Winamp was one of the most popular turn-of-the-century web players. Now, it's eyeing streaming
Winamp was the most popular music player at the turn of the century, known for its efficiency and customizable interface (shown here is how Winamp's interface appeared in the early 2000s on the left, and a customized version made by user masayoshi.N on the right). Now, the company is hoping to expand into streaming services next year. (Winamp Skin Museum/Winamp/masayoshi.N)Social SharingA once-ubiquitous, llama-whipping Windows music player is going through a revamp — with the goal of taking on the world of streaming.
Winamp revolutionized the digital music scene in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Now, it's announcing a new partnership with Deezer, an independent music streaming platform, through which it will create its own subscription model using the streamer's white-label technology and music catalogue.
The new platform, set to launch in early 2027, will allow users to play music from the streaming library along with other sources, like their local files and internet radio stations, according to the company’s announcement. Users will also be able to customize their interface through "skins," a much-beloved legacy feature of its original music player.
It’s not technically a comeback. Despite fading into the background amid the streaming boom, Winamp’s music player is still available for download, and the company says more than 40 million people still actively use the desktop version.
Winamp was originally released by Arizona-based Nullsoft in 1997 as a music player for Windows computers, and quickly became the program of choice for storing and playing digital music files, counting 60 million users in 2001.
Known for the unique catchphrase “Winamp, it really whips the llama’s ass” — the intro line to the default demo track that came with the software — it wasn’t the first MP3 player for computers, but was leagues ahead of its competition in speed, efficiency and style.
Music streaming services such as Spotify, Deezer and Apple Music are displayed on a smartphone in France on June 1. (Grichka Beysson-Leandri/Hans Lucas/AFP/Getty Images)“Twenty-five years ago, we changed the way people listened to digital music, and we believe the time has come to challenge the listening experience once again,” Alexandre Saboundjian, CEO of Winamp Group, said in a press release about the new plans.
The company has tried to break into streaming before. Saboundjian told TechCrunch in 2018 that a mobile version was coming in 2019 that could bring users’ music, podcasts and streaming services together. The next year came and went without the promised app materializing.
In 1999, AOL acquired Nullsoft for an estimated $80 million US to $100 million US. Although Winamp continued performing well for the first few years, the move eventually spelled trouble for the music player.
Poor management and culture clashes between AOL and Nullsoft corporate leaders meant Winamp squandered its head start in the field, allowing competitors like Apple's iPod to swoop in, according to an Ars Technica report on the platform's downfall.
For many music enthusiasts, Winamp's skins still epitomize a time of open source creativity. An online “skin museum” preserves examples of the thousands of different layouts fans designed and shared for early versions of the music player.
Winamp was known for its customizable interfaces, which the company says will be part of the new streaming expansion. The 'Winamp Skin Museum' preserves downloadable versions of skins for the legacy version. (Winamp Skin Museum/Anika_C/Peacemaker)AOL scheduled for the platform to be shut down at the end of 2013. But Winamp narrowly avoided death when Belgium-based Radionomy, later rebranded to Llama Group and then Winamp Group, stepped in to purchase it.
After dabbling in music NFTs, Winamp made comeback attempts in 2023 and 2024 with the launch of a platform for artists and fans to interact and then a new mobile app on Android and iOS.
It’s not yet clear how pricing could work for the proposed streaming service, and no further details have been released. If all goes to plan, users longing to listen to music on an interface emblazoned with characters from Lord of the Rings might see their dreams come true next year.
But not every fan is thrilled. Some commenters on Reddit weren't happy that a music player once associated with the age of at-home programming is looking at adding a subscription model. Following the launch of the new platform, the desktop player will include the option for the premium subscription.
"I still use the old winamp.... It works just fine," one user said in a comment in reaction to the news.
Alexandra Mae Jones is a senior writer for CBC News based in Toronto. She has written on a variety of topics, from health to pop culture to breaking news, and previously reported for CTV News and the Toronto Star. She joined CBC in 2024. You can reach her at alexandra.mae.jones@cbc.ca
