Winamp Plans Streaming Comeback Through New Partnership With Deezer

Winamp is preparing another comeback, this time through a partnership with music streaming service Deezer that will power a new premium subscription offering while preserving the iconic media player's own identity.

The companies announced Wednesday that Deezer will provide its white-label streaming technology and global licensed music catalogue for Winamp’s upcoming subscription service. Despite relying on Deezer's infrastructure, the service will retain Winamp's branding and Deezer’s experience.

The collaboration forms part of Winamp’s broader relaunch strategy, which centres on a next-generation Winamp Player scheduled to launch during the first half of 2027.

According to the companies, the new player aims to reinvent the traditional music player by combining premium music streaming with local music libraries, internet radio stations, podcasts, cloud-based collections and other audio sources inside a single application.

New player will combine streaming with personal collections

Although many details have yet to be revealed, Winamp says the upcoming platform will focus heavily on personalisation.

Users will be able to customise the interface while accessing social features and new tools for discovering, organising and listening to music. The company says its subscription service is intended to deliver an experience that differs from today's mainstream streaming platforms.

Whether consumers will embrace today’s paid music subscription remains uncertain. The streaming market is already dominated by established services such as Spotify, Apple Music and YouTube Music.

However, Winamp says its free desktop player continues to attract more than 40 million active users, giving the company an existing audience as it prepares its return.

Winamp bets on nostalgia and evolving music habits

The relaunch also reflects growing interest in retro technology. Cassette tapes, MP3 players, and even Apple's iPod have experienced renewed popularity as some listeners seek alternatives to conventional streaming experiences.

Winamp is hoping that nostalgia, combined with modern streaming capabilities, will help the brand reconnect with longtime users while attracting new audiences.

The company has attempted several reinventions over the years. During the Web3 boom, it introduced support for music-related NFTs, allowing users to connect digital collectables to the player. Earlier plans also envisioned Winamp becoming a cross-platform mobile audio application.

More recently, the company shifted its focus toward music creators by introducing tools for artist monetisation, fan engagement and music distribution.

Its latest strategy represents another effort to return to the software that originally made Winamp one of the world's most recognisable digital music players, this time updated for the streaming era through its partnership with Deezer.