I put in for my Spotify invite to join their online streaming website, the moment I heard the launch in the US was official. But after receiving a reply that there was a waiting list to join, I decided to become a premium member for $9.99 a month. The price of a cheap album on ITunes.
And after using the streaming service for a couple of days, I am here to tell you that ITunes are gonna lose their lunch if it catches on before they have an answer.
As stated, Spotify is a streaming music service. You pay a monthly fee for unlimted access or no fee for ten hours of access a month.
However, you can use it on three electronic appliances, including your IPhone. In other words, it is transportable. But only one at a time (if you are on your cell, your PC will not play).
This is how it works.
You can stream any music off their vast, vast, vast library both on your cell and on your PC. BUT, while you can get 3000 songs offline, you really need to be online to use its full potential.
What does this mean to you? How about to me? Helen and Mary mentioned they were interviewing Asking Alexandria , Sunday morning. I owned maybe three songs on ITunes. So I streamed it on Spotify and could listen to every album they've released immediately. if I wanted I could put them in a folder for easy access. When I went out I could listen to them on my IPhone but not if I was on the subway unless I synched em online. And then I have only 3200 songs I can play offline. Which means I am screwed in the subway.
The problem with Spotify is that we are so used to OWNING MUSIC, the thought that we can fail to pay our $10 a month fee and lose all our music is scary? What then? Iis a good question but in the end a meaningless question. The answer is, you can not pay your rent or real estate taxes (unless you're Bruce Springsteen of course) and get evicted. For ten bucks a month? Suck it up. Yes, you are streaming the music, not owning it, which doesn't stop you from buying it on ITunes if you chose (and Spotify synchs with your ITunes as well…).
Also, you really do need to be on line to use it. If you aren't, it is shaky. That is not true of what is on either your PC or your ITunes account. Those are always yours. You don't need to be on line to use them. But really? Who isn't online all the time? It is like saying you have yo turn on your turntable to listen to an album.
And in real terms, at the speed of thought and working randomly, I got (not got, streamed and put into a file for easy access) Moondog Matinee, Paul 22 songs, Marianne Faithfull Live At the BBC, all of Asking Alexandria, Motley Crue's Greatest Hits, the new Lloyd album, Buzzcocks and the Jam live albums and the Boss The Promise. The Promise I had bought three tracks and given up on, now I get to here it all. I just added the Sublime With Rome album, I would have just bought a track without this. and the difference between streaming it and owning it? Not really any difference I can see.
Of those, given my finances, I might have BOUGHT any of them and would probably have bought the BBC one. Like definitely. Also, I got the Gram Parson Complete Reprise Collection and his International Submarine Band Safe At Home. I would absolutely have bought both. So figure, I've spent ten bucks and saved thirty easy. It has paid for itself easy as that.
But it won't substitute for ITunes yet for two reasons. Save money off ITunes? Yes? I can see my expenditure dropping in half, but it won't kill it for me. I searched for Foo Fighters Wasted Light. They didn't have it. How could they not have the biggest rock album of the year? They don't have all their contracts signed. No Beatles, no Stones, too much stuff is missing. They don't even have Adele's 21 (though they do have Adele' s 19) I just got the new Jason Aldean (not get, streamed and playlisted) and Blake Shelton. So on Tuesdays, I will check new releases on ITunes. Check if Spotify has it. If they do? I will stream the album on Spotify, If not? Buy the track on ITunes and synch it to Spotify
Another problem, even online it is a major pain in the ass on my IPhone. It needs to be perfect and it isn't. Offline, I can't figure out very well, yet. Maybe I will as I get more used to it. It impossible mpossible to use on the subway and not perfect anywhere else. I would think that a) I am screwing it up and b) I will figure it out.
Conclusion: if you buy more than ten bucks of music a week, this is a must get premium. ITunes need a reply and the ICloud isn't good enough.