Amazon Music Amazon Music Stations currently down

[Rldillon]

For those of you who stream any of the Amazon Music Stations, they’re currently down. I noticed this at the beginning of the week initially on my Ultra, and then also on all my other devices. Contacted Amazon yesterday and Rep confirmed it’s a known issue…

 

[WiiMer SJ]

Either the problem has been solved or I wasn't affected.

 

[onek00lj4y]

Mines running fine.

 

[Rldillon]

Either the problem has been solved or I wasn't affected.

Are you playing from “Stations”? Do you have an Unlimited subscription? My access is through Prime. The Amazon site still says “Stations” should be available with my subscription. They had been working - now I can play from other options, but selecting “Stations” gives a Playback Error.

 

[WiiMer SJ]

Are you playing from “Stations”? Do you have an Unlimited subscription? My access is through Prime. The Amazon site still says “Stations” should be available with my subscription. They had been working - now I can play from other options, but selecting “Stations” gives a Playback Error.

Yes, yes and yes.

 

[Rldillon]

The solution to this issue for me was upgrading to AM Unlimited (from just Prime access). Now stations and all other functions are working. This had been the case when I first got my Ultra, but then Amazon did something with the device limits for the Prime account and messed it up. This also affected Prime Video on my Apple TVs. So far, I really like the experience with Amazon Music on the WiiM, and will probably cancel Tidal in favor of AM. I just wish Roon supported AM…

 

[WiiMer SJ]

Most of my Amazon Music listening on the WiiM is done via the app and Googlecast. This allows me access to the full functionality of the service.

 

[Mr Ee]

Most of my Amazon Music listening on the WiiM is done via the app and Googlecast. This allows me access to the full functionality of the service.

"the app", being the amazon app?
Why Googlecast instead of alexacast? I'd have thought the latter was available in usa.

 

[WiiMer SJ]

"the app", being the amazon app?
Why Googlecast instead of alexacast? I'd have thought the latter was available in usa.

Yes the Amazon Music app via Googlecast to the WiiM(s).
Why Googlecast and not Alexacast (which I do have access to)? I don't have an answer other than I prefer the Google Home app over the the Alexa app for control of the rest of my wifi enabled devices. I find the Alexa app less user friendly. Pure personal preference.

 

[Mr Ee]

Yes the Amazon Music app via Googlecast to the WiiM(s).
Why Googlecast and not Alexacast (which I do have access to)? I don't have an answer other than I prefer the Google Home app over the the Alexa app for control of the rest of my wifi enabled devices. I find the Alexa app less user friendly. Pure personal preference.

Nah, still confused!
You can use the amazon app with alexacast, it's just a 'round' cast icon instead of the google 'square' icon.

 

[WiiMer SJ]

Nah, still confused!
You can use the amazon app with alexacast, it's just a 'round' cast icon instead of the google 'square' icon.

Sorry you're confused. Not my intention.
I do know how to use Alexacast, I just don't.

 

[Wiimer]

Sorry you're confused. Not my intention.
I do know how to use Alexacast, I just don't.

I believe Googlecast cannot play Amazon music UHD sound quality and cannot do gapless playback.

You can keep AlexaCast connected by turning on "Auto Connect" in the Amazon music app settings page.

In this case, you can say to the Google Assistant (or Gemini) on the phone, "Play music on Amazon music app" and AlexaCast will play it from WiiM.

This can also be set to Google home automation.

 

[Burnside]

I believe Googlecast cannot play Amazon music UHD sound quality and cannot do gapless playback.

Yeah, Amazon music only supports Chromecast to 16 bit HD (I.e. CD) quality at best

You can keep AlexaCast connected by turning on "Auto Connect" in the Amazon music app settings page.

In this case, you can say to the Google Assistant (or Gemini) on the phone, "Play music on Amazon music app" and AlexaCast will play it from WiiM.

Are you sure re this? I can’t get my head round how that would work. Are you saying that auto connect is responsible for using AlexaCast? Would you first need to have manually used AlexaCast to establish its use?

 

[WiiMer SJ]

I believe Googlecast cannot play Amazon music UHD sound quality and cannot do gapless playback.

Gapless playback is not a priority for me. Much of my listening is stations and playlists.

 

[WiiMer SJ]

Yeah, Amazon music only supports Chromecast to 16 bit HD (I.e. CD) quality at best

At 64 my hearing isn't what it used to be and I have tinnitus. The best way for me to appreciate higher bit rates is via headphones. In that case I bypass WiiM altogether and feed a DAC/AMP with USB or use a Bluetooth dongle with LDAC.

 

[Wiimer]

Are you sure re this? I can’t get my head round how that would work. Are you saying that auto connect is responsible for using AlexaCast? Would you first need to have manually used AlexaCast to establish its use?

I forgot to mention, use macro on Android. I can use the Google Assistant on the phone to open the music app, but it is the macro that presses the play button. For iOS you can probably use the shortcut feature.

Also, AlexaCast must be connected beforehand.

Btw, did you know that Google assistant supports Amazon music? I haven't tried it yet, but it looks like can set it as default music service. (I don't know if AlexaCast can connect to it.)

 

[WiiMer SJ]

Btw, did you know that Google assistant supports Amazon music? I haven't tried it yet, but it looks like can set it as default music service. (I don't know if AlexaCast can connect to it.)

Yes, but I haven't fully explored the possibilities either.
Google Home app > Settings (gear icon) > Services > Music

There are other tabs under Settings > Services that may be of use but as yet unexplored.
Linked Apps
Works with Google
Video
Radio
Live TV
Podcast
Notes & lists
Partner communications

 

[Burnside]

I forgot to mention, use macro on Android. I can use the Google Assistant on the phone to open the music app, but it is the macro that presses the play button. For iOS you can probably use the shortcut feature.

Also, AlexaCast must be connected beforehand.

Btw, did you know that Google assistant supports Amazon music? I haven't tried it yet, but it looks like can set it as default music service. (I don't know if AlexaCast can connect to it.)

Maybe that has changed over the years - I seem to recall that Amazon music wasn’t supported by Google assistant but I’ve had no reason to go back and check that given my devices are Alexa enabled.

 

[Wiimer]

Maybe that has changed over the years - I seem to recall that Amazon music wasn’t supported by Google assistant but I’ve had no reason to go back and check that given my devices are Alexa enabled.

I am like you, but I decided to use my tablet, which don't use much anymore, exclusively for WiiM. However Google is the only voice assistant that can be activated while the tablet is in sleep, so I am experimenting with automation using it .

 

[WiiMer SJ]

I am like you, but I decided to use my tablet, which don't use much anymore, exclusively for WiiM. However Google is the only voice assistant that can be activated while the tablet is in sleep, so I am experimenting with automation using it .

Also, there has been periodic speculation in the press that Amazon may pull support for the Alexa platform at some point in the future. Keep an eye on how their new AI experiment goes.