The best music streaming service on the planet keeps getting better
The
on-demand subscription music service has won paying customers in Europe
and the U.S. by providing easy access to hit songs and deep tracks
alike. But to attain the kind of success enjoyed by YouTube and
Netflix
—not to mention compete with Apple’s upcoming subscription music
service—Spotify must do more. That’s why the app is no longer just about
music.
I’ve been using the updated iPhone app
since it debuted earlier this week,
and it succeeds in making Spotify more entertaining. In many ways, it
now feels like an app built for people like me: news-hungry music lovers
who get nearly all their info and entertainment from a smartphone.
New
to Spotify are short video clips from major TV networks and YouTube
stalwarts alike. Complementing the video is a well-rounded library of
audio podcasts. But Spotify didn’t ignore its core, either: There’s a
smart music discovery tool and and an innovative running feature that
can match tunes to the tempo of my morning run.
Here’s how my day
flows: I stream music at home as I’m getting ready for work—usually my
own playlist or a specific album I’m feeling at the time. During my
commute, I listen to music stored on my phone, since cellular signal
can’t be trusted on the train. At lunch, I hunt for something new or
unexpected on SoundCloud, or check out funny clips on YouTube. On the
way home, I usually listen to a podcast or two.
That
far-from-unusual listening habit requires three or four different apps.
And no streaming music service has managed to pull it all off. In fact,
it was hard to tell Spotify, Beats, Tidal, Rdio, Google Play and
YouTube Music Key apart—they all have pretty much the same library of
music, overlaid with some mix of human and computer recommendations for
when I run out of favorite artists.
Spotify’s changes mean it’s ready to take over more of my day’s listening regimen. Perhaps all of it.
Two
features make discovering new music easier than before: Moments and
Now. Moments takes a traditional approach, offering DJ-created playlists
tuned to your mood or activity: party, workout, romantic evening, etc.
Now takes listener prediction to a new level, monitoring your tastes
throughout the day in order to offer timely suggestions ranging from
playlists to podcasts to even video clips.
If you just want to hit
the videos and podcasts, they’re found in a new section called Shows.
(Spotify doesn’t use the term “podcast,” perhaps because it’s a remnant
of the iPod era.) There are a handful of top-name video providers at
launch: ABC, NBC, ESPN, BBC, Comedy Central and Vice. Loads of marquee
podcasts are here, too, stuff from Slate and American Public Media, a
ton of sports, tech and comedy podcasts. There’s no NPR, though. Spotify
says it will add more video and audio partners in the coming months.
My
favorite part of the Spotify reboot—what feels truly new—is the Running
section. Once you’ve strapped on your sneakers and hit the pavement,
your phone’s accelerometer measures your pace. The Spotify app
translates that pace into beats per minute, or at least “steps per
minute.” When you pick a Running playlist (be it pop hits, country music
or even ‘80s nostalgia), the app only tees up songs that match your
pace. If your pace changes, the next track should reflect that.
Spotify
also created six “dynamic” soundtracks, including one from the renowned
DJ and producer Tiesto. These tracks actually are designed to play back
at the tempo of your run. When I tried it out, it tracked my pace
pretty well. But if for some reason it doesn’t, you can adjust the tempo
manually.
With all there is to listen to and watch, Spotify is right now the music app the beat. Every music service,
including Apple’s upcoming one, costs $10 a month. And Spotify brought all of the new features to its service without charging more.
Spotify
and its subscription on-demand rivals around the globe—Tidal, Deezer
and Rdio, to name a few—are in a funny place. Apple is sure to raise
awareness of services like them when it launches its own. And there will
be many people who like the idea of on-demand all-you-can-eat music,
but don’t want to buy into Apple’s ecosystem. So Spotify doesn’t
necessarily have to defeat Apple, it just must be more attractive than
the other smaller services.
Make no mistake, Spotify’s rivals have
similar ideas. It’s definitely a fun time to be a subscriber—especially
when most services offer a free trial.
To Download Spotify Go To
https://www.spotify.com/au/
Available on PC, Mac, Android, and Apple IOS
