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If you’re like most college students then your daily commute to class includes a jam session. Whether it’s new songs or old favorites, if you’re looking to add some variety to your playlist then I’ve got some music apps you should definitely check out!
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1. Soundcloud
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Info: Soundcloud is an app that allows you to create your own playlists and search for playlists made by others according to keywords, like the name of an artist or a particular mood you’re in. The app allows artists starting out to even record songs right into their phones so they can instantly be shared on the app and social media sites.
Where it is available: Android, iPhone
What makes it different: The ability to access everything from top 40 tracks to music mashups and lesser known artists. It is a platform that is great for artists just starting out who want to get their name out there and have a public creative portfolio.
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2. 8tracks
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Info: 8tracks is an app that allows listeners to make and discover playlists of every genre, mood, or theme you could possibly think of. It is the best possible way to share a digital mixtape with your best friend, family member, or significant other to show them you care.
Where it is available: Android, iPhone
What makes it different: Their tag map allows you to select multiple keywords, such as jazz and rap, to find playlists that fit exactly what you’re looking for. No more playlists that are ok but not exactly right. They also offer 8tracks Plus which allows you to get ad-free content, gives DJs the chance to use animated gifs in their cover art, and the ability to select any mix on the site to play after their mix is completed by a listener. There is a free 14 day trial to check it out and after that if you like the service it only costs $25 for six months.
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3. Songza
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Info: Songza provides custom playlists made by music experts for your daily life. They don’t have any listening limits and just like Spotify give you the opportunity to share your playlists over social media. Google Play music has recently purchased the app so expect to see some changes and a blending of the two platforms.
Where it is available: Android, iPhone, Windows Phone
What makes it different: Songza focuses on catering to individuals who don’t want to create playlists or focus on individual genres or artists. They want pre-made playlists for their daily activities such as studying, partying, or cooking dinner with a variety of music.
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4. Spotify
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Info: Spotify, I would say, is the most well-known app on this list. They focus on Facebook integration, having a large amount of songs, artist radio stations, and the new browse function to help you find the perfect playlists.
Where it is available: iPhone, Android, Windows Phone, BlackBerry
What makes it different: Spotify has a song library of more than 30 million tracks and a $9.99 monthly subscription to their premium app allows you to save an unlimited number of songs for offline listening. This means you won’t be wasting your data. The Year in Music feature is always fun to see what was the soundtrack to your life each year.
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5. TuneIn Radio
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Info: TuneIn Radio is an app that gives users the opportunity to stream more than 100,000 radio stations worldwide including podcasts, music, talk shows, sports, comedy, and more! If you prefer radio to static playlists without announcers and contest opportunities then this is the app for you.
Where it is available: Android, iPhone
What makes it different: You’re not listening to playlists, you are listening to live radio from all over the world which you can directly interact with. You can even listen to Oregon State’s very own KBVR FM or 88.7 FM for sports, talk radio, news, and all types of music!
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Happy listening Beaver Nation!