Amazon Music has been making waves in the streaming industry with its innovative approach to connecting music and sports fans. The platform recently launched its second season of Amazon Music Live, a concert series that features top artists performing after Thursday Night Football games. The series kicked off with Ed Sheeran on September 14 and will continue with Green Day, Latto, and more throughout the season.
To learn more about Amazon Music’s vision and strategy, we spoke with Ryan Redington, the newly appointed general manager of Amazon Music. Redington has been with Amazon for 15 years and has played a key role in launching and growing Amazon Music since 2014. He oversees various aspects of the platform, including artist and genre marketing, label and artist relations, livestreams and editorial content, playlisting and programming, physical merchandise, and artist analytics.
Congratulations on your promotion to general manager of Amazon Music. What are your main goals and priorities in this role?
Thank you. I’m very excited and honored to lead Amazon Music as its new general manager. My main goal is to continue to deliver the best possible music experience for our customers and help them discover and enjoy the music they love. I also want to support and empower our amazing team of music experts, who are passionate and creative in bringing our vision to life.
One of our key priorities is to innovate and differentiate ourselves in the streaming market by offering unique features and benefits that only Amazon can provide. For example, we have HD and Ultra HD audio quality, which gives customers the highest fidelity sound available for streaming. We also have Alexa, which enables customers to control their music with their voice and access personalized recommendations, playlists, and stations. And we have Prime Music, which offers over 100 million songs ad-free to Prime members at no additional cost.
Another priority is to create new opportunities and platforms for artists to connect with their fans and grow their careers. We have Amazon Music Live, which is a groundbreaking concert series that combines music and sports in a way that no one else is doing. We also have Amazon Music Originals, which are exclusive songs, albums, and podcasts from some of the biggest names in music. And we have Amazon Music for Artists, which is a tool that gives artists access to valuable data and insights about their music and fans on Amazon Music.
How did you come up with the idea of Amazon Music Live and what are the benefits of partnering with Thursday Night Football?
We came up with the idea of Amazon Music Live as a way to bring sports and music fans together on Thursday nights for a brand-new, can’t-miss event celebrating new music after the biggest game of the week. We know that there is a huge overlap between music and sports fans, and we wanted to create something that would appeal to both audiences and enhance their entertainment experience.
Partnering with Thursday Night Football was a natural fit, as Amazon is the exclusive home of TNF starting in 2023. We have a great relationship with the NFL and we share a common vision of delivering high-quality and engaging content to our customers. By combining TNF and Amazon Music Live, we are able to offer a unique and seamless experience that showcases the best of both worlds.
How do you select the artists for Amazon Music Live and what kind of feedback have you received from them and the fans?
We select the artists for Amazon Music Live based on a number of factors, such as their relevance, popularity, diversity, and appeal to our customers. We also look for artists who are releasing new music or have something exciting to share with their fans. We work closely with the artists and their teams to create a customized and memorable show that showcases their personality and style.
The feedback we have received from the artists and the fans has been overwhelmingly positive. The artists love the opportunity to perform in front of a global audience and interact with their fans in real time. They also appreciate the support and exposure that Amazon Music provides them through our marketing and editorial channels. The fans love the convenience and accessibility of watching their favorite artists perform live from their homes or wherever they are. They also enjoy the interactive and social features that Amazon Music Live offers, such as live chat, trivia, polls, and giveaways.
What are some of the challenges and opportunities that you face in the streaming industry and how do you plan to overcome and leverage them?
The streaming industry is very competitive and dynamic, and we face many challenges and opportunities every day. One of the biggest challenges is to stand out from the crowd and offer something that customers can’t get anywhere else. We overcome this challenge by constantly innovating and experimenting with new features and benefits that add value and delight to our customers. We also leverage our strengths and assets as Amazon, such as our customer obsession, our global reach, our technology, and our ecosystem of products and services.
One of the biggest opportunities is to grow the streaming market and reach new customers who have not yet embraced streaming or are looking for a better alternative. We plan to leverage this opportunity by expanding our presence and offerings in different regions, genres, and segments. We also plan to educate and inspire customers about the benefits and advantages of streaming on Amazon Music, such as our audio quality, our voice control, and our Prime integration.
Q: What are some of the trends and developments that you are excited about in the music industry and how do you see Amazon Music evolving in the future?
A: I’m excited about the trends and developments that are happening in the music industry, such as the rise of livestreaming, podcasts, social media, and fan engagement. I think these are great ways for artists to express themselves, connect with their fans, and create new revenue streams. I also think these are great ways for customers to discover and enjoy new music, learn more about their favorite artists, and participate in the music culture.
I see Amazon Music evolving in the future as a leader and innovator in the streaming industry, as well as a trusted and preferred partner for artists and fans. I see Amazon Music continuing to offer the best music experience for our customers, with the highest quality, the most convenience, and the most choice. I also see Amazon Music continuing to create new opportunities and platforms for artists to reach and engage with their fans, and for fans to support and celebrate their artists.
