Spotify And Other Top Music Streaming Services In NZ

Can you believe there was a time when music streaming was limited? Thanks to modern technology, there are now hundreds of apps and music streaming services to choose from based on our needs. And with the current pandemic, it's no surprise that the majority of us have turned to music for comfort.

If you're planning to use one or upgrade from your current one and don't know where to start, here are some amazing music streaming services available in New Zealand that you might want to check out!

Spotify

With more than 200 million users, it cannot be denied that Spotify paved the way for music streaming in the modern age. Get access to 40 million tracks and well-curated playlists, and follow your favorites artists and DJs all over the world. Aside from that, you can also listen to thousands of podcast episodes. With the Spotify Premium option, you get to download and enjoy music offline and play songs via Bluetooth, AirPlay, and Chromecast.

It was also the first free streaming service which was made possible through an ad-supported option. Overall, what makes Spotify unique is how it caters to each user's needs, including making personalized playlists, providing Year in Music every year, and music that they think you might enjoy based on your algorithm.

Overall, Spotify has everything you need in a music streaming app. But if your main objective is to support your favorite artists and their music, you might want to consider other music streaming apps that pay higher royalties to their artists. As of 2020, Spotify only pays their artists about $0.003 to $0.005 per stream.

Key Features:

Option to adjust the sound quality
Create playlist folders (Desktop only)
Search songs within a playlist or album
Find similar tunes with Artist or Song Radio
Listen to your guilty pleasures on private listening mode with Private Session
Discover new songs with Discover Weekly playlists

You can access Spotify on your desktop or Spotify Web Player on any browser. You can download it on the App Store and Google Play Store.

Youtube Music

Besides being the biggest video platform, Youtube had also launched Youtube Music back in 2018, but it's only recently gained popularity. It allows you to stream music or any material that falls under its music category. Whether you want to listen to live performances, song remixes, or find new music from different artists, Youtube Music has it.

The music streaming service can be used through a mobile app or web player, and it's free as long as you don't mind listening to ads after every few songs. You can avail of the Premium tier, which removes ads, make songs downloadable for offline listening, and allows background listening, which means you can still listen to your music when you exit the app.

What gives Youtube Music an advantage over the other streaming apps and services is its variety. Apart from official songs, you can also listen to covers, live performances, music videos, and remixes, making your listening experience a lot more exciting. If you're a new user, you can avail a free trial to see if it suits your music needs!

Key Features:

Search songs through lyrics or by describing the song
Discover new music based on your taste
Listen to ad-free music (premium membership)

You can access Youtube Music on your desktop or any browser. You can download it on the App Store and Google Play Store.

Apple Music

Apple Music launched just six years ago, a bit late to the streaming game, but with a great marketing strategy, an extensive library, and notable features, it has become one of the best streaming apps today. It currently has more than 50 million songs and 50 million users.

Apple Music costs around $9.99 a month in exchange for complete access to its library, radio stations, and Apple exclusives, as well as offline playing. Unlike Spotify, Apple Music doesn't offer a free streaming service, but they do offer a free three-month trial to anyone who wants to see if it's worth the monthly payment.

Key Features:

Customize library view
Play Next and Play Later options
Create your very own radio station
DJ Siri
Search filters for faster searches
Choose from 23 EQ profiles to match your speakers
Lyrics view
Curated playlists
Three live stations to tune into
Search music by lyrics

You can access Apple Music on your desktop or any browser. You can download it on the App Store.

SoundCloud

Soundcloud is one of the pioneers of online music streaming, offering a platform for aspiring musicians worldwide and an excellent way for fans to keep up-to-date on their favorite artists.

Soundcloud also offers different types of subscriptions for both listeners and creators, including Soundcloud Go which gives you access to a bigger music catalog plus offline listening and ad-free streaming. With a free account, you can listen to 120 minutes of uploaded audio, and the stats you can see are limited.

Key Features:

Create playlists
Free account with 120 minutes of listening time
Different types of subscriptions to match your needs
Option to upload your own audio

You can access Soundcloud on any browser. You can download it on the App Store and Google Play Store.

Deezer

While it's less popular than the other more prominent streaming platforms such as Spotify, Deezer is a good option with more than 14 million active in over 180 countries.

It has an extensive music library with an elite premium tier that allows its subscribers to get high-quality music at the comfort of their homes. Aside from its standard and elite tier, it has recently launched a free service, giving you access to 56 million tracks.

Key Features:

30-day free trial
40,000 podcasts
Great user interface
Premium tier that offers unlimited skips, ad-free listening experience, cross-device listening, offline listening, and more

You can access Deezer on your desktop or any browser. You can download it on the App Store and Google Play Store.

Tidal

Tidal's rise to fame can be associated with Jay-Z when he bought it in 2015 and turned it into a better music streaming service that's on par with its contenders.

It offers the best quality when it comes to music streams and pays the highest amount of royalties to its artist. This is a great way to support your favorite artists as they earn more compared to when you use other music streaming apps.

Key Features: