Zune Is Dead: Microsoft Closes Music Subscription Service, The Last Remnant Of

Zune device owners are not affected and can continue to listen to and transfer music without a problem.

When the iPod became an instant hit in the music space, Microsoft also tried its hand by releasing several Zune music players, but sadly enough, the hardware failed to grab any sort of traction and the entire hardware business was retired back in 2011, making room for Windows Phone as the company moved forward. Now the Zune music service is officially done for as well. The Windows maker formally shut down Sunday its Zune music download and streaming service, which let subscribers of the Zune Music Pass download an unlimited number of songs to their Zune portable media players and three Windows PCs.

Users will no longer be able to either stream or download content to their devices using the Zune music service, a support thread explained.

Zune users will now have their subscriptions morphed into Groove Music Pass subscriptions, a service that is also unlikely to fare well in competition with the likes of Spotify and Apple Music.

The original Zune was one of a half-dozen digital media players that either predated the iPod or hoped to take a bite out of the popular device’s impressive sales figures, but Apple was already well ahead of the curve by the time the Zune arrived. The first-generation Zune, a lightly retooled Toshiba Gigabeat S, debuted 14 November 2006. The company rebranded Zune as Xbox Music in 2012, then rebranded it again to Groove Music earlier this year.

If you’re still clinging to your Zune, I’m afraid the time has come to loosen your grip and evolve with the times.