Streaming Music: A Lifestyle

Written By Emily Wilson

Love music? Looking for the right platform to listen to it on? Debating whether to be team Apple Music or team Spotify? Look no further. Summer is coming which means windows go down and music goes up, but what platform will you be streaming your music on?

While there are a number of different music streaming services, I’ll be comparing Apple Music and Spotify because as of March 2018 they have remained the most popular music streaming services globally. Below is a brief comparison of the two platforms, that outlines the main differences and similarities to know when considering adopting either platform.

The apps are visually quite different because of the contrast in colors and layout. Apple Music has a more simplistic layout that is mostly white; while Spotify has more tabs and is mostly black. Both are fairly user-friendly and quite easy to navigate. Both platforms also have playlists, songs, and artist picks curated personally for you based off the music you already listen to.

With over 700 million iPhones in use worldwide, it's shocking that Apple Music doesn't take the lead with the number of subscribers. Apple Music was launched seven years after Spotify, which could be a factor to why Spotify has more subscribers globally. With that, both platforms continue to steadily rise in number of subscribers. Apple Music was launched in June of 2015, while Spotify was launched in October of 2008.

Spotify may also take the lead because of some of its unique features. For example, the end-of-the-year review, Festify, and Spotify Fans First. The end of the year review is available at the end of each calendar year and is a list of your most frequently listened to songs and artists of the year. 

People commonly screenshot the review and post it on social media to share with friends. Festify is a new feature that takes your most listened to songs from either the past month, six months, or all time, and creates and a made-up festival line-up of your top artists.

Spotify Fans First is an enticing feature for devoted fans of specific artists. According to Spotify News, "The Fans First team uses Spotify data to identify and reward the artist's most passionate fans with an executive offer, such as advance access to concert tickets, exclusive merchandise, or an invite-only event not open to the public." The Fans First team works together with artists to make these types of perks happen.
On the other hand, Apple Music has features exclusive to IOS users that 

keep its fans supporting the service. Apple Music is compatible on any Apple device, such as the Apple Watch, iPhone, iPad, and Macs. The iCloud library associated with Apple Music allows users to stream music on all these devices; so, if you're an avid Apple user, Apple Music may be your best bet. Many vehicles also have Apple Car Play which allows you to sync your device with your car system for convenient listening.

A feature that both platforms have is a discount for students, from the normal $9.99/month to a discounted $4.99/month. The price is one of the many features that college students appreciate about these services. Listen to the audio clip below to hear from students themselves on where they get their music and why.

Above all, both Apple Music and Spotify have enticing features and extremely wide ranges of music that satisfy many listeners. Choosing what platform to adopt can be tricky, but is arguably important, especially if listening to music is a part of your daily lifestyle.

Emily Wilson
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