Select a region
When it comes to downloading music it is safe to say we are spoilt for choice.
Thanks – it's out now on iTunes, Spotify, Apple Music, Google Play, Amazon and probably in your Nan's car https://t.co/qXmQLzeCFa
— example (@example) July 27, 2015
Apple Music has recently arrived on the scene, but that is very much the new kid on the block, and maybe you want to be a little different.
Spotify, Tidal, Deezer, Rdio and Google Play (to name a few) are currently dominating the market. With some channels offering cutting edge sound quality and a large selection of online content, it is nearly impossible to decide which one is perfect for you.
As if we didn’t have enough options to choose from, Amazon has recently announced their attempt to challenge Spotify and Deezer by launching their new Prime Music feature. The launch fronted by British acts including Mark Ronson, George Ezra and Ella Henderson is reminiscent of the star-studded Tidal event earlier this year. However you will need to be a Prime member first (costing £79 a year) to take advantage of it.
The announcement came days after research showed more than 500 million songs are being streamed every week, nearly double the rate of a year ago.
With more and more of us moving towards music streaming databases, there are a few important factors to consider before you choose the one that’s right for you. For example, it would be mindless not to consider which platform includes the type of music you listen to, or factor in how much you are willing to spend for enhanced sound quality and high level music resolution. Here’s our round-up.
Content: Arguably the big guy in the Music streaming world, it has more than 75 million users (20 million paying) and boasts content deals with Sony, EMI, Warner and Universal.
Price: Spotify comes in two versions, paid-for and ad-supported, both of which are available in app form. Paying subscribers are charged £10 a month but can use Spotify anywhere, including offline on mobile devices, and don’t have to listen to adverts.
Devices: At the moment Spotify is available on Android, BlackBerry, iOS, Linux, MeeGo, Microsoft Windows, Openpandora OS X, Roku, S60 (Symbian), Samsung Smart TV, Sonos, Squeezebox, Telia Digital-tv, TiVo, WD TV, webOS, Windows Mobile and Windows Phones. (Phew!)
Verdict: This is the most widely-available music streaming platform that still offers a huge range of songs at a reasonable price.
Perfect for: Families and students as they have great discounts.
Content: Recently acquired by Jay Z, Tidal is an effort to rewrite the music streaming script by having artists as owners. Beyond its expertly curated playlists, Tidal offers music videos and short articles that entertain and inform listeners about genres, artists, producers and studios.
Price: Tidal doesn’t offer any tier of its service for free. Standard audio subscriptions start at £10 a month, while the high-resolution service start at £20 a month.
Devices: Android, PC and iOS.
Verdict: It is the most expensive music streaming service but offers visual content including 75,000 music videos.
Perfect for: Music lovers and those who work within music for the 320Kbps lossless sound.
Content: Rdio has 20 million songs on offer and has a free ad-supported service unlimited to users.
Price: Like Spotify, £10 a month will get you unlimited access across your devices.
Devices: Rdio is available on Mac, PC, iOS, Android, Windows Phone and BlackBerry, Sonos, Roku, and the Bose Jambox.
Conclusion: With 20 million songs in the library and affordable pricing, this is a very reasonable option.
Perfect for: Families and groups of friends, as money can be saved with 20% off for two subscribers, then 50% for the third, fourth and fifth.
Content: Google Play Music includes 18 million songs – fewer than its competitors, however you can add your own music.
Price: Comes with a 30-day free trial – after that point you can continue to use the online database for the full streaming of 30 million other songs. But for the personalised recommendations and radio you’ll need to pay £10 a month.
Devices: Supported by iOS and Android devices as well as computers.
Verdict: Definitely a good option, as well as having a decent library it is affordable and allows you to share the radio feature.
Perfect for: Storing your own music, up to 50,000 tracks!
Content: Deezer has an unrivalled 35 million tracks in its library.
Price: Like Spotify, Deezer provides an ad-supported service with the option of a full-paid subscription costing £10 a month for unlimited listening including mobile access, or £5 a month for computer access only.
Devices: Deezer works on PC, and can be found in app form for iOS, Android, BlackBerry and Logitech and Sonos home entertainment systems. It also works on many smart TVs like LG and Samsung, Xbox and even BMW cars.
Verdict: With a wide range of devices and huge song catalogue, this is a very appealing service right now.
Perfect for: There are also deals for Orange and EE customers.
So there you have it, your quick and easy guide to picking the perfect music streaming site for your needs. Moral of the story is, don’t spend the £££ unnecessarily and know exactly what services you’re paying for.
