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/
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