Amazon has become the latest music streaming service to hike its prices, announcing a increase in subscription costs for its Music Unlimited Individual and Family plans. The move brings Amazon's pricing more in line with its main competitor, Spotify, which raised its Premium plan prices last June.

The new prices for Amazon Music Unlimited see the Individual plan for Prime members increasing from $9.99 to $10.99 per month, while subscribers without a Prime membership will now pay $11.99 per month, up from $10.99. The Family plan, which allows up to six users, has also seen a three-dollar increase, now costing $19.99 per month.

The price changes, which went into effect for new customers on Wednesday, aim to "bring you even more content and new features," according to Amazon Music. Existing customers will see the updated pricing on their next monthly renewal billing date, on or after March 5, 2025. This marks the second price increase for Amazon Music Unlimited in less than two years, with the previous hike occurring in August 2023.

The new pricing structure puts Amazon Music Unlimited more in line with Spotify's Premium plan, which costs $11.99 per month for individual users. However, Amazon still offers a one-dollar discount for Prime members, making its Individual plan slightly more competitive. YouTube Music and Apple Music, on the other hand, remain priced at $10.99 per month for individual users.

The move is likely a response to the increasing competition in the music streaming market, as services continue to invest in exclusive content and features to attract and retain subscribers. With Amazon's focus on expanding its music library and introducing new features, the price hike may be a necessary step to maintain its position in the market.

It remains to be seen how the price increase will affect Amazon Music Unlimited's user base, but the company's commitment to delivering more content and features may help to justify the added cost for many subscribers. As the music streaming landscape continues to evolve, Amazon's move may be just the beginning of a broader trend of price hikes across the industry.

In the end, the price increase may not come as a surprise to many, given the rising costs of licensing and acquiring music content. As music streaming services continue to grow and expand, it's likely that prices will continue to rise to meet the increasing demands of the market. For now, Amazon Music Unlimited's new pricing structure brings it more in line with its main competitor, setting the stage for further competition in the music streaming space.