Amazon will introduce advertisements on its Prime Music service starting July 2, 2026, while removing the option to download songs. Existing Prime members in India will face ads on Prime Music unless they upgrade to Amazon Music Unlimited by paying an additional Rs 99 per month, according to an email sent by Amazon this week. The Prime subscription price remains Rs 1,499 per year.
This change follows Amazon’s earlier moves to introduce ads on Prime Video and to charge extra for 4K content. The company is effectively separating Prime Music from the bundled Prime subscription, encouraging users to pay more for an ad-free and offline listening experience through Amazon Music Unlimited. Prime members will still have access to over 100 million songs and 15 million podcast episodes on demand but with ads and no downloads.
The move aligns with Amazon’s broader strategy to monetize media content by unbundling services within its Prime package. It mirrors similar shifts in the streaming market where companies offer tiered plans with ads versus premium ad-free options. Amazon’s decision to add ads to Prime Music while removing downloads could impact user experience and subscription dynamics in India’s competitive music streaming sector.
Amazon’s email to users clearly states the changes and the new pricing for ad-free music. The company’s Prime Music benefit will transition to an ad-supported model from July 2, 2026, with the option to upgrade to Amazon Music Unlimited for Rs 99 per month to retain offline listening and ad-free access.