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Tesla could be your next streaming music provider

The car company -- yes, car company -- is reportedly thinking of getting into the music business. Because why not?

Ian Sherr Contributor and Former Editor at Large / News
Ian Sherr (he/him/his) grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area, so he's always had a connection to the tech world. As an editor at large at CNET, he wrote about Apple, Microsoft, VR, video games and internet troubles. Aside from writing, he tinkers with tech at home, is a longtime fencer -- the kind with swords -- and began woodworking during the pandemic.
Joan E. Solsman Former Senior Reporter
Joan E. Solsman was CNET's senior media reporter, covering the intersection of entertainment and technology. She's reported from locations spanning from Disneyland to Serbian refugee camps, and she previously wrote for Dow Jones Newswires and The Wall Street Journal. She bikes to get almost everywhere and has been doored only once.
Expertise Streaming video, film, television and music; virtual, augmented and mixed reality; deep fakes and synthetic media; content moderation and misinformation online Credentials
  • Three Folio Eddie award wins: 2018 science & technology writing (Cartoon bunnies are hacking your brain), 2021 analysis (Deepfakes' election threat isn't what you'd think) and 2022 culture article (Apple's CODA Takes You Into an Inner World of Sign)
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2016 Tesla Model S 60
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2016 Tesla Model S 60

Tesla may soon be offering a new music service to go with its cars.

Emme Hall/Roadshow

Move over, Spotify. Eat it, Apple . Later, Tidal. Tesla is coming to town.

That's at least the latest from Recode, which cites music industry sources saying Tesla has held talks with all the major labels about licensing for a proprietary music streaming service. 

What isn't clear is when and if Tesla will rev this effort up, so to speak, or how broad it will be. Will this be just for its cars or for anyone with a phone? 

Tesla, in a statement, didn't address the rumor directly, but instead said its goal is, "to simply achieve maximum happiness for our customers."

"We believe it's important to have an exceptional in-car experience so our customers can listen to the music they want from whatever source they choose," the company said.

Sony Music Entertainment, one of the industry's major record labels, declined to comment. Meanwhile Universal Music Group and Warner Music Group didn't immediately respond to requests for comment.

Of course, Tesla has a long history of going it alone. The all-electric car company created special software and chargers, despite already existing options. The company even created its own software to manage its manufacturing centers.