AI this, AI that. It’s all we hear about at the minute. However, there are more ways to discover new songs than just AI technology. Think back to the good old days, where friends would recommend new tracks. Well, Amazon Music’s Fan Groups are taking us back there.
While Amazon work on releasing Alexa+, which will contain an AI voice assistant, they’re also working on something that goes against the use of AI. They’re introducing a community-focused feature called Fan Groups.
Alexa+ will feature AI-powered playlists, and will be provided by the latest technology. However, Fan Groups will be a way for users to connect different music interests and share and learn from each other. You could find your next favourite artist.
They won’t be limited to Amazon curated groups. Users will be able to create public groups within Amazon Music based around a genre, region, time period or anything else in the world of music. Those who enjoy the same thing will be able to find inspiration.
For now, the product is only available in Canada, while it is beta. However, it’s expected to come to the US and then other countries early in 2026. Amazon have had users test it in the meantime, building groups so when the beta is up and running, it isn’t radio silence.
After all, how can you really test a product if it isn’t set up completely. They need Fan Groups to be able to test and see how they work. When you first enter the Groups, you will see a section with the groups you have joined.
You can scroll through lists of ones you might enjoy, and if you want to, join them. Groups will be discoverable via a tab at the bottom of your music app page. Some of the groups included are; K-pop Now and Red Dirt Americana.
You can scroll through posts by those within the group. If you want to comment, or add a song, album or playlist suggestion, you’ll have the option to. If you’re someone who used Facebook Groups many years ago, you will pick up the system quite quickly.
Upon hitting play, everything uploaded to that Fan Group will start playing. This is a great method of exploring similar tastes and finding new songs when you feel a bit stuck. It acts slightly like a social media profile within a streaming platform.
