Best Music Streaming Services have improved our lives. Here's how to decide which one best suits your needs.
If you were born after 1995, you might not remember a galaxy far, far away, before Apple Music and YouTube. Still, we've come a long way since we huddled around the radio, eagerly awaiting the latest releases. On-demand streaming services first appeared on the world's radar through Pandora in 2000 and then gave way to Soundcloud in 2007. Spotify burst into our lives in 2008, and life as we knew it changed.
If you are a music fan, we live in exciting times. With so many streaming applications, the music world is at your fingertips. Choosing the right music streaming app doesn't have to be a complicated task.
With free downloadable apps and over 30 million songs on offer, we'll help you determine what questions you should ask yourself when deciding which music streaming app is correct. You. . to your needs. Better.
Q1: How Will You Music Streaming Services?
Unless you've recently arrived from another planet, chances are you have a smartphone. Most music streaming apps will be compatible with iOS, Android, Blackberry, and Windows Phone, allowing you to listen to them on your computer and desktop. However, some streaming apps work better than others on the desktop.
If you tend to listen to music at your desk at work, for example, the popular Spotify app is a great option and is available on Sony's PlayStation 4, Sonos hi-fi sets, and Google's Chromecast and Fire. Amazon TV, while its mobile app, also works great with Apple TV.
If you're deep into the Apple ecosystem and plan to stream music on your iPhone, iPad, etc., Apple's music streaming service, Apple Music, is an obvious choice. However, many other apps sync well with iOS, including Spotify and Soundcloud. Soundcloud, Google Play Music, and iHeartRadio are well-integrated applications for Android users.
Q2: Do You Want Access to Video Content?
If you have your heart set on video content, Spotify can't help you. However, video giant YouTube (best known for the latest jumping goat antics) recently launched YouTube Red. This monthly subscription lets you watch video content from your favourite artists without ads interrupting your viewing sessions. Watch as many music videos as you want, including offline viewing.
Another option for those who prefer video content is Tidal, a streaming service first launched by music mogul Jay-Z. It is the only application that offers “hi-fi” music and high-quality sound reproduction reminiscent of vinyl and CD. It's also packed with new and popular music video content from artists like Jay Z, Beyoncé, Macklemore, and other celebrities.
Q3: How Much Are You Willing to Pay?
If you are a true music lover but fear the increasing monthly fees, there are free options for music streaming apps that won't cost you much. Most apps will allow you a free trial period typically lasting from one week to one month, but Apple Music has just offered a full three-month free trial service. Spotify and Google Play will let you listen for free, but not without ads between tracks; if you want to get rid of ads, you can always upgrade to premium.
One of the best apps for your money is iHeartRadio, a radio streaming app that's free to download on most devices and has over 15 million songs in its database. Unusual for a free app, it also allows you to create your custom radio station and playlist for easier access the next time you log into your account. Probably the best thing about this free app is the absence of annoying ads.
A disadvantage? It is currently only available in the US, Australia, and New Zealand. Soundcloud is another free app that directly exposes new independent artists and allows you to connect with a community of music fans. You can follow your friends and bands, add songs to your favourites, and create playlists.
Q4: Do You Want to Stream or Store Your Music?
Suppose you already have a sizable collection of your music but still want to continue streaming through apps. In that case, Google Play Music, Amazon Music, and Spotify will let you stream music from their catalogues and upload and play your personal music collection.
This means that the apps search your collection for music you've already purchased and allow you to upload your collection manually. It's a good compromise if you've built up an extensive collection over the years but still want access to music you haven't purchased. Spotify also offers an option for offline listening, which is great if you're an avid traveller but don't have enough storage space to store millions of songs.
Q5: Is Your App User-Friendly?
For music addicts, a friendly interface is crucial when searching for millions of new titles and albums. Spotify, the Swedish music-on-demand app, has a uniquely Scandinavian user interface with clear and intuitive functions for the user. It lets you quickly scroll up and down playlists and has a simple play button to listen to songs. Both desktop and mobile apps are easy to use. Another easy-to-use app, Soundcloud, allows users to easily embed music players on the Internet, making it the preferred choice for bloggers, who can embed a clean, customizable music player/streamer in a post.
Q6: How Easy is it to Discover New Music?
With each on-demand music app, you can access a wide range of music genres, but not all apps can retrieve music from independent or emerging artists. The music streaming app Slacker uses a highly engaged community of fans to create pre-created stations, ranging from new music to genre essentials and an artist's best work—it's a great way to discover new music.
If you want to discover the next prominent independent artist, no other music streaming app can compete with Soundcloud. This tool features exclusive mashups and unreleased music from new artists and DJs that won't be available in other apps. Since musicians and artists can upload their new music for free, it's the proper app to discover new content that won't be available on other services.
Spotify offers a ‘Discover Weekly' feature, which analyzes your pre-existing music preferences and creates a playlist of similar music it presents to you at the beginning of the week.
If you are a music addict, the music streaming app you choose will play an essential role in your life, and the app must fit your lifestyle like a glove.
The apps on this super list are the cream of the crop, and as the market explodes with competition, these apps will only continue to improve. Ask yourself the right questions and make an informed decision before downloading The One.