Introducing SAmusicplay: Unlocking The Salvation Army's music archives

Garry Smith (SATCoL) introduces new subscription streaming platform SAmusicplay.

What is SAmusicplay?

A new streaming platform from SP&S for Salvation Army music, from new music to old music people can rediscover or discover for the first time.

What’s on SAmusicplay?

We’ve got over 7,000 tracks, with more to upload – the archive is vast! You can filter it by type, for example, marches, piano or songster pieces. 

The library has a strong representation of brass band recordings, reflecting the breadth of material available in this genre. The next largest collections are vocal and solo music, followed by contemporary worship. We’ve been working with Ian Barton, who runs a website called Regal Zonophone, which specialises in heritage recordings.

Some of the recordings are more than 100 years old, and we also have video content, including the ISB 120 concerts and Gospel Arts Festivals. We’re a bit light on contemporary worship, because not a lot has been recorded, so that might be content we commission in the future.

Why has SATCoL launched SAmusicplay?

To create a go-to place for Army music. People might have CDs, vinyls and cassettes, but these days have fewer means to play them. Most Army music isn’t available on commercial platforms, such as Spotify, but owning the platform gives us the ability to curate it and options such as additional behind- the-scenes content.

We also see SAmusicplay as a ministry tool and are exploring ways to develop this. For example, making hymn tune accompaniments available and creating curated playlists around key dates and seasons, such as Easter and Christmas. As well as personal use, these could support worship in settings where live accompaniment is not available. This would be much harder to achieve through commercial streaming services.

How much does it cost?

A subscription costs £4.95 a month or £49.95 for a year, with a 30-day free trial. There is a cost in building and running a platform, but we’ve priced it as low as we can. Any profits can potentially go back into developing the platform and, as a subsidiary of The Salvation Army, SATCoL profits are ultimately given to the Army.

How long has it taken to create?

I joined SATCoL as director of mission in April 2024. There had been tentative discussions about a sister platform to World of Brass’s subscription service Wobplay. We brought in an external project manager, David Nicholson, a former bandmaster with a commercial IT background. We looked at suppliers to build the platform, and we went with Dale and Rowan Caffull, who built Salvation Army Music Index.

There was a lot of due diligence around IT security, so that payments are secure, and procurement, to get the best value for the Army. In total, it’s been two-and-a-half years in the making!

What kind of app is SAmusicplay?

It’s a progressive web app, so it’s a website that functions as an app. That means you need an internet connection to stream content. We have talked about what would be needed to develop it into a native app for iOS and Android devices – with additional functionality, such as the ability to download tracks, as well as smart speaker support and so on. We are waiting to see the response, as well as what functionality users want.

What free content is there?

We link to Salvationist Radio, which streams Salvation Army music free of charge, 24 hours a day. There are also episodes of the Fully Scored podcast, accompanied by free playlists, as well as the 2024 concert celebrating the music of Joy Webb. Looking ahead, we hope to expand the range of content to support worship, devotion and ministry in a variety of settings.

What’s popular so far?

The new album from Pasadena Tabernacle Songsters, the Territorial Music School Midweek Festival, and Territorial Youth Band from 2006. We recorded the Friday night concert at Together 26, which has been popular too.

How often is content added?

Every week. We most recently added recordings from Territorial Music School. There’s a ‘recently added’ row on the homepage and, when you subscribe, you can sign up for an email newsletter to keep informed.

What’s coming soon?

Albums from Nottingham William Booth Memorial Halls, Kettering Citadel and Birmingham Citadel, and a video of an Eric Ball concert by the Black Dyke Band and International Staff Band.

What are your personal highlights?

There’s a BBC documentary from 1969, called The Men Behind the Brass, about Southend Citadel Band. That was my home corps and my late father is in it. Watching that has been special. Another thing I rediscovered was General John Gowans reading his O Lord! poems, from 1999. To listen to his voice again is just amazing!