Amazon Music has announced a new Canadian-only feature called Fan Groups, aimed at creating communities to bring artists’ fans closer together.

Launching in beta on iOS and Android, the feature will add dedicated communities where users can “discover, share, chat, and listen to music alongside other passionate fans.” Amazon notes that Fan Groups combines music discussion (such as group chats and forums) with streaming. This feature also allows users to share or discover new content and listen to it in the same space without having to navigate through separate apps.

Image Credit: Amazon Music

Amazon has kick-started the initial beta launch with multiple active groups across several genres and topics, which include indie rock, Punjabi, K-pop, Francophone, and country. According to the press release, these groups were created and populated by actual listeners, and Amazon notes that they can be used as “entry points for exploration” or as templates for other users to create their own groups.

On a minor note: All fan groups are public, and anyone on Amazon Music can create a new fan group, including artists who want a dedicated space to connect with their fans. Amazon Music says this open approach ensures that users with more niche musical interests can find/create a community. At the same time, more popular genres can develop sub-communities focused on specific interests or elements that users enjoy.

Currently, the feature is only available in Canada, with a release for the U.S. and other worldwide markets scheduled for next year.

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