Launched in 2008, the Spotify music app gained immediate positive feedback from listeners and has only thrived in popularity since its creation. It has fared so well, Pandora should hide back in its box and 8tracks should be reinstalled into 1965 Ford models since they can’t compare to this music engine. Spotify performs sufficiently in it’s providing content for listeners; it supplies playlists, radio stations, and browse options with desired quality.

When Pandora was launched in 2000 and 8tracks was launched in 2008, the Spotify music app was watching closely to create its own unique style. Pandora operates on a radio format while 8tracks functions with a playlist based system. Spotify combines the two and offers the best of those features to the app users. Consumers who use the app can find radio stations of their favorite artists; these stations are made up of song playlists that can be shuffle played. By giving songs you like a “thumbs up” and giving songs you don’t like a “thumbs down,” more songs will be added to that station depending on your preference in music. Spotify will also use your music taste information to recommend playlists made by the app. These songs from stations and playlists can also be added to your own library in the app. You can shuffle play songs from your library, or add saved songs to your own playlists (these can be private, or shared with the public depending on your choosing). The app also offers a following option to music artists so consumers can keep up with updates regularly. Along with new releases, Spotify also keeps track of the most popular music from week to week – even on an international level of data.

Although the good seems to outweigh the bad, there are some cons to consider in getting this app. It only operates on a shuffle based system, so although you choose the music you listen to, you can’t choose when you get to play a specific song. You can skip songs in a playlist, but your number of skips is limited to five per hour. Ads, although short, are used between song plays and run every thirty minutes. However, there is a solution to this performance gap; the Spotify app is free of purchase with these restrictions, but you can upgrade to “Premium” for $10/month. By purchase of the upgrade, you can enjoy well established music without ads and unlimited skips.

As a consumer of both Pandora and 8tracks, I can say that Spotify reigns over all other music apps to date. It adequately caters to your personal music tastes, operates with good quality, and offers constant update of new and popular music.