Amazon is changing how music access works for Prime members in India, and the biggest shift is that ad-free listening and offline downloads will no longer come automatically with Prime. Those benefits are being moved into a paid plan, making Amazon Music Unlimited the new route for users who want the full experience.
The change takes effect from 2 July and reshapes Amazon’s music offering into a three-tier structure. Prime members will still be able to use Amazon Music, but the service will now include ads and will not support offline downloads unless they upgrade.
A different setup for Prime users
For years, Prime members in India received ad-free music streaming and offline listening without extra cost. That arrangement is now ending as Amazon separates its music service into distinct layers.
The company is now organizing the service around Amazon Music Unlimited, Amazon Music for Prime members, and Amazon Music Free. Each tier serves a different type of listener, with Unlimited positioned as the premium option.
What Amazon Music Unlimited includes
Amazon Music Unlimited is being presented as the most complete package. It offers more than 100 million songs and podcasts, along with HD, Ultra HD, Spatial Audio, and Dolby Atmos support.
Pricing is set at Rs 99 per month for Prime members and Rs 119 per month for non-Prime users. Amazon is also offering trial periods to help attract users to the new plan.
Prime members can try the service free for six months, while non-Prime users get three months before billing begins. After that, the ad-free experience will no longer be part of Prime by default in India.
Free access is still on the way
Amazon is also preparing to launch Amazon Music Free in India. This tier will give users access to music without a subscription fee, but it will be supported by ads.
That leaves listeners with a clearer set of choices. They can stay on the free ad-supported version, pay for Unlimited, or keep their Prime-linked access with ads and no offline downloads.
Part of a broader pattern
The move fits a wider approach Amazon has already used in other services. Prime Video also places ad-free viewing behind an added fee, priced at Rs 129 per month or Rs 699 per year on top of Prime membership.
Seen in that context, the music change follows the same direction. Features that once sat inside Prime are increasingly being turned into paid add-ons for users who want the full version of the service.
For Prime members in India, the practical impact is straightforward: the music benefit that once came bundled with membership is no longer guaranteed in its old form. Anyone who wants to preserve ad-free listening and offline downloads will now need to pay separately.
Source: www.indiatoday.in-
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