat room on any topic, Amp was geared toward fans of music and talk radio. Any Amp user with an Amazon account could launch a live show and access millions of licensed songs, which they could compile into playlists and play for their followers. Amp users could “call in” to shows and ask hosts questions.
However, signs of trouble became apparent early on, as Amazon cut half of Amp’s existing staff last year, amounting to roughly 150 employees.
The Verge notes that Amp’s closure is the latest in the line of live audio services shuttering or pivoting after users have dropped off after the pandemic. Last month, Clubhouse announced it was reinventing itself as a group messaging app. Spotify also shut down its live audio feature earlier this year.
In response to questions from The Verge, Amazon Music spokesperson Rebecca Silverstein provided the following statement: “We’ve made the difficult decision to close Amp. In creating Amp, we tried something that had never been done before and built a product that gave creators a place where they could build genuine connections with each other, and share a common love for music. We learned a lot about how live music communities interact in the process, which we are bringing to bear as we build new fan experiences at scale in Amazon Music.”
RAMP has learned that Nick Cannon and Zach Sang, who both have daily Amp shows with Amazon, will remain involved with the company in a capacity TBA. In a statement, Cannon said, “AMP was a special place that gave me the opportunity to launch The Daily Cannon and I’m looking forward to expanding my show with Amazon.” Sang commented, “Amp proved what radio could sound like with community as its priority. Through Amp, The Zach Sang Show has been building an environment that puts audience, artist and connection first, and that work will continue with Amazon.”
