Music streaming services

[10-Ring]

Okay, here's my deal.  I'm currently a Sirius satellite subscriber and I'm thinking of giving it up for a paid subscription to a music streaming service.  I currently have Spotify Free and I like it.  I understand that with the paid service I can play my playlist off line.  The object is to be able to get in the truck or on the bike and listen to my music without using my data on my phone.  I'd save $5 a month with Spotify instead of Sirius plus I like the format better, in addition I can put a playlist on and let it roll without having to worry about messing with it which I really don't like doing, especially on the bike.  I know there are a variety of services available and Spotify is the only one that I have experience with.  Is there any reason not to go with Spotify?  Are there better options out there?  The versatility of the equipment is another plus, I always have my phone with me but I swap p bikes often, I have he Sirius installed on my touring bike and I put it in the truck too, but I could listen to the Spotify on my phone on my other bikes that aren't set up with satellite antennas and power sources.

[btq96r]

I don't even use a pay service, the free channes on the iHeartRadio app is perfect for my needs.  Rock stations from Orlando and Dallas, a classical music station, and a sports station out of Akron, OH for The Dan Patrick Show when I have a free morning.  Try out some free alternatives before you fork out the cash.

[10-Ring]

I haven't tried the Iheartradio app but I don't mind paying $10 a month to listen to what I want without adds and do it offline.

[Erik88]

I prefer Pandora over Spotify by a long shot but I use the free versions so my input is probably not helping much.

[glowdotGlock]

I have used Slacker for a couple years. I am a premium member at I think 8-10 dollars a month. I like it. You can actually listen to whole albums in order. I listen to a lot of stand up and there is no shortage of it.

[TGO David]

I have had a Pandora One subscription for about two years now.  Love it.

[musicman]

I used to use MOG which was bought out by Beats about a year ago. I've continued to use Beats, though I preferred the MOG layout/interface better. $10/month and I can stream whatever I want as well as download albums to my phone.

I generally use this option and do the downloads while I'm on wifi to reduce my data consumption. The Beats interface is kinda bulky and functions like creating playlists take another step or two than the MOG setup did. I find that not all services have the same catalogs available, and they change... not juat adding new things, but some times you'll go to pull up something you've already downloaded and find out it's gone now, having been pulled from the library. Sometimes it'll come back, sometimes not. It's rare, but it happens. I imagine it's a band's/label's way to get you hooked on something for cheap/free and then try to coax you into actually purchasing the music at retail.

I am a picky sunnavagun when it comes to music. I absolutely despise advertising, and I HATE radio because I hate having to listen to 8 crap songs to jear one good one. I am not one of those people who say "I like all music, I listen to anything." That's balogna. Most music is garbage, especially now. Also, when I find a band I like, I want to listen to their entire catalog and follow their growth. (Most good bands definitely change throughout their career.)

Also, my wife is logged into my account on her phone and can listen to whatever terrible pop/trash she wants, too.

When I worked at Gibson there was a group of 5 or 6 of us that all used MOG when it was still around. When it transitioned to Beats, two of them went to Spotify, but both decided to join Beats after a few months. I don't remember their gripes, but it may just boil down to the familiarities with the old MOG platform we were all used to experiencing.

[suspiciousmind]

As convenient as Spotify and Pandora are, it's a shame how little an artist or writer is paid per play.

What a sad state the music business is in.

[Murgatroy]

I use iHeartRadio, have pretty much every day for a handful of years now. It has introduced me to a lot of new music I doubt I would have found listening to traditional radio.

 

You create seeds based on a song, an artist, a genre or you listen to live stations, local, national and custom from iHeartRadio.

 

It is free, the app is widely available, but it will require streaming, either WiFi or data.

 

I tend to be connected on WiFi, though in the car I use it on road trips and use my data.

 

You might check with your provider, I know that some providers allow streaming music to be exempt from the data usage.