Winamp to launch creator-focused platform, offer free year-long access 

The company has opened invitations for early sign ups, offering free year-long subscriptions with premium tools to the first 25 000 artists and audio creators, which will start when the new site is revealed. The group will be the first and only artists allowed to access Winamp’s creator side until the full launch happens in November.

The tools are designed to help artists advance their music careers to the next level with services such as music distribution and royalty administration to direct-to-fan services like subscriptions. The free passes will feature the legendary Winamp llama in 25 different guises inspired by creators’ wide range of music styles and genres. 

The launch of the creator platform will be followed by the unveiling of Fanzone, a meeting point for fans and artists featuring a series of enhancements and upgrades. Winamp said it has 83 million users globally.

“Winamp has long prided itself in creating the perfect place for fans to collect and enjoy their music,” Winamp CEO Alexandre Saboundjian said. “Now creators can meet them there, forming direct connections right where many people are already listening — and where many more will soon join them. We’re offering creators control and transparency as they look for good ways to distribute, promote, and monetise their music.

“Our vision is to make Winamp the main place music lovers need to go. Fans have trusted us with their music. Now creators can trust us to support their work and careers.”

The company says the new platform will give artists more control and flexibility. “For example, fan subscription tiers can be set at any price level.”

Creators can sign up here to stand a chance to gain free access to Winamp.

Winamp was developed by Justin Frankel and Dmitry Boldyrev in 1997. The media player supported various audio formats including MP3, AAC, FLAC, WAV and WMA, among others.

It became a widely popular after launch before its functionality and relevance declined due to outdated technology. In 2014 it was acquired by Belgian radio aggregator Radionomy.

In October 2018, the then Radionomy CEO Alexandre Saboundjian said that a new version of the programme would be unveiled in 2019 to no avail.