Amazon joins cost-cutting trend with layoffs to Music division

In this year of cost-cutting staff reductions, Amazon Music has joined the trend. Bloomberg is reporting that the company is cutting some number of jobs from Amazon Music. This action will follow other staff tightening in the behemoth company this year.

Amazon Music is a broad designation that includes three distinct service plans:

  • Amazon Music Free: No-charge, ad-supported, lean-back listening to curated playlists, music stations, and podcasts.
  • Amazon Music Prime: No charge to Prime subscribers; limited on-demand of single tracks and playlists; very limited downloads, some skip limits; shuffle play of artist or album. Podcasts.
  • Amazon Music Unlimited: Full-featured on-demand music service, competitor to Spotify.

Specifics are sparse — but it is reported that Amazon has eliminated 27,000 jobs this year.

Staf reduction and cost-cutting have been corporate themes in 2023. Other layoffs across audio this year include Spotify, Nielsen, New York Public Radio, NPR, and Pacific Content (Rogers Sports & Media),


Brad Hill