Winamp Set for Global Streaming Comeback in 2027

Winamp, the hugely popular music player that became a household name for listening to MP3s on computers in the 1990s, is set to return to the global music-streaming market in an entirely new form in 2027. The company has announced plans to relaunch the technology through a partnership with French streaming platform Deezer.

Under the agreement, Deezer will provide its licensed music catalogue and streaming infrastructure, while Winamp will operate under its own brand name and manage customer services. The new app will allow users to access local files stored on their devices, podcasts and internet radio, while also offering millions of songs through a monthly subscription.

Deezer signed the agreement with Winamp as part of a new business-expansion strategy following a decline in subscribers and revenue during the first half of 2026.

Notably, Winamp’s original desktop version still has around 40 million active users worldwide. An earlier attempt to revive Winamp as a streaming platform in 2018 failed because of complications surrounding commercial licensing.

Later, in September 2024, the software’s source code was made available on GitHub. However, it was removed within weeks amid legal disputes and concerns following code leaks involving other major companies.

Although the company has expressed optimism about the planned new version of Winamp, it has yet to disclose details about its subscription pricing or operating-system compatibility. It has, however, confirmed that the service will feature theme and interface customisation, social connectivity and advanced technology for easily discovering music.

After nearly three decades of changing ownership—including AOL and Radionomy—this will be the first premium subscription service in Winamp’s history.

//DBTech/BMT/OR//