It seems that Spotify isn’t the only company taking a dip into the world of AI-generated playlists. In fact, just this Tuesday, Amazon announced their own AI playlist generator called Maestro. This new feature is now available for testing to customers in the U.S. on both iOS and Android devices.
Similar to Spotify, Amazon’s Maestro allows users to create playlists using voice or written prompts, including the use of emojis. This can open up endless possibilities for users as Amazon also suggests using prompts related to activities, sounds, or emotions. And for those who may be stuck on what to write, the app also offers prompt suggestions at the bottom of the screen. Within seconds, an AI-generated playlist will be created that is tailored to the input provided by the user.
Amazon does note that as this product is still in beta, the technology behind Maestro may not always get it right the first time around. In order to maintain a safe and appropriate experience, the company has implemented guardrails to block offensive language and other inappropriate prompts. However, as with any new technology, there may be people who try to push these boundaries over time.
At the moment, Maestro is only available to a “subset” of free Amazon Music users, as well as Prime customers and Unlimited Amazon Music subscribers on iOS and Android. However, subscribers will have access to more features, such as being able to instantly listen to playlists and save them for later. Non-subscribers, on the other hand, will only be able to listen to 30-second previews of songs before saving them. This could potentially entice more users to upgrade to the paid subscription if they enjoy the AI functionality. It also aligns with the trend of making premium AI experiences a paid offering.
To utilize Maestro, users will need to have the latest version of the Amazon Music mobile app and select the Maestro option on their home screen. The option may also appear when creating a new playlist by tapping the plus sign. From there, users can either speak or write out their playlist prompt and then tap “Let’s go!” to start playing the playlist. It can also be saved and shared with others.
Some suggested prompts for playlists include “😭 and eating 🍝,” “Make my 👶 a genius,” “Myspace era hip-hop,” “🏜️🌵🤠,” “Music my grandparents made out to,” “🎤🚿🧼”, and “I tracked my friends and they’re all hanging out without me.” As you can see, the possibilities for prompts can range from silly to completely personal, making for a unique and entertaining experience.
Amazon has not announced a specific timeline for when the beta will be available to more customers, but they have stated that it will expand over time. In the meantime, users can have fun creating and sharing their personalized playlists with Maestro.
