Microsoft launches Xbox Music on Web for free

Microsoft is making its Xbox Music streaming service available for free on the Web — even to those who don't use Windows 8.
The expansion beyond Windows 8 devices and Xbox game consoles starting Monday is intended to bring new customers into the software giant's ecosystem of devices and services and could help it compete with other digital music offerings like Pandora, Spotify and iTunes. It's also an acknowledgement that the music service hasn't done much to drive sales of the Windows 8 operating system.

[nick309]

FREE? You feeling well ms? Getting x1 dont bash me xbox fans lol its just weird to see ms doing anything free

[Demoa]

it's flu season

[sincitysir1]

This is their response to vita tv ;] i kid i kid...or do i ;] no seriously i joke...or do i seriously not joke oo ;]

[obelix01]

Yeah I know especially since Sony is giving away PlayStations for free.

[sincitysir1]

..either I'm dumb or ur comment is of the foulest breed : ambiguous. Don't worry we're still friends

[Docknoss]

Don't bash a good thing, this is one of many good things that's on its way

[B-radical]

This is a good thing keep it up fellas

[p0tat0stix]

News is getting missed here people...

"Starting with its release Nov. 22, Xbox One users will also be able to play games while listening to Xbox Music simultaneously..."

Awesome.

[christocolus]

ms is doing good....

[moparful99]

It's their attempt to attract customers to the service.. Just like Live, basic access is free and all of the better features are behind a paywall..

[YNWA96]

So what makes that different than most other services that do the same thing?

[moparful99]

Spotify and pandora don't operate that way.

[SixZeroFour]

yea, spotify and pandora instead only work for inside USA and a couple other countries...even your neighbors to the north cant use those

[JokesOnYou]

So what its free.....the Xbox Music Streaming Service is an added benefit for FREE and nobodys forcing you to purchase the paid services.

Spotify and Pandora don't offer much else in regards to services just a free version and a paid version with more play options, the free versions are full of commercials and ads, so what is so much better about those?

-Of course folks conveniently overlook the other good news in this article:

"Starting with its release Nov. 22, Xbox One users will also be able to play games while listening to Xbox Music simultaneously, a feature that isn't offered on the Xbox 360."

-lol, thats sweet so some of the comments here are classic case of trying to turn a positive into a negative.

[nukeitall]

@moparful99:

"Spotify and pandora don't operate that way."

You are so full of BS, spotify and pandora operate the same way. They are going to make money from you one way are another.

[obelix01]

Well when was the last time any of xbox's online services were hacked? I would rather pay for the extra quality.

[AceofStaves]

That's pretty cool. Even if the service is only basic for free users, it's still a good thing.

[mcstorm]

I have been using xbox music since the Zune days and I also have a xbox music pass. For £8.99 a month it is a no brainer imo as I can sync my music with the cloud and access this music from my Xbox, Surface, Work Laptop, as well as my phone. I also have it setup to work with my other half's zune my phone and my brothers phone as they can all have the music off line as well as access the music I have in the cloud as well as new albums.

Its good to use for free but for me its the best paid music service for what I need it for to.

[GmIsOnPt360]

But if you go to xbox.com they still say it cost money????

[sashimi]

The basic service is being paid with ads, does the premium service also have ads?

[MicDude]

No, and I've used the Premium service you can hold me to it.

I would like to point out though that MS does put DRM on their files that are in WMA format. But you can only download the files if you have the paid service.

On the bright side you can listen to A7X new album for free because it's paid for with ads :)

[Excalibur]

I think Microsoft is starting to realize they have to be more competitive, competition is good because we the consumer win.

[Software_Lover]

I like Xbox music. I use it on my Lumia 920 alot and my wife streams from the 360 while she's cleaning.

My next purchase, the Sony VAIO flip or the Samsung ativ Q, will make the service even easier to use

[Vip3r]

Thank god for this because for a moment there I though all music was wiped off youtube...

But it wasn't.

[MicDude]

When is this getting support for IOS? That's what I'm waiting on.