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When this article was originally written in February 2022, the big Spotify controversy was that artists were abandoning the audio service in protest of the company’s contract with podcaster Joe Rogan, and some subscribers were deciding to follow the musicians’ example. More recently, some users have threatened to bail after CEO Daniel Ek invested in a firm that specializes in AI software used for military drones. Meanwhile, the service’s habit of defaulting to making all playlists and profiles public has resulted in the Panama Playlists, a website that purports to show the Spotify playlists of various well-known figures.
Despite those issues, Spotify is probably the best-known music service out there. However, there are quite a few alternatives available for good music listening, some with free versions (and some not), and some that can help you find new and lesser-known artists. If you’re someone who has decided to explore what music services are out there, here’s a quick rundown of some of the possibilities.
In the interest of being complete, we will start with Spotify itself.
Image: Spotify
Spotify is not standing still. It has continued to add new abilities to its service, such as a DM feature that allows users to share recommendations with friends from within the app and a new track mixing tool. It’s also doubled its audiobook listening limit from 15 to 30 hours (for a price and not in the US).
Meanwhile, Spotify’s free service offers a wide selection of music interrupted fairly frequently with advertisements. While you can specify songs, albums, or podcasts directly using the app, you have less choice as to what you want in your listening queue. (For example, if I request a specific artist using Google Assistant or Alexa, I’ll invariably be led to the artist’s “radio” rather than the artist themselves.)
Spotify Premium starts with its Individual ($11.99 / month) account, which offers ad-free listening, the ability to download songs and organize your queue, and up to 15 hours of audiobook listening. You can also get the same features for two people with Premium Duo ($16.99 / month) and up to six people or kids with Premium Family ($19.99 / month), which adds the ability to block explicit music. You can also just subscribe to its audiobook catalog for $9.99 a month (for the same 15 hours).
Budget plans: Premium Student ($5.99 / month), for verified students; adds access to Hulu.
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