Partnering with Deezer, Winamp to Launch New Music Streaming Service in 2027

The legendary media player Winamp, which was immensely popular during the 1990s and early 2000s, is preparing to return to the digital forefront. In its latest announcement, Winamp has officially entered into a partnership with the music streaming service Deezer to introduce an updated version that merges traditional local media player capabilities with modern digital music streaming features.

Through this collaboration, the new Winamp media player will utilise Deezer’s white-label technology to provide access to an extensive digital music catalogue. The new application is designed to be an all-in-one platform, integrating users’ local music libraries, private cloud-based collections, internet radio stations, podcasts, and various other audio sources.

Furthermore, Winamp will retain its signature feature highly favoured by long-time users: deep interface customisation through skins, alongside modern social features to assist in music discovery. This move marks a new chapter in Winamp’s efforts to reclaim listener attention amidst the dominance of giant platforms such as Spotify and Apple Music.

Previously, the media player, first released in 1997, has made several attempts at a comeback. In 2019, Winamp returned in the form of a mobile application. In 2022, developers released updates for its classic version after a four-year hiatus.

These efforts continued in 2023 when the platform shifted its focus to supporting musician revenue, though it failed to reach its targets. Most recently, in 2024, Winamp’s source code was opened to the public, but the closed licensing it implemented led to another setback.

Now, with full support from Deezer’s technology, the team behind Winamp is optimistic about competing in the streaming era. Although the service will eventually operate on a paid subscription basis, the company stated that the new application is prepared to deliver ‘an experience fundamentally different from current traditional digital streaming platforms, by reimagining the listening experience and subscription models.’

The new Winamp service and application are scheduled to officially launch in the first half of 2027. While specific pricing details have not yet been announced, further information regarding how Winamp will differentiate itself from competitors will be revealed gradually as the launch date approaches.