Microsoft kills off Groove Music streaming service, aligns with Spotify

Groove Music SpotifyMicrosoft will be discontinuing Groove Music Pass and the ability to purchase music in the Windows Store, as it opts to partner with Spotify on music streaming instead.

It is safe to say that Groove Music Pass never really took off, despite Microsoft never releasing user numbers for its music streaming service, and it fell well short of getting close to its partner Spotify or rival Apple Music.

The Groove Music app will still continue to support playback and music management of owned content but, from 31 December 2017, will no longer provide the option to stream, purchase, and download music.

With the closure of the streaming offering, Groove Music Pass customers will be able to move their curated playlists and music collections directly to Spotify, starting with Windows Insiders this week. From next week, an update to the Groove Music app for Windows 10 and Xbox One will enable customers there to move their music. Customers will be able to move their music up until at least 31 January 2018.

To make the move to Spotify, Groove customers have to sign into Spotify via the Groove Music app. In doing so, their music will be transferred automatically into Spotify. Some customers may be eligible for a 60-day free trial of Spotify Premium.