Your Primary Go-To Music Source

[Harry Tic]

I'd be curious to know how CSers consume their music. While at my desk, I have music going pretty much non-stop. And when I'm home it's pretty much the same thing although the platform tends to change.

I find that I primarily make use of the following platforms:

(1) Rhapsody. I took a hiatus for a couple of years but recently came back--I like their curated playlists and their selection of tracks isn't bad--and, when I was going to quit again, they lowered my monthly rate to $5. Decent for discovering new music.
(2) iTunes. I have a large library (14,000 tracks or so) and load it onto my old iPod classic (it's just barely big enough to hold all my own stuff).
(3) Google Play. Useful for listening to my own iTunes library while working away from home. I never use it for anything else though.
(4) Soundcloud
(5) Youtube
(6) My turntable. I'm getting back into vinyl and use it a fair amount at home.
(7) Pandora. I rarely remember I have a membership.
(8) Spotify. Ditto.

For the purposes of this poll, please indicate your PRIMARY or PREFERRED mode of listening. Comments and recommendations would be welcome.

[Shaka]

Amazon

[Rickomatic]

When I first read the title of this, I thought 'Give Said the Little Stream.'

[BigPiney]

Amazon

Agree. I also like that if I buy an album, in cd form, that later they rip it and it is available for free to me in the cloud. Way cool. I guess I am old fashioned, but I like having that disc at my house.

[falafel]

Your Primary Go-To Music Source

Primary: spotify. I love everything about it, except that I can't sync my offline playlists/music to my iPod, which I use in my car.

Secondary: some Russian mp3 site.

Edit: apparently I can sync my iPod. Anyone do this?


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[pellegrino]

why isn't this in the foyer?

[Harry Tic]

Of course we're all eager to see what MarkGrace gets his stuff. But nothing.

[UVACoug]

Usually Spotify. Sometimes I will pay to download some lossless classical music tracks though.

[wuapinmon]

I love Spotify. Free and almost instantaneous. The radio's not as good Pandora was, but I can listen to the same song over and over if I want.

[old_gregg]

the piratebay --> itunes

i have too many problems with streaming services when not on wifi.

[Commando]

the piratebay --> itunes

i have too many problems with streaming services when not on wifi.

I turn to pirate bay in a pinch, but that is a rare pinch. As for your wifi dilemma, you can set your Spotify playlists to sync to your device when wifi is detected. Problem solved.

[Commando]

Truth be told I use a combination of sources. Spotify is my go-to because I'll get nostalgic for some early 90's hip hop or what have you, and carve up a playlist real quick on the laptop that will sync automatically to my iphone by the time I'm ready for my commute. For brand brand new releases that I can't wait for I just download on itunes. For other forthcoming releases, I'll usually order on vinyl and they come with an instant download of the album regardless of when the vinyl is to be delivered. Usually this is the best bargain because the average vinyl+download is about 15 bucks. That comes out to the usual $10 for an album + an extra $5 or so for the vinyl. You can't beat that.

As far as new music discovery, you can go one of two sure-fire routes.

1. Search popular playlists for your given genre on Spotify. They even have dedicated "new artists" or "buzz artists" playlists. Either that, or there are tons of Spotify apps (one off the top of my head is called Moodagent) where you can drag a track into the box and it will spit out a playlist of similar songs. I'm sure other services have similar features as well.

2. Go to a band you really like, and, if it's an indie or a band on a minor label, find that label's website and check out its roster of artists. That is a great way to find top quality artists whom you haven't found yet, and there's usually a reason they get signed in the first place.

[Indy Coug]

Napster, which then got merged into Rhapsody.

[HuskyFreeNorthwest]

No MarkGrace or Commando options?

[Joe Public]

Pandora right now, because it's available/free/easy on the Roku player. I think Spotify is on Roku now (premium only?), but I haven't looked into it yet.