How to choose how you should listen to music…

Last Friday Spotify made an announcement that the Radio functionality has been made over.  This change has made it so customers (even non-paying) can skip through however many songs they want to and create however many stations they would like.  Of course this seems to be a direct way to call out Pandora since no matter who you are, paying or not, you only get six skips a hour per station.  The newest version of Spotify is in beta, but to make sure that you have the best information about making a choice, I thought I’d give it a run.  I downloaded the new version of Spotify (it only comes in a desktop app) and opened up Pandora in my browser.  Remember–Pandora also has a mobile app and desktop app that functions just like the browser supported option.  Let’s see how the two compare, shall we?

• Skipping

Spotify wins this round.  Skipping tracks is unlimited with Spotify and not with Pandora.  If you are an all-day Pandora user then you have likely came across the desire to skip more than allowed and this can cause problems.

• Create a New Station

Both of the services features for creating a new station to listen to are basically the same.  You simply click the button in Spotify to create a new station.  After that you begin typing and choose your selection.  To find what you are looking for you can choose a song or an artist.  Pandora’s new station creator is in the control bar where, like Spotify, you can type it in and choose.

• Music Selection

As far as finding music that is what I wanted to hear, Pandora takes the cake.  The music selection based off of the stations that I create tend to be more “accurate” in my opinion.  Spotify does not do a bad job at providing tracks, I just don’t feel like the choices chosen as carefully.

• On the Go

The only one that is mobile right now is Pandora.  You can get the Pandora app for free on all types of platforms.  Spotify has yet to have a mobile radio app and even if it did it is only for paying users.

So, your choice depends on what you are looking for from your “radio.”  Set it and forget it types will choose Pandora and for those interested in interaction, Spotify may be for you.