Spotify vs YT Music vs Apple Music vs Amazon Music - What's your pick?
I am not able fathom how Spotify became / is so popular in the midst of YouTube Music and other platforms
I have had paid subscriptions with Spotify, YouTube Music, and Amazon Music. I have also used all three of them in free versions as well for quite sometime.
I have never actually used Apple music consistently for long periods, but TBH, I have never liked the unnecessary complexity of iTunes.
Spotify:
The best feature of Spotify is that you can listen to it while jogging when the phone is locked, even in the free version. This got me hooked to Spotify for quite sometime.
I have honestly not heard a good set of ads on the Spotify app other than their own ads asking us to subscribe for Spotify Premium. Maybe perhaps Spotify has better ads in the US & Europe.
However, I think the biggest gripe I have is the lack of quality collection in terms of music albums especially for the Indian / regional languages. Its almost like 50% of the albums , even the popular ones are missing on Spotify.
When I tried the Premium membership in Spotify for $6 / AED 22 per month , I didn’t feel that it was worth it, just to skip the ads.
YouTube Music & YouTube:
I have now subscribed to YouTube + YouTube Music and this is amazingly worth every penny. The cost is similar to Spotify - $7 / AED 27 per month - but clearly the content on YouTube + YT Music far exceeds the richness and diversity of Spotify.
In addition to this YouTube has far more educational, news, and media content that Spotify.
In terms of music albums as well, almost all Indian and regional music is available on YouTube than in Spotify.
I also feel that YouTube recommendations are better than Spotify, so no real reason to actually sign up for Spotify Premium.
Amazon Music and Apple Music are bundled products and there is definitely going to be a definite audience set that will continue use it.
Given this I seriously question the viability of Spotify business in the midst of such strong competition