Introduction
Not to mention that, Music has always been the biggest part of our lives in transforming our moods. So, whether we are sad, happy, celebrating something or even while working. Furthermore, music is something we listen most of the time to keep ourselves engaged. In the ancient times, people used to listen songs through the singers directly. Then the people emerged and songs started getting recorded in CDs, cassettes, and tape recorders. Nowadays, music has gone digital. People want to access it everywhere and anywhere. Due to this, the music streaming services have kinda got popular. They are distributing the music of several artists to the whole world. As a result, artists nowadays are looking for the right music distribution service to promote their creativity all around the globe.
Throughout this blog, you will learn how artists are nowadays getting themselves on the digital world. And what exactly is something that is allowing them to go viral and reach more audience instantly. Though, it’s true that sharing your creativity is so difficult even in this competitive era of music world. Because each single artist is now trying their best to go viral. So, if you are an artist and planning to go viral, then you should find some good agency or an expert for worldwide music distribution. However, in this guide, you will learn the tactful tricks to free and paid music streaming services. In this way, you will be able to understand where you should promote your music and what platform suits you the best.
What do you understand by Music Streaming Services?
Before we begin, let’s understand this term Music Streaming first. Basically, the music streaming services provider is a platform where you can listen to songs online. While streaming, you actually do not have to download any of those songs if you wanna listen to them. On the other hand, you can just listen to any song by searching for it on the app or website online. That’s how you listen online or stream music. In addition, most of the music streaming platforms provide free streaming service across the globe. So, if you are a music enthusiast, you can listen to it.
Though, Some music streaming services are free. However, others require payment. So, if we explore more of the, we get to learn that free services may have ads and some limits. On the other hand, paid services give you more features and a better experience.
How Does Music Streaming Work?
Music streaming services work through the internet. Here is how:
- You open the app or website of a music streaming service.
- Then you need to search for a song, artist, or playlist.
- You press play and enjoy the music.
- If you have a free account, you may hear ads between songs.
- If you have a paid account, you can listen without ads and even download songs.
Now, let’s talk about different free and paid music streaming services.
Free Music Streaming Services
Though, it’s true that many music streaming services allow you to listen to music for free. However, they come with some limits. Let’s look at some popular free music streaming services.
1. Spotify Free
Not to mention that, Spotify is one of the most famous music streaming services. Therefore, you can listen to millions of songs for free. However, you will need to pass through the ads after a few songs for freemium plan. In addition, you also cannot choose any song you want to play on your mobile. Because it plays songs in shuffle mode. So, these are the restrictions, you gotta face.
Pros:
- Millions of songs available
- Create and share playlists
- Works on different devices (phones, computers, tablets)
Cons:
- Ads after a few songs
- Cannot skip many songs
- No offline listening
2. YouTube Music Free
Secondly, we have YouTube Music, which is another well-known music streaming service. Though, it’s not like Spotify. However, it lets you listen to songs and watch music videos. But if you lock your phone screen, the music stops. Furthermore, in the free account, you will also need to hear or watch ads between songs.
Pros:
- Huge collection of songs and videos
- Free to use
- You can create playlists
Cons:
- Ads can be annoying
- Music stops when the screen is off
- No downloads
3. SoundCloud Free
Thirdly, we have SoundCloud which is great for discovering new artists. It’s true that there are many independent musicians who upload their songs here. And guess what? It has free and paid versions. So, you can select the one that suits you the best.
Pros:
- Lots of independent music
- Free to use
- No sign-up needed to listen
Cons:
- Ads between songs
- Not all songs from popular artists are available
4. Pandora Free
Lastly, we have Pandora in the free music streaming services providers list. Basically, it is a radio-style music streaming service. In this platform, you pick an artist, and it plays similar music. However, you cannot choose specific songs for free.
Pros:
- Creates custom radio stations
- Simple to use
Cons:
- Cannot pick songs directly
- Ads between songs
Paid Music Streaming Services
Apart from that, the paid music streaming services offer more benefits. So, you can listen without ads, skip songs, and download music. Let’s look at the best paid music streaming services.
1. Spotify Premium
Firstly, in the premium list, we still have Spotify Premium. This premium feature removes ads and lets you play any song. As a result, you can also download music to listen offline. In this way, it provides you the smooth experience to listen and download songs online.
Price: Around $10 per month
Pros:
- No ads
- Choose any song
- Download songs for offline listening
Cons:
- Costs money
2. YouTube Music Premium
Secondly, we again have another biggest music streaming service provider, YouTube. It lets you listen to music without ads if you buy its premium plans. In this way, you can also play music in the background and download songs all you want. So, it’s a good investment if you are a music enthusiast.
Price: Around $10 per month
Pros:
- No ads
- Music plays even when the screen is off
- Download songs for offline listening
Cons:
- Paid subscription needed
3. Apple Music
Thirdly, we have the premium class of music platform. And yeah, you guessed it right. It’s Apple Music. Though, Apple Music has a large library of songs. However, it is only great for iPhone users. So, if you are an android user, you need to install or go through apple platforms to listen to this quality music.
Price: Around $10 per month
Pros:
- High-quality music
- No ads
- Download for offline listening
Cons:
- No free version
4. Amazon Music Unlimited
Fourthly, we have Amazon Music, whose Unlimited music playlist gives access to millions of songs. So, if you have an Amazon Prime membership, you get a discount on this as well. In this way, you get to listen all of the premium audio quality songs within a cheap budget.
Price: Around $10 per month (cheaper for Prime members)
Pros:
- No ads
- Huge collection of songs
- Good for Amazon Echo users
Cons:
- Not as popular as Spotify or Apple Music
5. Tidal
Lastly, we have Tidal. Basically, Tidal is great for high-quality music. Since, it is popular among audiophiles (people who love high-quality sound). So, if you are a music enthusiast who prefer listening to the quality audios, this is for you.
Price: Starts at $10 per month (higher for best quality sound)
Pros:
- Best sound quality
- No ads
- Good for music lovers
Cons:
- Expensive compared to other services
Free vs. Paid: Which One is Best for You?
Now that we know about free and paid music streaming services, let’s compare them.
| Feature | Free Music Streaming Services | Paid Music Streaming Services |
| Ads | Yes | No |
| Song Selection | Limited | Unlimited |
| Offline Listening | No | Yes |
| Audio Quality | Lower | Higher |
Choose Free If you:
- Do not mind ads
- Just want casual listening
- Do not need downloads
Choose Paid If you:
- Hate ads
- Want to pick any song anytime
- Need offline listening
Conclusion
In the nutshell, music streaming services have made it easy to listen to songs anytime. Apart from that, free music streaming services let you enjoy music with some limits. On the other hand, paid music streaming services give a better experience with more features.
So, if you listen to music casually, free music streaming services are enough. However, if you love music and want the best experience, a paid music streaming service is a good choice. Thus, you need to try different music streaming services and see which one works the best for you!
