Apple Music to Alexa Group

[hoohoohoo]

My daughter recently got a WiiM Amp which she's really happy with. She is attempting to use Apple Music with an Alexa Group that she has set up with multiple Amazon speaker devices as well as the WiiM Amp. She can use AirPlay to stream to the Amp only, but ideally she would like to use her phone to stream to all the devices - kitchen, living room, bedroom, and bathroom.

The current workaround is to use Amazon Music to stream to the Alexa Group, but that's another subscription, and she's heavily invested in Apple Music (her non-negotiable; I tried!).

I may have missed a post on the forum while researching, but asking the big brain WiiM community -- What are some other options to stream an Apple Music source to an Alexa Group? Cabled iPhone? A WiiM mini?

 

[Burnside]

Oil and water I'm afraid - while Alexa will support Apple Music, that's only for echo devices but not third party/Alexa-enabled devices like WiiM.

Also, Alexa groups are cloud constructs so can't take external local input (whether that be bluetooth or line in to an echo for those which support that) and re-distribute that to other devices in the group. Nor could you Airplay to a WiiM device and expect that to be sent on to echo devices in an Alexa group.

There might be a way using the Echo Link device (which is hard to come by) that may be able to re-distribute Apple Music from another echo with a line out connected to it, but that's stretching matters a bit.

Sorry, but only Amazon Music will work in the setup you describe.

Edit: or Spotify possibly, but you haven’t mentioned that…

 

[hoohoohoo]

Oil and water I'm afraid - while Alexa will support Apple Music, that's only for echo devices but not third party/Alexa-enabled devices like WiiM.

Also, Alexa groups are cloud constructs so can't take external local input (whether that be bluetooth or line in to an echo for those which support that) and re-distribute that to other devices in the group. Nor could you Airplay to a WiiM device and expect that to be sent on to echo devices in an Alexa group.

There might be a way using the Echo Link device (which is hard to come by) that may be able to re-distribute Apple Music from another echo with a line out connected to it, but that's stretching matters a bit.

Sorry, but only Amazon Music will work in the setup you describe.

Edit: or Spotify possibly, but you haven’t mentioned that…

Thanks @Burnside for the great explanation. I was hoping you would post as you're right about these things. We'll poke around with research and try to source an Echo Link device as well as Spotify.

An AI engine suggested the following dodgy ideas which may spur some other thoughts if any look promising....thanks again for your help.

1. Bluetooth Bridging

Pair the WiiM Amp to an Echo device using Bluetooth. Once connected, the Amp can act as a Bluetooth speaker for Apple Music. However, this might still limit playback to the Amp and one other Echo device rather than the entire Alexa Group.​

2. Using a WiiM Mini

Adding a WiiM Mini can bridge the gap. The Mini supports AirPlay and can output audio to an Echo device via a 3.5mm cable or stream directly to Alexa devices. This could allow her to include Apple Music in an Alexa Group, though the exact configuration might require trial and error.​

3. Third-Party Skills or Alexa Workarounds

Some Alexa skills may provide Apple Music integration. Ensure her Apple Music account is linked to Alexa in the Alexa app. While Alexa natively supports Apple Music, grouping devices with the WiiM Amp might still be a limitation.​

4. Using an Aux-In Workaround

If one of the Echo devices in the group has a 3.5mm audio input (like an Echo Studio or Echo Plus), the WiiM Amp or iPhone can be connected via an aux cable. This would play Apple Music through that Echo, which might then distribute audio to the group.​

5. Exploring Software Solutions

Apps like Airfoil (for macOS/iOS) can stream audio to multiple devices, including AirPlay-enabled and Alexa-compatible speakers. However, this solution requires a computer or device running the software.​

6. Enhanced AirPlay Integration

Look into whether the WiiM Amp firmware or app has updates that could enable better integration with Alexa Groups. Sometimes manufacturers quietly release features like improved AirPlay or multiroom support.​

 

[Burnside]

Thanks @Burnside for the great explanation. I was hoping you would post as you're right about these things. We'll poke around with research and try to source an Echo Link device as well as Spotify.

An AI engine suggested the following dodgy ideas which may spur some other thoughts if any look promising....thanks again for your help.

1. Bluetooth Bridging

Pair the WiiM Amp to an Echo device using Bluetooth. Once connected, the Amp can act as a Bluetooth speaker for Apple Music. However, this might still limit playback to the Amp and one other Echo device rather than the entire Alexa Group.​

Bluetooth output from an echo while in an Alexa group can be hit and miss - some echo devices will allow this, while others (like echo shows) won’t. This method has had a chequered history with echo devices, plus you may have sync issues, but it is worth a try.

2. Using a WiiM Mini

Adding a WiiM Mini can bridge the gap. The Mini supports AirPlay and can output audio to an Echo device via a 3.5mm cable or stream directly to Alexa devices. This could allow her to include Apple Music in an Alexa Group, though the exact configuration might require trial and error.​

Definitely not - see my comment about Alexa groups being cloud constructs, they can’t take local input unless an echo link is involved, and even then you can’t redistribute audio from a Bluetooth connection, it would need to be physical.

3. Third-Party Skills or Alexa Workarounds

Some Alexa skills may provide Apple Music integration. Ensure her Apple Music account is linked to Alexa in the Alexa app. While Alexa natively supports Apple Music, grouping devices with the WiiM Amp might still be a limitation.​

Don’t see what skills have to do with this and as above, WiiM devices don’t support Apple Music via Alexa.

4. Using an Aux-In Workaround

If one of the Echo devices in the group has a 3.5mm audio input (like an Echo Studio or Echo Plus), the WiiM Amp or iPhone can be connected via an aux cable. This would play Apple Music through that Echo, which might then distribute audio to the group.​

It won’t distribute audio to a group.

5. Exploring Software Solutions

Apps like Airfoil (for macOS/iOS) can stream audio to multiple devices, including AirPlay-enabled and Alexa-compatible speakers. However, this solution requires a computer or device running the software.​

Not aware that Airfoil can send audio to echo devices, in fact, I’m very dubious of that.

6. Enhanced AirPlay Integration

Look into whether the WiiM Amp firmware or app has updates that could enable better integration with Alexa Groups. Sometimes manufacturers quietly release features like improved AirPlay or multiroom support.​

Clutching at straws with this one

 

[hoohoohoo]

@Burnside We settled on switching from Apple Music to Amazon Music for her home music lab. We looked at the Echo Link but it would be a lot of months of Amazon Music to break eve. Thanks for all the feedback!