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Prince removes his music catalog from streaming services
Unless you're a Google Music or Tidal customer, you may have noticed that Prince's catalog is absent from your go-to service. Music from the artist is gone from the likes of Spotify, Rdio and Deezer, leaving Jay Z's streaming venture and Google Music All Access as the only two places you can still listen on demand. According to Prince's artist page on Spotify, the musician's "publisher has asked all streaming services to remove his catalog." TechCrunch reports that Google didn't receive the same request as the other companies, so the tunes may remain available there. However, that could change, soon enough as Prince has already pulled official tracks from YouTube. In case you're wondering, they weren't available on Apple Music, so there's no change there. Prince has ties to Tidal, though, as the service streamed his Rally 4 Peace concert from Baltimore back in May.
NYT: AC/DC's dirty deeds coming to Apple Music, Rdio and Spotify
Seeing as how it's impossible to write a three-chord intro with words, this sentence is just going have to do for now: AC/DC is coming to Spotify and Apple Music. The Australian rock group's catalog will go on the aforementioned streaming services in addition to others like Rdio and Deezer starting today, according to The New York Times. In case you've sworn off classic rock radio, Brian Johnson and Angus Young's tunes should help fill in the gaps between Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd in your playlists. Just think, there's a very real chance that you'll be able to shake it off all night long.
Apple Music still needs tuning
Apple Music: As simple as the name is, what it offers is surprisingly complex. It bundles in a streaming service, a 24/7 radio network and a whole new social outreach tool for artists. Oh, and you'll use the same Apple Music app to access all your regular iTunes purchased music too. As soon as June 30th rolls around, the new Apple Music app will be the default one-stop shop for music on devices with iOS 8.4 and up (assuming you'll cough up $9.99 a month for an individual subscription or $14.99 for a family sub for up to six people). Senior Editor Chris Velazco and I had some quality time with the app post-keynote, and while we appreciate what Apple is trying to do to win the hearts and minds of music fans, it's still very much a work in progress.
Apple Music vs. the competition: A streaming music cheat sheet
The past few years have seen a shift from owning music to accessing as much as you want on various streaming services. Why pay $9.99 for a new album each month when you can get a firehose of content for the same price? Now Apple looks to get in on the action with its newest offering, Apple Music. They made a big splash with the introduction of the iTunes store in 2003 but here in 2015 there's a lot more competition for your listening attention. Does Apple Music have what it takes to stand out from its more established rivals? We've stacked up some of the bigger names to see which one can give you the most for your money.
Rdio Select is a $4 monthly music streaming service (with limitations)
When the competition from Spotify, Apple and new contenders doesn't let up, it's time to try something different. That's what Rdio is doing, with a new $3.99 subscription service, Select, which will let users stream from radio stations (sans ads) with unlimited skips as well as daily (offline) access to a maximum of 25 songs. According to Rdio CEO Anthony Bay, this number is "more than most users download in a day, so we feel it's enough" -- but will the offer be enough to attract new users away from the rivals?
Will Tidal's artist exclusives ruin streaming music?
Tidal, the Jay Z-led music-streaming service, recently relaunched at the end of March with a roster of high-profile celebrity backers, like Madonna, Rihanna and Kanye West. The event was much more than an obvious photo-opp; it was a statement: In addition to a ceremonial pact signing, the group of over a dozen artists pledged to tackle fair compensation and improve the current state of streaming affairs for consumers and musicians. Part of this strategy involves offering content exclusive to Tidal. And while extra content is nice, it becomes worrisome when the exclusive bits take the form of much-anticipated full album releases. That seems to be Tidal's plan to lure and retain subscribers. It's a business plan that could very well kill the streaming-music vibe for everyone, especially when we've become used to an all-you-can-stream listening habit.
Streaming music sales in the US beat CDs for the first time
Sorry, Taylor Swift, but streaming music isn't going anywhere. In fact, revenues from streaming services like Spotify and Rdio overtook CD sales last year -- a first for the music industry -- according to data from the RIAA. Streaming sales hit $1.87 billion last year, a 29 percent jump from 2013, while CD revenues fell 12.7 percent reaching $1.85 billion. Naturally, digital downloads still rule the music realm -- accounting for 37 percent of the total market and $2.57 billion in sales -- but it's also worth noting they dipped a bit last year. At this point, it's not a matter of if streaming music will overtake digital downloads, it's simply a matter of when. The big problem for artists, though, is that they don't make as much from streaming services as they do from downloads or CDs (that's basically Swift's entire beef). Don't be surprised if you end up paying more for your Spotify subscription at some point soon, as those services rush to ramp up their pay outs.
Led Zeppelin's full catalog is now streaming on Rdio and Tidal (update)
The musical stylings of Jimmy Page and Robert Plant have been available on Spotify for well over a year, but now they're streaming at Rdio and Tidal, too. Led Zeppelin's entire decade-spanning catalog includes the 40th anniversary deluxe edition of Physical Graffiti from both music repositories. If you prefer Tidal's hi-fi option, the company says this the first time the legendary rock band's work has been available for lossless streaming. And if you're looking for a place to start, Tidal has a nice synopsis of all of those albums right here. Update: Deezer, Rhapsody and Slacker, too! [Image credit: Heinrich Klaffs/Flickr]
Rdio's Windows Phone music app gets a much-needed overhaul
Rdio has had a Windows Phone app for some time, but a sophisticated app that keeps up with its Android and iOS counterparts? That's another story. Thankfully, the streaming music service has posted a major update that takes better advantage of both Windows Phone 8.1 and Rdio's own upgrades. You now have access to Cortana's voice commands and proper Live Tile support. You'll also see Rdio's recent emphasis on curation in full effect -- there's a home section full of music "stories," a station browser and a trending section that combines both charts and Heavy Rotation plays. This may not get you to ditch Spotify, but you won't have to sit on the sidelines as your friends get all the latest music-discovery features.
Aether's music-streaming 'Cone' now lets you ditch the Rdio subscription
When I tested Aether's "Cone" music player I was intrigued, but cautious, about the idea. At $400 (plus a required Rdio subscription) it was a hard sell for many -- especially with strong competition. Today, Aether shows that it's working on making its "thinking" speaker a better deal. Starting today, the Cone will play Rdio's free/ad-supported service, meaning you don't need to shell out any cash every month if you don't mind commercials. The white/silver version is also now on sale (which might suit your pad that little bit more). Lastly, UK availability and a much needed web-setup option mean those without an iPhone/the wrong OS/wrong zip code are no longer left out. While many might wish for a broader range of supported music services (currently Rdio and Stitcher are the only ones), Aether is at least showing signs of intent to keep up with the likes of Sonos -- a company that's issued several usability updates recently. It's up to you whether it's now worth a "spin."
Rdio matches Spotify with its own family plan price cut
Spotify's family plans went live this week, and today Rdio reduced the cost of its subscription sharing to match. The latter streaming option revealed new rates for spreading access to its massive library amongst your relatives at $5 for each additional person. If you aren't looking to do the math, that's $15 for two, $20 for three, $25 for four and $30 for five. Those prices look familiar? Well, they should: they're now exactly the same as Spotify's sharing plans that also save you 50 percent over the regular monthly cost for each additional subscriber. Rdio began offering family options back in 2011, with two accounts starting at $18. They were initially limited to just three people, but the company bumped the allowance to five last summer.
Rdio slashes the cost of its family plans to match Spotify
Spotify and YouTube may currently be dominating the music streaming headlines, but Rdio isn't prepared to let them have things all their own way. Just as its Swedish rival begins to roll out its new Family plans, the streaming service that does still have access to Taylor Swift's back catalogue is cutting the price of its own. From today, Rdio's Family Plans have been lowered to £5 for each additional user; two listeners now only need to pay £14.99, three must cough up £19.99 and so on. If that looks a little familiar, it's because the company is now completely mirroring Spotify's multi-user subscription pricing. While Rdio has offered Family Plan upgrades since 2011, cost is key: the music provider won't want to give its users another incentive to jump across to its biggest competitor.
iHeartRadio and Rdio are ready for CarPlay, but your car isn't
Online radio streaming app iHeartRadio has just made good on its promise to add support for CarPlay, Apple's new car infotainment system. But, it's not the only app joining Spotify on CarPlay today -- Rdio, a free music streaming service with offline playback, is tagging along. By introducing optimized apps for Cupertino's car platform, both online services make it easier for users to navigate their interfaces on an onboard screen. Sadly, there are very few people who can actually enjoy the updates right now, as CarPlay's only available on Ferrari FFs and select Pioneer in-dash systems, though most automakers promise to load it on their vehicles' entertainment systems in the future. Other web services also vow to eventually introduce optimized apps for the platform, including CBS News Radio and, of course, Beats Music.
Rdio app gets iOS 8 and CarPlay support, upgraded sound across subscriptions
The war between streaming services is great for consumers, because it's created an arms race of sorts between each services app's to be better than the rest. Todays latest upgrade comes courtesy of Rdio, featuring improved sound quality, CarPlay support, optimized visuals for iOS 8. On the visual front iPhone 6 and 6 Plus users will be seeing the biggest difference, with the app now downloading high-resolutions images and art that corresponds with the song you're streaming. The app's new iOS 8 compatibility introduces interactive notifications, allowing you to play music and follow artists directly from the app's push notifications. CarPlay support has been added, from simple playback to utilizing your favorites and playlists directly from your car's display panel. Of course streaming in your car stereo doesn't matter if the music sounds bad, but thanks to a new upgrade users have more control over sound quality than ever before. The company has converted all of its songs to the AAC format, and now lets users pick their level of quality. If you're worried about your data plan simply select the 64 kbps level, while folks with unlimited plans can boost their sound all the way up to 320kbps. Having tested the upgrade across all levels with headphones the improved sound quality is noticeable. Even the lowest levels of streaming sound better than before. You can test for yourself right now by downloading the Rdio app from the iTunes Store.
Aether's Cone speaker is a fresh spin on music streaming
The first HiFi I had all to myself was a hand-me-down Sony music center (something like this). It was a mix of faux-wood panels and brushed metal, with three media options: cassette, vinyl and radio. Then the '90s mainstay "all-in-one" HiFi (and CD!) became my main music hub for many years. These days, it's a very different game. If you're not running a networked system, connected to your favorite streaming services, then, frankly, you're doing it wrong. But, what if you don't want an all-encompassing solution from the likes of Sonos or Bang & Olufsen? You could go with Bluetooth speakers, but that's a whole different proposition altogether (and a bit of a minefield). Then there's the Cone by Aether. It's portable, networked and works with streaming services. At $400 (the same price as Sonos' Play:5 speaker), it's going to have to have a few tricks up it's sleeve to lure in potential buyers. I have a fairly large gap in my music room though -- can this fill it?
Rdio update expands its free radio offerings, focuses on curation
Rdio has offered radio-like shuffle listening for quite sometime, but with its latest update, the service looks to be tops in free internet streaming. Across Android, iOS and desktop apps, the tune-minded outfit packs in new features that will help do just that, and it'll lend subscribers a hand with easily tracking down what they're after -- whether it's Stations, playlists, full albums or a single song. The free "Stations-first" option claims to offer a library that's 15 times larger than others with channels for selections based on genres and artists. What's more, there are also streams based on emotion or activity curated by folks at Rdio, and some handpicked by "tastemakers" (Snoop Dogg was offered as an example). There's a station that's unique to each user, too -- Billy FM is mine, for example -- learning from your listening habits to provide a mix to suit your favorites and yet another that's populated with tracks from your Collection.
Shazam streams full tracks from Rdio without leaving the app
Shazam has linked out to Rdio for a while now, but the tune-identification app would boot you out to access a full track. With a recent update though, the software now streams songs it identifies from Rdio's library from within, so long as you have a subscription. Those who have yet to pay up will still get a preview, but selecting the aforementioned repository from the listening options will only prompt you to download its app. Those who do shell out the monthly fee need only to link the two apps in order to take advantage. Shazamed tracks are automatically sorted inside their own playlist for later access, while an "Add to Playlist" button lets you chose more appropriate destinations. While the iOS version is available now, folks who carry Android devices can expect it to arrive "in the next few days."
Bop.fm playlists don't care which music service you use
You use Spotify, your brother is an Rdio guy and your girlfriend is all about Beats. So sharing playlists is basically a no-go. Bop.fm's goal is to break down those walls by aggregating freely available music from a variety of sources. At the moment that list includes Spotify, Rdio, Beats, YouTube and SoundCloud, though you can only import playlists from the first two. When you sign up for Bop it detects what other services you're connected to, and automatically plays back a track from wherever it's available -- even if that's only as a video as YouTube. Of course, no music service is complete without its share of celebrity endorsers, so Bop.fm has enlisted Snoop Dogg, Lil Wayne and Paul McCartney to share playlists.
Deezer joins the small list of music streaming apps that support Chromecast
Google's Chromecast dongle is, first and foremost, a cheap piece of hardware for flinging video from various devices to the biggest screen in your home. It makes sense, then, that you should also be able to stream music to your TV just as easily -- not everyone has a dedicated audio setup or convenient ways to connect to one wirelessly, after all. There's plenty of music on YouTube, of course, but Rdio, Pandora and Google's own Play Music are the only high-profile music services to include Chromecast support so far. Streaming outfit Deezer (which still doesn't operate in the US) is set to join those ranks tomorrow when it updates its Android and iOS apps. Multiple users will even be able to connect to the same dongle and fight over who has the worst taste. There is one catch to streaming through Chromecast, however: you'll need a paid Premium+ account to do so, although you need one of those to use Deezer's mobile apps, anyway. No free option is a bit of a downer, but at least Deezer's made something of an effort, which is more than can be said for that other popular music streaming service.
Rdio's Android app finally lets you listen to live albums correctly
Imagine this, if you will. You're sitting in a recliner listening to Electric Light Orchestra's Time, and just as Prologue gives way to Twilight -- nothing -- and then music. Those odious little pauses are hell when you're really trying to let certain live or gapless albums wash over you, and now Rdio is addressing the problem for listeners on the go. In one of the rare instances of an Android app getting a feature ahead of its iOS cousin, the streaming service has brought gapless playback to Google's faithful first (if you're running Android 4.1 or later, anyway) Alas, there's still no word on when iOS users will get the gapless treatment other than "soon." In fairness, Rdio is a little behind the curve here anyway -- rival Spotify has had uninterrupted playback for what seems like ages now -- but we're always pleased when a music service lets us listen to Pink Floyd's oeuvre the way it was meant to be heard.
