Long before Spotify, Winamp was the music player of choice for millions of music fans. Now, the nostalgic brand is preparing for another comeback.

Winamp and Deezer announced a partnership on Wednesday that will see Deezer power Winamp’s upcoming premium music subscription service. Under the agreement, Winamp will leverage Deezer’s white label technology and globally licensed music catalogue, while maintaining its own brand and user experience.

The partnership is part of a broader relaunch focused on the next-generation Winamp Player, scheduled to arrive in the first half of 2027. According to the companies, the new player is designed to “reinvent the music player for the streaming era” by combining premium music streaming with users’ local music libraries, Internet radio stations, podcasts, cloud-based personal collections and other audio sources within a single app.

While many details remain under wraps, Winamp promises an emphasis on personalization through a customizable interface, social features, and ways to discover, organize, and enjoy music. The company claims its subscription service “will offer a fundamentally different experience than today’s traditional digital streaming platforms.”

Although loyal Winamp users who grew up during the MP3 boom will probably be excited by this news, it’s unclear whether many people will choose to pay for another music subscription. The streaming market is already saturated with giants like Spotify, Apple Music and YouTube Music. However, Winamp claims that its free desktop player is actively used by more than 40 million users.

The announcement also reflects a resurgence of retro technology. Cassette tapes, MP3 players and even iPods have recently seen renewed interest as users embrace more nostalgic ways of experiencing music. Winamp is betting its music player can make a comeback with modern streaming built in.

While Winamp has gone through several renovations over the years, this may be its most deliberate return to its core audience. During the rise of web3, it explored NFT integration, allowing users to link music-related NFTs to their player. Previous plans included transforming Winamp into a cross-platform mobile audio application. More recently, the company has focused on supporting creators, launching tools for artists including monetization, fan engagement, and music distribution services.