After trenchant negotiations with record companies and much hand-wringing from impatient audiophiles, the Swedish music-streaming service Spotify launched in the U.S. last month. With more than 13 million immediately accessible on-demand songs, mobile capability on most smartphones, a no-charge honeymoon period, and seamless fusion with Facebook, Spotify has been heralded as the "iTunes killer" and might just be the thing that lifts American listeners up into the cloud. "The response has been overwhelming," says Daniel Ek, who helped launch Spotify in 2008. An early adopter of Napster, Ek realized that BitTorrent, subscription, and piracy sites overlooked the fundamental fact that listening to music is both a personal and a collective experience. "Music is the most social thing there is," says Ek. "We wanted to set it free and see what happens." Supplanting the need for a recommendation engine, like iTunes or Pandora, Spotify displays what people in your social network are listening to, shares playlists instantly, and offers offline access. An "inbox" feature even allows you to send specific songs to a friend or, say, a significant other, as one European man did to propose (his chosen song titles spelled out "Will you marry me?"). "It's been interesting watching people wrap their heads around Spotify," says Ek. "They're still discovering new ways to use it."
Details' editors curated four playlists from Spotify's vast catalog—one for each essential soundtrack-worthy occasion.
Two parts funk, one part jazz, a dash of French—stir and sip.
WORKOUT
Let Iggy Pop and Justice unleash the beast in you.
ROAD TRIP
Rock and roll—fast or slow—was made to be heard on the road.
DANCE PARTY
When Spank Rock, David Bowie, and the
Beastie Boys tell you to get up—you get up.
Need a Spotify invite?
If you aren't a member yet, snag an exclusive invitation from Details here (while supplies last) to try out the socially driven music service.
Also on Details.com
The New Bracelet That Will Revolutionize the Way You Train
Meet the New Titans of Tech
How to Find the Right Online Radio Service for You
The 5 Influential Record Stores That Changed Music Forever
Ratings
Comments
Post a Comment