Spotify is reportedly testing a new system that would allow users to more easily control the service when behind the wheel. [More]
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Spotify Now Testing “Sponsored” Songs For Its Free Tier
As the way we get our entertainment changes, advertisers continue to find ways to target the audiences who are tuned in. Spotify, for example, is apparently not content with playing the occasional ad between songs on its free tier. The streaming service is now testing “sponsored” songs that labels pay to run on the platform. [More]
Spotify Premium Users Will Get Some Albums Two Weeks Before Everyone Else
Everyone has that friend who’s always asking, “Have you heard the new [insert requisite cool band here] yet?” In a move that will please the music snobs among us, Spotify will offer Premium users early access to some albums. [More]
Pandora Launches $10/Month Premium Tier As Expected
Pandora loyalists who have stuck it out with the streaming radio service —instead of switching to another platform and having the freedom to choose specific tracks to play — will finally be rewarded for their patience, as the company is launching a long-rumored new premium tier for $10/month. [More]
SoundCloud Now Offering Streaming Music Subscription At Half The Price Of Spotify
Almost a year after SoundCloud launched its streaming music subscription service — dubbed SoundCloud Go — the company has a new offering that’s half the price of its rivals Spotify and Apple. [More]
New York Times All Access Subscriptions Now Come With Spotify
With so many sites offering news for free, news sources that charge for access are having to get clever about how to convince people to pay for news. To that end, the New York Times is now hoping that it can get people to subscribe to its $5/week All Access service by throwing Spotify Premium into the mix. [More]
Apple’s Plan To Compete With Spotify? Add Original TV Shows To Apple Music
A new report claims that Apple now has plans to produce original TV shows and movies, just like Amazon and Netflix have been doing for several years. However, the goal isn’t to compete directly with these streaming video platforms, but to bolster the Apple Music streaming audio service. [More]
Trouble With Twitter, Reddit, Or The Rest Of The Internet Today? It’s Not Just You.
Update: Dyn reports that as of about 9:30 a.m., service has been restored and affected sites and services should start returning to normal. However, as of about 11:50 another round appears to have begun, with even more trouble hitting around 1:30 ET. Read on for more about the scope of the issue. [More]
Spotify Ads Were Actually Malware For A While
Some non-premium Spotify users were greeted with more than just free music while using the service recently: they all got free malware. [More]
Spotify Is Reportedly Looking Into Buying SoundCloud
It looks like Spotify could be preparing to shore up its streaming music service amid competition in the digital field: according to a new report, Spotify is in advanced talks to buy SoundCloud. [More]
Pandora May Go To Battle With Apple Music, Spotify With $10/Month Subscription Option
Right now, most Pandora users are listening to music for free and turning the volume down during ads, with a handful of people paying for an ad-free version of the same service. Now comes a report that Pandora is looking to offer new options that would put the company in more direct competition with Apple, Google, Amazon, and Spotify. [More]
Spotify Now Has A Portal Dedicated Solely To Video Game Music
There’s a lot more to the music in video games than that song from Tetris: whether it’s the tunes blasting straight from the game or the playlist you use to gear up for a marathon gaming session, music can make all the difference. Spotify has caught on to this, and has launched a new portal designed to put all that music in one spot. [More]
Amazon Echo Users Can Now Set Spotify, Pandora As Their Default Music Service
Until now, if you wanted to tell Alexa to play a certain song using a music service other than Prime Music, you’d have to say something like, “Alexa, play ‘Hotline Bling’ by Drake on Spotify.” Those days are gone, as Amazon Echo users can now set their default music services to either Spotify or Pandora. [More]
Apple May Be Buying Tidal, Blocking Spotify Update
Apple is having a busy week, according to recent reports: Jay-Z’s streaming music service Tidal could be joining Tim Cook and friends in the near future, while another rival service claims the tech company is blocking update to its apps to push people into the arms of Apple Music. [More]
Uber Adding Pandora Integration For Drivers; Offers Six Months Of Ad-Free Service
Uber drivers looking to jam out with their riders now have another option. On top of allowing passengers to use Spotify on their journey, Uber has added Pandora integration to its drivers’ app, and will offer drivers six months of ad-free service at no cost. [More]
Apple’s App Store Is Having Some Serious Issues Finding Popular Apps Right Now
UPDATE: As of about noon on the east coast, the App Store seems to have sorted itself out. I was able to search for Tidal and actually get the music app, instead of an app to track the tide. [More]
Kanye West Releases One ‘The Life Of Pablo’ Song On Apple Music, Google, And Spotify
“My album will never never never be on Apple,” Kanye West insisted on Twitter, referring to his latest release, “The Life of Pablo.” This is literally true, but one song from the album is now available on the major streaming services, including Apple, Spotify, and Google Play. [More]