You rely on discovering new music algorithmically, you want podcasts integrated, or you are looking for a cross-platform solution (Groove on Mac? Doesn't exist).

You are a Windows user with a large collection of local MP3s/FLACs, you want automatic album art, and you love the idea of streaming your own music from OneDrive for free.

This is the definitive history of Groove Music, a platform that began as a humble player, became a streaming contender, and eventually circled back to its roots.

Groove Music is a ghost in the machine. It is a failed streaming service that accidentally became a world-class local file player. Microsoft has tried to hide it, rename it (to "Media Player" in Windows 11 previews), and kill it, but it survives.