Amazon launches music streaming service for Prime members

File photo showing the Kindle Fire at a news conference in New York Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2011. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan, File)

LOS ANGELES -- Amazon is launching a music streaming service for its Prime members, adding yet another freebie to the free-shipping plan ahead of the expected unveiling of its first smartphone next week.

Starting Thursday, Amazon.com Inc. will offer more than a million tracks for streaming and downloading to its Kindle Fire tablets, as well as on its Amazon Music app for Apple and Android devices.

People who pay $99-a-year for Prime can listen to the music for no extra cost.

Amazon reached licensing deals with most of the top independent labels and major recording companies Sony and Warner Music, but failed to reach a deal with top-ranked Universal Music Group.

The service will feature artists including Justin Timberlake, Bruno Mars, Bruce Springsteen, Pink and Madonna, but won't have many new releases.