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Microsoft is to discontinue to the Groove Music Pass for Windows and Xbox One starting from October 9th, with the termination of the service in full after December 31st, 2017.
As posted on the Windows blog, the move will also see Spotify take a more prominent role on the Microsoft platforms with customers of the Groove Music Pass eligible to take a 60-day free trial of Spotify Premium, as well as move all of their content to Spotify until January 31st, 2018.
"As we continue to listen to what our customers want in their music experience we know that access to the best streaming service, the largest catalogue of music, and a variety of subscriptions is top of the list," said GM of Microsoft Groove, Jerry Johnson.
"Our partners are at the centre of delivering great experiences on Windows and enabling them to shine on our platform is a top priority. By collaborating closely with industry leaders like Spotify, we can deliver the music customers want and focus on new and innovative ways to experience music."
The Groove Music app has been used by Xbox One owners to play music in the background. The app itself will still play previously downloaded music, but all of the streaming services and music purchase options will cease. As part of the transfer, content that has been purchased on the Groove Music Pass along with playlists can be moved across to Spotify before the termination date.
Spotify was previously exclusive only to PlayStation as a replacement of the Sony Music Unlimited service on the PS3 and PS4 consoles but launched on the Xbox One on August 8th, 2017. Forza Horizon 3, a Microsoft exclusive game, included an integrated Groove Music radio station for users to play their playlists from within the game.
