Sure, we’ve all heard of iTunes, Spotify and Pandora Radio. But what about the hundreds of other music streaming websites that are out there? Are they worth a shot? This review gives the insider scoop on these websites, (most of which are also iPhone apps) so that you can find a website that best suits your music listening needs.
8Tracks:
8tracks revolves around the idea of the handcrafted playlist. Each mix must contain at least eight songs, and you can choose which songs you want based on searching for a tag, user or artist. One can also find songs by choosing three key words, for example, “happy”, “chill” and “study”. The playlists are constantly being updated by users and features a variety of genres and mixes. If you are looking to find something new, you’ll definitely be able to find it. The only downside is that you can’t create your own mix on the website; you have to do it yourself on your own music. Best for: study music.
DatPiff:
DatPiff calls itself “the authority in free mixtapes,” and it really does have a massive mixtape collection. Through DatPiff, you can view videos, news, and favorite, rate or comment on the mp3 and video files. The mixtapes, which feature both mainstream and underground music, can be streamed and downloaded for free. Be careful not to register through the app, though: the service has been criticized for trying to charge a $20 fee. Best for: night on the town.
Grooveshark:
Grooveshark is part streaming music service, part peer-to-peer social network. The audio is high quality, and you can even rewind the tracks, which makes Grooveshark one of the most unique streaming music services that is available today. The ability to create your own playlists is
Last.fm:
Last.fm’s claim to fame is that it is the world’s largest online music catalogue. Last.fm is essentially a free Internet radio, with videos, photos, local event times and all the information about music that you’d ever want to know. The service also offers social networking features. Last.fm features a music recommender system called “Audioscrobbler,” which is used to build profiles of listeners based on their musical tastes; basically, it records the details from every track that is listened to. While the service seems great at first, the recommendations are based only on user input — not back-end data — so users really only get out what they put in. Best for: die-hard music fans.
Songza:
Songza calls itself “a free music streaming and recommendation service for Internet users in North America.” Songza differs from other music streaming websites in that it promotes music curated by experts, and the music concierge chooses music based on the time of day. The recommendation engine is an integral part of this music streaming service, but social features are offered. At this point, Songza does not give on-demand tracks or albums, which many see as a negative aspect. However, this free startup service specializes in community-based playlists, so it is easy to benefit from the tastes of others. Best for: playlist fanatics.
Soundcloud:
Soundcloud is an audio platform that is known for the speed at which new and updated music are featured. Uploading, recording and promoting music is painless for artists, and tracks can be shared with the public or kept private. More recently, Soundcloud updated its interface so that a track can be played continuously while the site is navigated, and the wavelength of each song is now shown on the play bar. Users love Soundcloud because they can easily discover and listen to aspiring new artists. Also, it is easy for casual users to receive tunes from their friends and download any files they want. Best for: music discovery.
Use these descriptions to explore the streaming site that best fits your musical needs, and enjoy the work of your favorite artists for free!
