8 Apps for People Who Love Music
Based on the myriad of different streaming, downloading and music sharing resources now available, it is safe to say that the nature of listening to music has changed quite a bit. What used to be available only via cassette tapes and vinyl records is now almost exclusively online. Most people purchase music through iTunes or buy a subscription to Spotify, several artists have experimented and created music with electronic instruments instead of real ones and all of the songs we love are just a touch screen away. The only thing that hasn’t seemed to change is the love for music that sends everyone running towards the next big industry innovation. But, if you don’t feel like waiting around for that to happen, here’s a list of eight apps that are great for people who love music.
1. Soundcloud
Price: Free with available paid upgrades
While many big name artists and bands share and promote their music through Soundcloud’s services, a majority of its users are now independent artists who upload and share their creations. Upon signing up, users are allotted 180 minutes (or 3 hours) of upload space along with basic stats and information about which tracks are being played. Plus, it’s great for anyone who likes to discover new music. With a wealth of talented users and genres, you can’t go wrong with Soundcloud.
2. BandsinTown
Price: Free
BandsinTown is really great app for anyone who loves live music. It syncs with your music library, Facebook page, Spotify, etc. to gather a list of artists that you like. It then tracks those artists for you, sending notifications and emails when one of those artists is playing a show nearby. It can also tell you when your favorite artists are going on tour and provides the option to buy tickets to the shows you want to see.
3. Periscope
Price: Free
Periscope is a little bit different in that its focus isn’t entirely music centered. The app was designed with the intent to allow users to share live videos straight to your Twitter and Periscope followers. Recently, artists and concert goers have been sharing segments and clips from live shows via the Periscope app to allow followers who aren’t attending the shows access to see what’s going on at them. It’s also great for artists who are trying gather a following. It provides an opportunity to share live videos of jam sessions, recording sessions, songwriting sessions and more.
4. Viggle
Price: Free
Viggle is another app that is awesome for people who listen to a lot of music. This app will reward you for listening to your favorites songs and watching TV shows. Basically, users open up the app and have it listen to whatever song is playing. Then, the app internally matches the recording with the song and gives you points that can be redeemed for things like music downloads, gift cards and sweepstakes entries.
5. Bandcamp
Price: Free
Bandcamp is similar to Soundcloud in that it’s really great for new, upcoming and unsigned artists. It allows users to upload music and set a price for fans who want to download songs, albums or EPs. Bandcamp makes it easy for fans to support their favorite artists and for artists to provide fans with content that they will love. So far, fans have shown support by putting over $121 million towards their favorites artists and bands.
6. Shazam
Price: Free
Shazam is the perfect app for naming that tune and believe it or not, it’s a service that’s been around since 1999. Before the age of smartphones, users simply had to dial 2580 and hold up their phone to the music in order to shazam a song. Now, users have their phones listen and Shazam tries to match the song playing with one that it recognizes from its internal database. Along with providing song names, it can recognize TV shows and ads that allow users into get in on special offers and deals.
7. Songza
Price: Free
Songza is the app that provides you with the perfect playlists without forcing you to actually make them. The home page will state the time of day and say “Play music for…” providing you with a few options. Once you click on one, you are then taken to another series of choices and then to a final set, determining the playlist that Songza believes will suit your mood and/or setting. It’s a lot like Spotify’s mood playlists but with funnier names.
8. 8tracks
Price: Free
8tracks is an internet radio service that allows users to create and listen to playlists. Unlike Spotify or Songza, all of the playlists on 8tracks are user created mixes. DJs upload songs to their mixes, selecting genre, context, and playlist art. They then share those mixes with the rest of the 8tracks community. The site concept is based off of the long forgotten art of the mixed cassette tapes that became the soundtrack of the 1980s. The belief that mixes should be hand selected and personalized is what attracts music lovers to this site.