It’s been more than 5 years since Microsoft has released a Zune device, but the company did continue to support the platform with its Zune Music Pass service.

The users Zune device and all the MP3s they have with them will work as usual.

The Zune hardware will still function as a basic MP3 player, so users can load songs onto it for local playback. “You will no longer be able to stream or download content to your device from the Zune music service”.

Microsoft has announced that it will retire its Zune music service on November 15. Hopefully this is a situation that Microsoft and Sonos plan to rectify sooner rather than later (perhaps with a universal app once Windows 10 Mobile is officially released, if we’re lucky).

Microsoft revealed it was rebranding Xbox Music as Groove Music back in July, at the same time as it changed Xbox Video to “Movies & TV”.

Fortunately, these days if you buy music from Microsoft’s Groove Music store (or Google Play, Amazon MP3, or most other online music stores), it’ll be available as a DRM-free download.

On Wednesday, Microsoft said that service would be switched off on 15 November, with remaining users being migrated to its new Groove service. You better use up your 10 free tracks before then, because once you’re transferred over to Groove Music you’ll lose this perk. Yearly subscriptions will be converted to annual Groove Music Passes at $99.90 a year.

Those now on Zune Music subscription, but do not wish to be moved to Groove can cancel their plans before the subscription is renewed. In fact, I’m surprised it lasted this long.