Cost of Developing a Music On-Demand App

Music streaming apps are becoming immensely popular as they significantly change how people listen to music. A music streaming app lets you listen to your favorite music whenever you want without buying music discs. The most famous example of a music on-demand app is Spotify, which has over 406 million monthly active users. Developing your own music streaming app is a good idea. Moreover, everyone uses smartphones and smartwatches worldwide, which is a perfect opportunity to develop an on-demand app. However, to develop any app, you must estimate its production cost. Here, you can gain insight into developing a music on-demand app. 

Why should you invest in a music streaming app?

Music streaming apps offer great ROI, and it is estimated that the music streaming market is growing rapidly. The music streaming market is expected to grow to $38 billion by 2025. Aside from this, you should consider other reasons to invest in a music streaming app. 

Music on-demand apps are affordable. Unlike traditional music distribution methods, music on-demand apps can reach a global audience. You can invest in this app and gain access to users from around the world. It also allows you to target a diverse range of markets and demographics. 

Music streaming apps also offer multiple revenue options. You can generate income through subscriptions, where users pay a monthly fee for ad-free listening and other features. 

How much does it cost to build an on-demand music app?

The cost of building music on-demand apps can vary depending on various factors. However, you will need around $45,000 to $250,000 to develop a music on-demand app. The amount will increase if you want to include more complex features, like multiple platforms. 

Factors affecting the cost of developing a music on-demand app

The features and scope of functionality of your app define its development cost. Moreover, the more complex your app is, the higher the development price. Here, you can learn more about how each factor affects the cost of developing a music on-demand app. 

• Platform selection

You can create your music app for one or more platforms. The platform you choose will affect the cost of development. Each platform requires a separate development and testing process. For example, developing a music app for iOS and Android will be more expensive than one platform. You can also create a music app that supports web platforms to attract a larger audience. 

• App design and complexity

A simple music app includes a few basic features, but it will be boring. The complexity of your app includes both its UI and UX. The visually appealing app design makes the app unique and more interesting. Moreover, the more interesting your app design is, the more complex it will become to develop it. Hence, it will increase the cost of development. 

• Features and Functionality

Increasing the functionality and features of your app causes you to spend more on its development. However, you should ensure that your app has must-have features like a library of songs to choose from or share songs with your friends. Additional features you can add to your music streaming app include lyrics display, offline playback, and personalized playlists. 

• Backend infrastructure

You will need to develop a backend infrastructure to support your app. Consider servers, bandwidth, and storage in the backend infrastructure as they affect the development cost. These things define the complexity and scalability of your app’s backend infrastructure. Building a robust backend infrastructure that can handle user authentication, content delivery, and other functionalities is essential. 

• Integration with Third-party services

Most popular music streaming apps are integrated with third-party services like social media or payment gateways. It allows users to share their favorite songs with more people on other channels. If you want to integrate your music app with third-party services, you should know it will increase your app development cost. These integrations require additional development effort and sometimes involve licensing fees. 

• Development team and location

You will need an expert team to develop a music app quickly. Developers with more expertise and experience will charge higher fees. You can hire developers from all around the world to build your music app, but you should know that location is another factor in the cost of hiring a development team. For instance, developers from North America or Western Europe have higher rates than developers in other regions.

• Security and Data Privacy

Music on-demand apps collect and store data of their users, like music preferences, contact information, etc. When developing a music app, you should protect your users’ data from unauthorized access and use. It improves your reputation, and your users can trust you more. However, implementing robust security measures in your app adds to the development cost. 

• Maintenance and updates

You should know that building an app is an ongoing process that requires regular maintenance and updates. It includes bug fixing, adding new features, and updating app designs. Moreover, it is essential for the app’s long-term success, but the frequency of updates also affects the cost of development.  

Tips for optimizing music streaming app development costs

Now you know the benefits of building a music-on-demand app. It’s time to learn how to optimize the cost of developing your music on-demand app. Here are a few tips for reducing the development cost of your music-streaming app, including:

• Prioritize features and MVP

When building a new music on-demand app, you should prioritize the most important features for your users. You can add additional features in future updates. It will keep the development costs low.

• Consider hybrid or cross-platform development.

Developing a music streaming app for hybrid and cross-platform development allows you to cut down on development costs. These frameworks allow applications to be used on multiple platforms.

• Outsourcing vs. in-house development

You can outsource app development or hire an in-house music streaming app development team. You can compare the better and more cost-effective options by checking their services and pricing. 

• Continuous iteration and agile development

Adopt an agile development approach that leverages the power of iterative development and feedback loops. It helps you identify and address issues early in mobile app development. 

• Plan for scalability

Design and develop your music app with scalability in mind. It will help you handle increased user loads and expand features when you see potential growth in your app. 

• Test and optimize performance.

Ensure your development team conducts thorough testing and performance optimization throughout the development process. It helps ensure efficient content delivery with a smooth and responsive user experience. 

Conclusion

If you are considering diving into the music streaming app industry, you should conduct market research and evaluate the app’s value proposition. Many factors affect the cost of developing a music-on-demand app. Consider hiring an expert to help you make investment decisions on music apps. They will also help you develop a well-designed monetization strategy for your music app to generate significant revenue.