Spotify

[Malicious Intent]

Spotify is a free streaming music playing with an unbelievable library.

Currently only available in Sweden, Norway, Finland, the UK, France and Spain.

Has built in ads (No pop-ups). It is suppose to have audio ads between tracks, although a lot less than commercial radio. I've yet to hear any.

So for UKians who are sulking about the loss of Youtube music videos:

http://www.spotify.com

[DudeAsInCool]

Bob Lefsetz has been touting Spotify up in his Lefsetz Letter column. He was given a beta invite:

Lefsetz Letter article column on Spotify

I had no idea it was available here in the states yet (is it?) or I would have written it up in our Comprehensive List of Free Music websites.

So ... tell us about it.

1) What are the plusses and minusses in your mind about the service?

2) Is it as some people say gonna be the ITunes killer?

3) Why is it better than:

• SkreemR

• SeeqPod

• SongFriend

• IMeem

• Deezer

• The Filter

Or Last.Fm or Myspace, LaLa, ILike, El.bows, HypeMachine, etc??

4) Do you have any invites? B) (If you give me the email addy for the admins, I will write to get some for the BK community)

[DudeAsInCool]

Speaking of Lefsetz, here is an amusing video where he debates Gene Simmons of Kiss about the future of music - he mentions Spotify towards the end

[Malicious Intent]

Wow - clearly I have been living under a rock. I've been told that it was even mentioned in the Daily Telegraph newspaper, who are so tech illiterate that the Pirate Bay trail is no more than a paragraph long.

To answer some questions:

1) Plusses:

- It feels like you are breaking the law, so no loss of rebellion

- Fast searching with relevant results

- Huge Library

- Very easy to sign up for and use

- It isn't trying to be some stupid social networking tool

- All music hosted by Spotify, so no dead links

Cons:

- Adverts (although still no audio)

- Have to download a file - not web based alternative

- Can't download or burn the music

- Missing artists like Beatles and Zeplin (perhaps a bigger loss to others)

2) i-what? Is that more of your Apple crap? :)

3) No idea. I've been so focused on P2P and RIAA press releases that I didn't know such services could exist.

I guess this is a lesson to everyone using P2P for music - our kicking and screaming has produced results! 10 years late, but better late than never.

4) I don't get the whole invite thing. I don't think you need one any more. I just signed up.

[DudeAsInCool]

2) i-what? Is that more of your Apple crap? :)

FYI, I've never bought a song from ITunes. I do like my Imac though and will probably get an IPhone next month.

I signed up, but Spotify is not available in the States yet

Why is Spotify not available in my country?

Dear Spotify Visitor,

Thanks for dropping by...

Here at Spotify we believe that Everyone Loves Music, that's why we aim to legally bring all the worlds music to everyone, everywhere and are currently working really hard to achieve this. With Spotify free service plus a variety of flexible subscription options to suit every lifestyle and budget you'll find we offer everything you need to get the most out of your music.

Unfortunately, due to licensing restrictions we are not yet available in your country. We understand that you are currently in United States (your IP address 76.91.199.228). If you believe we have made a mistake, we apologize and ask that you please contact us at [email protected].