What is spotify

Links on Android Authority may earn us a commission. Learn more. It has been more than 10 years since Spotify first launched in Much has changed since, and today the platform is among the most popular music streaming services , with a considerable lead over other options like Apple Music and Tidal. Read also: Best Spotify tips to get more out of your Premium or free account. But what exactly is Spotify, what does it offer, and is it worth your hard-earned money?

This guide serves as the place to find answers to all of your Spotify questions. Spotify is a digital music streaming service. It gives you instant access to its vast online library of music and podcasts, allowing you to listen to any content of your choice at any time. It is both legal and easy to use. You will find millions of songs from a variety of genres and artists: from obscure indie rock, to top 40 pop, to movie soundtracks and classical music.

It also has a complex algorithm to recommend music based on your listening history, as well as curated playlists and internet radio stations. Podcasts are just as plentiful, so whether you love listening to true crime stories or to tech discussions, there is something for everyone.

In fact, the company is investing heavily in podcast content, purchasing podcasting networks Gimlet Media and Parcast. Best of all, you can use Spotify completely free of charge. The service has a Premium subscription plan, but you can also enjoy an ad-supported version of the platform without spending a cent.

To better understand the differences, check out the Spotify Free vs Spotify Premium section of this article. The basic, ad-supported version of Spotify is completely free. It offers unlimited access to the full catalog of music and podcasts but comes with a few drawbacks.

The most intrusive are frequent ad breaks. Subscribing to Spotify Premium is a great way to get rid of pesky ads, but there is more to the paid version of the service than you might expect. Here is why Spotify Premium might be worth it for you. If you are yet to give Spotify a try, there is no better time than now. All you really need is an internet connection and a Spotify account. Here is how to create one:.

But what about finding music and fun podcasts? Once your Spotify account is set up, your home page is your gateway to discovery. You can browse popular playlists, including top hits from your country, and more. Scrolling down will reveal suggested mood playlists, popular albums, trending hits, podcasts to try, etc. Spotify Codes works on both iPhone and Android devices, in order to use it you just need to click the ' Click that code to zoom so the other person can scan it.

On the other device, tap on the search tab at the bottom, then tap the search bar at the top. There is a camera icon in the top right, which if you launch, you'll then be able to simply scan the code. Spotify Codes is open to everyone. Outside of Spotify Codes you can also easily directly share songs from Spotify across a number of social media platforms including Facebook, Twitter, Skype, Tumblr or just a straight link to copy a usable link to wherever you want on the web.

Simply right-click on desktop or press the three dots on mobile on the song, album, artist or playlist you want to share and select the appropriate service. Spotify regularly releases updates to its service to help improve your listening experience. This includes tailored playlists and discovery voyages to help you expand your musical horizons and find new artists you're likely to enjoy.

Sometimes though, they just add quirky lists which show how well they know you based on your current listening trends. Time Capsule is one example of this wizardry. This is a personalised playlist which picks out around 60 tracks that you would have listened to as you were growing up. It's a collection of throw-back songs that'll fill you with nostalgic joy. We found Time Capsule to be pretty accurate, scarily so in fact, but it obviously requires Spotify to have a good working knowledge of your musical taste, so get listening!

Spotify learns what you like as you use it. The more you listen, the more intelligent it becomes. This music streaming service is brilliant for this sort of intelligence. Automatic playlists are then created based on your preferences. This includes automated playlists like Summer Rewind which features all the songs you've been listening to the most over the last few months. Daily Mix playlists are slightly different, they're like a radio station which mixes your favourite tunes with similar music Spotify thinks you'll enjoy.

Multiple Daily Mix playlists are available for the different styles or genres of music you listen too. These individual mixes keep playing for as long as you want to listen and can be improved by liking the songs you enjoy or removing the ones you don't. Like Discover Weekly, Daily Mix playlists are a great way to discover new music that you'll love.

Listening on Spotify can be a social experience. If you've connected Spotify to your Facebook account, for example, then friends and family will be able to see what you're listening to and you can share your favourite songs with them. There might be occasion though where you don't want people to know that you're listening to a certain album or song on constant repeat.

We all have the guilty pleasure that we don't need the world knowing about. Spotify accounts for this with a " private listening mode " that you can activate from the settings in the app, under Social, and a quick click of a button on the desktop browser.

Spotify is more than just a music streaming service. If you have a Spotify account you can also use it to listen to thousands of different podcasts that include everything from comedy to sports, lifestyle, news and more.

Create a personalised content profile. Measure ad performance. Select basic ads. Create a personalised ads profile. Select personalised ads. Apply market research to generate audience insights. Measure content performance.

Develop and improve products. List of Partners vendors. Brad Stephenson. Freelance Contributor. He writes about Windows 10, Xbox One, and cryptocurrency. Facebook Twitter LinkedIn. Updated on April 28, Chris Selph. Lifewire Technology Review Board Member. Article reviewed on Oct 02, Tweet Share Email. In This Article. How Does Spotify Work? Spotify Free vs. Spotify Premium. Spotify for Podcasters. How to Create a Spotify Account. You can also choose priority delivery if you need something faster.

If you want to find out more, you can find all the details on how to get your music on Spotify. Keep up to date on all the latest music business news, tips, tricks, and education. Everything you need to grow your music business straight to your inbox.

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