The iconic music player, thought to be among the most downloaded Windows software pieces, is gearing up for yet another comeback. This time, the Llama would bring streaming along for the ride.
Winamp has entered a deal with French streaming service Deezer to power its new premium music subscription, which will debut inside a completely redesigned Winamp Player in the first half of 2027. Instead of becoming just another Spotify clone, the company says the new app will combine streaming with local music libraries, internet radio, podcasts and personal cloud collections in a single player.
The revamped player will also keep one of Winamp’s biggest selling points: customisation. Users will be able to tweak the interface, while new social features and music discovery tools aim to give the 1990s icon a modern edge. Deezer will provide the streaming technology and licensed catalogue, while Winamp promises an experience that feels distinctly its own.
Nostalgia meets a crowded market
Winamp dominated the MP3 era long before Spotify and Apple Music changed the way people listened to music.
“More than twenty-five years ago, Winamp transformed the way millions of people listened to digital music. Despite the tremendous evolution of streaming services over the past decade, Winamp believes the core concept of the music player has remained largely unchanged,” the company insisted.
Winamp maintains that more than 40 million people still use its desktop player, giving it a loyal fan base to build on.
The challenge, however, is convincing listeners to sign up for yet another music subscription. Winamp has tried several reinventions over the past few years, from artist-focused services to NFT integrations, with limited success, including a 2023 integration attempt with Apple.
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