In late 2024, I decided to streamline my subscriptions and cut back on unnecessary expenses. One of the first services I canceled was my Spotify and Hulu combo, which I had maintained since my college years. Around the same time, I received an Alexa Echo Pop as a gift when I moved into my new home. Previously, Spotify and Alexa worked seamlessly together, allowing me to easily play music on demand. With Spotify no longer an option, I needed an alternative solution to continue enjoying music on Alexa.
After some research, I found that Plex could serve as the perfect replacement. While I had already set up Jellyfin as my primary media server, I decided to install Plex as a secondary server specifically for music management. I configured Plex on the same server as my other media server, opting not to use Docker due to installation issues. Once Plex was installed, I accessed the server through my browser and began setting up my media, including my locally stored music. Plex’s configuration process is user-friendly, and the provided guides made it easy to get everything up and running.
Next, I needed to connect Plex to Alexa, so they could communicate and allow me to control music playback with voice commands. To do this, I downloaded the Plex skill in the Alexa app. Once installed, Alexa prompted me to log into my Plex account. After linking the accounts, I configured my Plex server to be accessible remotely, ensuring that Alexa could detect it and play music from my library. I set up Plex through my subdomain and used a proxy manager to make it accessible externally.
The primary advantage of this setup is that I was able to repurpose existing hardware, saving me $15 per month. The Spotify and Hulu subscription fees had been increasing steadily, and I was ready to cut the cord. However, there are some caveats: to use Plex, you’ll need your own server setup and will need to manage your own music library. Fortunately, I’ve created a comprehensive tutorial on setting up a Linux server, and there are several ways to legally download and store music. Various websites and software allow you to download music from platforms like YouTube or rip audio from videos.
Ultimately, this solution offers a cost-effective and customizable alternative to traditional streaming services, with the added benefit of full control over your music library.
