Music listeners today face a fragmented experience across streaming platforms, with exclusive content, disjointed libraries, and multiple subscriptions creating inefficiencies. Artists also struggle with platform silos that limit their reach. A unified solution could reduce friction for listeners while improving distribution for creators.

The Core Idea

One way to address this could be a single subscription service that aggregates content from major platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, and Tidal into one interface. Users might:

Search and play tracks from all platforms without switching apps.
Merge libraries and playlists across services.
Receive unified recommendations based on cross-platform listening data.
Pay one subscription fee, split transparently among the underlying services.

An MVP could start as a web app that imports playlists and metadata, then gradually negotiate licensing for integrated playback. Advanced features might include cross-platform analytics for artists or AI-driven alerts for missing tracks.

Stakeholders and Incentives

This approach could benefit:

Listeners: Heavy music consumers and audiophiles who want access to all content without multiple subscriptions.
Artists and Labels: Independent musicians and smaller labels could gain broader distribution and simplified royalty tracking.
Streaming Platforms: While they may resist losing subscription control, they could benefit from revenue-sharing and reduced user churn.

Execution Strategy

A phased approach might work:

Build an MVP that aggregates playlist metadata using public APIs and offers manual import/export between services.
Partner with indie labels to license direct streaming for their catalogs, proving the model with niche content.
Negotiate with major platforms for full integration, possibly starting with a revenue-sharing model.

Key assumptions include demand for unified access, licensing feasibility with indie artists first, and technical integration using public APIs. Challenges like platform resistance could be addressed by emphasizing reduced churn and transparent revenue splits.

Unified Music Streaming Subscription Service