![]() ![]() The user interface is average, and the look and feel of the service has changed several times over the years. Users can stream individual songs, listen to genre-based stations and create their own playlists. Grooveshark’s service allows users to upload music from their own collection to its online database, thereby permitting other users to stream music for “free” in exchange for exposing their eyeballs to ads. Collectively, these services represent a cross-section of the good, the bad and the ugly in the music streaming universe. Those larger issues aside, this article briefly examines six streaming services: Grooveshark, SoundCloud, 8tracks, Songza, Spotify and MediaZoic. If you have a data connection, then you have access to millions of songs on offer through online music streaming services.Ī very contentious topic in the music industry, there is much debate and discussion about issues such as royalty rates, long-term sustainability and the overall comfort with the logic of leasing music rather than owning it. For simple listening, and straightforward interface, Soundtracker delivers the goods, but doesn't have the same level of unpredictability of other radio streamers.To be a music fan in 2014 is, truly, to be spoiled for choice: at no time in human history has music been more available on-demand. Unlike 8tracks, you can't create a playlist based on mood or activity. Like 8tracks, there is a social networking element to this, but you can ignore it if you prefer. However, you lose out on the customization Jango offers, which is determining how much or how little certain artists' songs play. Soundtracker goes easy on the ads, and just serves up the music. This concept is a lot like Jango Radio, an app that essentially does the same thing. Songs from similar artists will populate the station and play automatically. Much of it is based on you choosing an artist or genre you like, and then having a radio station created for you automatically based on that choice. The good thing about Soundtracker is that it doesn't require much to use it and understand it. An update should fix this when it's released.Īvailable at: Apple App Store, Google Play, BlackBerry World, Windows Marketplace Sometimes, songs or playlists will stop for no reason, while the app freezes in other cases that require a restart. The app works flawlessly on iOS and BlackBerry 10, but has stumbled as of late on Android. The level of choice (after sign-up) is extensive, and you can get in on the act yourself by creating and sharing your own playlist based on your tastes. Listening to music is really no different than any other streaming app, though it becomes obvious after a while that these are indeed man-made playlists. Personalizing your tastes goes beyond just genres and artists, and includes moods and feelings, too.įor testing purposes, you can choose "Take me to the music" to sample some of the various mixes that are available, each with their own tag, artist or description. The folks at 8tracks make it a point to note that this kind of Internet radio is created by people, and not algorithms, thus leading to playlists more finely tuned to your tastes. Available at: Apple App Store, Google Play, BlackBerry World ![]()
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