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Spotify set for US launch; will be free; register for invites

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Battersea Power Station

Battersea Power Station

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Visit http://www.spotify.com to sign up for an invite (I don't have any :p)

It's happening. The music streaming service that has won over the collective heart of Europe is finally making the puddle jump that we've been waiting for. Spotify just threw up a US landing spot, inviting eager Americans to jump in line for a table at the party. Meanwhile, we just received confirmation on our own end that things are finalizing for testing here in the States, and we'll be sure to report back just as soon as our credentials clear. We should note, however, that there's still no definitive time table to report, but it's fairly obvious that those final record deals are close enough to done to call this thing a victory. Now, the real question: are you signing up in the source link below, or are any of those other guys still tugging at your heartstrings?
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from Engadget
 
PaddyOCanager said:
Can someone explain what I just signed up for? It's just a free streaming music player?
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It was the first great music streaming service. Its playlist management, etc. was set up very similar to iTunes, so it was like having iTunes where you don't have to buy any music. It became very popular in UK and a few other Euro countries. It has mobile apps, too, which are free, except if you want to save music for offline play, which you have to pay for.
Shepard said:
Is it any different from Grooveshark?
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Well they actually have deals with record labels (I think?) so it's legal, whereas Grooveshark might get shut down at any minute. It's already been kicked out of the App Store and the Android Market (although you can still get it on Android).

But you make a good point. I'm not as excited about it as I would've been 2 years ago. Now we have iCloud, Google Music, Grooveshark: all which offer music streaming.
 
Battersea Power Station said:
Well they actually have deals with record labels (I think?) so it's legal, whereas Grooveshark might get shut down at any minute. It's already been kicked out of the App Store and the Android Market (although you can still get it on Android).

But you make a good point. I'm not as excited about it as I would've been 2 years ago. Now we have iCloud, Google Music, Grooveshark: all which offer music streaming.
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icloud doesn't offer streaming music, its just a locker for redownloads
google music only offers streaming if its your own stuff.

This lets you stream any music, like streaming the entire itunes catalog. Its different enough IMO
 
mrklaw said:
icloud doesn't offer streaming music, its just a locker for redownloads
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Wow. Shows how much I've been paying attention -- and how much I care about iTunes.
mrklaw said:
google music only offers streaming if its your own stuff.

This lets you stream any music, like streaming the entire itunes catalog. Its different enough IMO
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Yeah, for sure it will get a solid user base. I'm thinking Google wanted to be a Spotify-type service, and that's what all their talks were about, and that's why they were so frustrated that they broke down.
 
Awesome. I remember getting a free trial of this many moons ago. I think someone here actually posted how US people could use it for awhile. I remember I liked it but that's all I remember about it. :P
 
So can I upload my own songs (I listen to rare songs), put them in a playlist and share them with public through this?
 
Spotify should be used to supplement your music needs, not be your primary source. Their collection will never encompass all the music you'll listen to and they often add and remove songs/albums. A combo of iCloud/Google Music/Amazon + Spotify should work well.
 
params7 said:
So can I upload my own songs (I listen to rare songs), put them in a playlist and share them with public through this?
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No, which is why I'm curious why people are so hot on Spotify, other than they live somewhere where competing services have never been available. In the US there's Rhapsody, Napster, Zune Pass, MOG, Rdio... all with pretty much the same catalogs. Why is Spotify any different?

edit


The Friendly Monster said:
No.

Just their library and wirelessly upload any of your own media to your mobile.

I love it.
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What? So you can stream your home library to yourself?
 
Battersea Power Station said:
It was the first great music streaming service. Its playlist management, etc. was set up very similar to iTunes, so it was like having iTunes where you don't have to buy any music. It became very popular in UK and a few other Euro countries. It has mobile apps, too, which are free, except if you want to save music for offline play, which you have to pay for.
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I'm pretty sure you have to have a premium account to use the mobile apps at all. Or did that change recently?

Nivert said:
Wonder how much content they'll have compared to Rdio or MOG.
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I feel like they have a pretty good selection. What they suck at is stuff like rare b-sides (though they do have singles), artist's early releases and sometimes they only offer censored versions of albums. I assume the latter two are record labels being dicks - promoting only the latest stuff and trying to force you to buy an explicit version elsewhere.
 
whitehawk said:
No Canada lovin?
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Canada is on a path to label all innovation as hostile. During a recent CRTC consortium, there were claims that Netflix is as harmful to the modern entertainment industry as Napster. Expect the industry to label Spotify in a similar fashion, then complain as their business continues to slip away.
 
The Friendly Monster said:
Not stream, upload. Means I don't have to use another music program at all with Spotify on desktop and mobile.
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Only in your home network or over 3G as well? The later would be hot.
 
Riptwo said:
Canada is on a path to label all innovation as hostile. During a recent CRTC consortium, there were claims that Netflix is as harmful to the modern entertainment industry as Napster. Expect the industry to label Spotify in a similar fashion, then complain as their business continues to slip away.
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I hate the CRTC so much. I don't understand why they even exist.
 
kunu said:
Does anyone know what the restrictions on the free version of Spotify are?
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10 hours / month and you can only play a song 5 times I think, also you get audio and visual ads in the application.
 
Xyphie said:
10 hours / month and you can only play a song 5 times I think, also you get audio and visual ads in the application.
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And there goes my hype....
 
Can't wait! I'm an Rdio subscriber, but only until Spotify comes along...if they have the selection that is. I've heard some labels are saying no to them.
 
Xyphie said:
10 hours / month and you can only play a song 5 times I think, also you get audio and visual ads in the application.
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Ouch, that's kinda harsh. Oh well, I'll try it regardless.
 
To all you poo poo-ing, how do you propose they make money from stingy American labels who, in large part, denounce the idea of "free" music? Shit, it's taken them this long already...and the probable $5/month price tag for unlimited listening is very reasonable.
 
How much is the premium service? Is it only one stream at a time like Rdio?

Currently have/love Rdio, but excited for more competition in this space.
 
Xyphie said:
10 hours / month and you can only play a song 5 times I think, also you get audio and visual ads in the application.
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I don't know about this - i'm on the free version in the UK, yet despite them warning me about this change, I still get 20 hours/month and unlimited song plays. It has ads, but it's always had them.
 
StopMakingSense said:
How much is the premium service?
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10€/month in Europe so maybe 10~15$ in the US.

I'm a Premium user for a year now, really worth it if you think about using the mobile app. Otherwise, Unlimited is what you need.
 
Xyphie said:
10 hours / month and you can only play a song 5 times I think, also you get audio and visual ads in the application.
Click to expand...
Wow, I signed up but not going to bother if I get an invite now.
 
whitehawk said:
I hate the CRTC so much. I don't understand why they even exist.
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They seem to exist solely because Bell/Rogers have enough money to fill a forum with their own supporters/ex-employees. Canada should save the money by directly allowing Bell's marketing department to craft our telecom policies.
 
The Faceless Master said:
Pandora plays music it thinks you will like based on your input, Spotify plays music or playlists that you specifically select.
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I'd like a bit of both. Play music that I specifically select, but if I can't be bothered, or can't think of anything, carry on with stuff you think I'll like.
 
mrklaw said:
I'd like a bit of both. Play music that I specifically select, but if I can't be bothered, or can't think of anything, carry on with stuff you think I'll like.
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Grooveshark does both. Make your own playlists, or turn on "radio mode."
 
I'm currently sort of content with Mog, but I'd hop ship if Spotify had a really great way to discover new music. Mog's music discovery story isn't great, though the service is pretty amazing outside of that.
 
Xyphie said:
10 hours / month and you can only play a song 5 times I think, also you get audio and visual ads in the application.
Click to expand...

Yeah, unfortunately they completely gimped the free version a while back. Before then it was unlimited, you just had to suffer through some ads every few songs. I loved Spotify back then (it has been available here in Sweden for ages), but now I don't use it anymore. The free version is now worthless, and I'd rather buy my own music than pay for streaming their library.
 
Finally! I remember using it with a work-around, but that got shut down after a while. I've been waiting anxiously for it to launch over here, I'll probably even go to a paid tier.
 
StopMakingSense said:
How much is the premium service? Is it only one stream at a time like Rdio?

Currently have/love Rdio, but excited for more competition in this space.
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There's unlimited and premium service, both are one stream at a time. Unlimited is 5 euros a month here, premium 10.

Unlimited basically gives you unlimited streaming without adds, Premium adds high bitrate (320 kbit ogg / vorbis instead of 160 for free and unlimited) and mobile usage. You'll also need premium for any third party applications that use the spotify library (this includes some Onkyo receivers and some HTPC apps).
 
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