What music streaming service should you use?
ITUNES is like so 2009. The year of 2013 has seen music streaming services explode. But which one should you use? News.com.au has everything you need to know.
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ITUNES is like so 2009. 2013 is all about music streaming.
Streaming services have exploded over the last year so you'd be forgiven for feeling a little overwhelmed by choice.
Here's everything you need to know about music streaming.
What is streaming?
Music streaming services let you listen to as much and as many types of music as you like without actually owning it or storing it on your computer.
Services like Spotify let you stream their music libraries over the web, for free (if you can put up with ads like you hear on the radio), or ad-free or on a smartphone for a subscription fee that's usually no more than $14 a month.
Why is it handy?
Because it doesn't just let you stream music. It lets you you share what you're listening to, and shows you what your friends are listening to.
Unlike more traditional song-selling services such as Apple's iTunes, streaming services also contribute to your musical education by recommending other artists based on what you're listening to.
You can even create playlists or subscribe to other people's playlists.
What services can I use?
You're spoiled for choice when it comes to streaming services. The differences are minor but we've listed them here anyway.
Is there a downside?
Downloading anything on the net comes with a security risk so make sure you only hit up secure sites.
It's also worth noting that artists make mere cents from online streaming. The band Parks and Gardens calculated they earn less than a third of a cent every time one of their songs is streamed. Plus they pay Tune Core $50 a year to get their music airtime on streaming services, meaning they need their songs to be played more than 15,127 times on iTunes Match and 5,171 times on Spotify to break even on distribution alone.
We know this is a bit like leading you into the Garden of Eden and telling you not to eat the apple, but you could buy an MP3 or better yet, a CD. Just sayin'.
Which one is the best?
Consumer watchdog Choice recently rated Spotify and JB Hi-Fi NOW among the best music streaming services based on value for money, quality of sound, music range and ease of use.But you have to choose which one suits you and this detailed breakdown should help ...
Spotify
Format: Looks similar to iTunes, available for Mac, iOS, PC, Android, Windows Phone 8, BlackBerry, Sonos and Squeezebox.
Catalogue: 20 million tracks.
Price: Free with ads, $11.99 a month ad-free following a 30-day free trial.
Pandora
Format: Similar to iTunes, web-based, iOS, Android, Windows 8, Windows 8 RT, Windows Phone and Xbox 360.
Catalogue: 900,000 tracks.
Price: Free with ads, or $37 a year, or $4.15 a month ad free.
Grooveshark
Format: Similar to Real Player, web based, Android or jailbroken iPhones and mobile browser.
Catalogue: 15 million tracks.
Price: Free with ads or $9.30 a month or $93.50 a year ad free.
Google Play Music All Access
Google Play Music All Access
Format: Web interface and Android.
Catalogue: 20 million tracks (allows you to upload 20,000 of your own).
Price: Free for 30 days, then $11.99 a month.
JB Hi-Fi Now
Format: Web interface.
Catalogue: 18 million tracks.
Price: 10-day free trial, then $6.67 a month for web-only subscription, or $8.25 a month for web and mobile streaming.
Samsung Music Hub
Format: Web-based and all Samsung devices including TVs, Blu-ray Players, smartphones.
Catalogue: 3 million songs
Price: One month free trial then $9.99 a month for access on a single device or $12.99 a month for up to four devices and web streaming.
Sony Music Unlimited
Format: Web based, PC, Mac, Android, iOS, PS3, PSP, PS Vita, Sony Blu-ray, Walman, PS Vita.
Catalogue: More than 10 million tracks
Price: 30-day free Premium trial then $7.99 for desktop and PS3 access or $12.99 a month for desktop, mobile, TV, PS3, PSP, PS and Vita access.
Xbox Music
Format: Web-based, Xbox 360, Windows 8 and Windows 8 RT, Windows Phone, iOS and Android.
Catalogue: 30 million tracks.
Price: Free via web and for Windows 8 users (with ads). After six months users can stream up to 10 hours of music per month free. Premium service offers 30-day free trial and then costs $11.99 a month or $119.90 for a 12-month subscription.
Songl
Format: Web-based, Android, iOS and Sonos.
Catalogue: 4 million tracks.
Price: 30-day free trial then $12.99 a month for unlimited desktop, mobile and Sonos streaming.
Rara
Format: Web based, iOS, Android and Windows 8.
Catalogue: 22 million tracks
Price: $0.99 a month for three months then $7.99 for web streaming, $2.99 a month for three months of mobile and web access then $12.99 a month thereafter.
Deezer
Format: Web-based, Android, iOS, Windows Phone, Windows 8, BlackBerry, Logitech, Sonos and Phillips.
Catalogue: 25 million tracks
Price: Free for web based access with ads for a year, after that listening times are capped to two hours per month. Alternatively it offers a 15-day free trial then $7.20 a month for web access and high quality streaming or $12.45 for mobile and web access with high quality streaming plus offline caching.
Guvera
Format: Web-based, Android, iOS.
Catalogue: 10 million tracks.
Price: Free unlimited streaming (with ads) or $11.99 a month direct or $14.99 a month via the iTunes Store and Google Play.
Nokia Music
Format: Web-based streaming and online store, Nokia Handsets, Windows 8.
Catalogue: 22 million songs
Price: 7 day free trial, then $4.99 a month. Users can also buy songs, prices start at $1.69 a track. Albums cost more.
Rdio
Format: Web interface, Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, Windows Phone 8, BlackBerry, Sonos & Roku.
Catalogue: 20 million tracks
Price: 14-day free trial of unlimited service that automatically rolls over to six-month trial for web and desktop streaming. Subscriptions cost $8.90 a month for web only or $12.90 for web and mobile streaming.
Vevo
Format: Web-based music video service similar to YouTube.
Catalogue: 45,000 videos.
Price: Free (with ads).
I Heart Radio
Format: Internet radio that allows you to access local and international radio stations and shows over the web, iPad, Android, BlackBerry
Catalogue: 11 million tracks
Price: Free.
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