Amazon Music Unlimited launched in Australia and New Zealand on February 1, 2018. Amazon had announced the expansion on January 17; its “now available” wording described that 2018 launch, not a new release. The service was a standalone, on-demand music subscription, with separate plans for Echo listening and broader access. Its launch prices and trial offer are historical, not current pricing.
What launched in 2018?
Amazon Music Unlimited was Amazon’s full-catalogue, on-demand subscription, separate from Prime Music and from the free, ad-supported Amazon Music tier. At launch, Amazon advertised more than 45 million songs, ad-free playback, unlimited skips, curated playlists and personalised stations. That catalogue figure is Amazon’s January 2018 claim, not a current count.
Subscribers could use the Amazon Music app on iPhone, iPad and Android devices, as well as Windows PCs, Macs and web browsers. Amazon said mobile offline playback was included with Individual and Family plans. Alexa voice controls were available on Echo and other compatible Alexa devices. Amazon’s launch announcement gives the original feature and plan details.
What were the original plans and prices?
The following amounts are Australian-dollar prices announced in January 2018. They are historical launch prices, not verified current rates for Australia; the announcement does not establish New Zealand pricing in local currency.
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- Your favorite music and content – Play music, audiobooks, and podcasts from Amazon Music, Apple Music, Spotify and others or via Bluetooth throughout your home.
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- Do more with device pairing – Fill your home with music using compatible Echo devices in different rooms, or create a home theatre system with Fire TV.
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| Launch plan | Announced price | What it covered |
|---|---|---|
| Echo Plan | A$4.99 per month | Music Unlimited on one Echo-family device, such as an Echo, Echo Dot or Echo Plus. |
| Individual Plan | A$11.99 per month | Individual access, including mobile offline playback. |
| Family Plan | A$17.99 per month | Up to six household members; Amazon described the plan as “coming soon” in the launch announcement. |
Amazon also offered new subscribers a 90-day free trial for a limited time. That was a launch promotion, not a standing offer.
For present-day signup, check Amazon’s local service page for the account marketplace and country you use: Amazon Music Australia. The global overview displays U.S.-dollar prices, which should not be treated as current Australian or New Zealand rates.
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- Your favorite music and content – Play music, audiobooks, and podcasts from Amazon Music, Apple Music, Spotify and others or via Bluetooth throughout your home.
- Alexa is happy to help – Ask Alexa for weather updates and to set hands-free timers, get answers to your questions and even hear jokes. Need a few extra minutes in the morning? Just tap your Echo Dot to snooze your alarm.
- Keep your home comfortable – Control compatible smart home devices with your voice and routines triggered by built-in motion or indoor temperature sensors. Create routines to automatically turn on lights when you walk into a room, or start a fan if the inside temperature goes above your comfort zone.
- Do more with device pairing – Fill your home with music using compatible Echo devices in different rooms, or create a home theatre system with Fire TV.
- Say goodbye to drop-offs and buffering - With eero Built-in, Echo Dot doubles as a mesh wifi extender, adding up to 1,000 sq. ft. of wifi coverage to your existing eero network.
Was Prime or an Echo device required?
No. Music Unlimited was sold as a separate subscription; the Individual plan could be used on phones, computers and the web without an Echo. The Echo Plan was the device-limited option for listening on a single compatible Echo.
Amazon introduced Echo products and local Alexa experiences in Australia and New Zealand alongside the music expansion. Australian customers could preorder Echo, Echo Dot and Echo Plus, with shipping expected in early February 2018; Amazon also pointed to selected retailers in both countries. Alexa could respond to requests by artist, song, album, genre, mood, era or playlist. Amazon’s examples included requests for Kylie Minogue, Keith Urban and Amy Shark.
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- Say goodbye to drop-offs and buffering - With eero Built-in, Echo Dot Max doubles as a mesh wifi extender, adding up to 1,000 sq. ft. of wifi coverage to your existing eero network.
What local music did Amazon promote?
Amazon said its launch line-up included more than 150 regionally relevant playlists and stations. Examples included “Australian Rock Royalty,” “Top 50 Australia,” “Top 40 New Zealand,” “Top Dance,” “Top Alternative,” “Acoustic Pop” and “Women Crush Wednesday.” Its announcement also highlighted programming featuring artists including Vance Joy, Courtney Barnett, Gang of Youths, Sia and Morgan Evans. These were launch-era curation claims, not a guarantee that every local artist or recording was available.
Amazon also promoted “Made in Australia,” an Amazon Original playlist of newly recorded covers by Australian artists. Neowin reported that new tracks were planned weekly ahead of a full launch on March 9, 2018; this was a launch-era initiative, not a description of a current playlist offering. Neowin’s 2018 coverage describes the project.
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- Your favorite music and content – Play music, audiobooks, and podcasts from Amazon Music, Apple Music, Spotify and others or via Bluetooth throughout your home.
- Alexa is happy to help – Ask Alexa for weather updates and to set hands-free timers, get answers to your questions and even hear jokes. Need a few extra minutes in the morning? Just tap your Echo Dot to snooze your alarm.
- Keep your home comfortable – Control compatible smart home devices with your voice and routines triggered by built-in motion or indoor temperature sensors. Create routines to automatically turn on lights when you walk into a room, or start a fan if the inside temperature goes above your comfort zone.
- Do more with device pairing – Fill your home with music using compatible Echo devices in different rooms, or create a home theatre system with Fire TV.
- Say goodbye to drop-offs and buffering - With eero Built-in, Echo Dot doubles as a mesh wifi extender, adding up to 1,000 sq. ft. of wifi coverage to your existing eero network.
How was Music Unlimited different from Prime Music?
Prime Music arrived in Australia later, on October 18, 2018. Amazon described it as an included Prime benefit with a smaller catalogue and, at launch, up to 40 hours of playback per month. Music Unlimited remained a separate upgrade aimed at listeners seeking the larger on-demand catalogue. Prime membership therefore did not mean that the full Unlimited service was included. Amazon Australia’s Prime Music announcement sets out that distinction.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What does Amazon say about the service now?
Amazon’s current general explainer describes Music Unlimited as offering more than 100 million songs and higher-quality audio formats. It also says eligible subscribers in Australia and New Zealand can access one Audible audiobook per month. These are current general product claims, not specifications of the 2018 launch; the page is not a country-specific price list, and eligibility or feature availability may depend on account marketplace, plan and device. See Amazon’s overview of Amazon Music and verify local terms at signup.
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- KEEP YOUR HOME COMFORTABLE - Control compatible smart home devices. Just ask Alexa to turn on lights or touch the screen to dim. Create routines that use motion detection to turn down the thermostat as you head out or open the blinds when you walk into a room.
Amazon’s broader device list includes web, Mac, PC, iOS, Android, Sonos, Roku, Fire TV and Echo products, but support and feature parity can vary by country, operating system and product generation. Check local compatibility before choosing a plan or device.
Who was the 2018 launch best suited to?
- Echo owners: The Echo Plan offered a lower-cost, voice-led option if listening on one Echo was enough.
- Listeners on phones and computers: Individual access was the more suitable launch option for cross-device use; mobile offline playback was announced for Individual and Family members.
- Households: The announced Family Plan was designed for up to six household members, though Amazon initially said it was coming soon.
- Existing Prime members: Prime Music later provided an included, more limited option in Australia; people wanting the larger Unlimited catalogue still needed the separate subscription.
For listeners outside Amazon’s ecosystem, Spotify may appeal for playlist discovery and social sharing, Apple Music for Apple-device integration, and YouTube Music for music videos, live recordings and remixes. Those are use-case distinctions, not current price or feature comparisons; check each service’s local terms before deciding.
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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
