Spotify launches tribute app to replace Winamp

Shona Ghosh Read more December 23, 2013

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Winamp users mourning the media player’s demise can take solace in Spotify’s tribute app – provided they fork out for a subscription.

Winamp owner AOL announced it would shut down the player on 20 December, provoking nostalgia-fuelled outrage and a user petition to make the programme open source.

Now Spotify has launched its homage, Spotiamp, which mimics Winamp’s UI and functionality.

The client only runs on Windows, and offers access to your playlists on Spotify rather than a full streaming back catalogue.

It also requires a Spotify Premium subscription at £10 a month, although why a fee-paying user would still be using Winamp is anyone’s guess.

Spotiamp, built by one of Spotify’s engineers, also features a Shoutcast server for streaming to compatible devices. For that fully retro feel, it even supports Winamp visualiser plugins.

Not dead after all?

AOL hasn’t explained why it plans to shut down Winamp, but the decision isn’t surprising given the continued dominance of iTunes in online music and the growing trend towards streaming media services such as Spotify.

While the company posted a note on Winamp’s site abruptly stating Winamp wouldn’t be available after 20 December, it’s still available to download.

That’s prompted speculation that Winamp could live to see another day after all, with reports that Microsoft might scoop up and relaunch the player.

“We may have had some influence,” said Peter Zawacki, the Australian web developer behind the petition to make Winamp open source. “Fingers crossed.”

AOL declined to comment.