Music consumes the average South student’s day. Students have their earbuds in before school, after school, during passing period, and even sometimes during class. However, the days of purchasing full albums or songs on iTunes are virtually over, as streaming applications such as Spotify, Apple music, Amazon music, and Soundcloud reign supreme. Each streaming service has its advantages and drawbacks, yet two stand above the others as the most popular option: Spotify and Apple Music.
Spotify was launched on October 7, 2008 and has enjoyed a steady stream of success ever since. It was one of the first music streaming services and operates on what some call a “freemium system”, meaning that although the app itself is free, not all the benefits (like ad free music) are granted unless you pay for the premium option.
Many people use Spotify in either its free or premium version. Statistics from July 2017 show that there are around 140 million Spotify users, with only about 60 million of those being premium subscribers.
Junior Tommy Mcevilly said, “Spotify is relatively cheap, and it’s a great way to discover new music. You can browse through many different genres and find music similar to other songs you like.”
The other popular option, Apple Music, was opened in 2015, which added a purchasable streaming option to the iTunes Store. It was user friendly and priced the same as Spotify premium, at $9.99 a month. Apple Music does not offer a free version of the platform like Spotify does. However, Apple Music has benefitted from a slew of artists releasing their projects exclusively through the service, and from a complex system that helps create personal playlists for members based off of what they listen to.
Senior Konner Shapiro is a big fan of Apple Music. “I like how they have so many artists that are exclusive to Apple Music. It makes it feel like I’m getting my money’s worth,” Shapiro said.
Some streaming companies have been under public scrutiny for the way they compensate their artists. With so many people purchasing less music and streaming it more and more, it should only be fair that they get the a larger commission to help offset the dampen on digital and physical album sales.
A recent Optimist Twitter poll said that out of 112 voters, 61% preferred Spotify while only 31% were in favor of Apple Music. The “other” choice received a measly 8%. The people have spoken, and it seems that Spotify takes the crown.
