4 ms·
I've been trying out a different music service every few months, here's something interesting I found. Number of songs: - Xbox Music 30 million. - Apple i
by sahaskatta 13y ago
I've been trying out a different music service every few months, here's something interesting I found.
Number of songs:
- Xbox Music 30 million.
- Apple iTunes 26 million.
- Amazon MP3 25 million.
- Spotify 20 million.
- Rdio 20 million.
- Google Music 18 million.
I've most recently been using Google Music since I can upload songs albums which aren't available in their library (e.g. Beatles). However, Xbox Music is pretty neat too. It's actually pre-installed on every Windows 8 computer and you can listen to just about any songs without ads in high quality for free. (Not sure why Microsoft doesn't advertise this more.)
Other thoughts: Apple is the only one without a cross platform mobile offering. For I instance, I'd like iTunes radio on Android or Windows Phone. Spotify has by far the best social experience and Rdio has the best designed web/mobile interface.
- smackfu 13y agoThose are large enough differences that it is probably entire labels that don't have a contract with certain services.
- ntnj 13y agoFree music on Xbox Music on Windows 8 only lasts 6 months, and has ads.
- manojlds 13y agoThere is Nokia Music too - 20 million songs http://conversations.nokia.com/2012/11/17/10-things-you-didnt-know-about-nokia-music/ http://conversations.nokia.com/2012/11/17/10-things-you-didn... Free streaming on Nokia Lumia devices and free 1 year subscription. 3 hours of offline mixes ( at a time ) for download.
- bentcorner 13y agoRegarding Xbox Music, I thought it was too good to be true. Fine print: Free streaming limited to 10 hours/month after 6 months Understandable, TANSTAAFL. 6 months is still great value, MS should definitely market this more.
- sahaskatta 13y agoGood catch. I guess I hadn't used it long enough to run into those limitations. FYI they have an Android and iOS app as well as an incredibly nicely designed web player. http://music.xbox.com http://music.xbox.com
- taopao 13y agoI'd exhaust that quota after just a couple work days! Why are they being so stingy with just- 6 months?
- notlisted 13y agoThere are two big issues with quoted catalog sizes. #1 - Catalog sizes are inflated for international services Services in multiple countries have larger catalogs because they include content in local languages. This means much of the catalog is there, but less useful for you (unless, of course, you're into German polkas or Swedish midsummer dances). XBox and Spotify do tally all of these up to arrive at their totals. #2 - The full catalog in international services isn't usually available to you At least on Spotify, you cannot access all of the items in the catalog of another country (e.g. with a US account, you cannot access all of the Dutch catalog, I tried). I'm assuming this is also the case for XBox. They list the total, but access is limited by billing address or geo location. In that context I suggest that you and everyone else checks out the mother of all streaming services, Rhapsody (18MM songs, US only, i.e. these are actually 18MM songs available to you). I've tried the others, but time and again I found Rhapsody's catalog to be somehow bigger, more older albums, more classical music, etc. Note: I've been a Rh member since 2004 (longer if you count listen.com). Use it on my Android, iOS, Desktop and Sonos. Haven't bought a CD since I joined (except Dutch ones, of course)
- aaront 13y agoDeezer - 30 million
- matthuggins 13y agoIs "Radio" supposed to be Rdio?
- sahaskatta 13y agoYes, I blame auto correct! http://rdio.com http://rdio.com
- nakkiel 13y ago- Deezer 30 million, available on all devices
- nathcd 13y agoI really wish Deezer were available in the US. From what I can tell, it seems to be a great service. Blackberry support is cool, too.
- nakkiel 13y agoI am in fact very surprised it's not available in the US but it looks like you're right: http://www.digitalmusicnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/deezer_map.jpg http://www.digitalmusicnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/d...
- lmm 13y agoNote that you can upload your own music for amazon too (though there's a limit of 250 free tracks). There are albums that I'd buy on itunes if there was an android version. But there isn't. Makes me quite annoyed at artists who go itunes-exclusive.
- mark_l_watson 13y agoYeah, I switched to Amazon also. Like the apps for Android and for my iPad. I only wanted to upload about 100 tracks purchased elsewhere so the 250 free limit is not a problem. Amazon is fairly good on price for buying new tracks.
- cjlm 13y agoAt least on iPhone, I much prefer the Spotify interface over the Rdio one. I figured I would give Rdio for a month and I'm already missing the Spotify app. In particular the Search in the Rdio app is abysmal.
- eddieplan9 13y agoSecond. I jumped from Rdio to Spotify just for that. I don't understand why people rate Rdio as the best app when basic things like search is broken: search for something, see some bad results, go back to change search, sorry, your search term is gone. Also, the Rdio is app is way too flat and there is big lack of context hint. Often time, I don't know where I am and how to get back to the "parent view", or if there is one.
- k-mcgrady 13y agoI despise the Spotify interface. I was a customer for years (UK so it's been available here a while) and switched to Rdio last year mainly because the web and mobile interfaces are so much better (imo).
- joebo 13y agoRdio is fantastic. It's the only online service I pay for. I just tried xbox music and was turned off. Rdio instantly starts playing and I can switch tracks without a delay. I have the same experience on my android and sonos. It feels like a CD. Xbox music has a slight delay, which is enough to turn me away.