Since the early days of Napster, the music industry has been losing revenue and power to P2P file sharing services. The Financial Times estimates that the music industry loses about $750m each year to music piracy. So how do they minimize these losses? Entrepreneurs all over the world believe the key to reducing illegal music downloads is to make legal alternatives easier and more convenient for the consumer. This is where music streaming comes into play. Music streaming services allow the user to access millions of songs with minimal effort, often with no download client. These services are all legal and have been exploding in popularity. Industry reports indicate that music streaming is the fastest growing segment of the music industry, especially in emerging markets. Although it only accounts for $1.2bn of the $16.5bn, it indicates a shift in consumer behavior and provides a glimpse into the future of the music industry.
Getting into music streaming is extremely simple; there are plenty of services available all over the world. The question is: which is the best one? I will try to break down and analyze each of the major services and let you decide which one works for you!
Spotify
Music Catalog: 20+ million songs
Pricing:
Pros:
Spotify has one the best selection of music with a catalog of over 20 million songs, including the most recent popular tracks. The client allows users to install apps that add extra features such as synced lyrics or the ability to chat with other users while listening to music. Spotify seamlessly places the music you already own into the desktop client, so your existing iTunes collection will be available automatically. Spotify also features an activity tab on the side which informs users of what their friends are listening to at the moment.
Cons:
The Android app is very primitive and does not allow users to filter music by artist, songs, or albums. Instead, whatever has been synced will appear in that order on your mobile. Some people may see the desktop client as a burden since it’s software that must be installed. However, Spotify is currently beta testing a web client. The design of the client is more functional than aesthetic, so those who prefer a beautiful design might not enjoy Spotify’s design.
Rdio
Music Catalog: 18+ million songs
Pricing:
Pros:
Beautifully designed streaming service that is fully functional via a web browser. This especially helpful for user that can’t install software in the workplace. Desktop client is also available, but it’s optional. Android app is excellent and allows users to filter music by artists, albums, or songs. ‘Heavy Rotation’ feature allows for an excellent way to discover new music based on the people you follow (friends, artists, companies) and what you have been listening to. Album screens have user comments about a song or the album and some even have a critic’s review. Plenty of selection and new songs are constantly being added.
Cons:
Smaller music catalog, which is not a noticeable for most music searches, but still a smaller selection. Rdio lacks the app system present in Spotify, which boosts features like music discovery or social discussions. Another small problem with Rdio is how it internationalizes albums; some albums are presented as unplayable because it is a US release even if the same exact album is available. This is especially annoying when you follow someone from the US and their album recommendations appear as unplayable. Finally, there is no offline mode for desktop use and no iTunes match unless the desktop client is downloaded.
Deezer
Music Catalog: 20+ million songs
Pricing:
Pros:
Deezer has a huge catalog of songs and is available in 182 countries, making it a fierce competitor of Spotify and Rdio. Deezer operates through your browser, so there are no downloads required. It offers a Facebook activity tab to inform you of what your friends are listening to. Deezer also has an app ecosystem to add extra features to your music browsing experience. Switching to offline mode is as easy as clicking a button and all the features you need are easily accessible from the main screen.
Cons:
Deezer has many great features but they seem a little wonky. The design of the site is not really that smooth and feels quite cluttered; it appears as if Deezer is trying to mesh all the features it can without adjusting for usability. Despite having a large library, I did encounter some gaps from artists like Arcade Fire and smaller artists, which are available in Spotify. Finally, despite its huge international availability, it is not available in the US.
Despite their differences, Spotify, Rdio, and Deezer all offer very similar services. Each of these allows you to stream millions of songs, pair the experience with social media, and discover new music. They all have the same pricing structure give you access to the most important features: unlimited music streaming, discover channels, creation of radio stations, and access on your mobile devices. Each offers a free way to experience the service, so I say give the one that appeals to you a try. If it doesn’t work out, just switch services. Personally, I prefer Spotify, because of its apps and because most of my friends use it.
Other streaming services
Besides the big three services, there are also other options that are much more unique.
SoundCloud
SoundCloud is a streaming service around the idea of sharing sounds with others. Whether it be songs, lectures, stand up bits, or narrations, users can upload content and share it with others. Soundcloud in was created by two artists who wanted to have a platform in which they could share songs, obtain feedback, and collaborate.
Notable features:
Upload your audio files or record directly from the different apps offered.
Create a community to share with and see what your friends are up to via the dashboard
Customize the service by installing third party apps to optimize your experience
Grooveshark
A music streaming service that works a bit different from the big three. Users are allowed to upload content which allows for an enormous catalog of music. Millions of songs are accessible and users are able to build playlists and add music to their collection. Grooveshark also features some discovery tools and allows users to see what the community is listening to. The legality of the service is currently questioned since there are concerns with copyright infringement.
Written by: Cesar Rizo
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